Healing is really not about overcoming all your challenges to lead a happy life; it is really to be happy with the life you are leading with all its complications. This is an important distinction. I used to strive to be better, stronger, happier, then I realised that I already had all the answers within me. Traumas had long since past, however the residue lingered. It wasn't until my 43rd year that I realised the only fight going on was within myself. I was not at war with the world, just with me. I found a way to step out of the darkness and live freely for the first time and it took all of my 43 and a half years to do so, infact it took a little while to put it all into practice. I am now 48: I am strong; I am empowered and living an awesome life; but it doesn't need to take that long. I am sharing my story, my trials and tribulations so that others don't need to take so long to find their voice, their place in the world and their validity.