Check Out Debbie And Donna Lim’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Debbie And Donna Lim

Debbie and Donna, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
We, The Lim Twins, are grateful to share our story with Canvas Rebel/Voyage Feature for the second time. Thank you, Editors, for inviting us to share our journey again.

I’m Debbie, and I’ll be sharing our story on behalf of my twin sister Donna and myself. I would like to give a title to each entry I write. The first one is…

“From Trauma to Triumph: The Journey of The Lim Twins”

Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, with a brief stint in San Francisco’s Chinatown, our lives were shaped by turmoil.
Our parents’ tumultuous relationship and eventual divorce exposed us to violence and abuse. Our father, a strict and cruel man, believed that having twins meant two fathers were needed. His cruelty extended to our mother, who suffered physical and emotional abuse.

Within 23 months, my mother gave birth to 4 babies… Our brother Tony was the first born, my mother welcomed Donna and me, Identical Mirror-Image Twins. Donna arrived five minutes before me, (a subtle distinction in our uniquely bonded relationship). Our birth order was significant in Chinese culture, where having a firstborn son, like Tony, was considered auspicious. I often wondered if this cultural significance would have brought prosperity ot even happiness to our family.

Completing our sibling quartet was Tina, born soon after us. Her tiny stature and sweet nature captivated everyone, earning her the unconscious title of favorite child – a dynamic that would later become a poignant irony.

E.g., One Christmas morning stands out in my memory. When Donna and I were just 3 or 4 years old, we received a tin can of cookies. Our father callously threw them at us, instructing us to share. Meanwhile, our sister and brother unwrapped thoughtful gifts, highlighting the stark contrast in his treatment.

After our parents divorced and we moved back to Detroit during the riots, our mother met Bud, her second husband. His alcoholism and violence transformed our childhood into a nightmare.

We were:
– Locked in a 10×10 room with four siblings
– Forced to share a bucket for bathroom use
– Beaten by Bud, with our mother’s knowledge (Only Donna and I were beaten, the other two were my mother’s favorites and Bud were not allowed to touch them.)
– Neighborhood children tried to help, by bringing us water or Kool-Aid through the window. Bud found out and boarded up the window and put Carpenters Nails throughout the wood of the window. This deprived us of natural light and fresh air

Bud’s cruelty intensified and the abuse was relentless: Just to mention a few “nightmares memories”… We were subjected to a grueling punishment daily. Our faces shoved in dog feces, Donna or I would be thrown into a cold, damp back room with minimal clothing and pushed our bodies against the kitchen door for warmth and left there for more than 3 hours at a time. We were forced to stand stationary in the corner for hours on end. Any slight movement or surrender to fatigue, resulting in falling asleep, would incur an additional, lengthy extension of our standing sentence – often an hour or more. Sometimes we thought they forgot about us. We thought this was normal, lacking external references.

This traumatic foundation shaped our resilience and resolve. Our story is one of survival, hope, and healing.

Growing up in a predominantly white, impoverished neighborhood, we faced relentless racism. As biracial Asian-American twins, we were caught in a triple bind: rejected by Caucasians, African Americans, and even our own Asian community for not being “100% pure Chinese.” This toxic environment permeated our entire educational journey – elementary, middle, and high school. We were constantly reminded of our differences.

As I was walking home from school (I am not sure how old I was, but I believe I was in elementary school), I scribbled on paper and posted around the neighborhood: “Please help us!” with our address. A neighbor reported it to Bud that “one of his children wrote little notes all around the neighborhood”. Before Bud attacked all of us, I confessed and had a brutal beating by Bud.
One desperate cry for help changed everything.

We are not sure if my notes helped or if one of our teachers recognized the signs of abuse, Donna and I were placed in a children’s home, torn from each other and thrust into uncertainty. I’ll spare the painful details for now, but this and many other experiences fuels my desire to share our story in hopes that it will make someone out there know they are NOT alone.

The court system kept moving us from children’s homes to foster homes where eventually we were aged out of the system. Shy of turning 16 years old, we were forced on our own. Nowhere to go and no hope in the world.

So, how did we escape the chaos of our childhood? Honestly, I’m not entirely sure. But I know one thing – being twins saved us.

Our bond was the lifeline that kept us going. We never saw ourselves as victims. We were survivors, and darn proud of it. We didn’t dwell on the past or blame it for our struggles. Instead, we viewed it as a tough lesson that made us stronger.

