Tara Westover is an amazing woman whose abusive, dysfunctional family
system tried to tether her mind and future to that of victimization, controlled
by the fears and distortions of the irrational.
Raised in a survivalist environment and denied access to an education,
she could have lived her life perpetuating the powerless role of victim. Instead, she is thriving today with an
advanced education and freedom to choose her own values and future.
Ms.
Westover wrote her memoirs in the book, Educated,
released in March of this year. It’s a
very intimate picture of how insidious is the pairing of love and exploitation. Breaking free usually comes with tremendous
costs.
These
very difficult choices are so often what people face when trying to survive
trauma—freedom at the cost of some measure of love and familiarity.
Ms.
Westover’s journey reminds me so much of many former clients—people who
experienced unimaginable abuse, yet figured out ways to navigate through life
according to their chosen values and goals.
Courage. It takes great courage
to step into the unknown, to leave what is familiar, and create one’s own path. Ms. Westover’s courageous journey is
inspiring.
The book is available on Amazon and elsewhere: https://www.amazon.com/Educated-Memoir-Tara-Westover/dp/0399590501
