i have not succeeded in overcoming a childhood wrought with violence! i have not overcome five degrading years of taking my clothes off for a living! i have not overcome eight years of drug abuse! i have not overcome the grief of a broken marriage! i have not suffered the strains of single motherhood! i do not want your congratulations for making the break from such a miserable existence! i have not overcome a fucking thing! i have survived and taken in every moment - joyous and painful - to become who i am now! this is all me; every awful, beautiful, heartbreaking, sleazy, wonderful tiny bit of me is all that i have to offer! dont break me down into what i was and what i am! ive chosen all of this in response to all of it!