You are ENOUGH!

Making bad decisions was a skill I practiced over and over throughout the years until I ultimately became quite proficient at it. But, despite all the heartache, abuse, and suffering, I never lost hope. Hope motivated me to keep going, despite the fact that every fiber in my fragile being screamed for me to stop, to surrender. This memoir is irrefutable evidence of the indefatigable spirit and tenacious resilience that enabled me to triumph over unrelenting adversity, endless failure, and perhaps more importantly, my intense feelings of inadequacy and self-loathing.

If you take anything from my story I hope it’s the realization that you are enough. No matter how many mistakes or bad decisions you make, you are absolutely worthy of love. F. Scott Fitzgerald famously said that it’s never too late to become who you want to be. Well, I’m inspired, and full of hope for the future. It is said that the past cannot be changed, but the future is in your power. It’s up to you. I am so grateful for this opportunity to share my life story. Hopefully I will encourage others to begin their own journey of self-discovery, feeling empowered to become who they want to be. After all, if I can do it, then anyone can do it, too. Always remember, above all else, you are enough. No, you are more than enough!

M. A. Arnold has lived an ordinary life in an extraordinary way. The oldest of five children born in the Bronx, NY, she overcame a life of adversity that started with the untimely death of her mother when she was just thirteen years old. This is her heartfelt memoir, a firsthand account of sacrifice and survival.