I KNOW THIS IS LONG-BUT PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO READ, OR DON'T BOTHER ENTERING. The following synopsis of my life is not written for your sympathy/empathy but to get my point accross as to what I'm asking for in this contest. I've dealt with what life has tossed my way, I want to know what you've been tossed and how you are dealing with it.
Okay, I'm asking for "LIFE INTERRUPTING STORIES" as in the last 2 yrs. I've had some drastic changes take place in my life. 1) I was forced into early retirement from a 20 yr. career as a State Employee, working with offenders/ and a Training Instructor, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I planned to retire after 30 yrs. of service. 2). I was abducted/raped by a stranger, 1-1/2 yrs. before my retirement. He was caught and sentenced to 20 yrs. I have a husband and family who supported me through this, as well as a strong faith in God, still I sought counseling.
I did not suffer any permanent physical injuries, disease, etc. from this experience. The mental scars are still there, but fading with time.
This attributed partially to the cause of my early retirement. Through all of this I coped and survived. I still had my moments that I questioned why this had to happen to me, yes, I enjoyed my pity parties.
3) Finally, after accepting that bad things happen to good people and that I was no exception to this rule. I stopped being angry with God for
allowing this to happen, my life was just beginning to become somewhat normal again, and then...
4) I lost an aunt to cancer. She and I were very close. She left me not only with the grief of her passing, but the care of her 2 mentally challenged sons who are 42 and 48 yrs of age. As well as my uncle who is 72 yrs. old and not in good health. Yet, her last request to me
was that I care for them as she always had and not allow them to put into a home. I promised that I would, and I have kept true this promise.
Though very stressful at times, I have also found this task very rewarding. These two "men", with innocent, childlike minds, never fail to make me laugh and fill my heart with joy. They've given me more than I've ever given them. And through all of this, the most important lesson I've learned is that God didn't intervene during my crisis because he knew this tragedy was the only way he could place me where I needed to be during this time of my life.
I WANT true, completely life changing events. Such as...death, be it family, mother, father, child, spouse....But, being death is part of life, we all experience it and go through the grieving process. I DON'T want to hear about that. If you write on this subject, it must be about how the death of this person/persons changed or caused you to rearrange your life. Perhaps you were left to care for someone they left behind.
ILLNESS of someone close who you are left to care for, and how it changed your life, or how you had to rearrange your life.
ILLNESS that has affected you and completely changed your life. Left you unable to work, permanently disabled...dependent upon others for your everyday care.
TRAUMATIC EVENTS...rape, witness to something so tragic that it has left you with psychological problems, so severe that you've had to change your life. Perhaps you are afraid to go out alone, afraid to drive, afraid to sleep because of nightmares. Maybe you suffer from Post Traumatic Stress, depression, etc.
I want to know how such events totally changed your life, your normal routines. Most Importantly...I want to know how you've learned to cope. Be it spiritually, counseling, assistance from family/friends, writing here on AP:)
I DON'T WANT-He/She broke my heart, cheated on me, or any other sappy, happy, crappy love stories. WILL BE DQ'D.
ALL OTHER USUAL RULES APPLY:
please use spell check
Free verse or rhyme
Poetic format please
No line limit
Label appropriately
Fresh~New Writes Only
*Thanks to my Arkangel (Arkbear), for his support of this contest, for he too is a living testament of a True Survivor of life*
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on August 3
- Rewards: Gold: 1000, Silver: 300, Bronze: 200, Honorable mention: 3 people
- Final notes: Though I didn't get the number of entries I'd expected, I am pleased with the entries that I received. Though we all have tragedies and events that occur in our lives and affect us all in different ways, what I was looking for were events that have occurred that completely changed your lives, and your plans for the future. I was also looking for how you dealt with and/or are still dealing with it. I found in each and every entry deep, emotional, feelings, pain and scars. But, I also found hope and healing, especially in the gold, silver and bronze. The hm's are in no specific order as too my favorite, yet each of those too touched me deeply and are well deserving of reward. If you take the time to read some of these painful entries you will find that perhaps your problems aren't as bad as they seem, and that without the bad things in our lives we wouldn't know how to appreciate the good May each of you always be blessed with happiness, love and wisdom.
Sincerely,
Sassy
Contest Winners
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Limericks are usually funny Parkinson's, my efforts distainedby jinglingjoy 66 lines, 5 comments, on Jul 15 5:24 AM. In Contest, life experience, coping with long term illness, personal, some humor, life
Gold trophy winner
• Commented on by judge. [remove] -
Pink four walls to cradle me
and I’m tired of holding it in.• Commented on by judge. [remove] -
• Commented on by judge. [remove]
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I knew Tragedy, ever so cool and gray.
When I was seven, he would come over to my house to play.by Suicide Blonde 42 lines, 1 comment, on Jul 14 12:13 AM
Honorable winner• Commented on by judge. [remove] -
Believe me, I knew even then that your heart has always belonged to that place
I knew you loved serving in the war much more than you coul• Commented on by judge. [remove] -
by Gentle Lion 41 lines, 1 comment, on Jul 14 9:13 PM
Honorable winner• Commented on by judge. [remove]
Silver trophy winner
Bronze trophy winner
Entries [8]
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I will never be able to forget the ringing of the phone late that night,
without knowing what you would say, I could just sense that somet• Commented on by judge. -
Look into my eyes What do you see?• Commented on by judge.
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Comments
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I'm confused.
Do you want this in a prose narrative format or as poetry? -
If you change your mind and permit "prewritten" work, please let me know!
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Oh my.....what a blessing this contest is!
I hope you do not allow prewrites....this is a subject which needs to come fresh from the heart ~
I am going to send some points....I think this is a grreat time to celebrate the success of making it through tough times and diverse conditions which, without the help of God, would tear us apart ~
God bless you!
Bear ~ -
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Thank you for your support my "Ark-angel" the reward points much appreciated and added...as well as a gush of fresh new teardrops on my keyboard. Without God I wouldn't be
And, yes I want only fresh, new writes, as I know there are many great pre-writes on this emotional subject.
Maybe the great poets out there will revisit those pieces and refresh them, or write something new of how their life has progressed or regressed since that time.
Blessings,
Sassy
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Terrible life.
Im only 11 and my parents divorced i do not no who my true father is my siblings stay with others and i have lived with so many people i can not keep track!And it is not fair that i have to live the life that i do. -
again
i have to say, having read the poems and spilled guts here, i have to pray again, thank-you God for my problems because, i couldn't handle anyone elses!
Theirs seem so much worse than mine, i wonder why i even complain. so thank you for this contest which reminds me of all that i have to be thankful for. -
Great idea for a contest. I am so very sorry as to what happened to you. Nobody deserves anything close to that. But because you lived through all of that and still survived, I very much think I can live my 'average' life to the beat of my own drum. Thank you, so much.
And it's great to hear of a contest where the sappy crap can't be entered. I get real tired of that stuff real easily.
`Have peace.
gusta.
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