Every ember is someone who made it through. This is the text-only version of the interactive experience: read stories from people around the world, give kudos, or add your own.
434 stories from 52 countries, 1976 kudos given in total.
The loss of my best friend and brother after having struggled so hard for his recovery, and not having been able to get him out of the country where we grew up so he could live a different story.
What glows
What I am, who supports me, and the recognition I receive from those who love me.
Machine-translated into English. Show the original text of Jose Maria C.
What burned (original)
La perdida de mi mejor amigo y hermano después de haber batallado para lograr su recuperación y no haber podido sacarlo del país donde crecimos y que pudiera vivir una historia diferente
What glows (original)
Lo que soy, quien me apoya y el reconocimiento que recibo de quienes me aman
I've been dealing with BPD and Bipolar Disorder more than half of my life. I've struggled with relationships, addictions, myself. I've always thought I could never lead a normal life. I lost important people, I hurt important people. Love and understanding seemed so impossible to find.
What glows
I was lucky enough to find my own strength within. I live healthily enough now, I overcame my addictions, I made peace with everything I cannot solve. I learned to let people in. Found out I can still love and that I deserve to be loved too. We all do. No matter our past.
I fell into the deep hole off depression and self harm. Thought there was no one there to help get me through. Parents were abusive, and I still have to make a happy face for everyone.
It was my low, I almost didn't get on with my life.
What glows
With my boyfriend's help, now husband, I got the help I needed. Saw the abuse and how I could break free from it and take control of my life. I am happier, my self and have a beautiful daughter to live for.
I've been heavily bullied as a kid and in my youth which led to years of me having problems socializing and trusting other people because I always feared those people wouldn't accept me the way I am. Adding to that, over the past few years I've unfortunately been alienated from friends I considered to be as close like brothers. It was hard for me to accept that friendships that have lasted my whole life are no longer what they used to be, even though I tried my hardest to save them.
What glows
I share a real close bond with my family, which has grown even tighter as I grew older. We spend so much time together, and enjoy every last second of it. The memories of the experiences we shared and will continue to share, will l last a lifetime and always make me smile. I also found a great group of new friends who love me for who I am. For many years I wasn't comfortable around others, but those people helped me in becoming a more open person and overcome my fear of socializing with others.
The versions of me I lost while trying to find my place in the world.
What glows
My endless curiosity and the courage to reinvent myself, even when I need to be reborn from the ashes.
Machine-translated into English. Show the original text of João Marcos O.
What burned (original)
As versões de mim que perdi tentando encontrar meu lugar no mundo.
What glows (original)
Minha curiosidade inesgotável e a coragem de me reinventar, mesmo quando preciso renascer das cinzas.
Track
Ritual
Stacey D.
Spennymoor, United Kingdom
What burned
I was losing my gran during lockdown, but also going through a really tough breakup that I didn't want to happen and kept making myself believe I could fix things. Trying to keep a brave and strong face for his side of the family so they didn't find out about the abuse I was enduring. Being mentally and emotionally abused while stopping the physical abuse as much as I possibly could knowing if I stayed there much longer it would possibly turn to that.
What glows
Gaining my family back fully after almost losing them due to very little contact. Gaining all the support from new friends to get away from him and moving to a new town. Knowing I can get my life back and become who I really want to be to make my gran and auntie proud as that's all they wanted for me. Being with someone who respects and truly loves me for who I am. I can finally live my life how I want.
I went through Hell during my post partum depression and my burn out at work. I lost my passion in life and the things I loved. I even stopped writing which has always been my anchor in life. I seriously considered the worst.
What glows
Love gave me the strength to carry on. I focused on my family and hells on to them. Then little by little I found my voice and my desire to be in the world. The words came back to and it all reconnectes when I was able to write again. Finally I went to see a psychiatrist who diagnosed me with ADHD and anxiety and depression. And putting words on what was happening to me felt liberating. I am moving forward in life now. Not to say that I will never relapse but I know I came overcome the pain now.
I no longer have trust in someone I helped get a job. She went from production to cleaning and would not accept that I was her supervisor. She tore apart everything I did. She had a relationship with my brother, she talked to my brother about me and not to me. She secretly went to the team leader to get me pushed out, I also told my side of the story. When she had to come to the office, she then came at me threateningly during the break. I felt utterly betrayed.
What glows
That I learned that not everyone is always grateful. Because I stayed honest, the majority was on my side, and that made it so I feel good in my own skin again. I also learned that I didn't always have to be nice, while she was breaking my trust.
I have become stronger from this and can stand up for myself better. People are not always the same; they can change at any moment. I have become calmer because I blocked her.
