Greetings to all my visitors. Like yourself, or someone you may know, I am a survivor. Numerous tragedies and poor coping skills brought me to a crossroad 12-years ago, wherein I had the choice to improve or sink in life. I could have allowed grief, anger, negative experiences and memories to rule each day of the rest of my life, and thereby lived out the remainder of my days on earth in a dismal cloud of gloom and dispare. Self-loathing and/or hating the deeds of others could have easily dictated my daily walk. But when this major crossroad appeared, on some level I knew that my continuing to live in this manner would grossly affect me and my relationships with other people.

My other option was to vigorously fight the dehabilitiating effects of depression, rage, pessimism, and the plaguing thoughts that I could not move forward with my life unless justice was served and certain persons were punished for their offenses. I do believe on the one hand that if Justice can be served by the Law in a State for crimes committed against a victim, then it should be wisely pursued before other innocent people are victimized by criminals. However, in some of the various situations I faced, evidence was lacking and/or the statute of limitations would have impacted matters. So the State could not prosecute, and filing a Civil Lawsuit would not have been fruitful.

There is not a 100% guarantee that when Justice is served and a criminal is punished that a victim and/or his family and friends will feel better. Many victims and/or their families feel revictimized by the Law and Court hearings. Many victims and/or their families and friends have found that even after a trial is over and the criminal has been found guilty and is sentenced that they do not have a sense of deep satisfaction. The most common reason given for this is because they cannot get back what was taken, and that is because there was a LOSS of something important or the LOSS of someone who was valued.

Many victims and/or their families experience financial losses from a crime or an injustice. The losses are multi-layered and coming to grips with LOSS and/or surviving any type of tragedy is a very hard thing to do. But I am here to let you know that it was well worth fighting all of the negative emotions and thoughts, in order to one-day wake-up to feeling more alive and having a renewed sense of hope and peace. It can be a long, hard battle to wage, but it is worth it, even if it takes years to overcome it.

Inspirations that have helped me to find the daily strength I need during my struggles have been through maintaining a relationship with God, having a loving spouse, wanting to be a wise and loving parent and Nanna, renewing my decision to reclaim my life (even if this means daily remembering to do so), regularly visiting with a Christian Psychologist, reading passages from Proverbs and Psalms, reading other self-help books and learning new coping skills, following the 12-step program that AA uses, (which is good for anyone recovering from anything and not just alcoholics), engaging in arts and craft projects, and taking anti-depressants as prescribed and needed.

My life is not perfect, but it definitely has become enhanced. I still have physical, mental and emotional challenges, and sometimes the old, negative thoughts, emotions and memories try to take-over my day again; however, I do not want to give-up or give-in to negative experiences that could cripple me.

It is my prayer and deepest hope that you and/or your loved ones will find inspirations to move forward and live life. My prayers are with you to find comfort, peace and a renewed will to live with love and peace being a part of your everyday life!

I composited the diamond for Embrace-A-Diamond.

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