tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5568842413800774126.post7826229257766866885..comments2023-03-19T07:37:07.241-07:00Comments on Starbound Lovers: TED Talks, Changing Attitudes, and Thinking Outside of the BoxLynn Crainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17563978872099232823noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5568842413800774126.post-47898748925315626152014-08-22T11:26:06.651-07:002014-08-22T11:26:06.651-07:00Bravery comes in many different forms, Tina. What ...Bravery comes in many different forms, Tina. What you have done is shown your children the incredible strength of the human spirit. I bet you are an awesome mom. S.E. Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05669635158240187632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5568842413800774126.post-10791922616492033842014-08-21T12:00:29.665-07:002014-08-21T12:00:29.665-07:00I am here. I survived a extremely abusive home wit...I am here. I survived a extremely abusive home with a mother who hated because my father abused her. A biological father that was never there growing up and a step-father who saw me as a burden and decided I made a great punching bag. I have graduated high school even without help from my family. They truly believed or wanted me to believe I would never reach that goal. I did. I started to live on my own off and on from age sixteen. When I lived at home I paid rent from my own job to live there. I graduated at eighteen and moved out on my own. I started college and worked two jobs to cover my bills and college books. I have married which no one believed would last. We have now been married almost eighteen years and have two beautiful children. For all that suffered, I survived and I am here. I will finish my degree and watch as my daughter will go off to college next year. I have been given more than I could ever have asked for. I had a very hard start but it gave me the strength to go on a keep going no matter what. I have been blessed to live this life when in all honestly I did not think I would survive my childhood. TinaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5568842413800774126.post-3509190784365067672014-08-21T05:22:04.457-07:002014-08-21T05:22:04.457-07:00Julie Baker I'm 47, been a smoker since 14, I&...Julie Baker I'm 47, been a smoker since 14, I've taken the first step to stop. But I'm really proud of my daughter Melinda, dated the same guy from age 15, married at 18, husband joined the military, 4 kids by the time she was 25. No education but a high school diploma, bare foot and pregnant from age 18. Melinda and the kids suffered domestic abuse for years while being dragged pillow to post in the military. In October 2012, things escalated and Melinda was almost killed by her husband. The husband is now in jail. Melinda is now raising 4 kids by herself, going to collage full time to become a Surgeon, and working while all of them are going to therapy. She is doing this alone with no support from the state ( she makes to much money to get welfare ) no section 8 housing to help pay her rent. SHE IS A STRONG WOMEN AND I'M PROUD SHE IS MY DAUGHTER!!S.E. Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05669635158240187632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5568842413800774126.post-64165759915632106512014-08-20T04:30:00.313-07:002014-08-20T04:30:00.313-07:00Both stories are a powerful testament to the coura...Both stories are a powerful testament to the courage it takes to overcome negativity. I would be lying if I didn't admit that both touched me and brought tears to my eyes. I hope you both share your stories with others. They both need to be told.S.E. Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05669635158240187632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5568842413800774126.post-14915877981218526992014-08-20T04:25:16.851-07:002014-08-20T04:25:16.851-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.S.E. Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05669635158240187632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5568842413800774126.post-56368247842965399112014-08-20T02:53:09.465-07:002014-08-20T02:53:09.465-07:00I was a single mom working three jobs to support m...I was a single mom working three jobs to support my self and two children , one of which is on the Autism Spectrum with only having a high school education. I finally got my BA in psychology at the age of 47.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5568842413800774126.post-69421029310120518782014-08-19T22:07:21.009-07:002014-08-19T22:07:21.009-07:00You asked your readers to share something that the...You asked your readers to share something that they have accomplished no matter how small. Here is mine. When I was a child I was diagnosed with Petite Mal Epilepsy. The doctor told my mom that I would never graduate high school (if I ever made it that far), would never hold down a job, support my family (if I got married), would basically be a burden on everyone. Well, I graduated high school (late, but still), held down a job, got married (on year 11 now), and am planning on going to college for my business degree around January of next year. To the doctors, I say suck it.Mia Astonnoreply@blogger.com