My father was an abusive alcoholic. He beat me and called me horrible names. He pulled a knife on my siblings and I when I was 8 years old. When he was drunk, he became evil. He just sat in his seat all day, watching television and drinking about a case of 24 beers in a day. My mother wasn’t present. She left when I was young, leaving me to care for my 4 younger siblings. She came back when I was a young teen, but I had bitterness towards her.
At school I was pushed around, got spit on, my head was hit against the lockers, and even had my clothes stolen at gym class.
I felt like garbage. I hated my home life and I hated my school life. I had such low self-esteem that I knew people by their shoes because I looked at the ground constantly.
During the seminar, I realized that I was living a victim mentality and that I could make a better life of I chose to daily. My weekend was over 10 years ago, but I can never forget it. I was transformed that weekend. I went from a person who knew people by their shoes, to a person who looks up and I know that I have a purpose in life. I now live with freedom from forgiving my father and mother by seeing them in a different perspective. My life has been forever changed by my weekend. My father recently passed away and I can honestly say that I have no negative feelings towards him. This was the best thing I have ever done for myself.
-Suzie
