Twitter is famous for igniting trolling wars, hashtag games, memes and a whole load of other verbal jousting activities.
What people often overlook is that like any social community, it can also be used for good. At the end of the day, people want to connect, communicate and collaborate. Sharing their life stories is one such way.
Sharing Survival Stories
Recently, one Pakistani Twitter user did exactly that, calling everyone to share their survival stories. The trend has proven to be quite popular, with hundreds of random tweeps pouring their hearts out.
This thread is proof that we may think people will dismiss our problems over their own. Or they may offer support and help each other overcome these hardships.
https://twitter.com/threetenam/status/1115327960721035264
Dozens of people responded to the thread. The identities of these people were kept anonymous on their request.
Here are some of their stories:
Marriage Is A Serious Responsibility and Not Everyone’s Cut Out for It
We have heard of cases where marriages do not work out. And yet, if you are single, its hard to escape questions like ‘When are you getting married’, from just about anyone.
Marriage has been taken for granted in our society, so much that people fail to acknowledge that not everyone is cut out to be a parent. They not only end up being bad partners but worse parents.
A person that can come out a good person from horrifying parenting experiences and damaged childhoods are heroes.
Here is an account of one such person who survived an abusive marriage:
https://twitter.com/threetenam/status/1116066024514887680
The Monsters Among Us
Child abuse is such a rampant issue in Pakistan. Matters are complicated further when you observe how we never teach our children to identify and call out problematic behavior from adults. These can range from inappropriate touching to molestation. Most children choose to stay quiet out of fear that they will cause ‘disrespect’. The perpetrator goes scotfree in such cases.
Survivors like this man are an example of how creating awareness against these attitudes is crucial. Only then can we eradicate this social evil.
https://twitter.com/threetenam/status/1116308876310327296
Spurred by one example, many other stories of sexual child abuse got told. When people try to undermine this issue as ‘a problem with this generation’, that’s just brushing the issue under the carpet.
With all these stories from those who survived sexual abuse during their childhood, one thing becomes clear. This evil behavior is enabled not by lewd content but rather an environment where no one calls out sexual predators out.
https://twitter.com/threetenam/status/1116444029535825924
Its a tragedy when these poor souls go on to become abusers themselves. However, this one survivor of sexual abuse chose a different path. She went on to become a teacher and now she’s educating her students about what their rights are:
https://twitter.com/threetenam/status/1116445141638811649
As you can see, the sheer number of child abuse stories on this thread tells us one thing. We need to wake up.
Broken Families
Sometimes, tragedies threaten to tear families apart. Here is one such example:
Kidnapped, broken, molested and injected with toxic substances at 16 by MQM members and a Sindh Police DSP current SSP one of the few British remanent families in Pakistan. Father lost immigration status in the US when he came back for me. Abandoned by schizophrenic lawyer Mother
— Edward Franklin (@edwardfranklin) April 10, 2019
Bore sexual and emotional abuse from elder sister, lost mother at 14, abuse increased in her absence, did m.phill, became a lecturer, published research and books. Moved to UK, have a family now
— Feminist Demon (@demon_feminist) April 9, 2019
This is the story of someone who grew up with a broken family. And they are not the only one.
https://twitter.com/threetenam/status/1116446621699584010?ref_src=twsrc^tfw
https://twitter.com/Ghazank4/status/1116248103642968064
https://twitter.com/Ghazank4/status/1116250355191431168
https://twitter.com/Ghazank4/status/1116251245084323841
https://twitter.com/Ghazank4/status/1116251992815480833
https://twitter.com/Ghazank4/status/1116252818824888320
Everyone’s Struggling in Their Own Way
One man talked about having to quit his education and later completing his studies with a younger lot.
https://twitter.com/iamAttiqLone/status/1115638964512284674
https://twitter.com/iamAttiqLone/status/1115765515379716096
In the childhood father was a farmer, belong to poorest family elder brother sent to govt school, started doing various job with studies, jobs like cooking in homes cleaning houses even cleaned toilets, sold channa and pakora and chawal
2dy I.T Manager $7000 salary— QURBAN ALI (@Qurbanviews) April 10, 2019
In 2005, came to Islamabad from Sindh for my higher studies with the fee of two semester three pairs of jeans and shirts.
Money finished for daily commute and was having one time meal in a day.
In 2019, having a nice hime, big car and good earning in Islamabad 🙏🏻— Abdullah Dayo (@AbdullahDayo) April 9, 2019
Beating the Odds
Some of these stories were short, and involved people overcoming life-threatening mental and physical ailments:
https://twitter.com/bkwsband/status/1115555055606947846
https://twitter.com/Mahiman73/status/1115671081690587138
https://twitter.com/heer_mano/status/1116010288455745536
Overcoming a Disability
Another story was about overcoming a disability. While some people are fortunate enough to overcome handicaps, others are not .
