Becky Hartung is a communication lecturer at Pepperdine University and the author of the essay collection Running in the Dark. She grew up in Ohio and received her MA in humor communication from Regis University. Her work has appeared in the Conscious Magazine, Bella Grace, and To Write Love on Her Arms. She lives in Los Angeles.
“The truth is that it is a big deal. I believe it’s a part of being human for some of us. The things we face in life are, in the truest sense, a “big deal.”
“My struggle with depression and social anxiety began at an early age, stemming from the abandonment I faced after my adoption. I was painfully shy when I started school, and my difficulties adapting to peers left me, often times, socially stunted. I hit my lowest point at the age of 16 when I attempted suicide for the first time. “ | To Write Love on Her Arms
“Our scars are beautiful. They tell of the wounds that brought us to this moment, and remind us that even the tough stuff we are walking through now will one day heal.”
“My scars allow me to see the scars of others. If we started to talk about them, maybe people wouldn’t feel alone with their wounds. We share the hardships in our lives to not only find healing in our own journey, but to tell others that they are never alone in their hurting.” Grit + Virtue Magazine
“On the days that I feel alone or struggle to find purpose I can settle in the truth that I am loved.”
“The left side of my ankle hangs the words, “I love you” permanently inked into my skin to represent a birthmark that told the story of my beginning. Although simple and almost comical at first glance, the words hold the key to unlocking my journey of adoption, abandonment, and finding the beauty in the life we have been given.” | Conscious Magazine