What are some things you have been through that have made you stronger?

It always seems that it's the tough things in life that make you stronger, but I aways think it's a shame that we have to go through hard times in order to get strong.



What are some things that you have gone through that made you stronger?



I feel I am getting stronger, but sometimes I just want a break. And even though I am older, many times I still feel like a scared little 7 year old form of myself who still needs her mom.

Re: What are some things you have been through that have made you stronger?

My younger sister's death has definitely made me a stronger person. Really made me realize that life is short and you need to live it as best you can every single day...you never know when it will be taken from you way too early.

Also - my mom battled breast cancer - and beat it (4 years cancer free!!!). Seeing her go through that made me a stronger person.

Re: What are some things you have been through that have made you stronger?

the death of my father when I was 21
My mother diagnosed with breast cancer then uterine cancer..she survived both.
Sept. 11 I was 8mnth pregnant & my son's father worked for NYPD. Until I was able to speak to him (hrs after attack) my life flashed in front of me. The following weeks were a nightmare emtionally for both of us.
Ending a 7 yr relationship with a man I was so in love with and sharing a son and a home (that I lost). He moved out of state and I basicly raised him.
Being estranged from my brother who is addicted to pain killers.
Rencently being laid off from a company that I worked for for 14 yrs.

I never felt pity for myself but these chunks of my life have molded me, have made me see life differently as I (still) grow up. I do believe if you go thru life with out any hardship they you really dont know who to appreciate the wonderful things life can offer.

Message edited 6/23/2011 10:04:41 AM.

Re: What are some things you have been through that have made you stronger?

DH and I were robbed at gunpoint about 5 years ago. This not only made me stronger, but made our relationship stronger. That could have been the last night of our lives and I've learned to never take anything for granted.

Re: What are some things you have been through that have made you stronger?

Re: What are some things you have been through that have made you stronger?

it might sound stupid but...9/11. gosh, i think about the 30 min i couldnt find my father or boyfriend(husband now) and i wanted to die. it was ONLY 30 minutues, but it feels so much longer.

FIL having cancer and passing away

Re: What are some things you have been through that have made you stronger?

My best friends death 4 years ago.. for some reason before that death never seemed "real" to me. I had family members who were very old die, and while that was devestating it still didnt really hit me until my best friend (who was young and healthy) died at the age of 23. That made me realize how fragile, yet amazing life is and that I really need to cherish every minute of it and never take anything or anyone for granted.

Re: What are some things you have been through that have made you stronger?

Having a baby definitely made me stronger.
You have to be strong to give birth and to be a mom too!

Re: What are some things you have been through that have made you stronger?

Infertility.

I spent my whole life being deathly afraid of Drs, and anything medical related. I once even passed out during a routine gyno exam I had to put all of that aside if I wanted to have a baby, and I was able to. It most definitely made me a stronger person and without a doubt going through all we had to go through has been my biggest accomplishment in life.

Re: What are some things you have been through that have made you stronger?

9/11...I've posted the story many times, so I won't repeat it.

But that day changed my life (as well as thousands of others) forever. Made me appreciate and love my husband and our life that much more.

Re: What are some things you have been through that have made you stronger?

Def 9/11

Losing my father and uncle within 10 months of each other--both suddenly. My dad, stroke and my uncle, boat accident on the Great South Bay...

Re: What are some things you have been through that have made you stronger?

2 losses in 7 months... its made me physically stronger because i was a bit of a scaredy cat when it came to medical procedures... and it made mine and Shauns relationship stronger... but its weeekend me emotionally for sure

Message edited 6/23/2011 10:25:59 AM.

Re: What are some things you have been through that have made you stronger?

Starting at 17...being date raped by my then boyfriend. He slipped me something at a party that I wasn't supposed to be at. What happened is extremely fuzzy to this day. I was terrified to tell my Mom until I started getting nauseaous every morning. I found out I was pregnant and terminated the pregnancy. I think of that decision every single day when I look at my children.

The November after my senior year, I was driving with my friend along Hempstead Turnpike when a carload of teens (some she knew) decidied to initiate a fight with us. In an effort to avoid a conflict, I started driving home. They followed me 16 miles (bumping my car with theirs, etc.) until I got to Bellmore (Newbridge & Sunrise). A teen coming home from a party drove his bike into the path of my car. I tried to avoid him and I couldn't. He died that night. Those were the blackest days of my life and I never-ever forget those moments.

Watching my six month old nephew die by degrees.

Going through my divorce.

Re: What are some things you have been through that have made you stronger?

my mother's battle with cancer and her passing when I was 27

being in a horrible and abusive marriage (to a pain killer addict) and when I finally got myself strong enough to leave- he over dosed and passed away -I was 31

and lastly....finding out 6 weeks ago I have type 1 diabetes at 34

I hope I am done...I am strong enough!

Re: What are some things you have been through that have made you stronger?

