What is the one thing you’ve done in your life that made you realize you are much stronger than you ever gave yourself credit for?
December 30, 2025
What is the one thing you’ve done in your life that made you realize you are much stronger than you ever gave yourself credit for?
29 comments
[removed]
Stopped dating
In a very literal way, going to the gym.
I’ve always been very thin and teased for having spaghetti arms etc.
I’ve gone to the gym regularly for 2-3 years now and made sure to eat enough protein.
Now I can do 5 pull ups in a row, push ups and pistol squats.
It really showed me that I can do great things if I put in the effort✨
Raised my son as a single mother.
Survived breast cancer.
Divorced and got my own mortgage.
Haven’t even dealt with my own money for years, yet alone sort all that out!
Cliche answer.. Therapy.
Actually doing something about my previous mental health difficulties and actively engaging with the therapy, even when I really struggled to speak about specific things and felt like none of it would work.
It did work. Just had to work at it and persevere with the techniques. I’m in a much better place now.
Rebuilt from the ground up after the Great Recession took everything from me at 32. Now at 48 my home or vehicles aren’t fancy or new but I own them all outright and I’m really proud I was able to do that while never making close to what I used to earn before 2009. I’ve learned I’m resilient and determined as hell to get where I’m going no matter how long it takes me.
I left my abuser. I had $100 my best friend had sent me. I waited until he left on a business trip, then packed only what fit in my little car. I drove eight hours to my best friend’s house, called a divorce attorney and started the process.
For the next few months I slept on the floor of her laundry room and took any temporary job I could find but I was safe, happy and at peace.
The happily ever after? One year later I was married, we had bought a house and I had a job I loved. We will celebrate our 33rd anniversary in May.
I survived staying without a phone for 3 months after it was stolen. The worst period of my life.
Survive
Overcoming a breakup I thought I’d never get over with. 😌
Pushed out a baby and we both survived postpartum. Both are way way harder than I could ever imagine.
I moved overseas by myself to a developing country, to a city I’d never been to where I knew no one to start my life over as a substitute for rehab because that was actually cheaper than going to rehab. I didn’t think anything of it at the time. But sometimes people tell me that’s a really brave thing to do and most people wouldn’t have the courage to do that. And I have a moment of realisation that that is a pretty badass thing to do!
it’s standing up for myself and knowing when to walk away
Surviving a period of my life without knowing what I was doing, without money, without a plan… and on top of that, giving advice. That’s when I realized I’m stronger than I thought 💪😅
[removed]
💝TLDR: risked excommunication, left abusive marriage, started over amidst family/church rejection, used their criticism as a soundtrack to fuel my comeback. Reveled in their silence as my vindication. 💝 STORYTIME: 📕Coming up, my church had me thinking I needed a husband to have a family, to be able to afford a home. My folks were pleased I was married, even when it turned abusive, even when I lost weight and stopped going out in public, even when I stopped speaking altogether. I found it to be so much bs that my church—my family—was more comfortable with me staying to save face (divorce is taboo) than me being safe. I decided to leave the marriage and the church. I decided to try to do it on my own, reasoning that any difficulty couldn’t be worse than where I was; everything I was taught to fear if I left had already happened. So I took the leap. Risking to flail or even to fail for a chance to fly on my own merits. Yes, it was hard. Yes, I failed. Often. And of course, my (church) folks criticized me along the way. “You can’t do it. You won’t make it. God won’t bless you. If you leave the church, you’re leaving God.” Soon enough though, I was surviving on my own (without them)—I was Succeeding on my own. And the silence that came after all their noise was the loudest confirmation that I had done well for myself where they said it was impossible. Even better, I proved to myself that I could. And while they’d said “God won’t honor my divorce” and bless my life, Someone sure did; new family and friends came out of nowhere with genuine concern, making no demands, expecting no repayment—I had a new support system (a new “church”). That vindication was the best spiritual experience I’d had. 📕
Lost the use of my legs through an illness called Transverse Myelitis… it has taken every strength in my body to walk again, and in doing so, I also left an abusive relationship becoming a single Mother. I actually believe it was the stress of the relationship that caused it.
