A few nights ago, I was talking to my parents on speakerphone while they wound through the backroads home from my niece’s basketball game. My dad was behind the wheel (he always is) and my mom was holding the phone and our nervous elderly maltipoo in the passenger seat. I asked them to tell me a story from my childhood. My mom laughed,
I am 68 years old. I have only rarely felt safe. I was emotionally and sexually abused as a child. I was bullied by my classmates. My teachers were unsupportive and one even spent an entire class period talking about how different I was from my classmates and why that was bad. I was sexually assaulted at work in front of witnesses who did nothing. I am afraid every day. I have severe anxiety and depression.
Yet somehow I find the strength to keep getting up when I fall, to climb out of the depression pit every day even when it takes hours.
When I talk about the actual events of my life, it sounds like I have had a horrible life. But the good outweighs the bad.
Mostly I let the pain in my life teach me to be kind to others. (Well I do occasionally tell misogynistic men to fuck off.) I reach out to people who are grieving or who have had a bad diagnosis or other troubles in their lives. I give compliments freely because everyone needs to be told they are special sometimes. Most importantly, I listen.
Judith, thank you so much for sharing this. I am so sorry you were made unsafe so often in your life and by people you should have been able to trust to protect you. You deserved and deserve better. I admire your resilience, softness, and strength. Your vulnerability and kindness are an inspiration. Thank you for listening and for sharing. You're safe here. ❤️
Outstanding work and thank you 🤗🥰
Thank you for always being someone who has helped me feel safe :)
I am working to get in touch with the parts of me that haven’t felt safe and help them heel so this was truly the perfect read.
I'm really proud of you for doing that work, Sarah! It's not easy but you sure fucking do deserve it. ❤️
I am 68 years old. I have only rarely felt safe. I was emotionally and sexually abused as a child. I was bullied by my classmates. My teachers were unsupportive and one even spent an entire class period talking about how different I was from my classmates and why that was bad. I was sexually assaulted at work in front of witnesses who did nothing. I am afraid every day. I have severe anxiety and depression.
Yet somehow I find the strength to keep getting up when I fall, to climb out of the depression pit every day even when it takes hours.
When I talk about the actual events of my life, it sounds like I have had a horrible life. But the good outweighs the bad.
Mostly I let the pain in my life teach me to be kind to others. (Well I do occasionally tell misogynistic men to fuck off.) I reach out to people who are grieving or who have had a bad diagnosis or other troubles in their lives. I give compliments freely because everyone needs to be told they are special sometimes. Most importantly, I listen.
Judith, thank you so much for sharing this. I am so sorry you were made unsafe so often in your life and by people you should have been able to trust to protect you. You deserved and deserve better. I admire your resilience, softness, and strength. Your vulnerability and kindness are an inspiration. Thank you for listening and for sharing. You're safe here. ❤️