Last update to this blog was on July 21, three months ago exactly. I am truly sorry for that. I had intended to warn that this blog would have little to no activity for a bit, but obviously that post didn’t happen.
Read More
It is never too late to set boundaries, to heal, and to respect yourself. That road tends to be long, winding, and full of setbacks, but that is a painfully natural and necessary part of the process. Those setbacks, no matter how many times they happen, and no matter how severe they are, do not define the outcome. You do. So, when you get knocked down, take a rest if you need to, do what you must to take care of yourself, get back up, and keep fighting. You, your happiness, and your wellbeing are worth it.
Read More
Chapter 23 – My situation with my family is tragic, but the tragedy is not found in the act of walking entirely away from them. The tragedy is in the fact that they were not capable of being family that was worth having. I will forever be grateful that I was able to understand that fact, and eventually walked away from them for good.
Read More
Chapter 22 – In some ways I regret that I gave Older Brother a second chance. I would love to say that I knew it would turn out poorly when we reconnected, but I would be lying. I wanted to think better of him, like I had when we were youths, and that was a mistake.
Read More
Chapter 21 – Chronic manipulation and abuse are difficult enough to deal with when you are well. When I developed a chronic illness, maintaining my boundaries became an even more overwhelming task.
Read More
Chapter 20 – It is extremely normal for people to assume Diana and I are a lesbian couple, but despite how much we love each other, our relationship is not based in romance and sex. I love and value all my friendships, but the friendship I have with Diana is the one that I know I can count on for the rest of my life, through the good and the bad, until death do we part. With her in my life, I am no longer lonely, and neither is she.
Read More
Chapter 19 – I believed Older Brother was my best friend, so I expected honesty, support, and genuine friendship. His deceit allowed him to manipulate me with impunity until his patience ran out and he showed his true colors.
Read More
Chapter 18 – One of the things I grew up hearing constantly was, “We want all of you kids to have a better future, and higher standard of living than we did.” My parents’ actions consistently proved otherwise.
Read More
Chapter 17 – Somehow, despite obviously hating himself, Father also gave the impression he saw himself as perfection incarnate. He also fancied himself a super-genius, and no, I am not kidding or exaggerating about that.
Read More
Chapter 16 – When Younger Brother got engaged, he decided he wanted to reconnect, but not in a typical way. He invited Older Brother and I to stand by his side at the wedding. It was a gesture that stunned both of us, and both of us accepted in hopes of a closer relationship, but the end result was very much the opposite.
Read More