Three quotes hang on a brick wall in our Center, and one of them reads: “The body cannot go where the mind has not gone first.” I’ve spent a lot of time looking at this poster and thinking about what it means and if I still think it’s true. I do. Mostly.
When we began our journey as Empowerment Self-Defense instructors, we envisioned classes of adult women, sharing their life experiences and hitting pads with all their might. We threw ourselves into research on domestic violence, campus assaults, and trauma psychology—doing our best to ready ourselves for whatever experiences the women in our workshops might have had. But just a few classes into teaching, we got a call we didn’t expect: Can Thrive go into an elementary school and teach self-defense to children whose neighborhood has seen a spike in attempted abductions?
Dear Survivor,
I don’t do New Year’s resolutions. It’s not my style. I believe you’re just setting yourself up for failure and self-hatred. I don’t want to give things up, or tell myself no. I felt very strongly about this until this year. Twenty twenty was a garbage year for everyone, but I’m sure my negative perspective didn’t help. This year has to be different. It just has to be, right?
A big part of what makes the holidays wonderful is the focus on togetherness, giving, and a spirit of cheer. (Also, cookies.) And while we value all these things, we have to stress an important distinction: Doing for others does not mean forsaking your own emotional or physical safety, well-being, or personal boundaries.
To the men who are constant reminders that abusers are just that, abusers. There are good men in this world.
Although working to prevent violence is a year-round job, there are three points during the year where our work feels especially urgent: April (Sexual Assault Awareness Month), October (Domestic Violence Awareness Month), and the start of a new university school year.
