Post # 1
Member
3004 posts
Sugar bee
I was working on some personal writing tonight and I got to thinking about how I’ve come to not worry what others think about me so much. I really believe in high school the thought of what others opinions “might” be hindered all of the relationships that could’ve been between fellow classmates.
The summer after I graduated high school I met my now Fiance. At first we told each other that we wouldn’t take things too fast since we had both gotten out of serious relationships (or very emotionally tough ones) less than a year ago. But things changed very quickly. I guess you could say I’m a person that is very emotionally driven and we both fell for each other harder than we thought. Within a month I think we knew we loved each other and not too long after we decided it was ok to sleep together (I was saving myself until I was in love). My parents are extremely religious, conservative people and once my mom found out (by violating my privacy and looking through the text messages on my phone) that we were sleeping together I knew for sure they were going to try to break us up.
Fiance and I had always had a plan B, however. If I was to get pregnant, if I needed to get out, if anything were to happen, we’d get a place and move in together. The night my mom found out, I told him I needed to get out. He asked his parents, they agreed to take me in, so I packed my stuff the next morning before I left for work. I thought about telling my parents that I was leaving, but I knew they would try to stop me. They would take away my car keys, my cell phone, prevent me from going to work, anything, to keep me from leaving if they knew. I couldn’t get all of my belongings out of the house without them knowing so I packed a few days worth of clothes in a backpack, pretended like it was some reading I was going to be doing, and left for work..saying goodbye the normal way.
That was the strongest moment of my life. I had nothing and here I was moving into my boyfriend of eight month’s parents house–of whom I had only met a few times. I wasn’t going to look back. My mom called that night terrified that I got into a car accident since I always called, but I didn’t answer…knowing there was going to be too many questions and not enough answers. The next day at work, my parents came and made a huge scene. My mom was screaming, crying, bawling her eyes out trying to get me to get in her car in the parking lot. I was terrified she was going to drive away with me in it and I’d lose my job. I left her sobbing.
So, what is your brave moment? What have you done that changed your life in a positive way–something you will never regret?
Post # 3
Member
4162 posts
Honey bee
My bravest moment was leaving my ex boyfriend who was physically and mentally abusive. He threatened to kill my family and me whenever I tried to leave, but finally enough was enough.
Post # 4
Member
4038 posts
Honey bee
Getting on a plane for the very first time, with all of my remaining worldly possessions in a backpack, and moving in with a woman I’d never met, across the country from anyone and everyone I knew, and rebuilding a life from scratch.
(I was 20 years old and living in New Orleans when Katrina hit, and lost everything except what was in my backpack. I went to live with my old roommate’s mother, who had a spare bedroom, and offered it to me through her son, who was doing a semester abroad in Prague at the time.)
It was definitely one of the more trying periods in my life, but if it hadn’t happen, and I hadn’t made that decision, I wouldn’t have met my husband.
Post # 5
Member
6351 posts
Bee Keeper
The day I choice life over fear of the unknown.
Post # 6
Member
498 posts
Helper bee
i stopped talkig to my mom when i realized that she is too mentally unheatlhy/unstable and emotionally toxic to keep in my life. she refuses to get help and caused me to have a lifetime of stress, anxiety and depression. since then i have lived more than i ever thought possible…with no worries, no anxiety and no fears.
Post # 7
Member
3254 posts
Sugar bee
@Ryansgirl: That takes bravery to do. My aunt was murdered by her husband who was physically and emotionally abusive, so I know exactly how hard it can be to leave someone like that. She was a normally assertive, independent woman but unfortunately didn’t leave before it escalated to this point. I miss her every day and am so glad this will never be you.
I would say my bravest moment was when I conquered my bulimia as a college student. My ED was controlling my life, and I decided to take the reins of control back.
Post # 8
Member
5921 posts
Bee Keeper
Mine isn’t nearly as profound as the above, but my bravest moment was quitting my job. My job after three years was killing me. I was belitted and berated every single day, treated like an idiot. Called an idiot. My hair was falling out, I would cry every single Sunday because I had to go back to work. My husband begged me to quit, but that career was all that I knew.
The day I walked out I felt like the weight of the world had literally been lifted off of my shoulders.
I still do.
Post # 9
Member
9824 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
Deciding to go through with my pregnancy.
Post # 10
Member
3775 posts
Honey bee
Handing my 10 month old daughter over to the surgeon to amputate her leg. That was Hell and took everything I had.
Post # 11
Member
3254 posts
Sugar bee
This thread is such proof of how strong we as women can be. Kudos to all of you for overcoming such struggles with grace and elegance! 🙂
Post # 12
Member
3004 posts
Sugar bee
@brideatbeach: I too, really like this thread. We are all such wonderfully strong women!
Post # 13
Member
498 posts
Helper bee
@brideatbeach: totally agree. my grandpa used to quote Plato all the time and tell me: “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”
Post # 14
Member
3254 posts
Sugar bee
@ijustrockout: I have never heard that before but I love it!
Post # 15
Member
5654 posts
Bee Keeper
Mine was definitely leaving my ex-husband… and not just the leaving but how it was handled and how I was in my heart about it.
After having many discussions leading to verbal abuse and then infront of our 2 year old son… The breaking point was the first night he was off of house arrest. Rather than coming home he decided to go out and get drunk (he’s an alcoholic)… After being incredibly verbally abusive over the phone I did not hear from him again for that evening… rather.. after our son was up till midnight asking “Da da?..” and me finding out he was at my sisters (from his friend whose house he was at earlier drinking), I went with my mother to get him. I then brought him home and the next morning woke up.. called his mom to let her know that he couldn’t live at home anymore and she needed to come and get him b/c I had more love for myself and for my son then to let our lives be how they would with his abusiveness and drinking.
I then proceeded to go wake him up and tell him that I was sorry but he could no longer live with us. I packed all of his things… folded his clothes in boxes.. and gave him everything that was “ours” other than things that were for our son.
There was no fighting no resentment and it was the end……. It only took 5 1/2 years but I left… not just to get away from the abuse but realizing that my worth was exceedingly more than his actions had been telling me for years.
It was hard (even though I was at complete peace and resolve about it), and I’m not going to lie, I cried after him and his mom pulled away from the house….. every thought I ever had that I desired to keep my “family” together was now not possible and knowing that was very hard… BUT I knew that we deserved more and that it was over and that’s how it stayed.
Post # 16
Member
280 posts
Helper bee
I got diagnosed with an autoimmune disease this time last year and I need to inject myself with medicine every day. The first time I did it I was so proud of myself and now I can do it one handed watching tv at night!
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