Photo taken by contributor Captivating Bitter, a woman in her thirties who has struggled with anxiety and depression for most of her life. She has survived emotional abuse, sexual abuse and rape. She has survived suicide attempts and years of self-harm. After wandering her way through life unable to trust and barely feeling alive, she is now fighting to live a healthy life. She has been reading, journaling, blogging and working hard to heal. She is finally taking care of herself and starting to feel better.

About this photo: “Often my favorite photographs are ones that require me to get dirty – the ones that stain the knees of my jeans or cause me to scrape my elbows. In my experience the most rewarding things in my life have required something of me… some level of sacrifice whether large or small. Crouching on this dirt path capturing this shot I felt invited in to view the world and gain a new appreciation for light and shadow.”

Find more from Captivating Bitter at her blog.

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