By age 3 had to learn to walk a 2nd time, with polio affecting back, leg. But lots of support from family, friends; lost parents in teens. Graduated, started work as a journo in a newspaper; then radio, TV, rose to board level in int'l media. Finally made editor where I'd started
— Abbas Nasir (@abbasnasir59) April 9, 2019
In 2011 Became part of an org to help govt schools, so far have helped 80 schools. Started my own business and doing well. Also got a job. Gave a Tedx talk (inspired by @muniba_mazari). Alhamdulilah. Thanks to friends and family that never gave up.
— Moezz Khan (@KhanMoezz) April 10, 2019
Even Muniba Mazari reached out to support some of the people on this thread.
More power to you! ⭐️🙏🏻
— Muniba Mazari (@muniba_mazari) April 10, 2019
Sportsmanship
This man’s journey to break out of poverty and become a self-made cricketer even moved Shoaib Mailk.
Proud of you @YaserMushtaq
— Shoaib Malik 🇵🇰 (@realshoaibmalik) April 11, 2019
Plagued By Terrorism
The thread also brought to light instances of terrorism that people survived. Pakistan may be a safer place now but the hundreds of thousands of lives lost to terrorism are not forgotten.
Kidnapped by militants in 2010. After 11 days i was released thanks to my family’s efforts. I was twice attacked by IED, rockets & gun fight, hand grenade, firing from 2013-2015. Another attempt in 2016. In 2018 GE i was informed about a suicide attacker. Alhamdulillah survived.
— Babar Ali Khan (@ibabaralikhan) April 9, 2019
The target killer straight fire on me. Lekn Allah ke Karam se bachgaya. ♥
— Waleed Khan (@khansahab_20) April 9, 2019
On 19 Aug 2008, I survived but became disabled,lost my both arms in Bomb Blast in #DIKhan,20 family members also martyred.MSc in Journalism,did another Masters degree in Political Science(2012).Today, a working #Journalist,type with feet,happily married & father of sweet Daughter pic.twitter.com/i4NoFS7Cm5
— Anser Bukhari ♿ Journalist (@AnserAbbas) April 11, 2019
Even Shahbaz Taseer pitched in.
I did a backflip to dodge a rocket
— Shahbaz Taseer (@ShahbazTaseer) April 11, 2019
And the daughter of the late Brigadier (R) Asad Munir shared her story.
https://twitter.com/gabeeno/status/1116227494531801088
https://twitter.com/gabeeno/status/1116235663043649536
Figured It Out
Sometimes just figuring your life out can be a huge challenge. Moist of us are not very self aware teenagers with a clear sense of direction on what we want and how to get there. We’re expected to settle down in our thirties when we’re just discovering who we really are at that point.
https://twitter.com/JurayjsDad/status/1115671700279123970
Got into drugs , left my studies , destroyed everything i had in my life (all this happened because i made a mistake in choosing friends) almost lost my love of live. Asmaan se zameen pr gir gya. Stood up again.. InSha Allah will get engaged this year 🙂
— Murtaza. (@LivinDeadLife) April 9, 2019
Conquering The Past
It’s hard getting over betrayal be it in a relationship, friendship or even family. People can be left shattered by the dishonesty of people who previously used to be the source of our self-esteem. Learning self-value and building self-esteem is a life long journey but some of us get there.
Heartbroken by cheating gf, found a small job, earned international awards through hardwork, got promoted, betrayed by family, married the girl I wanted by going against my family, maintaining everything with my own money. Tomorrow I'll post graduate. Im a dreamer & a fighter 👤
— Rudraw XD (@RudrawXD) April 9, 2019
Some people have not yet emerged as survivors and are still fighting their battles.
Still fighting, struggling to survive. Don't know if I can do this. But then who cares.
— Mayoos Patwaran (@Dr_Atiqa) April 9, 2019
https://twitter.com/DeekshaMeshram/status/1115675708842373120
Wayyy far from survival as of now. Mentally, emotionally, career wise and all. Chances of survival real low. Sinking.
— Tarar (@MuneebTarar1) April 9, 2019
https://twitter.com/IssamAhmed/status/1115818726685925376
This survivor stories thread shows us how Its now more important than ever to realize that everyone’s fighting their battles, and its not always apparent at first.
ALSO READ
6 Resolutions KP Assembly Could Have Passed Instead of the One Against Aurat March
