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 Beneath the façade of every successful person lies a story.

10/2/2015

7 Comments

 
PictureWolverine - commons.wikimedia.org
 Who hasn't admired the hunky image of an action man playing a macho role on the screen? The actor's job is to make his character believable. But underneath, are they really strong?

Hugh Jackman, the star of 'Wolverine' admits he had a rough start which made him feel powerless.

When he was young, his mother abandoned him it had a drastic effect on his life.

The 46-year-old actor told Parade magazine: "From the moment mom left, I was a fearful kid who felt powerless. I was the youngest. I used to be the first one home and I was frightened to go inside. I couldn't go into the house on my own. I'd wait outside, scared, frustrated. Growing up I was scared of the dark. I was scared of heights.

"It limited me. I hated it, and that contributed to my anger. Isn't most anger fear-based, ultimately? It emanates from some kind of powerlessness. I was really feeling that."

For many people, hardship sparks determination to succeed.

My husband grew up during WW2 in London. He, amongst other children, were sent away when bombs started destroying the city. But the country woman who accepted him used to shut him in a cupboard for hours if he broke her rules. When his mother found out, she took him back to the city, where they'd shelter in the closest Underground station during bomb raids. He's turned out to be a popular, strong and determined man.

And then there was me. In 1949, my mother, sister and I left our home for a train trip when I was seven years old. Before I knew what was going on, some people took me and my sister to a girl's home. I looked around the big hallway, wondering what would happen. A stern lady took me into a room with other children about my age sitting in a classroom. I slunk to a desk at the rear.

Difficult, confusing times followed, filled with regimented activities. I didn't know why we were there of if I'd see my mother again, so I stuck close to my sister at playtime, and tried to get by when faced with difficult sums.

I couldn't understand where my mother had gone or why she had abandoned us.

When we saw Mummy shortly before the turn of the decade, she carried our baby sister, mewing inside a bunny-rug. Despite that early abandonment, I became a strong, determined lady.

There's a story lurking behind every person who presents a successful façade to the world.

Do you have one to share?


7 Comments
Alana link
10/2/2015 03:50:53 am

Being physically abandoned, no. But yes, a story of being raised with a mother increasingly being affected by rheumathoid arthritis and depression. And, a father who had suffered a head injury. In some ways, I was a caregiver for them by the time I was 10.

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Bethany Lotulelei link
10/2/2015 08:20:30 am

Wow, Francene, this is an incredibly powerful piece of writing. I am a big Hugh Jackman fan, and I had no idea he had a tough upbringing. I was in a show about the blitz, and we talked a lot about children being sent into the countryside to get away from the airrades what an experience for your husband. Thank you for sharing all these stories with us.

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Laurel Regan link
10/2/2015 10:36:13 am

You just never know, do you? I think hardships don't have to break us, and can even make us stronger.

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Nick #thisyearinmusic link
10/2/2015 10:36:47 am

Maybe its an early abaondment that drives people to prove their parents wrong?

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Debbie link
10/2/2015 11:56:18 am

Wow! Great blog. I had no idea about Hugh Jackman. I was "actually" abandoned but I was sexual and emotional abused by my stepfather. My mother knew. She was in the home and did nothing about it. So.....I would say I was emotionally abandoned. I am a strong, resilient, determined woman today. I wouldn't wish that beginning on anyone but it DID create the person I am today.

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Margit Crane Luria link
10/2/2015 01:15:04 pm

Thanks for sharing your story and that of your husband. I was never given away but one can feel out of place even with one's parents. I was always sure that I was born at the wrong time. Now I feel like I've grown into myself. Cheers!

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GiGi Eats link
10/2/2015 06:13:11 pm

Of course everyone has a story! If they didn't ---- well then they would probably be living under a rock - but even if they lived under a rock, there would be a story there, ha ha ah!

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    Francene Stanley
    From England, I use news items in my novels which you can see below, all linked to an Amazon near you.

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