I think we learned our lessons hard & early in life. Survival, indeed. And as a child that survival depended on being who the adult in your world needed you to be - but then - as we got older, wiser, freer - we found Her. Our True Selves. She had been there all along. And for me - once She arrived on the scene - She was never going back to way things used to be.

My therapist once had me do a very empowering exercise. He had me (in my mind) attend my mother's funeral again. Only I came in as an adult. And he had me 'find myself' in that whole hot mess. Then I took my child-self by the hand & led her away from the crazy. I held her as she cried & I vowed that I would never leave her - I would protect her from that day forward...and I have.

Thank you so much for your wonderful response. I feel our connection - deep & true. <3