This is more than just an Odyssey article. This is a sign of strength, a shoutout to everyone who has been in my position at one point or another. This is for anyone who has been in a compromising situation, who has questioned their self worth due to the hurtful words of others. This is a celebration of strength, of resilience and of empowerment.
To those who thought that they could break me, you have sadly underestimated me.
Perhaps I have done you wrong in some way, shape or form. For that, I sincerely apologize. It is never my intention to cause harm to others, so whether I have hurt you on purpose or unintentionally, then I am sorry. But maybe, you just have a problem with me for a reason that's out of my control. Maybe you find my presence to be annoying, or that I have received something that you don't believe that I deserve.
It's also quite possible that the problem does not lay with me, but with yourself. Perhaps you feel inadequate as a person, and your defense mechanism is to cause pain to others.
The possibilities are endless. However, those issues do not excuse your behavior. That doesn't give your the right to treat me as a subhuman. That doesn't give you the right to manipulate me and hurt me.
I don't like to consider myself to be a fragile person; I am, in fact, very strong when it comes to my emotions and personality. But a human being can only take so much. Your words have caused me an insurmountable amount of pain. I have cried until I'm gasping for air and my body is shaking. I have had moments of self-doubt. I have panicked when seeing your name appear on my phone, or when someone mentions your name.
I may never be the same.
But you will never break me.
Let me say it again: you will never break me.
You will never ruin me completely. You will never destroy the person who I am becoming. You will not inhibit my abilities to succeed. All you're doing is wasting your breath and making a fool out of yourself.
I saw a quote as I was scrolling through Facebook once, it read "The Devil whispered in my ear, "You're not strong enough to withstand the storm." Today, I whispered, "I am the storm.""
So, to my abusers, to my bullies, and to everyone else who has tried to break me: you have no idea who you are dealing with.
Despite the trials and tribulations, I am a force of nature. I am a force to be reckoned with. I will continue to work my ass off and succeed, and unless you drastically change your ways, you will all remain the same miserable and bitter people.
And at the end of the day, that's all I need. I don't need to cause any fights, or to start any problems. Knowing that I'm doing well and you're stuck in your ways is truly all that I could ever ask for.
However, I'm not going to be petty. I hope and pray that you all realize the error of your ways. I hope that you change, not just for the sake of others, but for the sake of yourself. I hope that you find peace with your inner demons, and I hope that you can come to terms with what you've done. It won't be an easy process; I know that it's often very difficult to admit that you were wrong. But the outcome will be a peace of mind that you don't only need, but deserve.
To anyone reading this who has been in a similar situation: you are brave. You are so important, and please, never believe the words of these people.
You are so much more than what they told you that you were.
Never take the abuse. Stand up for yourself, even if you're standing alone. I hope that this article gives you the courage to leave your abuser, or to stand up to those who have hurt you. I hope that this article gives you strength, and the knowledge that you are never alone.
The power and strength that exists in you is more powerful then any person's thoughtless and poisonous speech.
