You are awsome LYNN!

You should be proud of your automatic protection skills - mentally and physically!

My grown daughter and her husband and 2 of the 3 grandchildren are also blackbelts, with just the one grandson to test for his soon, so I know they are taught in martial arts how to protect themselves from bullies mentally and if needed, physically. Maybe not with garden and construction tools, but to use their heads!

You are moving foreward (forward??) and not staying stuck in all the unhappyness in your past which is the best possible way to be. The old sayinga about 'if it doesn't kill me, it will make me stronger" must be what is keeping you afloat.

You are a survivor, not a victim and have a great heart.