Remember who I am.
Remember what I am.
Remember what matters.
The Awakening began at my birth, but the full force of it hit me in the spring of 2007. At 32 years old, I finally remembered. My life was full of turmoil, chaos, and memories.. Good, bad and in-between, the memories flooded my mind, heart and soul. Still, I remembered my strength, and that no matter what, I would not falter. I would be courageous, no matter who or what stood in my way.
People were telling me what they thought I should do, who I should be be, how I should act and react. People telling me what to think, what to say, and what to do. Some of these people were my trusted friends and family members - some were acquaintances and people I'd just met. So many people thinking they knew what was best for me, best for my daughters, best for, 'our situation.' They saw us, and especially me, as broken.
In truth, I had been broken, but not at that moment. In that moment I was more together than I'd been in over 10 years. Living in a situation that robbed me of my strength for so long, even if my own actions had allowed it to happen. I'd lost my way, lost that voice that had guided me for so long - but I found it again. I found it when I said, "Enough!" No more would I be his victim.
No more would I submit and give up my will for him. He would not touch me again. He would not dictate what I could or could not do. Nothing he could say or do could change the fact that he had tried to cage me, physically, emotionally, spiritually. Nothing he could do could make me forget. Nothing he could say could make me forgive. He could not, can not make me. No one can make me do, say, feel anything, unless I choose it.
I choose bravery.
I choose strength.
I choose to be the Daughter Of Fortitude.
