Somewhere Out Here, I Exist.

It’s been a while since I wrote and shared a blog post for WriteRight4Life. My busy schedule prevents me from tapping into my creativity as I focus on pitching a nonfiction book I’ve written to industry professionals. It’s more than just crafting a clever pitch or satire, as I usually do in my literary projects. The precision of the language outlines what I am, where I am, and how I am a business entity ready to engage with the world of readership.

I value the time I have spent wisely. I co-authored the title with my foster mother, who has early-stage dementia. Our time writing and editing has strengthened our bond, as her reward is the process, and mine is the brilliance she brings to my life. We’ve already succeeded in creating something complex yet genuinely relatable to human nature, and for the sake of humanity, emotionally ours to nurture.

I began this project afraid to leave my house, terrified of human contact, and calling myself a survivor of severe abusive behaviors. Oh, how I lied. Now, I have healed a spirit worthy of sharing with a deserving world. To rediscover myself — that lost identity I never truly possessed — I immersed myself in Scripture to craft emotional remedies that overcome tragedies through the self-love, self-respect, and self-worth that Jesus taught me.

Once people read ouOnce people read our story and reflect on themselves, personal change agents start to see others differently, as empathy opens a whole new perspective. We exist in circumstances that life hasn't yet taught us how to overcome, and as students of society, there are many helpful ways to move past whatever troubles us. I may sound silly as a graphic artist and illustrator, but becoming a writer with a genuine intent to explore the depths of a troubled soul shaped by human nature has transformed my approach to truly living. No longer do physical, emotional, or sexual abuse define me — those are part of my past. I survived numerous suicide attempts to find my place in the world.

Now, I have the rare privilege of connecting with literary professionals who will honor my foster mother’s efforts, recognize my birth mother’s choices, and help tell the stories of my meaningful life. It’s not the terrible things that cause you to stumble or ruin everything; it’s always the excuses you make for not taking action that hold you back. I almost let pain and resentment devastate my small life, and now I want to emphasize how important it is. Let’s bare my soul through confession, and readers will find themselves in the habit of telling the truth. After all, it is the best medicine.