10 years clear, with a lot of effects still left…. but in so much peace.
Moving to a new city alone and building a life from scratch.
Getting over my ex and relocating to a new country on my own to pursue the career of my dreams
Left a shitty marriage
I survived my son dying, I survived being raped and assaulted, I lost 100+lbs, i quit drinking alcohol and I’m still sober, I paid off my student loans, I have always made it work for my five kids, etc. all before 30.
Nine years ago, at 14, I attempted suicide. Now I live my dream life and am ridiculously professionally successful for my age, despite making a ~60k salary. I have learned to love LIVING, and I know that even if I were unhoused with no one left in my life, I’d never attempt again, because all I will ever have is the ability to breathe and live and love. I know I’ll never return there.
Broke an abuse cycle that lasted for six years. <3 2026 is gonna be my year.
I left a partner and house behind at age 34 to be solo and broke up with my adoptive family (2019 / 2020).
I’m now 41 and got a second degree and many many friends. I’m still working poor for now, but the second career should help with that. It’s my last “problem” to solve, the rest of my life is fine. I also applied to my favourite band with a project.
It taught me I’m strong, resilient and should believe in myself more. And that I have the power to heal.
Moving to another country on my own where I couldn’t read or understand most of the language. It’s been 6 months in Japan and I’m proud how I got so far.
Leaving a situation I thought I couldn’t survive without. It was terrifying at first, but looking back, it’s the proudest I’ve ever been of myself. I’m so much more resilient than I thought.
Perfect time to repeat this story. This was my biggest “main character” event.
Backstory: my biological parents died together in a car accident when I was 13 and my sister was 15. We landed with a foster family that belonged to the Mormon church, who immediately started raising us in their church’s standards.
My sister and I also came into the family with a significant trust fund – our dad had a top-level job and was able to leave us essentially life-changing money. The rule was that while we were still underage, the fund could be used only for educational or health expenses. And then once we graduated high school, our share of it would be handed over to our control on our next birthday. In the interim, the fund was managed by a (non-Mormon) lawyer who was a friend of our bio parents.
All during this time, the foster parents were gaslighting us into the idea that once we came of age and took ownership of the money, we would tithe to the church first, fund our own Mormon missions, and they wanted everything else handed over to them in “gratitude” for the work they’d done in raising us.
My sister ended up having a meltdown at 17 and had to be removed to a group home that served her needs better. That left me as the only fundholder in the household, so the parents doubled down on me.
I didn’t want to make waves, so I went head down and focused on my education so I could get out of high school successfully. At 18 I graduated salutatorian, which was great for me! I pretended with the fosters that I was preparing for the mission they wanted me to do. All the while they were budgeting based on the windfall they thought they were about to receive. They took out a lot of debt to buy a sports car and to remodel their kitchen.
But privately, I went in to the lawyer’s office and confirmed with him that I wasn’t required to hand over the money to anybody. I was entitled to keep it all for myself.
That July was my 19th birthday. Signing day for the fund transfer! We went into the lawyer’s office together – the lawyer had the foresight to hire an off-duty police officer for security. I told the fosters that I was not signing over anything, that I was keeping the money for themselves. They were escorted out of the office while I did the paperwork. Then the officer escorted me back to their house where I packed up my stuff and left to a safe house I’d arranged. The parents were detained outside while I did this… at one point the officer even had to handcuff the foster dad to keep him from storming back into the house to stop me. (I tell you, he *really* hated the fact that a lady officer had that kind of authority over him!)
Escape was successful! I used the money to fund my own Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees (no Mormon mission required!) Since then I’ve landed both my dream job (with promotion to management) and my dream husband, and I’m living my best life! I’ve heard rumors that the fosters went bankrupt and had their fancy car repossessed.
