Yes, WE CAN END CHILD ABUSE!

I take great pride in being an American. It has been very clear to me for a long, long time that had I not been an Abused Child, here in America, I might not have survived.  How is that possible, you might wonder.  To me, it’s very clear.  In our great country, when something bad, unwarranted, or untimely happens to us as individuals, we have the opportunity to seek healing when it ends. It always ends, one way or the other.

For me, the initial healing was to get out of my abusive home and get an education.  Our country allowed me, even as a minor, many opportunities to borrow monies to do so through low-interest government loans. I took advantage of that and received an excellent education that has allowed me to earn a good living.  That is not the case in all countries.  In the years within my classroom teaching, I never once censored what I said.  If I was asked a question, I answered professionally, but always with honesty.  In our country, we have the Freedom of Speech and I cherish that. It has allowed me to write SPIRIT UNBROKEN to help other abuse victims.

In America, we have also the freedom of “choice.”  If we don’t like something than we can strive to change it.   That goes with our own lives too. This land is really a land of opportunity in all venues.  I embrace my life knowing that I am free to become whatever I choose for myself.  I have always known there was and is a way to put bad things aside , but we have to actively do it!  As Americans we can either passively sit and wait for everything to be perfect in our individual lives and things to come to us without exerting any effort… or we can make every effort to improve not only our own lives, but those around us.

I “get” Dr. Matin Luther King’s “I HAVE A DREAM” speech…I always have. My own dream is that one day all children will grow up in safety here in our country (as well as all others) and Child Abuse will be a thing of the past.  Follow your dreams.

In America we can do whatever we choose, but it requires  hard work and dedication.  No battle is easily won.

sue

New Year; new choices, new attitudes!

The reason everyone is wished a “Happy” New Year is quite special.  It is because we hopefully  grasp the simplicity of the concept that in the new year, as opposed to the old one, we can all literally wipe our lives clean of all the negatives…  and start fresh. The new year can be one of personal change and growth. How amazing is that?

The wonderful thing about being human is that all of us have the power of “choice.” This applies to everything in our lives, basically from the moment we enter adulthood. Before that time we live under the dictates of adult “supervision.”    To hold another accountable for either the good and/or bad in our own lives is ridiculous.  It is also disrespectful to our Creator.  In my writings over the past two decades, I have never professed to have all the answers, but I do have a great deal of human interaction, experience, and an academic background that speaks for itself.

I share my own insight and path in hopes that it helps  others too. It has by the huge amounts of positive feedback I get at lectures, in person, and via email.  However, we all have the right to CHOOSE our own path. I have never had all the answers and never will.

Think of it!  We can choose how we live our lives and be in full control of the decisions we make each and every day.  Each sunrise we are offered a brand new opportunity to start over with our choices. Each new year, we also get to start over!   No one can make us stop being in another’s life; there must be a reason(s) and it is based on personal choice. No one can force us to eat or drink too much unless we want to; it’s our choice.  No one can make us good, productive people. It is also, our choice.

Likewise, no one can make us whole, happy, and a contributor to the lives of others.  We must find that path ourselves. With this gift of CHOICE comes great responsibility. It is true…no one knows what goes on in another’s life.  That goes in both directions. May we all choose the higher ground for this clean, unblemished  year.

Happy New Year!  May we all live it well.

Sue