The Holidays and Domestic Violence

The Numbers May Lie Do you remember hearing that the Great Wall of China is the only man-made object visible from outer space? This is a piece of trivia that has been passed along since I can remember.  It gets repeated so much that it is very possible that it is the first thing you […]

Vanessa’s Story

Hi. My name is Vanessa, and I am a survivor of domestic abuse. Here’s the reason I’m writing this—my abuser was over 1,000 miles away from me. (and I am also writing this to help anyone else who’s suffering through the same torture. Nobody is ever alone in this, no matter who you are, what […]

My Survivor Story

My mother was abusive, and I replaced her in marriage. She followed me across the country and made good friends with my ex-husband, who drinks a lot and goes Jekyll and Hyde. I made the mistake of moving on too quickly as I tried to escape the abuse when I was pregnant again and fell […]

A Guide to Becoming a Thankful Survivor 

I have spent years of my life in turmoil, confusion, hypervigilance, exhaustion, and many other negative emotional states, but when I look back over time and through my healing process, I am grateful for numerous aspects of my journey.

My Own Holiday of Hope

I walked into that Christmas party on December 13, 2018, with both excitement and shame. My old co-workers from Get A Grip Total Fitness reached out and invited my kids and me to attend. They knew that we were going through a hard time, so I was honored that they wanted us to just experience a night of fun and laughter. Boy, did I need it. I was excited to see everyone, yet, full of shame knowing that my life circumstances were far from what they were when I was working there and hiding the abuse that I was enduring.

Better Health Through Giving

… it is important to remember that giving isn’t just about packages that can be wrapped and put under a tree for loved ones.  Giving can be even more emotionally satisfying when it helps people we don’t know.  When we give to someone who is truly in need, we get the biggest reactions and make the biggest impacts.