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Welcome to Real Life Survivor
We are a non profit organization, dedicated to fundraising for every cause, every condition and every circumstance, so no one ever has to suffer in silence or feel alone.
Your donations & proceeds from the sales of Real Life Survivor clothing are greatly appreciated, as they provide funding for this cause - and every little bit helps!
REAL LIFE SURVIVOR OF REJECTION AND LONELINESS
Shanda’s Story
The unimaginable feeling that so many young girls experience growing up which is the feeling of not having an active father in their life. This is one of the experiences that I definitely went through as I craved the attention of my father. I desired so badly for him to be a protector, provider, mentor and an example of what a father and husband should be but I was void of this experience.
Throughout my childhood, he was in and out of my life. The moments I started to enjoy his time would never stay consistent because he was gone before I could even develop a good pattern with him. There were moments I wanted to ride with him to the store just to be with him and he would tell me to go grab my jacket and I would quickly run to go get it. As soon as I ran back, he was nowhere to be found because he would always drive off when I returned. This would always leave me in tears and in pain. Oh, how I desired for his love and attention!
This led me to many bad choices and decisions with friendships and relationships but I had to come to a decision to not play the victim for any of my choices or the lack of the relationship I sought with my father. I committed to refocus my trust and alliance first and foremost to God, not as a cli-che, but something rather real and sincere. I began to realize the reality that I will always love my father but I no longer needed the things and security that I desired exclusively from him. My faith, trust and hope in Jesus grew in ways that I could have never imagined and he began to heal the hurt, the feelings of rejection, suicidal thoughts and loneliness that I was going through.
God gave me a new outlook of creative self-expression through spoken word, dance and theater. I was fortunate to open up two dance studios in my former city in which I taught dance and theater while mentoring youth who went through similar experiences. I am now traveling to various schools and organizations encouraging children and parents alike to believe in themselves and to never accept limits on their life!
In closing, I must say that God blessed me with an awesome husband and best friend! We have been married now for 19 years with 7 amazing children. We work together, pray together and are always seeking God together. I can truly say that I am a real life survivor of overcoming and not succumbing to the feelings of rejection and hurt due to my experience!