Machine-translated into English. Show the original text of Nienke D.
What burned (original)
Ik heb geen vertrouwen meer in iemand die ik aan een baan heb geholpen. Ze ging van productie naar de schoonmaak en accepteerde niet dat ik haar in moest werken. Ze kraakte alles af wat ik deed. Ze had een relatie met mijn broer ze ging met mijn broer over mij praten en niet met mij. Ze ging stiekem naar de teamleider om mij eruit te werken ik heb mijn verhaal ook gedaan. Toen ze op kantoor moest komen ging ze daarna in de pauze dreigend op mij aflopen. Ik voelde mij ontzettend verraden.
What glows (original)
Dat ik heb geleerd dat niet iedereen altijd even dankbaar is. Doordat ik eerlijk gebleven ben stond de meerderheid aan mijn kant dat zorgde ervoor dat ik weer lekker in mijn vel zit. Ik heb ook geleerd dat ik niet altijd even aardig hoefde te zijn terwijl zei mij vertrouwen kapot maakte.
Ik ben hierdoor sterker geworden en kan beter voor mezelf opkomen. Mensen zijn niet altijd het zelfde ze kunnen op elk moment veranderen. Ik ben rustiger geworden doordat ik haar geblokkeerd heb.
Track
Don't Pray for Me
Brittney V.
Groningen, Netherlands
What burned
I was SA'd when i was 13 by a guy I met online. He threatened me to do things on a webcam and recorded it without my knowledge and distributed it online. He would fake suicide or punch walls to scare me and make me cry and then he would laugh. He told me it turned him on when I cried or begged him to stop. My religious family blamed me when they found out. The police blamed me. I have scars that may never fully heal. My "family" tells a lot of lies and turned my whole family against me.
What glows
I have a 17 month old daughter and I will NEVER let her experience what I did. Her mom will always be in her corner, she will never have me as an enemy, and I will give her unconditional love. I rose like a phoenix and became a loving, empathetic badass who always stands up for the underdog. I didn't let my trauma destroy my humanity.
Track
Don't Pray for Me
Gabriela H.
Brisbane, Australia
What burned
My marriage fall apart years ago and co parenting can be rather challenging especially with a narcissist.
What glows
My determination still glows as I am a fighter. The best thing that came out of my marriage was my little girl. She is my everything and glows in my darkest moments. So grateful to have her.
Track
Raise Your Banner
Joshua K.
Ballarat, Australia
What burned
The loss of 4 people so close to me within a a space of 8 months.
In that time my grandparents past away and also my Step mother have fighting cancer and other health issues for almost 16 years. I was extremely close to both my Grandmother's and Grandfather shared a lot of secrets, sad times and of cause happy times with them they were people I could always count on. Of cause I was very close to my Step Mother she accepted me as if I was her own child She was also the first person I came out to
What glows
What got me though was having my husband next to me though those very tough 8 months. Knowing he was there to hold me up or just to cry on his shoulder was a great help though all of it.
Being 12 years old is very difficult. My daughter was born far too early at 28 weeks. I was diagnosed with kidney failure, a rare disease, I got a kidney transplant, and 3 years ago my mother passed away. I hope better times will come soon.
What glows
What makes me believe in the future again. My family that I have now. Your music, strength, kindness,… Being able to look forward to something like a concert and the VIP. 🖤
Machine-translated into English. Show the original text of Nathalie A.
What burned (original)
Al 12 jaar is het heel moeilijk. Mijn dochter is veel te vroeg geboren op 28weken. Ik kreeg de diagnose nierfalen, een zeldzame ziekte, kreeg een niertransplantatie, en 3 jaar geleden overleed mijn moeder. Ik hoop dat er binnenkort betere tijden komen.
What glows (original)
Wat me weer doet geloven in de toekomst. Mijn gezin die ik nu heb. Jullie muziek, sterkte, vriendelijkheid,…
Kunnen uitkijken naar iets zoals een concert en de VIP. 🖤
Track
Ice Queen
Emre D.
Sakarya, Turkey
What burned
I was pushed out like a stranger within my own family. Just because I was their child, I was crushed under the responsibilities they loaded onto me, and I was told that I was the one to blame for all of it. There were times when believing them naively hurt me deeply. And I grew up with a lot of wounds I could not talk about.
What glows
Today, despite everything and while the traces of the past still won't let go of me, I managed to build my own family and my own home. I have a loving husband and a sweet daughter. I live for them, they are my fire of life.
Machine-translated into English. Show the original text of Emre D.
