Index

Age: 41, Location: Colorado

When were you at your weakest:
When my kids were taken from my life in a very unjusted corrupt system and placed into an abusive home!!! I have lost everything I've ever known, my kids, my business, home everything!!

When were you at your strongest:
I try to be everyday but I'm also weak everyday. I believe the very fact I have lived through this makes me strong!!

How are you feeling now:
I don't know what to do where to go or how to get my life back!!

Age: 40, Location: rochester,ny

When were you at your weakest:
when i was being sexually abused by my father and being beat by my children's father

When were you at your strongest:
when I left my children's father

How are you feeling now:
depressed

Age: 67, Location: North Lauderdale, Florida

When were you at your weakest:
When I was in a relationship with a man who mentally abused me.

When were you at your strongest:
When I was 23 and knew that my mother would need to be looked after for the rest of her life and that I chose it to be my job to do that. She took care of me now it was my turn to repay that love.

How are you feeling now:
I am a widow and the last 6 years have been hard and with losing Michael Jackson and three very close friends it has been tough but I am doing okay now and look forward to my future with my family and grandchildren

Age: 45, Location: Spain

When were you at your weakest:
When I was at my weakest. I used to be very sensitive, sometimes I cried I felt a sadness inside.

When were you at your strongest:
When I was at my strongest: I felt really happy and glad I felt good inside and really healthy. I like to share my happiness with my friends, family.

How are you feeling now:
I am feeling happy and glad. I like a lot Christmas for me the best holidays ever. I feel really generous, I like to help others.

Age: 67, Location: North Lauderdale, Florida

When were you at your weakest:
When I was in a relationship with a man who mentally abused me.

When were you at your strongest:
When I was 23 and knew that my mother would need to be looked after for the rest of her life and that I chose it to be my job to do that. She took care of me now it was my turn to repay that love.

How are you feeling now:
I am a widow and the last 6 years have been hard and with losing Michael Jackson and three very close friends it has been tough but I am doing okay now and look forward to my future with my family and grandchildren

Age: 48, Location: Amsterdam, Holland

When were you at your weakest:
In my lifetime there were numerous occassions when I felt weak and vulnerable. But life taught me I've got a resource in me to bounce back eventually. So it's not in the hours of trouble, pain or tribulations that I feel at my weakest. It's in the hour of dark despair when the fear hits me and I feel that I am unable to help the one I dearly love. Standing by and seeing the suffering of my loved one is almost unbearable.

When were you at your strongest:
When I was pregnant of my first child.It was a horrible time, really. My marriage just broken up, my father just died, no income and lots, lots more. But the child growing inside of me inspired me and gave me so much strenght. Allthough I had to conquer a multitude of difficulties and hardship it was the first time of my life that my life wasn't my own anymore. My life belonged to this little baby that deserved only that best of what I could offer. So I gave him my best. And thanks to him I excelled myself. Allthough feeling very vulnerable, I also felt very strong. I could make decisions based on love, with only my baby's interest at heart.It was the most magical of times. Not easy, but magical to discover this immense source of love through which I could make us a beautiful life.

How are you feeling now:
I feel proud of who I am, where I come from and what I've been able to achieve for myself and my childen. Despite opposition I keep holding on to my own believes and convictions and then seeing that it al workes out.I feel gratefull for all the precious love that I recieve, being allowed to share with others what is important to me and them.I feel rich and blessed with my life and the people in it.I feel strong because I know I can take the highs and lows in life and survive it all as long as I keep true to myself.

Age: 59, Location: Stockholm, Sweden

When were you at your weakest:
When my son died from suicide. Lucky me, I had my family and my two daughters. We helped each other through a very difficult time.It is almost 10 years ago. He was 19. I often think of how he would have turned out as a man. I will always remember him as a boy.

When were you at your strongest:
When I beat my cancer. It was a struggle and I was really sick for about 6 months, but I pulled myself up with the help of my family and children. I live on overtime and that is a gift.

How are you feeling now:
I am a very lucky and humble person. I love my age and my life.I miss some people in my life very much, but life goes on,I will share this wonderful poem of an unknown writer.For everyone who have lost someone dear.And I will pass it on to Michael too of course. Beyond SurvivingYou can spend your days crying because he´s goneOr you can smile because he has livedYou can keep your eyes closed and pray he´ll come backOr you can open your eyes and wee all that he left youYour heart can be empty because you can´t see himOr it can be full because of the love you sharedThe joy that came from knowing himYou can turn your back on tomorrow and mourn for yesterdayOr you can be happy tomorrow because he was part of your yesterdayYou can remember him with sadness because he´s goneOr you can cherish his memory and let it live onYou can cry, close your mind, be empty and turn your back on lifeOr you can do what he´d want – Smile, open your eyes, love and go on

Age: 65, Location: north america

When were you at your weakest:
when I lost my grandmoter

When were you at your strongest:
when I divorce my ex husband

How are you feeling now:
wonderful...at peace, in and out.

Age: 26, Location: Netherlands

When were you at your weakest:
That would have to be adolescence, especially at fifteen. I felt totally not confident with myself, not from inside or outside. I felt vulnerable. People around you tell you, you look fine and that's wonderful, but I didn't see it that way. It's mostly about that, changing appearance. It's also a time in which you make choices that may have impact on the rest of your life. And you're irrational, you don't think of the consequences of your actions. I was always so afraid of anything. I trusted only few people. I was filled with embarrassment. I was lucky to grow up in a situation that allowed me to be a teenager. I was lucky to have music and that I was surrounded by confident people.

When were you at your strongest:
At the age of 23/24. That's when I started going to college and gain self-esteem by accomplishing something I had never done before. I decided to go on developing my cognitive functioning after a long period of wandering around thinking what I was going to do for the future. Getting diploma's/ graduating always helps to feel stronger and work on self-respect. It's funny though, when I'm at my weakest there will be a turning point and I choose to be at my strongest. Though life seems rough sometimes I guess I always fight to not tumble. I could lift up my head the day I was born. I have strong shoulders to carry the burdon.

How are you feeling now:
More and more these days I get agitated to be honest. I'm usually pretty calm and quiet. When there's no reason to fuss around I don't. But lately I recognize feelings of anger and being unsatisfied about what's happening. I tend to look really furious through my eyes. It's not a pretty sight. Expression is so important. I don't want to be unreasonable or hurt people's feelings. As a woman I feel unloved, untouched, unseen and insignificant. Right now I'm in the final year of my college years and it all went pretty smooth. After I gained confidence to nail this study I just totally went for it. Just when I thought I was at the point of having become a really great student I start doubting every aspect of myself as a student. I'm really anxious about graduating this year. But I've got to make it through the upcoming tests. So basically it's just a chaos of emotions. But I guess I'll make it.