Coach, thank you for being so open and transparent about sharing this part of your heartbreaking journey. It's so inspiring to hear you talk about moving through 'the fire' and being whole and willing walk with others on their life paths. Look forward to hearing more 🙏❤️
Thank you Sue for those lovely words! I needed that this morning. Even though I haven't had a drink of alcohol for decades, this morning I feel "hung over." LOL
Thank you Donna for sharing. I know it wasn't easy but it's uplifting to see that you found the strength to walk away and do the thing that was right for you.
This is the path to healing... When you start to discover who you really are by understanding who you are not.
When I replied to your comment just after 6am this morning, it looks like I was too sleepy eyed to see that I was not directly replying to you, Adrian 😁
I do hope that my transparency gives hope to one person at a time.
Donna you are a bold, beautiful, bad-ass. Your radical authenticity is as refreshing as it is inspiring. It is easy to see how your past wounds have become a catalyst to passionately make a difference in the world.
Yet again, you fill a post with a thousand Easter eggs to deeper stories I want to read. Your life is a soap opera of that adage “the truth is stranger than fiction”. I have no doubt you’ll pull out some story of dying and coming back to life with a spiritual awakening after being possessed by the devil like Marlena from Days of Our Lives. But this is better because it’s real. And you have emerged as a matriarch with an attitude and a tender heart. I love you dear friend.
It takes courage to share raw truths, and I'm praying they give benefits to readers, Teri.
I'm far from a drama queen, but I must admit, unpacking and writing the stories took me to the place of reliving then on a visceral level.
I never expected to re-experience these wide range of feelings. After the last three posts, I'm unofficially calling them the first three chapters of Fifty Shades of Donna.
welcome to the beast that is memoir writing. You have to rip open the wound that healed itself over, dig into it, pull out the contents, and figure out how to stitch it back up again with all its insides spilled out for the world to see. This is writing.
Jayde, I have so many mixed feelings sharing my experiences. Hope is one that helps me sigh with relief. I had no idea those memories were still so alive.
Thank you so much! I am savoring being called a "master storyteller" - I accept 💜
I believe that courage in sharing your story should shift the shame emotion over to a society that would allow a young woman to leave a hospital as you did… no money, no where to go, in dirty clothes, and defenseless. That’s where the shame must now land. You were staying alive, and a predator picked you like a ripe strawberry. No young woman should ever be abandoned like that in this country. The truth that you faced is horrific. Allowing vulnerable people to be thrown to the wolves is the fault of a society that looks the other way.
While accepting responsibility for your choices, which is what I hear you doing, is a reclaiming of your power, it must also be said that you had no other choices open to you.
Today’s shocking news blurb out of Detroit about a woman and two children freezing to death in their car because the wheels of guv’mt looked the other way. Those people who did that KNEWw she had no other choices, they and their agency that did that should be ashamed of themselves.
Thanks for sharing. And good on you for rescuing those girls. Those FBI guys should be ashamed of themselves, but unfortunately, that was the culture back then and they could get away with it.
I confess, Mary. I've thought about approaching FBI about being a keynote speaker at their national convention or taking my MindShifting technology to their front lines, but do I dare?
WOW! Seeing that in print took my breath away. Do I dare?
What a complete turn around and what a great thing for people who are trapped to see. There's a way out! And you would do it so gracefully. You would not shame the agents or agency for treating you badly. It would be a chance for everyone to learn and say, "Geez! we've gotten a lot smarter since then. We've learned a lot about each other's humanity."
Donna, my heart ached for you at every word. I’m inspired by your strength and learned wisdom. Thank you for your courage and your story. So very glad you’re here and sharing.
Thank you, Lynn 💕 I surprised myself how much my heart ached unpacking this. So many emotions were triggered and questions I kept asking myself, like, "Do I dare?"
Subscribed and see myself in you in many ways. Going from not caring whether I lived or died (perhaps leaning a little more toward the latter), finding a way to turn my life around one day at a time 43 years ago has allowed me to get to 86 with most of my marbles. Yay us!
Thank you Adrian for reading and commenting! 🤗
I'm hoping it's uplifting that I speak about it and tell the truth.
Coach, thank you for being so open and transparent about sharing this part of your heartbreaking journey. It's so inspiring to hear you talk about moving through 'the fire' and being whole and willing walk with others on their life paths. Look forward to hearing more 🙏❤️
Dear sweet Janet, I'm sure I had replied to this comment earlier, but where did it go? 🤪
I'm hoping that sharing my truths will open healing to one person at a time 💜
You are my friend, you are 💜
One day at a time.
One person at a time.
It's a joy having you along side me for this amazing ride, Janet 💜
💜
Donna, I am blown away by your story.
You are an inspiration and incredibly brave to share such intimate details about your journey.
Bravo!
Sirah, thank you! I'm blown away that I did and profoundly grateful that husband #3 was 110% supportive of me sharing this.
The funny thing is, even though I haven't had a drink of alcohol for decades, I awoke this morning feeling "hung over"
I like hub#3–we all need supportive souls in our lives.
The fact that you keep going and motivating others is so amazing. 🤩
Cheers to you (with a mocktail in hand:))
@Sirah Cheema thank you! I shared your appreciation of hub#3 with him. He's so grateful for you, too 💕
His pride in me for speaking the truth overshadows shame-residue. Thankfully!
Yay!!😀
Pride and truth is the perfect frequency to be on. Far away from sludgy shame.
