Dave Pelzer Quotes

Childhood should be carefree, playing in the sun; not living a nightmare in the darkness of the soul.

One could come from less than humble beginnings, to become a winner from within.

It is important for people to know that no matter what lies in their past, they can overcome the dark side and press on to a brighter world.

Even in its darkest passages, the heart is unconquerable. It is important that the body survives, but it is more meaningful that the human spirit prevails.

Inside, my soul became so cold I hated everything. I even despised the sun, for I knew I would never be able to play in its warm presence. I cringed with hate whenever I heard other children laughing, as they played outside. My stomach coiled whenever I smelled food that was about to be served to somebody else, knowing it wasn't for me.

You have to understand that in a person's life there are a few precious moments in which decisions, choices that you make now, will affect you for the rest of your life.

I told myself no matter what she did, I would not let the bitch take me down.

I will stay alive.

Mother can beat me all she wants, but I haven’t let her take away my will to somehow survive.

I just don't want to forget this first day of the rest of my life!

Gripping my arm, Mother held it in the orange-blue flame. My skin seemed to explode from the heat.

When we forgive, we free ourselves from the bitter ties that bind us to the one who hurt us.

That day I vowed to myself that I would never, ever again give that bitch the satisfaction of hearing me beg her to stop beating me.

David, what your mother did to you was wrong. Very wrong. No child deserves to be treated like that. She's sick.

In the years before I was abused, my family was the “Brady Bunch”.

At night I no longer dreamed, nor did I let my imagination work during the day. The once vibrant escapes of watching myself fly through the clouds in bright blue costumes, were now a thing of the past. When I fell asleep, my soul became consumed in a black void. I no longer awoke in the mornings refreshed; I was tired and told myself that I had one day less to live in this world. I shuffled through my chores, dreading every moment of every day. With no dreams, I found that words like hope and faith were only letters, randomly put together into something meaningless - words only for fairy tales.

Love and honor thy Mother, for she is the fruit that gives thou life.

I look to my right and see a sign that reads, "THE MOST BEAUTIFUL HIGHWAY IN THE WORLD." The officer smiles with relief, as we leave the city limits. "David Pelzer," he says, "you're free.

Draw Support From Those You Know And Trust. Don't Leave Your Happiness To Fate.

One Child's courage to survive

Inside, my soul became so cold I hated everything. I even despised the sun, for I knew I would never be able to play in its warm presence.

Before I opened the car door, I bowed my head and with peace in my heart, I whispered, "...and deliver me from evil." "Amen.

I gave up on everything in my life, including escaping my misery through my school-work.

I'm so alive. As I stand facing the beauty of the never-ending Pacific Ocean, a late afternoon breeze blows down from the hills behind. As always, it is a beautiful day. The sun is making its final descent. The magic is about to begin. The skies are ready to burn with brilliance, as it turns from a soft blue to a bright orange. Looking towards the West, I stare in awe at the hypnotic power of the waves. A giant curl begins to take form, then breaks with a thundering clap as it crashes on the shore.

Be good, be honest and fair, find something I believe in, work hard and keep the faith no matter how long it takes?

Of all Mother’s punishments, I hated the gas chamber game the most.

I was on my own, and every night I prayed to God that I could be strong both in body and soul.

But now I know that I can help; I can make a difference, too. I’ll stand with you; I’ll shout with you, And the rest can’t say, “I never knew.

When my time comes, I would like to know that I have repaid my debt to those who have made a difference in my life. And to be at peace knowing that I stopped the cancer from spreading to those I love.

There are no guarantees in life, so learn from others’ mistakes. Enjoy what you can, while you can. Don’t let it consume you like . . . well, just let go and let life happen.

I am proud of who you were, David–that hurt person who refused to "die." And I'm more proud of who you've become–a caring, giving, fixing person, the guy with the same sense of humor and that deft, sensitive touch. Good on you, David. I love you.

Inside, my soul became so cold I hated everything. I even despised the sun, for I knew I would never be able to play in its warm presence. I cringed with hate whenever I heard other children laughing, as they played outside.

I believed that I was alone in my struggle and that my battle was one of survival.

I made sure I let go of my past, accepting the fact that that part of my life was only a small fraction of my life.

If it all ends now, I have lived, I have learned, and I have been loved. The greatest lesson is the gift of life, and no matter what, tomorrow is always another day.

The body can endure practically anything--pain, fatigue, you name it-- but its the mind that matters.

That day at school I prayed for the world to end.

The first two ultimate rules of being a foster child that I had learned while at Aunt Mary’s were never to become too attached to anyone and never to take someone’s home for granted.

You are a nobody! An It!

