My Greatest Adventure

Journaling reads:

It may sound cleshay but my greatest adventure has been to know
myself. It is an ever evolving process. Even now at almost 40 I am
learning about myself and who I am. I am sure that will continue
through out my entire life.
I grew up in a happy home but I had a father that was controlling and
manipulative. That has impacted how I see myself and my ability to be myself. Luckily I have had some wonderful people in my life that have
helped me to be able to become the person that I want to be and to be
able to recognize the manipulation and get myself to a place where
I am not controlled by it.
The person that has been the greatest influence on this adventure has
been my husband. When we meet in college I couldn’t even get myself to express an opinion about where to go out to eat. I would not express my opinion, even when I had a preference, just in case it was not where he wanted to go. If I expressed my opinion and he made his choice based
on what I wanted that would somehow be wrong. looking back it is hard
to believe that I actually felt that way.
I am so grateful that the man I married saw this in me and rather then taking advantage of how easy it would be to control me helped me to become my own person. He helped me to talk and to make choices and decisions for myself that not only effected me but other people. Over time I was able to realize that my opinion and my happiness is just as important as anyone else. And it is also okay if my opinion differs from someone else. Once I was able to realize this I was able to do a lot of self searching and thinking and allow myself to figure out what those opinions were.
I do find myself still reverting back to my old self at time. This adventure to know myself and become my best self is going to take a lifetime. But I am so glad that I started this journey and for the people who are now
such an important part of that adventure. I can not imagine
my journey with out them.

Thank you for being brave enough to share this very personal story, testament to the courage you've gained . I really like the journaling against the newsprint background. I really like colors you used and your minimalist approach to embellishment, your words are powerful. I like the touches of paint.

I am so happy for you that you found someone to nurture and not control or subdue you. Beautifully told. Nice embellishment use, too. Putting the title at the bottom was a great decision, looks perfect.

Very moving story and the distressed papers help to tell it. Well done.

Great pictureless layout. beautiful clustering and title work.

Great journeling. Good Luck

Love the background paper and splatter. Love the simple paper clusters on the edges. I would never have thought you were that person. I do understand as I felt shy and wanted everyone to be happy. It does take time. Love your story

You are very brave to tell your story - congratulations on your journey! Love the newspapery look.

So very brave of you to tell your story! Love the newspaper background and the little clusters around your story!

Wonderful picturesue page!! Love your journaling and the grungy newspaper!

I love this photoless page. The bg paper is a perfect choice and the clusters are wonderful. Good luck!

Wonderful journaling. I like how you've framed it with lovely clustering on the sides, and how you've faded the paper behind your journaling.

Super take on this challenge. I enjoyed reading your journaling.

I love that journaling font, it pairs well with the newsprint background. And I love how you framed with the paints and clusters.

Such touching journal, I love reading your story. Great paper and element choices to pair with the journal. I really like the use of the painting brushes, wisely done. Good luck my dear

Wonderful journaling Kristal. I love the way that you embellished your story. Good Luck!

So touching and beautiful and wondeerfully scrapped!!

Beautiful journaling and the clustering is gorgeous!