This Does Not Leave This House

by Julie Coons

Because breaking the cycle in your family will not only benefit your own children but their children too, and hopefully many generations to come.

I strongly believe that forgiveness is something you give yourself, not the person whom you are forgiving. This is so important. It's hard on your soul to carry around so much dark energy that holding a grudge can create.

I'm also a big believer in karma. The times when I have wanted revenge the most are the times I had to just relax, put it in God’s hands, and let the universe take care of it. It’s amazing how often it did. Never as quickly as I would have liked, but I do believe karma did a much better job than I ever could have. Don't ever mess with karma.

I had the pain and scars to remind me it was real. The scars on my body healed after a while, but the scars on my soul are very much still there.

I think all girls need to have a little sass to get them through life.

Protect your happiness, but don’t block the wall off too high either. Don’t miss out on that really good person because you are too blocked off.

Love yourself. Sometimes you will be all you have. Be willing to give yourself the love you so easily give away to others.

Change the tape in your mind to something more positive and good things will follow.

Change the message in your head from negative to positive and a whole new world of opportunities will open up. Positive thoughts create positive results.

Anytime that you are afraid, or for anything that you’re really afraid of, that’s when you have to get up and face it because fear can hold you back.

“Take life as it happens, but make it happen the way you want to take it.”

You are not alone. You are not the rape. You are not the abuse. You are not the illness. No matter what it is, you are not that thing you carry around. You are a special person with a sensitive soul who deserves to be acknowledged.

You are not your illness, or your rape, or your abuse.

If anyone treats you like you are less than perfect, rid your life of them.

My father really tried to help build my self-esteem by telling me, “You are not hamburger. You are steak.”

I am grateful for the person I am today, but I really did have to walk through a lot of shit to get here.

Negativity is like gunk that jams up an engine. It creeps into your soul and somehow becomes who you are, but only if you allow it. Negative is stronger than positive for reasons I really don’t understand.

in the middle of the darkness, always try to find the lighter side of things and try to be a positive force for yourself.

Every time you can do something to make you feel proud of yourself, you help chip away some of the negative stuff that has attached so deeply to your soul.

Don’t you cry no more.