Today we’d like to introduce you to Tanya Markul.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Tanya. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
What you might not know about me…
I come from a low-income family. We used food stamps & collected government cheese & bread. I lived a life of hand-me-downs & borrowing friend’s & my friend’s parent’s money for food & extracurricular activities.
As a child, I went to catechism class almost every Saturday & church on Sunday. I used to lie during confession. In elementary school, I was bulliedbecause my glasses made my eyes “big” & because I wore the same clothes everyday.
I got into college (the first of my family) by the grace of God. I piled up around 50K in government loans. I’ve failed classes. I’ve called off work because I was too hung over. I’ve shoplifted clothes & food.
I’ve had family members die of drug overdoses & liver failure. I’ve driven drunk. I’ve lied about my sexual experiences & my parent’s whereabouts & occupations.
Both my legal guardians died by the time I was 13.
I’ve been sexually harassed & assaulted.
My grandmother had Native American blood coursing through her veins. I used to wake up with my father, slobbering drunk, at the end of my bed.
As a kid, my aunts used to take me to bars during summer vacation. During my childhood & teenage years, I can’t remember my mother ever not being sky high.
I have family members battling alcoholism. I lost my best friend to a cocaine addiction. I have family members in and out of prison. I have family members fighting a losing battle with heroin. In my twenties,
I was stoned out of my mind every day for an entire four years.
I’m sharing all of this, because there are those out there who made me believe that my story wasn’t worthy of being told because their story or someone else’s story of pain was worse. And it used to work.
There’s so much repressed wounded-ness in the world, that one person’s bravery to tell their story can become another person’s opportunity to compete, compare, judge, vent and harshly criticise.
We’ve forgotten how to hold space for each other. We forget that holding space for ANYONE who wants to share, listening to hardships, challenges and successes, without judgment or even a response, but with respect, feeds the healthy fire of humanity, that it breeds transformation and change – not just for that person, but for all.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
“I struggle. And I sparkle. I am a real person.” Is what I like to say. Advice for other women. Hmm. Surround yourself with other women who have dreams, intentions and goals — who give a shit but not unnecessarily. And who wants you, too, to also achieve your dreams, intentions and goals. It’s everything. Listen to your intuition!
What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
I’m the author of The She Book (https://www.amazon.com/She-Book-Tanya-Markul/dp/152485106X). And the creator of https://www.instagram.com/thugunicorn/. I’m also a space holder for women. My mission is to discover who I am when my story of pain has been burnt to the ground.
Which women have inspired you in your life?
I follow them on Instagram — check them out!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.theshebook.com/
- Email: tanya@theshebook.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thugunicorn/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tanyamarkul/
Image Credit:
Tanya Markul
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