Something about flying makes me feel grounded, especially during take-off and landing, when the houses and vehicles are clearly visible. When we are above the clouds I feel small, but not in the same way as when I am at the seashore looking at the...
Some people say that, if someone has suffered child sexual abuse, they are damaged for life, or it's a life sentence, or they have suffered irreparable harm.It may be true in one sense, but it denies the incredible capacity and potential that we have as...
So many of us live outside of the moment, instead of in the moment. Child sexual abuse survivors are especially prone to this. Our God given protective devices that enable us to mentally check-out during abuse can carry over into every part of life. While...
Sometimes, we just want someone to understand. We don't need platitudes or sermons. We don't want someone to fix everything. We don't even really want to commiserate. We just want someone to walk through it with.Whatever your 'it' is. Many people I know have suffered...
When I was a small child, I was sexually abused. Most of the time, it happened in a barn, at the edge of my grandmother's property. It started in the house though. It started with my grandmother and aunt preparing us with fear, manipulation and...
There are more than seven risk factors, but I just want to elaborate on these for American families. In third world countries the main risk for child sex trafficking is family poverty, which affects the US too, but in different ways.Poverty is a problem in...
What does it mean to win when communicating? I think it means successfully conveying the information necessary to create positive outcomes for all parties involved. I think most people want to make progress, because we value people. Those of us who have been abused might...
Sometimes we are impatient. For those of us who have suffered abuse, getting free from our abuser isn't an event, but a process.If you were in a situation that was a one-off, week long relationship that turned badly very fast, you can have lingering effects....
Everyone's got stuff, right? Everyone who knows me, has heard me say that. The fact that I have had a fair amount of difficulty in my life makes me a little more compassionate for the suffering of others. There are ways to navigate the rough...
Mental anguish is a hallmark of child sexual abuse. Adult rape victims also experience the devastating effects of this core violation. The idea that a child can agree to engage in sexual activity is ridiculous and extremely self-serving.Our bodies are amazing and can accommodate great...