The holidays are fun, but it can also be a pretty lonely time if you don't have anyone to share them with. That's why Jackie Turner, a 26-year-old California woman with no family members to celebrate with, decided to take drastic action this year: she posted an ad on Craiglist, looking to "rent" a mom and dad for the holidays. Doesn't that just break your heart into a million pieces?
But thankfully, things took a turn for the better after Turner's post, which offered to pay $8 an hour for anyone who would make her "feel like the light of their life just for a couple of days," quickly went viral. And the overwhelming response from the public was not only more than Turner could've ever expected, it's also enough to renew a little faith in everyone who hears her story.
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Since posting the ad, Turner has opened up more about her past, revealing that she was abused as a kid and had to live on the streets for years before she was able to turn her life around and go to college on scholarship. Still Turner, who has a 4.0 GPA, says she still struggles with loneliness–but she's not the only one.
Thanks to her bravely reaching out with the ad, Turner has not only received dozens of offers from families willing to take her in for free, she's also received thousands of responses from people with similar stories, all looking to share their experience. Now, instead of spending the family with rented parents, Turner is creating her own family by spending the holidays with a group of people who responded to her post.
This is amazing story for so many reasons! First, it's heartwarming to see that so many people were willing to take in a total stranger and make her feel like a part of something. But I'm even more astounded by Turner herself, who managed to help herself and tons of others by being strong enough to open up about her past.
And she's also reminded us of one very important thing: not everyone is lucky enough to live a life surrounded by loved ones, but everyone does need to feel a connection now and then. So we should all make an effort to reach out, not just during this time of year, but always.
Image via News 10
