War...

I heard something today about Hope, a twist or divergent thought on what it means to this particular author. It goes like this:

'Hope is the surrender of authority to your fate,

and trusting it to the whims of the wind.

Our family does not believe in hope,

We fight for what we believe until we have it.' Taylor Sheridan (1923)

I believe it is so very crucial to having an open mind; to examine, dissect and discuss ideas that run alongside ours, but on the opposite side of the fence...keeping time and tweaking the foundations or the principles of our walk in this life.

'The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.' Albert Einstein.

Change our thinking processes... self reflection...self awareness...all indicators of a truly balanced mind, open to understanding and leaving ego to sit on the sidelines. No right or wrong answer, only understanding.

In our situation perhaps these words create a knee jerk reaction. I know for myself this is precisely where my mind jumped to. The hope springs eternal line from Alexander Pope, promoting optimistic philosophy many years ago, comes to mind. Without hope we would perish as a people...without hope the world would seem to be a place of despair and misery.

I believe in hope wholeheartedly as you may have seen within my written words over the last year, however...

I see that without resolve to back it hope can become a crutch... a hinderance.

I see that without perseverance and determination, hope can keep us from our full potential.

One could hope themselves into lethargy, apathy and one day's.

Perhaps today is a lesson on subscribing to all principles and all honours; a holding to a character of steely determination whilst hoping for the grace to fight the battles within our world.

Hoping for dignity and fortitude whilst walking out the morass of steps the Law requires to enforce the authority you wish to see.

Hoping for guidance and wisdom whilst beginning the war you wage with evil.

Hoping for courage

Hoping, yet moving...doing...planning...

I will no longer sit idly by hoping for the Police to do their jobs...hoping for the courts to see that this monster needs to grasp the idea of consequences to his actions....

The apathy of the general population in regards to abuse is frightening, shocking and perplexing.

Abuse is dirty....hide it under the carpet...

Abuse is the fault of the victim...they went back...

Abuse is never important until it is suddenly unavoidable and personal.

This.....this dear hearts is why I write....I write for the women (and men) who are living out their own personal version of hell on earth. That there is indeed hope for them if only they'll take up courage and fight for a life free from fear.

But.... I also write for the brother, the son or daughter, the uncle, the cousin, the friend...the ones who do not understand the nitty gritty, down and dirty of the mind-f*ck that is abuse.

The breaking down in slow increments until you no longer know who you are and more... no longer know your worth. Your life becomes the monsters... full stop. Until one day you wake up as from the deepest of sleeps, amid the densest of fogs... and see...

You glimpse a view behind the mask, you catch a glimpse of the monster and once seen can never be unseen. It creeps into every conversation, every choice the abuser makes...until the poison is revealed in every ugly facet within and you know you are dying a slow and painful death.

You know if you do not get out, you will no longer be...

Love and compassion, dear friends, in regards to the survivor... no judgement, no hurrying of your healing... no uninformed words of 'you just need to be ok already'....

quite the opposite...as I have witnessed in my own life and small circle of friends and family, the unlimited breathing room to grow and heal within my own time frame.

Life-giving... so wonderfully life-giving. Healing comes in dribs and drabs but it comes dear hearts. One giant step forward....a few giant steps back...

There are times I feel ten feet tall and bulletproof, but oh have I come to know not to place expectations on that feeling of confidence and empowerment. I am learning and gaining experience in falling flat on my face, getting up, brushing off and setting my face forward to try once more...and once more...and again...

There is such freedom in allowing yourself to finally feel again; the highs, the lows, the in-betweens...the frustration, the grief, the sorrow, the anger, the joy and the pain.

The freedom to speak your truth quietly, calmly and hopefully with grace and dignity

...freeing... life-giving.

Acceptance of self is tantamount to healing...acknowledging mistakes and filing the moments away for further reflection, not for recriminations... no dear ones, but to effect change within, then setting it free and moving on to face the next life lesson.

I am tired today, but it is an exhaustion of the mind and heart. We battle not only with flesh and blood but of the Spirit.

'For we wrestle not (only) against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.' Ephesians 6:12

I truly believe that we also do battle against flesh and blood...and should do battle against the forces of evil, for no one does evil better than a twisted child-like mind bent on destroying the bright shining light of love.

Stay strong warrior queens...God be with you and keep you safe.