Hi C2G! Finally got out of my shell to ask this (though you probably have already gotten this question but—) what inspired you to make "The Strength in Weakness"? (Love your content btw, especially how you do Casey's voice from the 2012 series!)
I did get this question before, but only on my Youtube channel and not Tumblr, so I'm happy to answer! :)
I had been on Tumblr for I think a few months, and I had seen so many different au's and fics of TMNT. People were creating their own versions of these famous characters and giving them fun, fluffy, angsty spins on their strengths and flaws. I was happy to just enjoy their work for a while.
And then I took part in my first ever artist challenge on Tumblr, Whumptober. Unfortunately-- after checking my post of all my prompts, Tumblr has taken it down for having "possible scary content"-- which I guess is... fair? Kinda the point of the challenge, but anyways--Using the prompts of the challenge, I slowly created my own story with unique takes on the tmnt characters, including an original oc.
Using nearly all the prompts' sketches, I slowly began writing the story behind them. That day I was especially lucky, because my house had lost power-- so me and my sisters all sat around the sun-lit window and did our creative work. I wrote the beginning drafts of the first three chapters of my story that day.
Fast forward a little, and I had begun praying about if God wanted me to bring this little story in my notebook to life. I still had doubts, having never publicly posted my own stories before. And after weeks of praying and watching for an answer, I felt led to do it.
Something that a lot of people don't know, was that at that time I was dealing with some major medical problems. I was having fainting spells that would leave me limp and helpless. It had become so bad that I had to quit my job as a cashier because-- it was no longer safe.
For years after, I was in and out of doctor's offices. I was forced to face my medical-based phobias of vulnerability and needles many times. And then, after spending thousands on research and tests-- everything came back normal.
"It's just you." One doctor had told me.
Years later... I found out that doctor was right. But that's a story for another time.
Anyways, back while I was dealing with all the doctor's visits, I was very, well, stressed and anxious. I had a lot of thoughts flittering through my head about what I was going through and didn't know a good way to let them out.
And then I remembered my story, and all the gears clicked into place.
"The Strength in Weakness" became my personal medical-journey diary, used to show what I was learning about myself and God as I went through tests and uncertainty and bills.
Lotus - the voice of all the thoughts and fears and trauma going through my heart.
Leo - the voice of my later guilt for how carelessly I once lived, especially involving finances, relationships, and spending.
Raph - the voice of my hopelessness and desperation to gain control of my life.
Don - the voice of my longing to be able to financially support myself, and my anger in how little I could help my family with chores/responsibilities. And also the voice of my human 'logic' fighting against my faith.
Mikey - the faint voice of hope still flickering in my heart that things would be okay. That no matter what, the tests and fear and bills wouldn't kill me, but would make me stronger. And the voice of my family, and how they used their smiles and hugs and words to help me through. <3
Over time, all these factors combined to form "The Strength in Weakness". :) And why did I choose that name?
Because during that time of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual WEAKNESS... I found God as my STRENGTH.
