Women of TA,

We, as a group, typically enjoy discussing issues that matter to us, but what about the issues that are difficult to talk about?

Have you ever been hurt in the past, physically or mentally, by anyone? Have you spoken your truth and healed yourself? Have you confided in anyone about your pain?

Have you forgiven the person who has harmed you? What advice would you give to someone who has kept her pain secret? Would you encourage her to tell her story and forgive her abuser?

I would like to share my story with you all:

I have been abused. I have spent my entire life healing from the pain. I kept my pain very secret, but it wasn't until I spoke my truth that I was able to become confident enough to stand tall. Many women are ashamed when things like this happen to them, I know I was. To heal, you have to admit to yourself that you have been hurt. That is not an easy thing to do, but once you do that you can start to forgive.

You do not have to forgive that person, but you have to forgive yourself and the past. I heard a very powerful quote from Oprah (don't laugh, it's amazing), she said, "Forgiveness is giving up that hope that the past could have been any different." When I realized that I could not change the past, I started to work on healing the injured part of me for the future. I am still a work in progress, of course, but it was the release of truth that helped me grow and heal as a person.

I know that this is a very deep and emotional post, but I wanted to reach the women who may still be hiding from their past pain. If you do not want to share your story of healing or your story of pain, I completely understand. I just wanted to share my journey with you all in hopes that it would help anyone with their own.