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My parents were cold intellectuals; my dad was raised "stoic" and my step-mom had an invalid and a crazy person for parents, and so go little if any compassion programming. I was pretty much raised a Vulcan. But somewhere along the line, I had to decide that I was not the sum of my past, and to go out and write myself new software.

Today, I can get down on the floor and roll around with my children, I can tell them exactly how much I love them and how much God loves them. I can be angry (not rageful) when the situation calls for it. I can maintain healthy boundries with those around me, not being walked on but not abusing anyone else. My emotionless youth saddens me, but it does not control who I am today. I am not one of those people who spend all their time muttering under their breaths about the things that happened yesterday, or last week, or fifty years ago.

My children are beautiful, graceful things who don't carry the poison I went through, but know enough about it to be grateful that I got help and didn't let it flow downhill to them.

Prayers up for this sad woman who exemplifies the Liberal mindset of do-as-I-say. We are the product of our pasts, but we do not have to stay that way. It is really like the old joke...the light bulb really has to want to change.

I'm very glad you were able to overcome your past. Some people can. Emory University researchers, I think, were the first to discover that psychological trauma as a child leads to actual physical differences between adult brains...so it can be very difficult for abuse victims to overcome their past.

However, it can be done. I know some who have done so, myself, and I have such admiration for their strength, perseverence, and courage.