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Comment to Your Page – Readers’ Responses –by Cindy 1953 — submitted on 2009/11/29 at 7:57pm

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Some of us who read the posts on this blog have been fortunate to be spared the direct abuse that other readers have endured. Even so, I believe that every person in the U.S. currently or previously has had a relationship with a person whose life has been altered by poor early attachments, neglect or direct malevolent abuse. In my own life, besides my sister who is the author of this blog, my ex-husband, former boyfriend, three of my daughter-in-laws and numerous friends have all had these hardships to endure. These issues affect us all, and we can all be part of the solution.

Today I wanted to offer a tribute, to all who have suffered and yet, survived. It may be a bit corny, but I’ve always love the song made famous by Bette Midler, “The Wind Beneath my Wings”, and these lyrics come to mind:

So I was the one with all the glory,
while you were the one with all the strength.
A beautiful face without a name for so long.
A beautiful smile to hide the pain.
Did you ever know that you’re my hero,
and everything I would like to be?
I can fly higher than an eagle,
for you are the wind beneath my wings.
(all credit to Ms. Midler, author and performer of this song)

Many of you, did not often have a smile, but occasionally a little glimmer of who you really were would peek out. You, who are reading here, are survivors! My best friend, a psychiatric nurse at a children’s mental hospital, has told me that only around 5% of those who have suffered, for instance, childhood sexual abuse will ever recover enough to live a ‘normal’ life. And yet, You, have survived!! You are reading this blog, looking for answers, believing in hope and I want to say that You are all my Heroes and I aspire to be as strong and as resilient in the face of adversity as You.

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