Today we’d like to introduce you to Courteny Morgan.
Courteny, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’d say my life experiences have shaped me and led me to the place I am in today. I’ve been through a lot of painful and difficult situations that have each changed me and taught me things I wouldn’t have learned otherwise. I grew up in a household that was pretty dysfunctional; conflict and tension were no strangers to our home. I had a lot of hidden pain and self-hatred that manifested through self-harm. I also developed an eating disorder at the age of 14 and struggled with it through all of high school and into college.
One of the biggest blows I faced was when I was 19. I was on a trip with a friend and some guys that I didn’t know. The first night of the trip, I passed out after drinking too much and one of them decided I was fair game; he raped me while I was lying there unconscious. After that, I was in such darkness and the pain was unbearable, so I tried to end my life by taking a bottle of sleeping pills.
I have grown immensely through each of these experiences and others that I don’t have enough space to tell here. Moments like these can either own you and destroy you, or you can rise up, take back your power, and let them strengthen you. Each of the painful moments were a stepping stone on a path leading me to the fulfilling life I have now. I have been through hell and I am still standing; I am still breathing and fighting.
A few years ago, I was thinking about various experiences some of my girlfriends had been through and I realized how resilient every single woman I know is and how many untold stories of pain, struggle, and courage are lying within each woman. I decided to start a blog where they could tell their stories, and the results have been incredible. Each time a woman opens up about her challenges and the darkness she has seen, I receive messages from other women telling me how much they relate to the story.
It helps them to feel less alone. Stories have so much power. They connect people; they can make a stranger feel like a friend and they can erase the loneliness and isolation we feel amidst our struggles. We’ve been taught to deal with our pain internally, to not talk about grief or struggles or conflict. So we’re all carrying around these burdens and putting on fake smiles for everyone. The blog seeks to end the silence, to acknowledge our pain openly, and to engage in honest dialogue surrounding difficult topics like suicide, rape, depression, racism, death, etc.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
No road is smooth, at least no road that is leading to anywhere meaningful. Running a blog like this can be really emotionally exhausting. The stories from these women hang heavy on my heart. After I shared my own story on the blog, I had many women reach out to me and share their own stories of abuse, trauma, and sexual assault. I often wonder why I am the one who is being trusted with such personal and traumatic stories.
I think the things that are the hardest or hurt the most are the things that are the most important for us to do, which is why I keep going. With each story, I go through a cycle: first, I feel shocked and horrified at the things these women have endured. I then feel a mixture of anger and sadness at this world for allowing such horrific things to happen to these incredible women. And then I feel rage—the kind that propels you forward and fuels you to keep fighting and working to change things.
I’ve also been incredibly lucky to have such a wonderful partner throughout this journey. He has been a source of constant strength and encouragement, both in the blog and in my personal life. He keeps me going when I want to shut it down or feel like I can’t handle the stress and pressure anymore. He helps me work through all my past traumas and emotions that still linger from them. The blog wouldn’t exist nor would I be where I am without him.
Please tell us about Stories by Her.
The blog is a space for women to share their stories and experiences. I also run an Instagram and Facebook page where I share the stories from the blog. These pages also seek to shine a light upon the systems that maintain and perpetuate injustices and oppression, from rape culture to environmental degradation to white supremacy.
I am proud of the community that has formed on these platforms. The people I interact with on these pages encourage and support me and this work, which can be very discouraging, isolating, and disheartening. They also inspire me with their own stories of strength and perseverance and push me to keep growing, learning, and fighting injustice in order to create the kind of world we only dream of.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I honestly started the blog mostly on a whim, which means there wasn’t a clear process or goal or way I went about things– I just made it up as I went along. Despite this, I can’t say I’d change anything.
The blog and page have grown and evolved, and I am happy with the changes. My only regret is that I don’t have as much time to invest in it right now, as I am working full time and in school full time. Running a blog takes way more time than I expected, and I just wish I had more free time to dedicate to it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://storiesbyherblog.wordpress.com
- Email: courtmorg16@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/her_stories_/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StoriesbyHer/
Image Credit:
Janelle Whitehead
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