Everyone is Different

[William769]

Watch the video below, and share memories from your own youth.

[left-of-center2012]

1. "... share memories from your own youth."

That's a journey I don't like to make.
The way my father treated me (by basically ignoring me until I left home at 18) messed me up so badly,
it took me until I was I was 30 for me to get my brains sorted out.

I thought I had a normal childhood and normal parents.
But, once I grew up and left home, I realized my childhood was abnormal; with an unloving father,
and a mother who was afraid of his occasional physical abuse.

Today, all my siblings are extreme right wing 'Tea Baggers' and extreme evangelical born again Christians;
while I'm a left wing progressive Democrat, Shin Buddhist.

I tell myself I'm the normal one.

[WillParkinson]

2. I want to rec this reply...

And also send along a .

[William769]

3. A lot of people don't like to take that journey

I being one of them (after I wrote this I decided to think awhile before taking my journey back to my youth.

As painful as it may be, expressing it and letting go of those memories can do a lot more good for you than keeping them bottled up.

I don't want anyone to feel pain from this, I only want them to feel liberation.

[Rowdyboy]

4. I was surrounded by love...my old man was 17, a high school dropout. He drove long-haul

Mom's family farmed and kept us fed. I had grandparents, aunts and uncles, great aunts and uncles and cousins who were major parts of our life. It was a different time and I was EXTREMELY lucky.

I experienced some minor bullying in junior high and high school but nothing like most of you guys. I was so incredibly lucky.

And today, I have siblings and nieces and nephews with kids but we're really rarely together. My partner and I are accepted and loved but life is different now in ways that are both good and bad. I'm sorry I can't give them the same kind of support that I grew up with.

Thanks for the video.