Of course, there were (and still are) dark times – depression, anxiety, and all that jazz. But we faced them head-on, fueled by our determination to… Keep faith – Spread hope – Rise above the trauma. We’re not perfect, but we’re trying to stay positive and in the present. We’re still figuring things out, just like everyone else. Our bond remains our rock.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I like to name this section… “Redefining Success”

Struggle and smooth roads are relative terms, shaped by upbringing, finances, and life perspectives. Our journey was far from smooth. We faced abuse, torture, and neglect, but we chose a different path.
Some people might turn to destructive coping mechanisms, while others find strength in faith, hard work, and determination. We fell into the latter category.

We worked tirelessly to break the cycle. Donna and I forged our own paths. In 1989, Donna founded Fitness Motivators, pioneering a legacy of wellness. I joined her a few years later, and together, we’ve taught, presented, and lectured on fitness for over 44 years. Our Detroit-made fitness DVD, Z-Box Fitness, was a success. Donna is also a yoga instructor, while I’m an award-winning artist and photographer.

Recently, I was honored as the 2024-2025 Farmington Hills Artist in Residence. A week later, Donna and I also trained and joined Livonia’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).

We’re proud of our accomplishments, but more importantly, we’re proud of who we’ve become – resilient, determined, and compassionate individuals, redefining success on our own terms.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I like to call this part of our story: “Perseverance and Resilience”

Like many, we work to secure health benefits and pay our bills. Donna excels in the HR Department of a global corporation. I previously worked there too, but faced challenges with my former boss. After going on disability, she terminated my position (ironically, my boss is no longer with the company). I wonder if my complaint to HR sparked a positive change, empowering others to speak up.

We take pride in our unwavering determination. Despite obstacles, we: – Refuse to give in to harmful habits – Strive to do the right thing – Stay on a positive path, no matter what the mindset.
What sets us apart? – Unrelenting perseverance – Passion for self-improvement. Example, Donna exemplifies this. When faced with unfamiliar software, she seeks training and workshops until she’s an expert.

We prioritize: – Attention to detail. Most importantly, we schedule fitness and health as a top priority.

Our mantra: NEVER GIVE UP!

What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I would like to call this portion… “Embracing the Pace of Change”

Life, technology, and people evolve. No matter our age, we perceive changes in our environment, relationships, and mindset uniquely, even if raised in the same household.

We’ve witnessed rapid transformations: – 8-tracks to cassettes to floppy disks to CDs, and now virtual everything – Manual driving to autonomous vehicles.

The pace is breathtaking. To keep up, we must: Adapt and educate ourselves and embrace the changing world. Or, we can choose to: Hold onto familiar times or accept change at our own pace. Either way, the world will continue to evolve, regardless of our perspective. The key is resilience and openness to growth.

Donna and I thrive on this momentum. We’re driven to stay current, constantly seeking new knowledge and skills. This mindset comes naturally to us, honed through years of resilience and determination. As we age, our enthusiasm for learning remains unwavering. We’ll continue to embrace the latest advancements, ensuring our place in the dynamic, ever-changing world.

Our mantra: – Learn, adapt, evolve

We’re planning to launch a YouTube Channel where we’ll learn, grow, and connect with a community of like-minded individuals. If you’re interested in joining us on this adventure, stay tuned for updates and subscribe to our channel!

Here is a description of this Channel if we move forward with it:

Join Donna and Debbie, identical Asian twins, on their journey through fitness, health, and aging with vitality! There reality-style channel offers: – Fitness tips and workouts – Health advice and wellness strategies – Twin perspectives on aging with enthusiasm – Authentic, unfiltered experiences.

Subscribe now: https://www.youtube.com/Limtwins

Stay updated on: – Regular video uploads – Live sessions: Q&A, workouts, and more – Behind-the-scenes insights Join our community and let’s navigate life’s adventures together
Share your thoughts: What topics would you like us to cover? What challenges do you face in fitness and health and mental health?

To contact Donna and Debbie Lim: [email protected]

Contact Info:

• Website: https://debbielim.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_debbielim_/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artbydebbielim
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Limtwins
• Other: https://fitnessmotivators.com

Image Credits
Personal Photo (main photo) by Rachel Timlin

“From Trauma to Triumph: The Journey of The Lim Twins” Photos 01 and 02

“Redefining Success” Photos 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08

“Coming soon!” Photo 09 (At the end)