Social vs. Personal

I have encountered far too many personal problems in my life. However, I feel these personal issues had given way to societal issues. At the age of 7, my mother married my step-father who immediately became my worst nightmare. Through physical, mental, psychological and emotional abuse, he turned my childhood life into a prision where I was always terrified to live. I remember wishing I had never been born, prying for another adult to see the bruises on me, hoping one day I would just die and be rid of it all. Tough things for a child. I was raped for 7 years by his odest son. By the time I admitted it to my mother I was 15. His father punched me in the face and told me to never lie about his son. I married at 18 and had my first child at 19. I honestly knew nothing of this man. He was a recovering alcoholic and cross meth addict. I swore i loved him and him me. yet the warning signs were right in front of me. I did nothing to leave when he began to beat me when i was 8 months pregnant. I stayed for 5 years of this and 3 children. This is where I know it became a sociaetal issue not just my own. I went on welfare when i left him. I had no way to support myself and 3 children. I stayed on welfare for 3 years as my youngest was very ill with heart disease. i became a drain on society due to the personal mental anguish i was put through. It's no longer personal, it's societies issue as well. Although things are different now, I still feel a loss there. Time lost, warning signs I missed, time I could've have spent not being locked in a house like a prisoner. We as individuals have a responsility to each other to maintain the wellness of society. Takes a kind heart, a few nice words, and maybe just maybe, letting that rude driver go without flipping the bird! Melissa