~By Danielle S.

(Age 17)

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I was recently asked how I was doing. I wanted to answer more than, “good.” I thought long and hard. How am I doing? Here’s my conclusion.

I am proud. I am proud to be a survivor. I am proud to be a voice. I am proud of myself.

I was raised to be ashamed of myself. I was told that I didn’t matter. I didn’t count. I was to li...

In the month of August, we have been focusing on tapping into the truth we already have inside us. As we allow ourselves to go all out in what I call a “full-thrive”, we capture the vision to walk in strength, peace, power and joy—during our healing process and within the boiling pot of imperfection and pain.  

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During this four-part series, we have touched on Denial and how this normal reaction served to protect our bodies from damage, ...

During the month of August, we are focusing on learning how to tap into the truth we already have inside us and go all out in what I call a “full-thrive”. We will discuss what it means to walk in strength, peace, power and joy—during our healing process and within the boiling pot of imperfection and pain.

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We’ve spent the last two weeks discussing the art of active healing. We touched on Denial and how this normal ...

During the month of August, we are focusing on learning how to tap into the truth we already have inside us and go all out in what I call a “full-thrive”. We will continue to discuss what it means to walk in strength, peace, power and joy—during our healing process and within the boiling pot of imperfection and pain.

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It’s so easy to get imprisoned in the quagmire of what was—of all that happened! Of what we didn&...

The Art of Active Healing Part I: Denial

During these next four weeks, we will focus on learning how to tap into the truth we already have inside us and go all out in what I call a “full-thrive”. We will discuss what it means to walk in strength, peace, power and joy—during our healing process and within the boiling pot of imperfection and pain.

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When life hands you a plate you didn’t order, even the basic ins and outs o...

Anytime we are seeking growth in any area, there are always things we can do to cultivate our goals. It is so important to focus on practical ways we can nurture healing. *Remember that every major change is accompanied by hard work and "pre-commitment". So for today, start with this thought:

What is your identity? Is it your pain/trauma? Has being a "victim" crowded out the YOU you were meant to be? ~jill

*www.stopthesilence.org

As we focus on GROWTH this week, I firmly believe we must live ON PURPOSE. Growth requires planning, plotting and cultivation. *Remember: every major change is accompanied by hard work and "pre-commitment". WHY? Because the mere fact that we need a "change" implies that there is already something else that exists...that needs to be re-done, re-worked, eradicated, uprooted, re-born, revitalized...

TODAY'S QUESTION(S): What is it you TRULY want? Do you want to be an overcomer? What does t...

As we talk about GROWTH (as it pertains to HEALING this week), it's IMPERATIVE to grasp the idea of "REHAB" and what that means/looks like. Let's imagine this scenario: an Olympian runner lost both his legs and was never expected to walk again, let alone RUN. Ohhhhhhh, but he sooooo wants to run again, so he decides to go for it with all his heart. He puts the huge, nearly impenetrable goal of competing in the next Olympics in the forefront of his mind, and now he literally EATS, SLEEPS and B...

Sometimes it's easy to believe we are not worthy to be truly happy. Growth can seem to elude us...because of our fear of change, our fear of responsibility and our fear of success. And strangely, sometimes it's just more comfortable to stay anchored to our excuses or indecision.

Today, MAKE A CHANGE for good. Tell yourself the words you would say to your own child. Words of HOPE. Words of empowerment and confidence that they can "be whoever they want to be" or "achieve whatever they pu...

An Overview, by Dr. Pamela Pine

"Exploring DARVO [Deny, Attack, and Reverse Victim and Offender] aids in understanding how perpetrators are able to enforce victims’ silence through the mechanism of self-blame." Important information coming from researcher Jennifer Freyd!

"Dear Colleagues [writes Jennifer to Pamela Pine and others on June 1, 2017],

I usually wait until we have the final print version of a new publication before making an announce...

~by Rachelle Spencer

This last week my son asked if he could cook breakfast for me and his sister. He took on the entire task and wouldn't let me do anything ... he served both of us before he sat down to eat. I was overjoyed and my heart was so full of love for this little four year old. I kept thinking about the affect that our culture has on men and boys ... to tell them to be strong, to not feel, to be tough etc etc etc. Patriarchy is taught and drilled into our cul...

by Jennene Obremski

We abuse our poor bodies with danger. Substances, self harm, anything to numb your pain but guess what sister? Feeling your pain completely, doesn't kill you. You won't explode or implode or burn to ashes. You'll be free. It's okay to feel your pain day by day, mourn the loss of your childhood and move on to healing times. Be kind to your body. Feel. Cry. Rage. Laugh out loud. Dance. Dream. Hope. Love. Just feel completely. Be free. Live free, my sisters and brothers...

~by Jillian Short

The most overlooked key to healing and wellness is: A SENSE OF HUMOR!

I love the Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical, "CINDERELLA"...especially the song "IMPOSSIBLE"! As we press forward as SURVIVORS, with strong, BEAUTIFUL goals ahead of us, take a moment and enjoy these light-hearted (but timelessly TRUE) lyrics:

IMPOSSIBLE! for a plain yellow pumpkin to become a golden carriage,

IMPOSSIBLE, for a plain country bumpkin...

As a very young child, I was subjected to sexual abuse until I was seven years old. When I was twelve, my parents and I went to Micronesia as missionaries with Evangelism Missions Inc. I loved it! I learned the language, embraced the culture, and eventually became interpreter for our mission church. My abuse became a distant memory—buried and unaddressed.

Years later, still deep in the clutches of my church affiliation, I married a man who became physically abusiveR...

~By Danielle S. 

(Danielle is a 17 year old survivor of abuse. She recently came forward with the devastating truth of her situation. These past months have been difficult, but she is actively persuing healing and growth in her life--and writing about it! She is meeting hardship head-on. I am so blessed to have the privelege of sharing her writings with you all!  ~jill)

EVERYONE has their opinion of what I shoul...

~By Teddy M.

On this day, 15 years after the terrorist attacks on September 11, I face an almost overwhelming weight of thoughts, memories and emotions. As a firefighter at the time I remember the horror of watching the World Trade Center towers collapse, and being familiar with firefighting tactics, I knew there were hundreds of firefighters still in those buildings. As it turned out there were 343, and I still feel that pain.

As a m...

Category: Blog Spot for Teens

~By Danielle S., (17 yr. old Writer and Survivor of Abuse)

As a victim of sexual abuse, I had a major piece of my privacy taken from me. What I considered the closest, most intimate part of me was stolen by the selfish decisions of another. And if that wasn't enough, it got worse. Once I spoke up, my privacy was unveiled for everyone to see. How shameful! I wasn't a 'normal' person anymore.

Everywhere I ...

Category: Depression

~Written by Jillian Short

Category: Blog Spot for Teens

~By Danielle S.  (17 yr. old writer and survivor of abuse)

I was shielded from understanding just how wrong sexual abuse is. I knew it went against how I was taught, but had no idea just how wrong it was. Illegal? It never crossed my mind. Even though I didn't know what "he" was doing to me was against the law, I knew it wasn't right. Eventually I spoke up about it.

Listen. If you are being sexually...