Not new just been gone for a long time

[BraveOne]

Hello everyone,

I took an extended break from here for personal reasons. Mainly was having issues with being triggered. I was able to relocate and get away from a family member that was abusing me without me fully realizing it. Anyways I moved across country with the loves of my life. Ive been with them for a couplebof years now. I'm pretty stable was even able to come off of the antidepressants since I felt they had outlived their benefits for me. Anyways I came back to hopefully be able to help support others, now that I am in a good place to do so. Anyways. 

If your interested, now live on a small farm we raise chickens mostly for eggs but we do raise meat chickens every other year. I want to get some rabbits. We have a garden, we grow most of our own food. 

I think I havent updated since my car accident really in 2018. It was catastrophic for me but forced a change which turned out to be a good thing for me. It forced me to move out of my brothers and find another line of work, which i found out my profession at the time was making my ptsd issues worse. Once I got my own place and went back to school things changed. 

3 years ago a medical injury cause a disability, for a while I couldnt walk or take care of myself but was living alone. I have no idea how I managed to survive that. I pushed through, and moved a new care team was able to diagnose the issue and put a plan in place to fix it and they are actually keeping my pain levels manageable. It helps to have people in my corner now, not that I didnt when I lived in IL but they weren't reliable or the safe people I needed in my life. 

Anyways Ive really gotten into making soaps and canning and basically the homesteading life in general. Im around if anyone wants to talk or needs an shoulder to lean on. 

[ActivistAlly]

Hello Brave and welcome back!!!  

I'm glad to see you are in a better place at this time and that sounds really neat that you can grow most of your own food and are living what sounds like a quiet and healthy lifestyle where you have had time to devote to recovery and happy living safe from abuse!!!  Canning, making your own soap, and homesteading sound very interesting!

So glad to see you again my friend!!!  I'm sure that your support will be valued by many here but also remember we're here for you as well if you want to talk or need shoulders to lean on   

ActivistAlly

 

[Jaylore]

Welcome back @BraveOne I'm so glad for you that you're in a safer situation.

[MeBeMary]

Welcome back, friend!  

You know that you are always welcome here and I do remember the kindness you shared among the boards! Your kindness was missed. 

I know you've been thru a lot and I'm glad you are in a better place than before. 

The community isn't much different than you remember. You will find some familiar names are still here, plus many more to get to get aquatinted with, but it's the same welcoming place you knew back when.

Wishing you the best on your return!

[awi]

welcome back @BraveOne your projects sound like so much fun.  Proud of you friend

[ShyUnicorn]

It sounds like life has been quite a ride since you were here! Welcome back, it is very thoughtful of you to provide a shoulder. Thank you for sharing your kind heart. 
 

ShyUnicorn

[WannaMoveOn]

On 9/27/2025 at 6:54 PM, BraveOne said:

Hello everyone,

I

Welcome back, BraveOne, and thanks for updating about your rustic life  

I am not sure if we've interacted. I came on here in 2019, been pretty active ever since. Anyhow, it sounds good that you've been able to get yourself safe. Perhaps coming back here will be easier now that this toxic person is out of the way. What kind of soaps do you like to make the most? 

Well, AS is still a pretty active community, so you can easily get in touch with other members by posting.

Your chickens sound adorable! Take care, 

W