#inspiring survivor stories

[storiesofmisfire]

Battling Suicidal Thoughts

This moving story explores a journey from pain and bullying to healing through faith. A reminder that support exists, you’re deeply valued, and reaching out is always an option.

[shalom-iamcominghome]

I've been doing a lot of reflection as of late, especially after this past class.

This past class was about the Torah and Tanakh in general, and the way the rabbi talked about the commandments (specifically the ten commandments) has made me really reflect on how I interpret them, specifically the fifth commandment, or honoring your mother and father.

This is a commandment I have wrestled with for a long time - in fact, it brought me away from g-d at multiple times. I was severely abused when I was incredibly young by my mother, and I used to feel insulted at the implication that I were to honor her while she got to live a better life. It was hypocritical, in my eyes.

But this rabbi surmised that this particular commandment was because parenthood is an act of creation, something that is like the g-d from which we come from. My realization is this: I don't think we're necessarily meant to take even these commandments literally.

I this particular commandment is more of a call to honor creation - creation is a gift, and like any gift, many people simply will not like it and will discard it. The person who abused me created me, but she did not honor creation. She didn't honor me, but I can still honor it.

I have started to honor creation much more. I'm too young, too unstable, not mature enough to be a father (though I fantasize about it), but I create all the time. I create relationships, I create with my hands through crochet. I create memories, I create my world. And I can honor who I am and where I came from that made me who I am. I've been learning one of the mother tongues of my family (Italian, since part of my family originates there) and it was judaism that inspired me to do this.

I don't think g-d wants me to honor my abuser. I think He wants me to remember the Holy action of creation. When I am a father, that act of creation will be Holy, and indeed, I am already joyful about the thought.

I have seen many people struggle with this particular commandment, but I think this perspective helps me personally. I don't think I ever have to forgive my abusers (plural), and I don't think I am commanded to simply because they happened to be family. I am commanded to recognize the holy, to elevate the mundane. In doing so, I will remember g-d. Through creation, I honor g-d and everything he has done for us, for me, and for our collective people.

[stealingpotatoes]

hands you all this cal to announce i’ve FINALLY finished fallen order (by which i mean i finally picked it up again after those couple hours i played a few months ago and then finished the whole game in 2 days lol)

[dravenscroft]

"Hey man, how's the search for that missing expedition going?"

"Hahaha, not well!"

Anyway a little snippet from my novel THIS SAVAGE KINGDOM, currently with my agent 👀

[tobitinytoes]

Some art I'm working on 🤭 May or may not be some upcoming characters in my book ☺️ (ignore the hastags 👀)

[automatonknight]

id: a digital drawing of walenty-an original character. he’s a white teen with short dark hair that covers up the top part of his face, two long, twisted horns on top of his head, fangs, claws and a long, thin tail that splits into two. he’s looking off to the right with a neutral expression. in his hair and the fur around his neck there are roses. he’s wearing a dark green suit with long coattails and a red, petal-like collar, a light green, striped vest, long dark green gloves, dark green pants and black, white and red elegant shoes. she’s standing upright with one hand behind her back and one resting on the hilt of her rapier that’s strapped to her hip. the background is black save for a white circle behind walenty’s head. end id

[kanerallels]

HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE EVERYONE BEHOLD THE EPIC (2013) KANERA AU WHICH I'M SO OBSESSED WITH RIGHT NOW @laughingphoenixleader FOR YOU

(by the way, don't read this if you haven't finished Jedi: Survivor, there are serious spoilers!)

Link to original ask!!

The Queen of the Jedi was a title that hadn’t been used in decades. Back when the Order had still existed, Caleb Dume had attended classes that talked about the title. How the Force only brought them on in times of greatest need, like during the battle against the Nihil over a hundred years ago.

 A Force wielder of great power, who was perfectly in tune with the Force, who could hear shatterpoints and see visions of the future. Who could interact with the living Force in a way most of them could only dream of. It was said that their connection with it was so deep, they could wield it through the plants that seemed to spring up wherever they walked.

It was the stuff of legends. Caleb Dume had taken it all in with wide eyes, enthusiastic as always.

