Women and adversity: One woman’s road to finding her worth

domestic violence-sexual assault ribbon

 We’ve heard the story of 17-year old Malala Yousafzai, the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize winner from Pakistan. Oprah Winfrey’s past is an open book as is J.K. Rowling’s of Harry Potter fame.

I wanted to learn more stories of conquering adversity so I simply typed in “How women can overcome adversity” in Google’s search box. Two dozen headlines appeared at:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/overcoming-adversity

In “Growing up in a Hippie commune: Making Peace” Abby Pingree talks of her epiphany after enduring physical and sexual abuse as a child.

She writes, “These early experiences of strong discipline, inappropriate attention and uncertainty left me feeling confused and troubled well into my adulthood. I unconsciously questioned my relevance and worth — feeling that there was something fundamentally and irreparably wrong with me.”

She endured and found true meaning in her life, and ends with:

“These early years spent in the Love Israel Family have become a blessing for me — a precious gift. As I embrace and release painful childhood memories what’s left is a deep love and gratitude. As I let go of all blame my heart opens and I am free. I experience sincere gratitude and love of all who were there and experienced with me. Perhaps this is the felt understanding of true forgiveness.”

I say, “Amen.”