Contributed by Suzie Brown.

I grew grew up very much in the box, many of them actually. The Christian box. The perfect daughter box. The A student box. The best friend sister box. As I grew older, it seems, I grew more boxes too. The perfect mom and wife box. The nurse box. The martyr for everyone box.

There were always little cracks in these boxes and I worked hard to hide them, to fix them. I had premarital sex, bad. I hated housekeeping and cooking, so bad. I cheated on my husband, practically evil.

Until one day my boxes just exploded. I left my husband in a spur of the moment decision. My kids stayed with their dad and I was no longer behind any walls. I started drinking, doing drugs, and sleeping around, a lot. I was so far out of the boxes of my past that I got totally lost.

After about a year Walter and I found each other. I truly believe we saved each other. With Walter and I there are no more boxes. I feel free to do and study whatever I want. I’m free to re-invent myself and my world however I want. I’m now the wife, the mom, the nurse, and the spiritual being I’ve always wanted to be. I’m doing, learning, and believing many things that those still in their boxes don’t understand.

The best thing about about being out of the box is that I don’t care what anyone else thinks. I’m free to be me without walls and I can honestly say I’ve never been happier. So if you, too, are peeking out of the little cracks in your box, trying to find the real you, I hope you find the strength and courage to explore the world outside your box. If you do or don’t know that I will love you just as you are.

Peace!!