I recently came upon this promotional video for a UK company that does search engine optimization. Its message spoke to me because for so long my vision for living was impaired.
I was “stuck” in a place where I used words and phrases like, “I can’t move forward,” “Nobody understands,” and “I’m a failure.”
When I released my book, Room 939, I changed my words to “I will survive,” “There are many who walk in my same path,” and “People want me to succeed.”
Today, I challenge you to change your view of life and see if it will change your world.
The unexpected traumatic experience of the two powerful bombs exploding at the finish line of the Boston Marathon yesterday shattered assumptions about safety for many, which could lead to and potentially contribute to the development of widespread Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD.)
When I saw the horror on the faces of onlookers as the scenes of chaos unfold on Bolyston Street, it took me back to the attacks of 9/11 and then to my sexual assault and robbery that occurred in hotel Room 939.
Unfortunately, I left my PTSD untreated for 20 years, which ultimately led to anxiety, panic, and fear. Clinical studies suggest that when the stress hormone cortisol remains chronically elevated, it may induce clinical depression, which it did in my case.
Therefore, it’s important to face PTSD and not leave it untreated. Learn more about coping with post trauma at the US Dept. of Veterans Affairs.
Every day on my walk with our dog Gucci, I pass this mound of fertilizer on the edge of a field behind our home.
As we make our way around the mound, that steady verse of “making a mound out of a molehill,” comes to mind. Often during the remainder of my walk I am reminded of the struggles in our lives becoming a mound. “Why?” I ask out loud. And the answer always returns with undeniable truth. We allow ourselves to magnify problems leading to exaggerating the emotional shape of a situation. In truth, we accentuate the negative, instead of the positive.
The next time your life presents you with a mound, look for the possibilities of strident steps toward discovery and recovery. To do so gives us the freedom to choose the good, instead of the bad. Releasing that power fills our lives with hope instead of hopelessness.
My daughter, Allison, (the one in the white jersey), has played soccer since 2nd grade. It’s her passion. As I have taken photos of her battling her opponents during her 12th grade year, I realized there are life lessons to be learned from her mastery on the field.
Live Boldly.
John Wayne once said, “Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” No matter how fearful they are, bold people take action in the presence of fear. God is our partner and will give us extraordinary strength to accomplish our goals.
Keep your eye on the prize.
Satan works hard to make us lose our focus. He tells us lies like, “You’re going to be a failure.” He even magnifies our past failures to distract us from where we want to go. Instead, think about the confidence God has in you. He will direct your path and even place others in the journey to help you succeed.
Practice Persistence.
Many times in my life I have fallen flat on my face because of suffering and pain. The question is will we give up because of the mishap or draw upon our trust in God to provide us the determination to get the job done. No matter if it takes 100 attempts, God is there cheering on your effort.
Empower Each Other.
There is nothing like the power of sisterhood. As we encourage and support one another, there is nothing that can deter us from reaching our goals when we turn up the estrogen and energize each other. It turns the attitude of “I can’t” into “WE CAN.”
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejg11Bk-Xos&w=420&h=315] The best place for your car keys at night? How about right beside your bed? If you hear a noise outside your home or suspect someone is trying to break into your house, just press the panic button for your car. The alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies. This tip came from a neighborhood watch coordinator. Odds are the burglar/rapist won’t stick after hearing the blaring noise coming from the garage or driveway. So take a moment and test it. See if your car alarm goes off while you are tucked in at night!
I read a phrase this week I had never heard in my life —“digital rape.” It came from news accounts of the two high school football players who were convicted yesterday of raping a 16-year-old girl in Steubenville, Ohio. The case has attracted international attention due to students texting photos of the naked girl and sharing her assault through social media channels.
I first thought digital rape meant that a cell phone had been used forcibly in the girl’s genitalia. But I was mistaken. Prosecutors charged the football players — Trent Mays, 17, and Ma’lik Richmond, 16 — of penetrating her with their fingers. According to Ohio law, the definition of rape includes digital penetration.
The boys have been sentenced to at least one year in juvenile jail and could be held until they are 21 years old.
Teenage witnesses at the party perpetuated the sexual assault with texts, tweets and video to spread the victim’s shame and demise. Sadly, in my opinion, she was raped not only by the boys, but was “digitally” raped by her peers as well.
