More than a statistic

An anonymous article

Below is an incredible article written by someone in our community. We’re proud to be part of stories like this, and we admire the people in them beyond measure. They are resilience personified.

To whoever wrote it, thank you.

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More than a statistic

An Anonymous Article

There have been times I have felt alone, but I’ve never felt more alone than when I found myself in a place where I thought I would never go.

It is a big topic at the moment, and we can’t undermine the effects that an abusive relationship can have on someone. The start of this year was when I made a decision to leave one after 4 years but in doing so, I felt that I had nothing worthy left in life.

I felt so isolated to the point that friends and family didn’t know what I was going through, and I stopped being the bright bubbly person who could tackle any obstacle thrown at me. 

However, after almost becoming a statistic to the very thing R4R is trying to prevent, I decided to join the cause, knowing damn well that it can be prevented and that everyone needs to know they have someone in their corner.

Hard times can get very dark, but there is light at some point, particularly when we hold onto the belief of hope.  

My thoughts at that point in time were that I couldn’t pull through, that there would be no pain to others around me and everything I had achieved up until that point in time was ‘not enough’ or worthy for me to want to continue and want to be here.

Hindsight and close friends verified the untruths of my very thoughts. 

Resilience to me means having the capacity to overcome difficulties that life will throw at us, regardless of if we decide to consider them small or big. Resilience is also the ability to become stronger after facing traumatic events.

In January 2024, joining R4R has not only provided me with a safe space when I have been able to pick up the pieces, rebuild myself away from the very environment that I felt broke me, and become a much stronger person to back then, but also to now be another smiley face for people who are going through tough times and need that one person in their corner.

R4R is a community that shares the same values, that there is ALWAYS someone you can talk to, and when life gets tough the best thing to do is keep on moving.

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