Tag: empowerment
Posted on August 14, 2022
by Janna
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I don’t know about you, but I’m seeing lots of content that wants the world’s toxicity shared equally among its residents. Example: “You can’t really begin to grow until you accept that you were toxic, too.” Bullshit. I do not accept this victim-blaming. Do… Continue Reading “No, Not Everyone is Toxic”
Category: Abuse Against Women, Advice, Advocacy & Education, Living Your Own Life, Opinion, Personal Essay, Self Empowerment, Self ImprovementTags: codependence, domestic abuse, DV, education, empowerment, healing, self-care, survivor, toxicity, victim blaming, victim mentality, victim shaming
Posted on July 26, 2022
by Janna
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A reader asks, “How do I follow through with boundaries and keep them up when someone tries to knock them down?” Boundaries are so hard, man. Because, for one, we’re not used to having them, so it’s unnatural and uncomfortable to figure out what… Continue Reading “How Do I Set and Keep Boundaries?”
Category: Abuse Against Women, Advice, Advocacy & Education, Living Your Own Life, Opinion, Personal Essay, Self Empowerment, Self ImprovementTags: after abuse, boundaries, education, empowerment, healing, starting over, survivor
Posted on July 22, 2022
by Janna
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“What if this isn’t really abuse?” “It could be worse, right? It’s not like he hits me.” “Maybe she’s right. Maybe I’m overreacting.” Let me help you here. It IS abuse. Truly. You’re just not comfortable with that word yet because it’s a lot… Continue Reading “Abuse is Abuse is Abuse”
Category: Abuse Against Women, Advice, Advocacy & Education, Living Your Own Life, Opinion, Personal Essay, Self Empowerment, Self ImprovementTags: abuse tactics, control, education, emotional abuse, empowerment, financial abuse, healing, manipulation, spiritual abuse, survivor, types of abuse
Posted on July 20, 2022
by Janna
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I’m remembering the time someone suggested that I’ve gotten where I am — healing, sharing, teaching — because I must have had more and better resources than other survivors. If she’d had any idea how long I’ve struggled financially and fought emotionally, how many… Continue Reading “Resources Do Not a Survivor Make”
Category: Abuse Against Women, Advice, Advocacy & Education, Living Your Own Life, Opinion, Personal Essay, Self Empowerment, Self ImprovementTags: education, empowerment, healing, help, resources, self help, support, survivor, survivor mentality, victim mentality, warrior
Posted on June 22, 2022
by Janna
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I’m no wiz in the kitchen but I’ve been working for years on this recipe that I’d like to share. It takes time to make, fair warning, and it can get super messy. Also, while the specific ingredients I’ve listed are important and necessary—I… Continue Reading “Recipe for Happiness”
Category: Abuse Against Women, Advice, Advocacy & Education, Living Your Own Life, Opinion, Personal Essay, Self Empowerment, Self ImprovementTags: boundaries, DV awareness, education, empowerment, healing, independence, self-love, self-worth, solitude, strength, survivor, triggers
Posted on June 7, 2022
by Janna
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I gave this pep talk to my kid this morning, and it just occurred to me that you might need to hear it, too. (I’ve tweaked it some, since you’re probably not an almost-17yo dude. But I watched as enlightenment crossed his face, and… Continue Reading ““Am I Being Annoying? Do They Hate Me?” | No, It’s a Trauma Response”
Category: Abuse Against Women, Advice, Advocacy & Education, Living Your Own Life, Opinion, Personal Essay, Self Empowerment, Self ImprovementTags: anxiety, brainswashing, coercion, conditioning, control, education, emotional abuse, empowerment, fear, gaslighting, healing, mental abuse, psychological abuse, survivor, trauma, trauma responses
Posted on June 4, 2022
by Janna
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Many pieces of our American society — especially through the arm of Western religion — make you think that forgiveness (releasing another from the harm they’ve done you) is required for your peace and well-being. My hot take is that forgiveness toward the one… Continue Reading “Let’s Talk About Forgiveness”
Category: Abuse Against Women, Advice, Advocacy & Education, Living Your Own Life, Opinion, Personal Essay, Self Empowerment, Self ImprovementTags: boundaries, domestic abuse, DV, education, emotional abuse, empowerment, forgiveness, healing, let it go, manipulation, narcissistic abuse, red flags, starting over, survivor
Posted on June 3, 2022
by Janna
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As the house lights faded, my nose burned with emotion. It’s rare that I don’t feel more than one emotion at once. That day, last Saturday, it was gratitude, awe, pride, all together. My kids, both older teens, and I had settled into our… Continue Reading “Vacation My Way”
Category: Abuse Against Women, Advice, Advocacy & Education, Living Your Own Life, Opinion, Personal Essay, Self Empowerment, Self ImprovementTags: break, empowerment, family, getaway, post-abuse, survivor, travel, vacation
Posted on April 23, 2022
by Janna
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I don’t have any degrees. I’ve no formal education. Oh, I had a plan for college. Took some early classes that didn’t go anywhere. Dreamed of this career or that and had a fuzzy view of the future for myself but then, simply put,… Continue Reading “No Formal Education Needed to Survive and Thrive”
Category: Abuse Against Women, Advice, Advocacy & Education, Living Your Own Life, Opinion, Personal Essay, Self Empowerment, Self ImprovementTags: abuse, college, control, dreams canceled, DV, education, empowerment, healing, post-secondary education, survival
Posted on April 20, 2022
by Janna
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You. Woman with so much on your plate, I see you. Because while your journey may not run parallel to mine, I know how heavy the burden gets. We are …running a household, maybe with a helpful partner, maybe without one at all. Either… Continue Reading “I Will If You Will”
Category: Abuse Against Women, Advice, Advocacy & Education, Living Your Own Life, Opinion, Personal Essay, Self Empowerment, Self ImprovementTags: education, empowerment, healing, heavy load, life after abuse, responsibility, single mom, single parenting, strength, survivor