But Kanan Jarrus hadn’t believed in the Queen of the Jedi— and even if he had, why would it matter? There were no Jedi left— or if there were, they would hopefully be smart enough to keep a low profile. So a Queen of the Jedi couldn’t be less relevant to his life.

At least, that’s what he’d thought. Right up until two months after he met Hera Syndulla.

There’d never been a Queen of the Jedi who wasn’t first a Force user of some kind— at least, none that had been recorded. But Hera was more of a Jedi than Kanan had ever been. And besides, she had the powers now. That was what really mattered.

Even if those powers meant she had a habit of running headlong into danger, even more so than she used to.

“I don’t like this plan,” he told her.

“I know you don’t.” Hera’s voice was calm as she swept her gaze across the crowd. She, like him, wore a dark cloak that covered their clothing, and hopefully helped them blend in with the crowd. Ord Mantell was a good place to dress like this— half of the beings past them were hooded or cloaked, trying to avoid the patrolling Imperials.

Kanan doubted any of them were hiding a secret like theirs, though.

“And we’re still doing it?” he asked, shifting a little so he could rest his hand on his weapon. The hilt under his palm comforted him a little.

“You know we are, Kanan. The Force directed me here,” Hera told him. “We’re here to recruit him, and without us, there’s no telling what happens to him.”

“He’s ISB,” Kanan pointed out. “There’s no telling what will happen to us if he turns on us.”

“He is ISB,” Hera agreed. “But he wasn’t always. And he needs another— there.”

Kanan followed her nod to a dark-haired man, moving through the crowd. He wore dual blasters in the holster strapped to his chest, and something about the way he moved suggested danger. “You’re sure?” Kanan asked, but he was already moving to his feet, readiness humming through him. Hera was always sure.

“I am,” she said. “And I was right. He’s a shatterpoint.”

As they started through the crowd together, Kanan said, “I didn’t think a person could be a shatterpoint.”

“Anything can be,” Hera replied. “His choices are going to affect the galaxy, one way or another. It’s our job to steer him towards the right path. Hopefully the one that results in him joining us.”

“That’s your job,” Kanan said, sidestepping out of the path of a group of Ithorians. They paid him no mind as he continued, “Mine is making sure you don’t die trying to steer him towards the right path.”

Hera let out a snort of amusement. “I thought your job was to do what I say, dear.”

Catching her by the edge of her cloak, Kanan tugged her out of the way just as a speeder zipped by. “Only when you’re making sense. And sometimes when you don’t.”

“Your loyalty is heartwarming,” Hera said, already scanning the crowd again. “There— he went into the cantina. He must be meeting with someone.”

“And now that someone is going to be us,” Kanan said, checking his weapon again. “Which method are we going with this time? Subtle persuasion, or overwhelming him with your queenly majesty?”

“In the middle of a crowded cantina?” Hera said. “I don’t need to put your blood pressure through the roof today, thank you.”

“Thanks,” Kanan said wryly. “Subtle persuasion it is. You ready?”

“Always,” Hera said.

Together, the two of them slipped into the cantina. It was a dimly lit, shabby place. The tables were mostly empty, with the exception of a Weequay and his Ithorian companion playing sabacc, and a few others.

The dark-haired man had taken a table in a back corner, at a position where he could see the door and the rest of the room. Tactical thinker, Kanan observed as Hera led the way towards him. If this does go sideways, he could be a handful.

None of that, of course, stopped Hera from heading over and taking the seat in front of him. Kanan opted to stand. One hand hovering over his weapon, he watched as the dark-haired man looked up in surprise.

“Bode Akuna?” Hera asked.

“That’s me,” the man said slowly. Kanan could see his guard go up as he sized Hera up— a slight Twi’lek woman wearing a dark cloak. To the outside eye— well, it could never be said that Hera didn’t look like much.

But everything that Hera was couldn’t be contained in one glance, and so Bode relaxed fractionally. Kanan had to hold back a laugh. The guy didn’t know what was about to hit him.

“What can I do for you?” he asked.

“I’m here to recruit you,” Hera told him.

One of Bode’s eyebrows shot up. “That so? Well, I’m free for hire— if your muscle there wants to let go of whatever weapon he has under that cloak,” he added, nodding at Kanan. “Then we can talk.”