The only way to keep your head above water is to convince yourself you are going to make it.

I made a promise to myself that if I came out of my situation alive, I had to make something of myself.

You’re going to be fine. I promise you,” – with my finger I made an X sign on my chest – “cross my heart and hope to die, you have my word. You don’t deserve to live like that, and we’re going to turn things around.

Children who had difficulty in learning basic skills were to be given special instruction to remedy those weak or unlearned skills.

Whatever you do, do something positive.

That day I wished Mother would have mercy and kill me quickly.

After years of struggle, my purpose became clear; for above all, I came to realize that America was truly the land where one could come from less than humble beginnings, to become a winner from within.

I knelt down, trying to put the many pieces of the letter back together again. It was impossible. I dumped the pieces of the letter in the trash, wishing my life would end. I truly believed, at that moment, that death would be better than my prospects for any kind of happiness. I was nothing but an “It.

Well, young man, ” the judge began. “What it boils down to is this: If the court so desires and if you believe that your home setting is undesirable … you may become a permanent ward of the court, or you may return and reside with your mother at your home residence.

Something made them the way they are. Things do happen for a reason.

And as she held me, I suddenly realized that my lifelong search for love and acceptance had finally ended in the arms of a foster parent.

If it doesn't do you any good, dump it. Take some action, push that lever, flush it away, and don't look back. Take small steps everyday of your life, and start taking control of what you say when you talk to yourself.

Before I could reply, I saw his shadow disappear down the hall. I bent down in front of the vent and turned my head, coughing from the dark smoke. A small, red orange fire began to take form. In a flash I grabbed the can of lighter fluid that John had left and pulled it out from the vent.

I lived through an extraordinary experience, yet I was fortunate enough to learn from it and walk away a better person. I can’t change my past, and it does not grant me the right to use it as a crutch, nor am I destined to become a prisoner because of it. For years I have lived by the philosophy: that which does not kill you can only make you stronger. I simply had to learn to pick myself up at an earlier age.

I made sure I let go of my past, accepting the fact that that part of my life was only a small fraction of my life. I knew the black hole was out there, waiting to suck me in and forever control my destiny--but only if I let it. I took positive control over my life. I'm so blessed. The challenges of the past made me immensely strong inside.

suddenly

Its all a matter of weeding out the bad and cultivating more productive thoughts. And just like pulling weeds, you have to get to the root otherwise that weed, the self-doubt, that negative programming, will spring back up and shoke off the flower that can blossom for you in the future.Be consistent. Apply that "weed off" whenever you feel the need. Every day see the brighter side of things. Continually tell yourself how lucky you are, how good your life is right now, and how things can only get better

Suddenly she lets go of my ear and opens the front door. “Get out!” she screeches. “Get out of my house! I don’t like you! I don’t want you! I never loved you! Get the hell out of my house!” I freeze. I’m not sure of this game. My brain begins to spin with all the options of what Mother’s real intentions may be. To survive, I have to think ahead. Father steps in front of me. “No!” he cries out. “That’s enough. Stop it, Roerva. Stop the whole thing. Just let The Boy be.

I came to despise the neighbors, my relatives and anybody else who had ever known me and the conditions under which I lived. Hate was all I had left. At the core of my soul, I hated myself more than anybody or anything. I came to believe that everything that happened to me or around me was my own fault because I had let it go on for so long. I wanted what others had, but saw no way to get it, so I hated them for having it.

Childhood should be carefree, playing in the sun; not living a nightmare in the darkness of the soul.”  ~Dave Pelzer

Dr. Luskin lifts forgiveness out of the purely psychological and religious domains and anchors it in science, medicine, and health. This book is vitally needed.” —Larry Dossey, M.D., author of Healing Words “Simply the best book on the subject, adding sophistication and depth to our instinctive but sometimes uncertain understanding of how forgiveness heals both those forgiven and those who forgive. Luskin’s research also shows how modern psychology can enrich traditional moral teachings. His book will stand as a modern classic in psychology.” —Michael Murphy, cofounder of the Esalen Institute and author of Future of the Body “Combining groundbreaking research with a proven methodology, Forgive for Good is an accessible and practical guide to learning the power of forgiveness.” —John Gray, Ph.D., author of Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus “Straightforward, sincere, and essential.” —Dave Pelzer, author of A Child Called It and Help Yourself “A rare and marvelous book—warm, loving, solidly researched, and wise. It could change your life.” —George Leonard, author of Mastery and president of the Esalen Institute “Dr. Luskin’s wise and clinically astute methods for finding forgiveness could not be more timely … a sure-handed guide through the painful emotions of hurt, sadness and anger towards a resolution that makes peace with the past, soothes the present, and liberates the future.