Guest post: A letter to you. On White Ribbon Day.

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Today’s guest post comes to you from a very inspiring person who goes by the moniker of Ms S (of the blog Sweet Soul Survival). She is a friend of mine. We’ve met in person, only a couple of times, but we’ve been online buddies ever since. At the time, I suspected she may be in an abusive relationship, but I didn’t know how to reach out other than to just be there. Since then she has taught me so much. She is so inspiring, because she escaped. She was brave. It’s not easy to leave an abusive relationship when you have been broken down emotionally and threatened physically (which is why you are not judged here), but she did it. She’s not superwoman, but she’s an every day awesome woman like you or me. And we are all stronger than we think. She has written a letter to you all for White Ribbon Day, because statistics say that a percentage of my beautiful readers may be living a version of the hell that she knows all too well. Both Ms S and I want you to know that we’ve got your back. We want you to know it is so very possible to make a new life and that you deserve so much more in this world than you may be given at this point in time. If you are supporting somebody who you suspect (or know) is suffering verbal, emotional, financial or physical abuse, please share this. We hope it makes a difference to even one person x

Dear Sweetie,

How long have you waited, for him/her to change? How long have you made excuses for his/her behaviour? How long have you been punished by yourself, by him/her, for doing absolutely nothing? How long since you recognised yourself? How long till you smile again? How long does it take for you to be happy again? How long does it take for bruises and scars to fade? How long does it take for verbal lashings to leave your mind? How long will you wait, until you leave him/her? How long until you give yourself the leg up and out you so deserve? How much longer till you see your freedom has always been within reach? How much longer will you see yourself as undeserving? How will you explain to your children, you only stayed for them? How long till you see the beauty in you? How many times will you go back? How long do you think you’ll give him/her off of your life span?

How very long you have struggled to be a sort of happy. How long you have cried in solace. How brave you have been, at home, school and work. How long you have waited for a lull, a silence, to catch your breath and heal. How long you have struggled to stay in front of him/her, clearing a path for their cyclonic outbursts. How tired you must be. How very unhappy you are. How unsatisfactory that you are even suffering. How terribly sad this is what you think love is. How you could have a better life, if you just had an ounce of courage to step away. How far you could go. How strong you are for battling a silent monster. How terribly short your wonderous life truly is.

Do you know 1 in 5 Australian women between 15 and 65 are victims of Domestic Violence each day? Do you know 1 in 3 households are Violent? Do you know 1 in 4 women suffering at the hands of an abuser either are killed by their abuser or suicide because of their Domestic Violence struggles? Do you know what you are living with, is exactly what 100s of thousands of women and children live with daily too? Do you know you’re not alone in wanting an easier life? Do you know although it’s scary, it is the most exhilarating, empowering, enligthening experience to leave your abuser once and for all? Do you know it’s easier than you realise? Do you know you are deserving of a happy, stress free existence? Do you know once you start your journey back onto your destined path, everything just happens effortlessly and wonderfully? Do you know how much easier it is to love yourself after you liberate yourself from your abuser? Do you know, you can always come back from this? Do you know there is someone waiting for you, wondering where you are, how much longer will they need to wait before they find you? Do you know when someone loves you, they’d NEVER EVER hurt you? Do you know every step you take away from the wrong person, is always another step towards the right person? Do you know you deserve that person and they deserve you?

Do you know there is support for you @ White Ribbon Support and Australian Domestic Violence Helpline on 1300 782 200 and for more one on one support with Survivors go to Sweet Soul Survival there is always an Avenue for you Sweetie.

To the women this reaches,

Don’t ever let another human being own you, control you, possess you, crumple you, break your spirit, tell you there’s no one better out there for you, be your oxygen, put you down and belittle you, raise their fists to you, threaten you, blackmail you, keep you dependent, guilt you for being you. Don’t ever.

You deserve the world. The rainbows. The safety of your own world. The love and support of your family and friends. Your inner voice to be heard. Your spirit to be nourished by kindness and faith. Your hope restored. You deserve.

You are a Sweet Soul Survior and we are here to cheer you on!

Share this letter with the women in your life, who you know who need to be reached.

Promise to not be silent about your abuse. Promise to not stay with the abuse. Promise to stand up to abuse. And we’ll promise to stand with you when you do……

Keep Shining, Ms S xoxo

Ms S can be found on Facebook too x