What burned (original)
Kendi ailemin içinde bir yabancı gibi dışlandım. Sırf evlatlarıyım diye onlar bana yüklediği sorumlulukların altında ezildim ve bütün bunların suçlusunun ben olduğum soylendi. Aileme safca inanmamın canımı çok yaktığı zamanlarım oldu. Ve anlatamadığım bir sürü yaralarla büyüdüm
What glows (original)
Bugün bütün olanlara rağmen ve geçmişin izleri yakamı bırakmıyorken kendi ailemi yuvamı kurmayı başarabildim. Ben seven bir eşim tatlı bir kızım var. Onlar için yaşıyorum onlar benim yaşam ateşim
I never would have thought that I would have to struggle with depression one day. Now I sit here, with depression and unable to work. Somewhere I lost a part of myself and I don't yet know how I can find it again.
What glows
I confided in a few friends, as well as my husband. My husband is overwhelmed by the situation, but my friends somehow keep me going. I still have hope for better times.
Machine-translated into English. Show the original text of Christopher H.
What burned (original)
Ich hätte niemals gedacht, das ich mal mit Depressionen kämpfen muss. Nun sitze ich hier, mit Depressionen und arbeitsunfähig. Ich verlor irgendwo einen Teil von mir und weiß noch nicht, wie ich diesen wieder finden kann.
What glows (original)
Ein paar Freunden habe ich mich anvertraut, sowie meinem Ehemann. Mein Mann ist überfordert mit der Situation, aber meine Freunde halten mich irgendwie aufrecht. Noch habe ich Hoffnung auf bessere Zeiten.
The country I live in with my wife doesn't accept our same sex marriage, and I am living in a constant state of anxiety because I rely on keeping a steady work visa to stay with my family.
What glows
I have a wonderful, happy marriage, adorable pets, live in a beautiful city and share wonderful online communities around the world with people who share the same interests as I do. People are inherently good, the Earth loves us, and beauty is all around us even in our darkest hours.
Track
Wireless
Ivan S.
Tbilisi, Georgia
What burned
I fell in love with my friend and got rejected and it hit really hard
What glows
I have been rejected many times before so I learned how to recover and I now chose myself instead and focused on my goal to move to Sweden
Track
The Reckoning
Monika K.
Kłodzko, Poland
What burned
I am raising my son alone. He is disabled. His father couldn't care less about his own child. My relationship with my family is mixed. Sometimes it's better, sometimes worse. On top of that, there are constant problems with work and money. And I'm still single. I haven't gotten involved with anyone, even though I have always so wanted to start a big family. Sometimes I sink into total darkness and a feeling of loneliness. It hurts. Then I feel like I'm drowning in the gloom.
What glows
The love for my child pushes me forward. The feeling that I am important to someone and responsible for him.
Besides that, faith in God and belonging to a certain wonderful community - this is something that shines over me and pulls me out of the dark abyss. Being surrounded by people who are so open to you, full of joy, love and respect, gives me the strength to overcome everyday problems.
Machine-translated into English. Show the original text of Monika K.
What burned (original)
Wychowuję sama syna. Jest niepełnosprawny. Jego ojciec ma totalnie gdzieś swoje dziecko. Z rodziną różnie się dogaduje. Raz jest lepiej, raz gorzej. W dodatku ciągłe problemy z pracą i z pieniędzmi. A i wciąż jestem singielką. Nie związałam się z nikim, chociaż tak bardzo pragnęłam zawsze założyć dużą rodzinę. Czasami pogrążam się w totalnej ciemności i poczuciu osamotnienia. Boli. Czuję wtedy, że tonę w mroku.
What glows (original)
Miłość do dziecka pcha mnie do przodu. Poczucie, że jestem dla kogoś ważna i odpowiedzialna za niego.
Poza tym wiara w Boga i przynależność do pewnej cudownej wspólnoty - to jest coś, co nade mną świeci i wyciąga mnie z mrocznej otchłani. Otaczanie się ludźmi, którzy są dla Ciebie tak otwarci, pełni radości, miłości i szacunku daje moc do pokonywania codziennych problemów
My family emotionally and physically abused me for being queer. I grew up surrounded by death and anger, looking up to a picture of a God whose love I was told could never outweigh his disgust for people like me. I was bullied, stalked, harassed and raped and the extent of the trauma led to me developing DID - a disorder which has left me with near constant auditory hallucinations and regular memory loss.
What glows
I have a partner. We celebrate four years together in 12 days. We live together, and I have a job providing behavioural therapy to kids with autism, helping to make sure kids like me have advocates and that they are given skills instead of scorn when they struggle. I write poetry. I draw. I play games and make characters. I do cosplay. I've made my room a shrine to every thing I've ever loved, covered the walls with things that give me strength. I'm still here. Despite everything, it's still me.
