Dear Sisabel,

I went through more rough times than I care to recount or remember. Countless abusive relationships, many abusive bosses, several failures and many set backs. I've gained jobs and I've lost jobs. I've been single, happily and unhappily, and engaged twice now.

The worst was when I lost my greatest dream to move across country and live in CA and ended up hospitalized with a mental breakdown after a severely abusive relationship. I had to return home to live with my parents and lost my independence at the age of 43. It was absolutely horrible for me. I was suicidal for eight months straight and had only very part time work with minimal income. But, I picked myself up eventually, I pursued my career aspirations, I got a full time job again and I pulled my life slowly back together again. I still ended up in bad relationships at that point, but eventually, after a few more years of experience, I found true love with someone who doesn't abuse me and we are now engaged. I also eventually moved out of my parents' home after four years and am now living independently again with a great full time job and income.

So, YES. To partially answer your question, or to answer another question related to that, our lives can certainly fall completely apart and then be rebuilt again. We can experience extreme lows, yet rise back up again.

Have faith in yourself, foremost, and in what you want out of life. Go after the things you want, and go after the things that make you happiest and thrive the most, is the best advice I can give. Life is far too short to be miserable and in the wrong circumstances or situation, and sometimes, we have to fight for it, for all we're worth and with all the strength we can muster. It's WELL worth the fight, so NEVER EVER EVER GIVE UP HOPE, and most especially, don't ever give up on yourself!!!