🥰
You are one amazing lady Donna. Thank you for making it through 🤗
Thank you Sue for those lovely words! I needed that this morning. Even though I haven't had a drink of alcohol for decades, this morning I feel "hung over." LOL
Thank you Donna for sharing. I know it wasn't easy but it's uplifting to see that you found the strength to walk away and do the thing that was right for you.
This is the path to healing... When you start to discover who you really are by understanding who you are not.
When I replied to your comment just after 6am this morning, it looks like I was too sleepy eyed to see that I was not directly replying to you, Adrian 😁
I do hope that my transparency gives hope to one person at a time.
Donna you are a bold, beautiful, bad-ass. Your radical authenticity is as refreshing as it is inspiring. It is easy to see how your past wounds have become a catalyst to passionately make a difference in the world.
Ah, Nicole, thank you for crafting that lovely comment. I sighed when I read it 💜
Now this is interesting. I accept being "a bold, beautiful, bad-ass!"
For I'm known as B3 - Big Badass Bitch 😂🤣😂
Yet again, you fill a post with a thousand Easter eggs to deeper stories I want to read. Your life is a soap opera of that adage “the truth is stranger than fiction”. I have no doubt you’ll pull out some story of dying and coming back to life with a spiritual awakening after being possessed by the devil like Marlena from Days of Our Lives. But this is better because it’s real. And you have emerged as a matriarch with an attitude and a tender heart. I love you dear friend.
It takes courage to share raw truths, and I'm praying they give benefits to readers, Teri.
I'm far from a drama queen, but I must admit, unpacking and writing the stories took me to the place of reliving then on a visceral level.
I never expected to re-experience these wide range of feelings. After the last three posts, I'm unofficially calling them the first three chapters of Fifty Shades of Donna.
I love you from deep in my soul, Teri 💜
welcome to the beast that is memoir writing. You have to rip open the wound that healed itself over, dig into it, pull out the contents, and figure out how to stitch it back up again with all its insides spilled out for the world to see. This is writing.
Donna, what can I say? This is amazing, heartbreaking, hopeful and more. You are a master storyteller. So glad you didn't let anyone dim your light. x
Jayde, I have so many mixed feelings sharing my experiences. Hope is one that helps me sigh with relief. I had no idea those memories were still so alive.
Thank you so much! I am savoring being called a "master storyteller" - I accept 💜
💞 thank you for sharing so courageously.
Thank YOU, Teyani 💕 I hope my courage overwrites the shame residue. Better yet, rewrites it and gives hope
I believe that courage in sharing your story should shift the shame emotion over to a society that would allow a young woman to leave a hospital as you did… no money, no where to go, in dirty clothes, and defenseless. That’s where the shame must now land. You were staying alive, and a predator picked you like a ripe strawberry. No young woman should ever be abandoned like that in this country. The truth that you faced is horrific. Allowing vulnerable people to be thrown to the wolves is the fault of a society that looks the other way.
While accepting responsibility for your choices, which is what I hear you doing, is a reclaiming of your power, it must also be said that you had no other choices open to you.
Today’s shocking news blurb out of Detroit about a woman and two children freezing to death in their car because the wheels of guv’mt looked the other way. Those people who did that KNEWw she had no other choices, they and their agency that did that should be ashamed of themselves.
Wow, Donna, what a story!
Thanks for sharing. And good on you for rescuing those girls. Those FBI guys should be ashamed of themselves, but unfortunately, that was the culture back then and they could get away with it.
Wendy, thank you! 💜
Looking back, I feel guilty fleeing and leaving so many girls on the streets.
I hope the culture inside organizations has evolved to caring more.
You did what you could, and remember that you made a huge difference to the girls you did help.
Thanks Wendy. I'm visioning that 💞
Wow! What a story! I am glad you made it through that to be 70! Thank you for saying it all outloud. Cheers to hubs #3!
I am hoping there is a post in the future about those FBI agents learning about what serving and protecting means.
I confess, Mary. I've thought about approaching FBI about being a keynote speaker at their national convention or taking my MindShifting technology to their front lines, but do I dare?
WOW! Seeing that in print took my breath away. Do I dare?
OMG! Yes! in all the caps! and with all the italics and exclamation points!!!
What a complete turn around and what a great thing for people who are trapped to see. There's a way out! And you would do it so gracefully. You would not shame the agents or agency for treating you badly. It would be a chance for everyone to learn and say, "Geez! we've gotten a lot smarter since then. We've learned a lot about each other's humanity."
Never before considered approaching the FBI, but it's now going on my "consider this" list! At the top ⬆️
Thank you, Mary! I'm shored up by hubs #3 to speak the truth outloud. I love him even more when he says, "Ship it!"
Donna, my heart ached for you at every word. I’m inspired by your strength and learned wisdom. Thank you for your courage and your story. So very glad you’re here and sharing.
Thank you, Lynn 💕 I surprised myself how much my heart ached unpacking this. So many emotions were triggered and questions I kept asking myself, like, "Do I dare?"
Hubs#3 gave me courage!
Your survival story is beautiful, as are you. No need for any shame.
Thank you, Sky! I'm glad it landed well with you
Subscribed and see myself in you in many ways. Going from not caring whether I lived or died (perhaps leaning a little more toward the latter), finding a way to turn my life around one day at a time 43 years ago has allowed me to get to 86 with most of my marbles. Yay us!
Thank you for being so brave, so wild, untamed, individual, and strong
YOU HAVE REVEALED YOURSELF AS A WOMAN WORTH KNOWING