Author Alivia Cahill learned that people are not merely reflections of their life experiences; they're reflections of their perceptions of, and reactions to, those life experiences. Henry David Thoreau said, "It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see." What's more, the response to what is seen can change life forever. This compilation of personal experiences illustrates how Alivia's unhealthy responses to a harsh environment shaped her life in many ways. Years of stewing quietly and bottling up negative emotions about life's adversities led to decades of self-abuse and...

Author Alivia Cahill learned that people are not merely reflections of their life experiences; they're reflections of their perceptions of, and reactions to, those life experiences. Henry David Thoreau said, "It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see." What's more, the response to what is seen can change life forever. This compilation of personal experiences illustrates how Alivia's unhealthy responses to a harsh environment shaped her life in many ways. Years of stewing quietly and bottling up negative emotions about life's adversities led to decades of self-abuse and...