To achieve a society free from abuse, we need to step up and face the reality of abuse within our society, communities, and even within our own families. It’s time to speak up and find our voices on behalf of every survivor. Abusive behaviors are unacceptable, and it is time for change.
Read MoreThe truth is survivors struggle with holidays for many reasons. For me holidays were extremely stressful and depressing most of my life. For as long as I can remember, I would feel physically sick most holidays. My childhood pain and trauma would surface during the holiday season.
Read MoreAs both a mother and a survivor of abuse, I know firsthand that we are the ones who have the capacity to stop the cycle of abuse within our own families and communities, so our children don’t suffer through the same pain we had to endure. It’s our job to protect, nurture, and guide our children while teaching them about healthy relationships.
Read MoreHow do we, as a society, stop the cycle of abuse?
I realize this is a huge undertaking, and some may think this is an impossible feat.
Some thought Dr. King’s dream was impossible, but he started a movement that has changed our society. I, too, have a dream, and that dream is a society absent of abuse. In 50 years, we should look back on this decade to recognize the beginning of a movement and the end to an era of abuse.
Read MoreAs a little girl, I knew I wanted to be a writer “when I grew up.” The problem was, I couldn’t read or write. I realized at a young age that I didn’t learn like everyone else. I felt stupid, different, and disconnected from others. I struggled to read, write, and spell for the entirety of my childhood.
I was in seventh grade when my mother had my brother and I tested for a learning disability. At age 12, we discovered we both had dyslexia. I could barely read on a third-grade level, and I couldn’t even spell on a first-grade level. Along with the news that my brother and I had dyslexia, they also told her it was highly likely that neither of us would graduate high school. Looking back, it was a blessing that my mother never told us.
Read MoreHealing and happiness are possible after surviving abuse; we just need to know what to do to obtain them. Hence, the most difficult question any survivor faces is, What next?
As an almost destitute young divorced mother of two, I faced this overwhelming question just like many of you.
Read MoreWhat You Need to Know and Do?
Covid-19 has changed everyone’s lives—especially those who find themselves living in an abusive situation. On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. That statistic could be on the increase since this pandemic has elevated the fear of the unknown and generated extraordinary stress and anxiety within families, households, and relationships.
Read MorePerception is a remarkable ability. Perception can generate hope and contentment, or it can cultivate fear and unease. The difference is how you see your current situation.
Read MoreIt’s time to discover more joy and happiness in your holidays, don’t you think? Though they might seem like the same thing, joy and happiness are slightly different. In my opinion, happiness could be defined as pleasure and contentment that you choose to embrace within yourself. Joy, on the other hand, looks more like living in the moment while embracing each positive experience.
Read MoreI still remember how I felt throughout my childhood and young adult life at Christmas time like it were yesterday. Surrounded by my extended family, my stomach would churn with the distinct sickening feeling that came with intense fear and anxiety throughout my entire body. All I wanted was to escape my family, the farm, and, most of all, my abuser. Instead, I sat next to him in front of the Christmas tree with a smile on my face pretending everything was merry and bright. However, on the inside, nothing could be farther from the truth.
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