All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts
Shakespeare

And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you.
Nietzsche

Two quotes. From two vastly different people. Both have meaning in my life, and relevance to today’s topic. It was difficult for me to come up with a title for this essay. I struggled for many long hours when...

Tomorrow is Mother's Day, so I decided to bake a cake for each Mum and Nana. Mum's cake is pretty much done, although I'm not sure how well it will turn out - I've never baked it before and the recipe looked odd. The batter tasted okay though, so hopefully it will be fine. Nana's is a chocolate cake and it's in the oven currently. Once it's done I'm going to take my washing off the line and make some lunch. And then relax. I can ice the cakes tomorrow, before I go over.

I can't catch...

Source: Announcements forum | Thread.


Hello everybody,

Just to let you know that today we've launched a new Live Help system, so the next time you go on it will look somewhat different. There's not a tremendous amount to tell you about the system as it works more or less the same as our previous one did. The main benefit to us of the new system is that we have much greater control over it.

Because you deserve to live
Because your life has value, whether or not you can see it
Because it was not your fault
Because you didn’t choose to be battered and used
Because life itself is precious,
Because you are connected to each and every other ritual abuse survivor, and so your daily battle automatically gives others hope and strength
Because you will feel better, eventually
Because each time you confront despair you get stronger you can’t know...

I feel like I need somebody to say it's okay to get well. But it's also okay to be afraid of being well, because I don't know what that will be like. And I need someone to tell me that once I'm well, that it's okay for me to be afraid of becoming unwell. Afraid of losing everything. Because it wouldn't be the first time. How many times do you have to lose everything before your body finally calls it quits?

I need somebody to hold me. To say that it's okay that I'm anxious, and it's...

just another normal day.....I guess. mmmmm where should I start, well my complicated relationship is getting a little less complicated. He can actually talk to me..... but its through my friend. He usually tells his older sister everything but he didn't this time. My one friend says all he wants is my v-card but I've known him for all my life and know he isn't like that. He seems like a terrible guy but he isn't. I think he is just so confused and lost he doesn't know what to believe. He always...

Sometimes I struggle to tell even my blog what's going on.

The words can be hard and the words can be painful, and sometimes I'm afraid. So very, very afraid. And I can't even explain why. Maybe it's anxiety, my team says I get very anxious a lot.

I got told that what happened in the bus stop was wrong, but that I didn't do anything wrong. I got told I could lay harassment charges if I wanted to. I declined. If I couldn't say it out loud to somebody whom I know and...

Source: Notice | Facilitated Chat Room Discussions.


There are two scheduled discussions on the topic of rape and abuse in the Chat Room for users to seek advice and share thoughts and ideas! The first discussion will be held at 8pm UK time (BST) and the second will be held at 8pm Central US time (CDT). All you have to do to take part is log into the Chat Room at the appropriate...

If you were alive today, you would be 92 years old or thereabout.
If you were alive today you'd see me getting into the National Honor Society. You'd be so proud of me. And for medalling fifth in Skills.
You'd be so proud of my sister for raising a beautiful little girl.
You'd probably be proud of a lot of our family.
I was so sad when you started to forget things but deep down I knew that you still remembered some things, it was just trapped within your mind. You remembered...

“Lumos,” Harry muttered, and a light appeared at the end of his wand, almost dazzling him. He held it high over his head, and the pebble-dashed walls of number two suddenly sparkled; the garage door gleamed, and between them Harry saw, quite distinctly, the hulking outline of something very big, with wide, gleaming eyes. -- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban


The great black dog, that vile beast that takes over the mind and soul and sits on you, never letting up,...