Amy Robinson is a reporter for a weekly newspaper in Watford City, North Dakota—the epicenter for the oil boom in the Baaken Oil Fields, which took off just as the rest of the nation was in recession. With economic prosperity came social challenges—alcohol and drug abuse, human trafficking, domestic violence—as people flocked to the region for jobs. Like many other residents, Amy moved to Watford City for a fresh start.

“The person you’re with shouldn’t make you cry more than they make you smile.”

I’m divorced. I left my ex-husband because he got physical with me in front of our oldest child. Cops were called. He was military. Long story short, two weeks later I had my entire van packed and I was out.

I kept making excuses to stay until I finally figured out that I’m strong enough to do this on my own. I needed to leave, not only for me, but for my kids and I learned that I was stronger than I thought I was.

I was good at masking my life. I wanted people to think that I was a proud military wife and everything was perfect. He was an embarrassment to me, and it felt like failure. You know what’s more important than that? Not crying every day. If you’re crying more than you’re smiling, then you shouldn’t be in that situation.

Too often, people don’t want to get involved. If just one person had stepped forward to say, “Hey, I know something is going on and I’m worried about you. I just want you to know that I’m here.” That would make all the difference.

Amy Robinson full podcast

Discussion Questions

• What inner demons do you struggle with? How do they inhibit you? What are steps you can take/are taking to overcome them?
• Has anyone ever reached out to you during a time of hardship and offered their presence? How did it make a difference? Have you ever reached out to someone who was struggling? How did that impact them? How did it impact you?
• Do you believe in yourself? What makes it difficult to believe in yourself?
• How do you find inner peace? How is life different when you have inner peace? How are your relationships changed by that presence of peace?
• What personal struggles are you good at hiding from others? How would your situation be different if you didn’t have to hide those struggles?