Being Diagnosed at age 10 with a practically eradicated illness.. dealing with the symptons for months before I was diagnosed, almost dying, taking years to fully recover and then, almost 100% back to "normal"- getting it again at age 15 and going through it all again. I spent many weeks during those years deathly ill, in the hospitaland then on bedrest for months at a time. taught me to really appreciate life at a young age. I had A LOT of resentment that those years of my life were basically taken from me. But, I've learned to be greatful that I'm still here..and finally healthy for the most part. Although the damage that was done to my heart and valves is forever..I can lead a relatively normal life.

Re: What are some things you have been through that have made you stronger?

Losing both of my parents by the time I was 30. My Mom died when I was 23, and my dad when I was 30. ( I spent my 30th b day in the hospital while he was so sick. ) Having my Mom sick from the time I was 10 yrs old, taking her for chemo etc as a late teen , early adult, picking my Father up off the floor when he had a stroke. Then 9/11 happened and it got me very very upset- but I was in a funk- it only made me stronger eventually. Also, getting thru a emotionally abusive relationship with an ex- boyfreind/ fiance. It made me stronger . I am a stronger women then I was many years ago, I miss my parents terribly.

Re: What are some things you have been through that have made you stronger?

My brother's death. Other stuff in my family...

I guess lots of other stuff that I am not going to share publicly

Re: What are some things you have been through that have made you stronger?

My mom's illness and ultimate death.

I can't really explain why it made me stronger, maybe because I was her caregiver and spent so much time with her on a daily basis.

Re: What are some things you have been through that have made you stronger?

Going on vacation with my husband and 13month old to Texas, visiting family. Heading to bed after our first full day there and having my husband double over in pain...which turned into loss of feeling in his leg...which turned into basically complete paralysis below the waist. He was 33, I was 30.

Thank God he was able to recover / rehablitate back so some semblance of "normal"...but the physical and emotional road back was not easy on either of us or our relationship. I give thanks every day that we have finally been able to work through everything, that he's finally hooked up with a good team of Doctors who have given us some long-awaited answers.

But there are reminders every day, the physical reminders, the medicinal reminders....I don't mind them though, because now they serve as reminders of how far we've come, how strong we've both been and how much stronger we are together as a resullt. I don't take anything for granted anymore, and I try hard not to let the little things upset me as much. Because life can change in the blink of an eye....

Re: What are some things you have been through that have made you stronger?

Re: What are some things you have been through that have made you stronger?

I was going to post mine but compared to what some of you girls have been through mine doesn't seem anywhere near as life changing as yours do. I'm so sorry that all of you have been through such horrible things but glad to see you all feel they made you a stronger person.

Re: What are some things you have been through that have made you stronger?

Losing my father to cancer when I was 12 yrs old.

Cleaning my fathers' grapefruit size hole in his back from his surgery for the week that he was home at the age of 12, By Myself! (my mom couldn't do it).

Being forced to meet my biological mother (i'm adopted) unexpectedly and giving the whole world an opportunity to witness it.

Meeting my identical twin, who I never knew of when I was 20.

Re: What are some things you have been through that have made you stronger?

The passing of my grandmother and mother within 9 months of each other. I was only 20 years old at the time and felt like my life had literally ended. As time has gone by I am now 36 years old and I feel that i value the little things in life so much more cause you just never know when you last day will be. I try to enjoy life to its fullest.

Re: What are some things you have been through that have made you stronger?

1st- i am so sorry to hear about all of these terrible things you all have gone through.

my biggest experience so far that has made me a stronger person today would have to be when i was diagnosed with alopecia areata as a pre-teen... i lost 98% of my hair, to the point where i had to wear a wig to school and got teased on a constant basis and had other kids trying to pull my hair to see if it was indeed a wig. i wouldnt sleep or shower without it on and i was so self conscious and depressed that i missed tons of things including school days and social functions because i just couldnt get myself out of the house. it was HORRENDOUS. kids can be SO cruel. it took years, but i am finally at the point where i am stronger because of it. if i could go back in time i would have handled things so differently. i also make it a point to tell my daughter daily that she is beautiful and anyone who tells her otherwise is probably just not happy with themselves. if i had known that back then i dont think it would have been so traumatizing.

Re: What are some things you have been through that have made you stronger?

when my father suddenly died in 2004, i thought that would be the darkest, hardest time of my life. and it was hard. it shaped me in a lot of ways.

but, by far, my journey TTC has made me stronger than i could've ever imagined. we have lost 3 babies in 2 years and one of those ended with me in emergency surgery for an ectopic--easily the most scared i have ever been. our struggles with trying to start our family has at times striped me down to a shell of a person and i've had to build myself back up in order to even function daily. my marriage has been tested time and time again and there have been so many dark moments but in the end we are so much stronger as a couple and i am SO much stronger as a person. i know that no matter what, we can survive anything.....I can survive anything.

everyday, i think of these things and then i thank GOD because i know that as hard as we've had it, it could be 1000 times harder and we are blessed a million times over for what we DO have!