When You’re Determined
| This is the 359th story of Our Life Logs |I was born in 1955, in a marginalized tribe of Madhya Pradesh, India. I was the only daughter to my parents who treated me like their little princess. We were not rich, but we lived a happy and comfortable life. I saw the world through their eyes and everything seemed wonderfully beautiful.Like most parents in India, … Continue reading When You’re Determined
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Truth Be Told
| This is the 358th story of Our Life Logs |I don’t know who my parents are because I was raised in foster homes from the time I was born. I was told I was born on January 2, 1957, in Austin, Texas. At least that is what it says on my birth certificate. The rest is blurry.My days in foster care were riddled with abuse. … Continue reading Truth Be Told
Love Prevails
| This is the 357th story of Our Life Logs |“Love carries us in the darkest times of our lives, reminding us to have hope.”-K.P.1 | In the Streets of LeningradI was born in 1925 in the Soviet streets of Leningrad, now known as St. Petersburg, Russia. I loved the snow, the way the warm daylight would glint off the ice, and the smell of biscuits … Continue reading Love Prevails
Not My Plan
| This is the 356th story of Our Life Logs |I was born to strict, but loving parents in 1983 in Hannover, Germany. We were Turkish, and like the other Turkish families in Germany, my sister and I were taught to be responsible and helpful at a very young age. My dad worked two jobs and my mom had her own business, so the little time … Continue reading Not My Plan
A Journey to Inner Peace
| This is the 355th story of Our Life Logs |I was born in rural Taiwan in 1985 and grew up in a traditional three-story house near the mountains. Three generations of my family lived under one roof. This included my mum, dad, my five siblings, as well as my grandparents from my father’s side. My entire family practiced Buddhism. For every holy day, one would … Continue reading A Journey to Inner Peace
These Pages I Escape To
| This is the 354th story of Our Life Logs |Alright, let’s kick this off. This story starts in the early 2000s in Concord, Massachusetts, in middle school—sixth grade specifically—and if I’m to be perfectly honest, it was one of the lowest points in my life. I was never the kind of person who had an abundance of friends. On the bus, I’d find the first … Continue reading These Pages I Escape To
Every Scar Is a Battle I’ve Won
| This is the 353rd story of Our Life Logs | Immediately after I was born in Pima, Arizona, in the spring of 1980, I was given up for adoption and sent to a Catholic orphanage. Within six weeks, a family came and took me home. My new parents were loving, good-hearted people who tried to adopt children with special needs who otherwise might not get … Continue reading Every Scar Is a Battle I’ve Won
There Is Hope for the Unloved
| This is the 352nd story of Our Life Logs | I’ve learned when no one cares enough to keep you when you’re born or adopts you when you’re a baby, the odds are no one will care about you as you get older. I was no exception. But still, I held out hope for the longest time that someone would come along who’d love me. … Continue reading There Is Hope for the Unloved
Love Yourself First
| This is the 351st story of Our Life Logs |Tim Han, my mentor and savior, taught me that “Our mess is our message.” So, I guess I have a big message because my life has sure been a big mess. Let me explain.I am the youngest child of my dad and the firstborn of my mom. I know. It’s a little bit confusing. My dad … Continue reading Love Yourself First
Empowered
| This is the 350th story of Our Life Logs |“Look, Colleen, it would be unethical for us to hire you as a disabled person, so unfortunately, we can’t offer you the position.”I stared blankly at the interviewer, unable to comprehend the words she had uttered. Tears formed in the corners of my eyes while I mustered up the courage to respond to her.After what felt … Continue reading Empowered
I Fear No Evil
| This is the 349th story of Our Life Logs | I grew up in Flint, Michigan, in the 1950s and ’60s, far before the water problem it is known for now plagued the town. My parents were generous people who cared for the less fortunate and lived their lives serving God. Although they already had seven children, they adopted four more from our church whose … Continue reading I Fear No Evil
An Innate Survival
| This is the 348th story of Our Life Logs | I grew up in a small Italian neighborhood in the North End of Bridgeport, Connecticut, alongside my younger sister. Growing up in the 1980s, we spent our days running off with neighborhood friends, only returning home when the hum of the streetlights came on. If I wasn’t playing with friends, I was with my grandparents … Continue reading An Innate Survival