A New Kind of Easter – One of Peace, Not Pain

For over three decades, special occasions felt like emotional battlegrounds. Holidays like Easter, Christmas, or even my own birthday became days I dreaded rather than celebrated. I was often alone or, worse, punished for crimes I never committed. I lived in a world where love was conditional, kindness came with strings, and joy was a fleeting moment before the next storm.

There were no eggshells to tiptoe over this Easter.

This Easter Sunday felt almost surreal. For the first time in what feels like a lifetime, I experienced a special occasion without chaos, cruelty, or control. Not one cross word. Not one insult. No selfish acts or passive-aggressive digs. No scathing remarks about my friends or family. No controlling behavior, no guessing games, no gaslighting.

Instead, I was pampered.
Cooked for.
Treated with nothing but kindness and respect.

It may sound simple—an Easter without drama or destruction—but for those of us who have lived under the shadow of emotional or psychological abuse, it’s nothing short of revolutionary.

To sit at a table and feel safe.
To laugh freely and know the laughter won’t be used against you later.
To receive a meal prepared with love rather than manipulation.
To feel seen and valued rather than silenced or shamed.

This Easter, I saw what life can look like without toxicity. And it reminded me how far I’ve come. Healing isn’t a straight path. It’s layered and complex. But moments like today are powerful markers—proof that peace is possible. That joy doesn’t have to be earned by suffering. That togetherness, when it’s real, doesn’t hurt.

To anyone out there still stuck in a cycle of pain—please know this:
There will come a time when holidays no longer trigger fear.
When you’ll wake up on a special day and feel warmth instead of dread.
And when you do, you’ll realize it was never you who was too sensitive, too needy, too much.
You were simply in the wrong environment.

This Easter, I found peace. And for the first time in years, I’m allowing myself to believe…
The best is yet to come.

#HealingJourney #FreedomFeelsDifferent #EmotionalAbuseRecovery #EasterReflection #NewBeginnings #KindnessIsPowerful #YouDeservePeace

— Linda C J Turner

Trauma Therapist | Neuroscience & Emotional Intelligence Practitioner | Advocate for Women’s Empowerment