I got burned, broken, by a toxic relationship that gave me scars both physically and mentally. I was almost killed so many times that I started to wish they would succeed. I was a shell of a human.
What glows
I was saved by two close friends that pulled me out of the relationship and by music. By starting to feel emotions again through music. Today I glow from my wife, an amazing woman that treats me with respect and love. And by knowing I am strong, by knowing I survived hell. And the music - always the music.
Things that happened in the past are catching up with me again.
People I met and trusted, only to later see their true face. My job, where I give everything but still never feel good enough. My nervous breakdowns, which are currently happening more and more often.
What glows
It's the belief that you never give up, no matter what happens. I am a fighter. I always have been.
Machine-translated into English. Show the original text of Tanja A.
What burned (original)
Dinge, die in der Vergangenheit passierten die mich aktuell wieder einholen.
Menschen, denen ich begegnete und vertraute nur um danach ihr wahres Gesicht zu erkennen. Mein Job, indem ich alles gebe aber immer noch nicht gut genug bin. Meine Nervenzusammenbrüche die aktuell wieder vermehrt auftreten.
What glows (original)
Es ist der Glaube dran niemals aufzugeben, egal was passiert. Ich bin eine Kämpferin. Das war ich immer schon.
It's just my mom and me, there's no one else. Four and a half years ago she suffered 2 hemorrhagic strokes. I suffered so much, but I've been alone fighting for her rights. I won some, I lost others, but it hurts to see how she was left. It hurts that no one wanted to rehabilitate her, to help her. I live for her, but I'm tired. Doing everything alone without help has been an immense drain. Sometimes I just wish this had never happened, that everything could be like before. I'm neurodivergent, dyslexic and ADHD... now I cry all the time.
What glows
My mom, what is left of her. Loving her, protecting her, caring for her, and my cats, my companions, the only ones who have always been with me.
Machine-translated into English. Show the original text of Florencia G.
What burned (original)
Solo somos mi mamá y yo no hay nadie más, hace 4 Los y medio sufrió 2 ACVs hemorrágicos, sufri muchísimo pero lu he sola por pelear sus derechos gane Lgunis perdí otros, pero duele ver como quedo, duele que nadie quisiera rehabilitarla, ayudarla. Lu 9 por ella, pero y estoy cansada, hacer todo sola sin ayuda a sido un desgaste inmenso, a veces solo desearía que esto no hubiera pasado , que todo fuera como antes, soy neurodivergente, dislexica y TDHA... ahora llori siempre.
What glows (original)
Mi mamá, lo que queda de ella , Amarla, protegerla, cuidarla y mis gatos mis compañeros los únicos que han estado conmigo siempre
Track
Raise Your Banner
Tyler G.
Barrie, Ontario, Canada
What burned
Diagnosed with epilepsy in 2021, including difficult daily life along with low mental health
What glows
Left temporal lobectomy surgery October 26th 2026, listening to many Within Temptation songs I love while still in the hospital that I am right now. I have been a big fan for 12+ years
15 years ago, when I was 17, I made the worst decision of my life: I moved in with my boyfriend at the time, and it was hell. The worst part is that months later I became aware of that hell, but the shame of always putting him first, of defying everyone, even my own family, forced me to stay there until I asked for help. I think the song "The Cross" helped me a lot in those days, because I only wanted his support, a beautiful love, and I had to carry my cross alone.
What glows
I honestly don't know if there is anything in me that still shines. I keep trying to find it, because there are days when I don't feel like myself, I don't feel fulfilled, not even happy. I hope that someday I'll become the person I used to be again...
Machine-translated into English. Show the original text of Mar N.
What burned (original)
Hace 15 años, cuando tenía 17 cometí la peor decisión de mi vida, vivir con mi novio de ese entonces y fue un infierno. Lo peor es que meses después fui consciente de ese infierno pero la vergüenza de ponerlo siempre primero, de desafiar a todos incluso a mi propia familia me obligó a quedarme ahí hasta que pedí ayuda. Creo que la canción "The Cross" me ayudó bastante en esos días, porque yo solo quería su apoyo, un amor bonito y tuve que cargar con mi cruz yo sola.
What glows (original)
Realmente no sé si hay algo que brille en mí aún, sigo tratando de encontrarlo ya que hay días que no me siento yo, no me siento plena, ni siquiera feliz. Espero algún día volver a ser esa persona que solía ser...
Track
Don't Pray for Me
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