Shameless Survivor

I just realized I never posted the finished version of Shameless Survivor so here it is now.  This woman was part of Beyond Barbie's night called Through the Fire, a presentation on intimate partner abuse.  Lisette, the woman pictured here, was shot by her husband who then killed himself.  She read three entries from her blog, http://www.shamelesssurvivors.com/.  They were so powerful, they left me speechless and have resonated with me all week since then.  The one I found most moving answered the question so many people ask her, "If your husband was so abusive, why didn't you leave?"  She read a list of reasons she didn't such as feeling so bad about herself (because she believed what he said) that she had no ability to leave.  It was tough, powerful stuff to listen to. 

If you or someone you know is in a relationship that may be abusive, please know that Lisette's blog can be a resource to you, and there is much other help available, for example, Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE or YWCA.

May this painting help encourage others to seek the help they need and to know that they deserve to be treated like the wonderful people they are.

More Lasting Impressions - Gym Class Trauma

Thank you to all of you who keep sending in stories of statements or events which have stuck with you.  Here's another one I just got last week.  Thank you for sending it:

When I was in middle school (aka junior high back then) they didn't say anything directly about my body. It was more the implication that I was worthless physically when teams were being chosen in gym class. Each team took turns picking someone out of the crowd to be on their team. When it got down to one person, it was usually me. Sometimes, nobody would even call my name, since I would just walk over to the team that ended up with the last pick.

I had the same experience.  And, of course, assumed I deserved it.  Ouch, ouch, ouch!  Wish I'd had the chutzpah to prove them wrong, but I had way too much belief in the rightness of their decision.  Thank goodness the teacher sometimes chose me to be the one who chose people!  Then I didn't have to be last!  (But I realize now that I also didn't turn things around by choosing people who were normally chosen towards the end like I was.  That would have been interesting!)

Have you had experiences like this you'd like to share?  I'm curious to know how universal this gym class thing is.  I noticed that communal showers caused more than one young man distress.  What else has gym class wrought??  Stories, anyone??