Kanan sensed rather than saw Hera’s nod. This is a bad idea, he thought, but released his weapon anyways, lifting both of his hands just high enough in the air that Bode could see them.

Nodding, Bode turned back to Hera. “So, what kind of job are we talking about here?”

“It’s not exactly your average job,” Hera said mildly. “It would require dedication, and trust on both sides.  And integrity.”

“Not a lot of call for that in my line of work,” Bode said with a snort of amusement. “Listen— I’m flattered, but I actually have something else lined up right now—”

“No, you don’t,” Hera said. “And if you do, it’s not a job you want to take.”

A flash of confusion crossed Bode’s face. “What?”

“What I mean is that working for the Empire isn’t sustainable. Not for a man in your position.”

Bode went still, his eyes locked on Hera. “What exactly do you know about my position?”

Kanan could hear the compassion in Hera’s voice as she said, “I know you work for the ISB as a spy. You do it because that’s what your supervisor needs from you, because you’re good at it. But most importantly, you do it to protect your daughter.”

Any pretense of confusion or amusement dropped at Hera’s last words. Bode’s glare was fierce as he said, “Leave her out of this. Whatever it is you want, it’s about me.” He glanced at Kanan, then back at Hera, his expression hostile. “So what is this? Some kind of test? Or do you want me to flip on the Empire for you?”

“It’s not a test,” Hera assured him. “And I don’t want you to spy on the Empire. I want you to leave them.”

Shaking his head, Bode said, “You may have looked me up, but apparently you missed some important things. I don’t just give my loyalty to whoever—”

“Agree to disagree,” Kanan muttered under his breath, and sensed a spike of disapproval coming from Hera.

Luckily, Bode either ignored it or didn’t care as he continued, “And I’m not just gonna let you threaten me. You’ve got ten seconds to drop this and leave, or things are going to get ugly.”

Oh, I don’t think so. Kanan gritted his teeth, wishing desperately that he could respond exactly the way he wanted to. But he knew Hera wanted to try diplomacy, and he felt her gratitude as he kept his mouth shut.

“Bode,” she said. “We’re not threatening you. We’re offering you a way out. We know the secret Denvik is holding over you, and—”

There was a crash at the door, and Kanan looked up sharply to see a flood of white clad troopers stomping into the room. In the lead was a black-clad figure, and Kanan cursed under his breath. 

“Time to go,” he muttered to Hera, who followed his gaze.

As did Bode, who cursed even more vehemently than Kanan had. “What did you do to get a purge trooper after you?” he demanded.

“I think you can guess that,” Hera said, a smile curving across her face. Kanan nearly groaned as he recognized the smile. It was the one that meant danger, and that she was about to head straight towards it. I take it that means we’re not sneaking out the back, he thought.

A heartbeat later, the purge trooper spotted them. “Stop right there, traitors!” he barked, striding forward.

Leaning over to Hera, Kanan murmured, “You want him or his friends?”

“I’ll take him,” Hera said, getting to her feet. As she rose, she shed her cloak, dropping it onto the chair behind her. Underneath, she wore a dress that was part armor, part elegance. The pauldrons and breastplate over her simple white top were painted green, with golden highlights, but at the waist, her skirt flared out into a full, fluttering white skirt. 

Hanging from her neck was a white crystal, one that shimmered green and pink and blue as the light hit it. 

“You really think an outfit change is going to help?” Bode said as Hera headed towards the purge trooper.

Kanan tossed aside his own cloak, under which he wore armor of a similar style to what Hera wore. At his waist hung a scabbarded weapon, the hilt made of a simple, silvery metal. “No,” he said, “but it does make us look pretty awesome.”

Grasping the hilt, he pulled it free of the scabbard. The blue blade of his lightsaber burst to life, and he heard a gasp from behind him. Kanan didn’t look back. 

As he and Hera moved to intercept the troopers, he heard the purge trooper scoff. “I can take down Jedi scum any day,” he said. “But you should at least make it hard. Where’s your weapon, Twi’lek?”

Kanan felt a grin cross his face, and he couldn’t resist stopping to watch, just for a moment.

Hera smiled at the purge trooper. “I don’t need one,” she said, and the kyber crystal around her neck began to glow.