29 comments
[removed]
Stopped dating
In a very literal way, going to the gym.
I’ve always been very thin and teased for having spaghetti arms etc.
I’ve gone to the gym regularly for 2-3 years now and made sure to eat enough protein.
Now I can do 5 pull ups in a row, push ups and pistol squats.
It really showed me that I can do great things if I put in the effort✨
Raised my son as a single mother.
Survived breast cancer.
Divorced and got my own mortgage.
Haven’t even dealt with my own money for years, yet alone sort all that out!
Cliche answer.. Therapy.
Actually doing something about my previous mental health difficulties and actively engaging with the therapy, even when I really struggled to speak about specific things and felt like none of it would work.
It did work. Just had to work at it and persevere with the techniques. I’m in a much better place now.
Rebuilt from the ground up after the Great Recession took everything from me at 32. Now at 48 my home or vehicles aren’t fancy or new but I own them all outright and I’m really proud I was able to do that while never making close to what I used to earn before 2009. I’ve learned I’m resilient and determined as hell to get where I’m going no matter how long it takes me.
I left my abuser. I had $100 my best friend had sent me. I waited until he left on a business trip, then packed only what fit in my little car. I drove eight hours to my best friend’s house, called a divorce attorney and started the process.
For the next few months I slept on the floor of her laundry room and took any temporary job I could find but I was safe, happy and at peace.
The happily ever after? One year later I was married, we had bought a house and I had a job I loved. We will celebrate our 33rd anniversary in May.
I survived staying without a phone for 3 months after it was stolen. The worst period of my life.
Survive
Overcoming a breakup I thought I’d never get over with. 😌
Pushed out a baby and we both survived postpartum. Both are way way harder than I could ever imagine.
I moved overseas by myself to a developing country, to a city I’d never been to where I knew no one to start my life over as a substitute for rehab because that was actually cheaper than going to rehab. I didn’t think anything of it at the time. But sometimes people tell me that’s a really brave thing to do and most people wouldn’t have the courage to do that. And I have a moment of realisation that that is a pretty badass thing to do!
it’s standing up for myself and knowing when to walk away
Surviving a period of my life without knowing what I was doing, without money, without a plan… and on top of that, giving advice. That’s when I realized I’m stronger than I thought 💪😅
[removed]
💝TLDR: risked excommunication, left abusive marriage, started over amidst family/church rejection, used their criticism as a soundtrack to fuel my comeback. Reveled in their silence as my vindication. 💝 STORYTIME: 📕Coming up, my church had me thinking I needed a husband to have a family, to be able to afford a home. My folks were pleased I was married, even when it turned abusive, even when I lost weight and stopped going out in public, even when I stopped speaking altogether. I found it to be so much bs that my church—my family—was more comfortable with me staying to save face (divorce is taboo) than me being safe. I decided to leave the marriage and the church. I decided to try to do it on my own, reasoning that any difficulty couldn’t be worse than where I was; everything I was taught to fear if I left had already happened. So I took the leap. Risking to flail or even to fail for a chance to fly on my own merits. Yes, it was hard. Yes, I failed. Often. And of course, my (church) folks criticized me along the way. “You can’t do it. You won’t make it. God won’t bless you. If you leave the church, you’re leaving God.” Soon enough though, I was surviving on my own (without them)—I was Succeeding on my own. And the silence that came after all their noise was the loudest confirmation that I had done well for myself where they said it was impossible. Even better, I proved to myself that I could. And while they’d said “God won’t honor my divorce” and bless my life, Someone sure did; new family and friends came out of nowhere with genuine concern, making no demands, expecting no repayment—I had a new support system (a new “church”). That vindication was the best spiritual experience I’d had. 📕
Lost the use of my legs through an illness called Transverse Myelitis… it has taken every strength in my body to walk again, and in doing so, I also left an abusive relationship becoming a single Mother. I actually believe it was the stress of the relationship that caused it.
