The Bigger Me

By Cheryl Jones

Through candid storytelling and raw vulnerability, Cheryl Jones (Taylor Nichole) explores the depths of her pain and the profound impact it had on her life. Amidst the darkness, she discovers the transformative power of forgiveness and self-love. As Nichole navigates her path to healing, she learns to release the weight of resentment and embrace forgiveness as a tool for liberation. Through self-reflection and introspection, she uncovers the strength within herself to rise above her past and reclaim her sense of worth. "The Bigger Me" is a testament to the human spirit's capacity for growth and renewal. It offers hope to those who have endured trauma, reminding them that healing is possible and that they possess the inner strength to overcome even the most daunting obstacles. Through Taylor Nichole's journey, readers will be inspired to embark on their own path to self-discovery and embrace the power of forgiveness and self-love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Apr 22, 2024
• ISBN: 9798350951981

Cheryl Jones

Cheryl Jones, also known as Nikki, is an author and mentor who empowers individuals to unleash their full potential and live their best lives. With a passion for personal development and a commitment to helping others overcome obstacles, Nikki is a leading voice in the self-help industry. She grew up impoverished in Detroit, raised by a single mother addicted to drugs. She was in and out of foster care, and her innocence was stolen at eleven years old. Determined to create a better life for herself and others, she embarked on a path of self-discovery and personal growth. Nikki is a dynamic writer and poet whose compassionate, relatable approach empowers her readers to take action. Through her writing, she hopes to help people recognize the effects of trauma and grief and how to heal from it. She wants to help everyone experience the type of love she gained for herself through forgiving others and herself.

Book preview

Copyright © 2020 by Cheryl Jones.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed Attention: Permissions Coordinator, at email address below.

Email: [e-mail]

Publisher’s Note: This is a work of non-fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents have been altered.

Website: www.LoveNikkiForum.com

Printed in the United States of America

DEDICATED TO

The outcast of the family.

The one predicted for failure.

The teen mothers.

The ones who were bullied

The one needing another chance.

The one committed to change.

The brave one who can forgive.

The fighters and the survivors

The conquerors.

Table of Contents

Preface

Not My Family

Don’t Take My Love

Hurtful Humiliation

Stand

Violence and Me

Stop the Clock

Middle School Crew

Friends

The Fight in Me

Step Back Girlfriend

Stolen Innocence

My Own Hero

Gender Crisis

Loving Myself

Road to Self-Destruction

What Is Life?

Teenage Mother

Not Claiming It!

In Conclusion

Resources

Preface

I choose to believe that I am not alone in the struggle to overcome the wounds from childhood trauma and pain. Unfortunately, childhood-related problems are often overlooked, and the lifelong impact of these occurrences is not given the attention it deserves. When these unforeseen circumstances and situations occur, I deem it an act of victimization. It is time to give these problems the attention and resolution they deserve. It is time we took a stand against the victimization of our children.

This book describes the childhood traumas I faced between the ages of seven and eighteen. I experienced things like abandonment, bullying, humiliation, suicidal thoughts, domestic violence, fighting, gender crises, and more. Because of these traumas, I suffered from rejection, abandonment, mistrust, depression, confusion, anger, isolation, and unwarranted fear.

Most people are or were victims of these same traumas. These traumas, in most instances, hurt our lives. This book presents wisdom, insight, strategies, and lessons I learned over the course of twenty years of recovering from the consequences and wounds of childhood trauma. I overcame them all, and so can you!

My Mother

Before we start, I want to give some background information concerning my mother. My mother was the fifth born out of six children. Her mother passed away due to medical complications from being paralyzed. Because of this, my mother had to live with other family members. According to my mother, her family members never loved her and could not provide the love she needed. She began using drugs at the age of fifteen and became pregnant with her first child at the age of sixteen. There was nothing anybody could say or do to make my mother think that she did not love her children. According to my mother, she was the best parent in the world.

However, my mother’s mental state was altered when her occasional drug usage became an addiction to crack cocaine. Unfortunately, drugs became her number one priority. She began to leave us home alone for days. Sometimes she would leave without ensuring that we had enough food to eat. She became aggressive and would physically and mentally abuse us. Occasionally, we did not have electricity or gas in our home. Worst of all, she believed her behavior was normal. This is where my story begins. I was being raised by a single mother addicted to drugs.

Not My Family

The Taken

As I sit on the couch, wishing I could watch TV, I hear a loud knocking on the door. My heart starts pounding, and I begin to wonder, Who could this be? The knocks get louder and louder.

It’s the police! I hear from outside the door.

My mother told everyone to hide. Hiding was easy because it was dark outside, and we did not have electricity. When my mother opened the door, the police and Child Protective Services were standing there. They were finally here to take us away from our family. The police officers asked my mother to turn