At the same time, her eyes lit with a bright white fire, and the ground beneath them started to shake. The purge trooper stumbled backwards, his movements unsteady. “Open fire!” he shouted, the slightest edge of panic in his voice.

The stormtroopers behind him raised their weapons, but then Kanan was moving, cutting through them, batting aside blaster bolts with ease. He kept one part of his mind on Hera as he fought, watching her through the Force.

She knew, and he knew she knew, and he sensed her amusement at his vigilance, which she saw as excessive. But they only had one Queen of the Jedi, and Kanan wasn’t about to lose her to a stray blaster bolt.

Hera could hold her own, though— a fact that was made clear as vines burst through the floor, shattering the concrete. They were a pale, pale yellow-green, like they hadn’t seen sunlight in… maybe ever. In Ord Mantell City, full of stone and glass and metal, that wouldn’t surprise Kanan.

He cut down the last trooper, and turned to watch as the vines twined around the purge trooper, crawling up his body. He tried to smack them away, but they grew faster, enveloping him and pulling him downwards.

“Wha— stop! Get off!” The panic in his voice was stronger now, as he tried to wrestle free of the vines. But it wasn’t long before one vine, stronger than the others, twisted around his throat and tightened until he went limp, crumpling to the ground unconscious.

Giving his saber a deft spin, Kanan resheathed it, extinguishing the blue light. He could feel the satisfaction of a good fight humming through him, and through Hera. She shot him a smile as they turned back to where Bode was sitting.

Or rather, where he had been sitting. His seat was empty, and there was no sign of the man. “He must have slipped out during the fight,” Kanan muttered, grimacing. “Not exactly what you planned?”

“Not exactly,” Hera agreed, her voice resigned. “We’ll go to plan B, then.”

“Which is?” Kanan asked as she grabbed their cloaks, settling hers over her shoulder.

Tossing him his cloak, Hera said, “Overwhelm with queenly majesty, of course.”

“I do like that plan,” Kanan said. “And we have a decent start here. But we’ll need to find him first.”

“After this, there’s only one place he would be,” Hera said composedly. “Which means we’re going to Nova Garon.”

[wisteria-grows-here]

[lynettethemadscientist]

I cannot get over how good the story of Fallout 4 is. And yet somehow this seems to be what people hate most about it? How?? Honestly if you can’t get immersed in this story then that is a skill issue. Learn to use your imagination. And get some narrative comprehension.

[egg-emperor]

everyone loves angst and bad shit happening in stories until I write it with the focus being on Eggman as the perpetrator lol

[storiesofmisfire]

Was it a father's love?

With his parents divorced, Dennis Dunham was raised by Uncle Henry, who provided the love and stability he needed. But his life changed forever at eleven when Henry took his own life. In his 2024 memoir, Misfire, Dr. Dunham explores his journey from deep loss to a mission for suicide prevention and survivor support. Read the full story.

[lyricalchrysanthemum]

Playing devil survivor 2 and thinking about the concepts and plot points it introduces in the game. Mainly the Akashic Record.

It makes me think about like. The universe’s creation in Pokemashe and makes me want to incorporate the akashic record especially with the multiple timelines.

I might do a full write up about Arceus’s role in the universe, how it was created, and the record sometime soon it’s very interesting to think about worldbuilding wise.

[thetallgirltellsall]

Middle East Miracles

“There is impartation and blessing in stewarding the testimony through writing.” -Jennifer A. Miskov I have been encouraged to testify to what the Lord has done through three months of serving in the Middle East. (For the protection of the girls involved, I am changing names and leaving out location details.) Has God ever trusted you with a job you never even thought to ask for yet looking back…

[youngstrokesurvivors]

On this episode of Strength In You, we get krusher with the love of Keith "Krusher"Rush, as he share how he manages to stay positive after multiple strokes. Come listen and understand his journey.

[manojnaironline]

Lessons from a pandemic

Most of us will never forget the years from 2020 to 2022? The pandemic years and the lessons it taught us have scarred us for life. In September 2020, at the peak of the pandemic, my father passed away. For the funeral, I had to travel from Mumbai to Kerala. There were strict protocols in place. Police checks on the way to the airport, masks were mandatory, frequent washing of hands. For the…

[smileblogger]

World War II Survivor