I deeply admire great thinkers who can look beyond the surface of the obvious. One such mind is Robert Sapolsky, who, in his book Determined, challenges the very notion of free will.

It’s true—we are shaped by our genes, by epigenetics, by cultural traditions, limitations, and the scars of maltreatment. The real question, then, is this: Can we alter that imprint to foster a new, more empathetic generation?

A quick, optimistic answer might be “yes.” But those who respond so easily may fail to grasp the intricate patterns that lie beneath the surface.

We all live with the “imprint” left by our genes and the forces of epigenesis—a silent script written before we’re even aware of it.

I am expanding my book as a form of validation—for what childhood victims have endured, for the suffering that still lingers, and to shed light on how early trauma can even alter our genes. This is for the more than 1,000 survivors who have reached out to me, and for the millions more who have never spoken of their childhood secrets or the mental pain they’ve carried for years—often silently.

I will write for those still in denial—the ones who refuse to see the undeniable: the lasting, devastating impact of abuse. I will share the truth of my own story, the damage it caused, and how it shaped my life long after childhood had ended.

Only the awareness of suffering—born from the past—can become conscious and, perhaps, begin to change its response.

Through these pages, I will share why confronting my past was necessary to reclaim the dignity that had been taken from me—and how the imprint of trauma silently shaped the course of my adult life in ways I am only now beginning to fully comprehend.

Above all, I want to encourage every adult who experienced childhood abuse: seek help, speak out—so you don’t continue the cycle you were forced to endure. Your story matters.