The Big 6 – Christina’s story
The Freedom Bus: Changed my life.
It’s almost a year since launching my book, and I can honestly say that writing the Freedom Bus changed my life. And it’s changed many others too.
I’m so deeply touched by the people that share how it’s made such a difference to them and their lives. I love hearing about how it’s helped people, and that’s exactly why I wrote it.
So how has writing the story of my life changed my life? – And why will it never be the same again?
1. It’s given me answers to where I’ve come from and who I am today
2. I’ve connected to parts of myself that I didn’t even know existed – and loved myself back together again.
3. It’s given me the confidence to know what I’m capable of and tap into talents I didn’t even know existed
4. It’s given me a new lease of life and a new business mission
Not bad for a girl with ADHD, dyslexia and was in the bottom set for English and Maths.
The Freedom Bus: What was it like writing the story of my life?
Writing the story of my life was like a year-long therapy session, with a manuscript at the end. It was a process of profound self-discovery. Putting my feelings into words has helped me truly understand myself.
This was only possible because I was brave enough to look and just about strong enough to hang on—two of my innate strengths. The year-long process was incredibly joyful and utterly painful. I felt like I was on a rollercoaster. Not only do I have ADHD and dyslexia (which makes putting words to paper quite tricky), but I also had trauma that I needed to heal from. Plus, adding a small global pandemic into the mix… this process was not easy.
Jumping on the Freedom Bus is never easy – it often comes after quite a bit of pain
In 2021, my Mum died, my 13-year-old daughter left home to live with her Dad, we were in the middle of the Covid 19 disaster, and my Ltd business I’d been running for almost 12 years almost failed overnight.
But they always say that the best things come out of the worst pain. Our stories come from our struggles, strengths, and successes.
One without the other is like a story with no beginning, middle or end. The Freedom Bus means we get to choose & own our own story… and we get to decide how we tell it.
“Adoption is the only trauma in the world where the world tells you to be grateful.”
Rev Gerald C Griffith
The adopter narrative is one of giving an orphan a home, but home is where we make it.
I grew up just like Pollyanna, being grateful, people-pleasing and consistently earning my place. I was scared that if I didn’t earn my place, it would be taken away. It’s tough when you don’t believe you deserve a place of safety and a feeling of belonging. Feeling like you don’t have a place unless you’ve earned it, has given me my determination, ability to innovate and the skills of a chameleon.
Working hard, being helpful, and making myself indispensable – are all part of my cunning plan to not be sent away again. Not a bad survival strategy then, but it lost its value over time.
By writing The Freedom Bus, I made sense of my past and fell in love with myself. After years of rescuing others, I had to go back and save the little girl I used to be. She was still waiting (rather patiently for her!), but she was ready and took my hand gently. From constantly trying to save the world – I was finally ready to save myself.
The story of loss, grief and rejection is not just for us orphans; it’s for all the little boys and girls inside us that have been lost, overlooked or simply unseen.
If you’d like to read more about my life and journey, please buy my book, The Freedom Bus. I promise it’s not all doom and gloom, and like Pollyanna, it has a happy ending!
This is my story, but it could have been yours.
My only advice:
- When we see ourselves, we can be ourselves – never give up on finding yourself.
- Whether it’s finding lost parts, re-discovering new parts or just re-loving un-loved parts.
- And we can’t find ourselves without finding each other, so hang out with people that see you and treat you like you deserve.
Our journeys might be different, but our humanity is universal – regardless of our experiences. When we find ourselves, we see each other.
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