10 years clear, with a lot of effects still left…. but in so much peace.
Moving to a new city alone and building a life from scratch.
Getting over my ex and relocating to a new country on my own to pursue the career of my dreams
Left a shitty marriage
I survived my son dying, I survived being raped and assaulted, I lost 100+lbs, i quit drinking alcohol and I’m still sober, I paid off my student loans, I have always made it work for my five kids, etc. all before 30.
Nine years ago, at 14, I attempted suicide. Now I live my dream life and am ridiculously professionally successful for my age, despite making a ~60k salary. I have learned to love LIVING, and I know that even if I were unhoused with no one left in my life, I’d never attempt again, because all I will ever have is the ability to breathe and live and love. I know I’ll never return there.
Broke an abuse cycle that lasted for six years. <3 2026 is gonna be my year.
I left a partner and house behind at age 34 to be solo and broke up with my adoptive family (2019 / 2020).
I’m now 41 and got a second degree and many many friends. I’m still working poor for now, but the second career should help with that. It’s my last “problem” to solve, the rest of my life is fine. I also applied to my favourite band with a project.
It taught me I’m strong, resilient and should believe in myself more. And that I have the power to heal.
Moving to another country on my own where I couldn’t read or understand most of the language. It’s been 6 months in Japan and I’m proud how I got so far.
Leaving a situation I thought I couldn’t survive without. It was terrifying at first, but looking back, it’s the proudest I’ve ever been of myself. I’m so much more resilient than I thought.
Perfect time to repeat this story. This was my biggest “main character” event.
Backstory: my biological parents died together in a car accident when I was 13 and my sister was 15. We landed with a foster family that belonged to the Mormon church, who immediately started raising us in their church’s standards.
My sister and I also came into the family with a significant trust fund – our dad had a top-level job and was able to leave us essentially life-changing money. The rule was that while we were still underage, the fund could be used only for educational or health expenses. And then once we graduated high school, our share of it would be handed over to our control on our next birthday. In the interim, the fund was managed by a (non-Mormon) lawyer who was a friend of our bio parents.
All during this time, the foster parents were gaslighting us into the idea that once we came of age and took ownership of the money, we would tithe to the church first, fund our own Mormon missions, and they wanted everything else handed over to them in “gratitude” for the work they’d done in raising us.
My sister ended up having a meltdown at 17 and had to be removed to a group home that served her needs better. That left me as the only fundholder in the household, so the parents doubled down on me.
I didn’t want to make waves, so I went head down and focused on my education so I could get out of high school successfully. At 18 I graduated salutatorian, which was great for me! I pretended with the fosters that I was preparing for the mission they wanted me to do. All the while they were budgeting based on the windfall they thought they were about to receive. They took out a lot of debt to buy a sports car and to remodel their kitchen.
But privately, I went in to the lawyer’s office and confirmed with him that I wasn’t required to hand over the money to anybody. I was entitled to keep it all for myself.
That July was my 19th birthday. Signing day for the fund transfer! We went into the lawyer’s office together – the lawyer had the foresight to hire an off-duty police officer for security. I told the fosters that I was not signing over anything, that I was keeping the money for themselves. They were escorted out of the office while I did the paperwork. Then the officer escorted me back to their house where I packed up my stuff and left to a safe house I’d arranged. The parents were detained outside while I did this… at one point the officer even had to handcuff the foster dad to keep him from storming back into the house to stop me. (I tell you, he *really* hated the fact that a lady officer had that kind of authority over him!)
Escape was successful! I used the money to fund my own Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees (no Mormon mission required!) Since then I’ve landed both my dream job (with promotion to management) and my dream husband, and I’m living my best life! I’ve heard rumors that the fosters went bankrupt and had their fancy car repossessed.
No regrets. 🙂