I am very interested in hearing your story if you have ever experienced a scenario that I call, “walking-up-out-of-it.” This notion is used in my first book, “His Ingredient Label: A Woman’s Guide to Recognizing a Junk Food Man." In chapter 11, titled, “When it’s time to let go,” I define this scenario:

“… with this option you will have to make a decision to walk away from your unhealthy relationship, like giving up smoking or fattening desserts. This will be a decision that will crush you in the beginning. I call this “the-walking-up-out-of-it” phase.

“Walking up out of it” is a decision that says you must get “through” it; you can’t get “around” it. When you walk up out of it, this means that you don’t know where you are going, or how you are going to get there, or if anything will be waiting for you when you arrive. All you do know is that the current problem situation is not where you are supposed to be in your life. This is not where you want to be, and you know that you deserve better. True, you will feel loneliness, sadness, pain, hurt, and perhaps even abandonment, but eventually these difficult emotions will be replaced with a sense of understanding, and eventually a sense of self-made happiness. Just know that you are going to go through withdrawal right now, but that will get better. People escape addictions all the time, and you can, too. Healthy consumership takes effort, but learning to select the best nutrients for your body and mind will restore a sense of ownership to your life and lead to healthy results in a short time, if you stick with it.

As for your former relationship, you still may have dozens of of questions while you are walking up out of it. You may not understand what happened, why it happened the way it did, and what the future holds for the two of you. You may never know the truth of the matter, but because you are no longer blind or too emotional to be rational, you may begin to have a more balanced understanding of what took place. Understanding has always come to the patient and seeking ones, and it always will."

Can you relate to this? Have you ever been in an unhealthy relationship where you had it bad and didn’t think you could leave? You would have done anything possible to keep him in your life, even though you KNEW that the relationship was toxic? If so, tell me your story. Also, tell me how you, “walked up out of it.” How did your relationship end? If your story was a long time ago, also send me an update.

What I am looking for:

• True stories
• Your personal story
• Length (minimum 2000 words – maximum – 5000 words)
• Something different – not your average (he cheated and I left) story

What I am not looking for:

• Stories you’ve heard or someone else has experienced
• Multiple submissions (only send me your best story)
• Reprints (previously published stories)
• Fiction/Poetry
• Inappropriate language (for example: references to a female as “slut” – unless you are quoting someone)

To increase your chances of selection, please write in this format:

• Your background - (preferably, at the time of the situation)
• Your story
• How you walked up out of it
• Your update (if applicable to you)
• Lessons Learned

If you are selected you will be contacted. Please send all submissions to me via my contact me page or email me at me@jennifertardy.com. I look forward to hearing from you.