I went for a walk at a local place called Purgatory Chasm today. It was a crisp day, here in Massachusetts, as fall normally is. The part of the year that I love in this part of the country. I walk, taking in the serine beauty just before the leaves turn, although it's even more captivating after they turn to those beautiful vibrant colors. I started thinking back to my younger self when I wouldn't be able to walk in silence without headphones. Something to drown out the thoughts in my head was what I always needed. Now, well, I can walk in the woods and be at peace, taking in the wind, birds, animals, the majesty of nature itself. Now... I have a happy mind. In my inspirational life story heard around the world, I talk about how my life has been one of trauma. It's a story that many people ask how I made it through. I was just talking to a therapist yesterday, and she said to me, "not only have you survived it, but you helped others instead of letting it control you." I thought, of course! Nothing controls my life except for me and my actions. I use this story of mine to support others, to give my parents' deaths in my life meaning. This also gives my suicide attempt and homelessness meaning, and everything in between, meaning. People who have gone through similar things as I have need that and deserve that. What's taken me years to develop is what I want to show to you in this book. We may all have traumatic times in our lives, but they don't have to control the rest of our lives. We can heal from within, heal our inner being, our soul. Many people want to give you a band-aid and send you on your way. I have a saying. A soldier who lost their limb in war doesn't want a prosthetic and sent on their way. They may require that prosthetic, but they want to be assured they can live a good life after this incident. They want to be whole again, and that takes developing inner strength.
