surrender

  • How I Found Peace When Confronted with All-Consuming Despair

    Tragedy struck my world exactly one week ago in the home that I share with my boyfriend, his children, and my daughter, and I was forced to surrender my beloved rescue pup Damsel. [Please know that I was a foster fail and the rescue is a no-kill nonprofit. Damsel is not in any danger of being put down.]

    The grief was overwhelming.

  • Starting Over, Setting Boundaries, and Working with a Mentor (Era 3)

    Welcome to the third era of my life. On Christmas Eve, I found out that I was pregnant. I had no money or job, and my family was over 1,000 miles away. I was living with six or seven activists and a dog in a duplex under less-than sanitary conditions. I was receiving public assistance and had no idea what to do…

  • I Gave Up My Possessions and Joined the Protest Circuit (Era 2)

    In fall of 1998, I transferred to Purdue’s main campus and got involved with a student environmental advocacy group (EA) because their flyer promoted a campout, and I dig camping. I was also taking a philosophy class, which I found fascinating, and which led me to pick up a copy of Think on These Things by Jiddu Krishnamurti. I cannot overstate the impact that this single book has had on my life.

  • How I Reclaimed My Life After Nearly Ending It (Era 1)

    …I was again admitted into the psychiatric hospital. And, I found out that I was pregnant. I was an absolute disaster…

    During my last session with my psychiatrist I was told that he was pleased with my “progress” and that as long as I stayed on my cornucopia of meds forever I might be able to live a “somewhat normal” life. Are you fucking kidding me?!