Motivation Monday-Top 5 things you need to be a leader

Being a leader isn't something that always comes naturally, and even for natural leaders, there are five skills you should master.

1. Be approachable-You can't think of yourself as better than even the newest person on your team.  Remember when you didn't know what you were doing and you asked a million questions?  Your team leader hopefully answered them gracefully and patiently.  It's time to return the favor.  Return messages, phone calls, and emails from your team. 
2. Walk the talk- If you're not practicing what you preach, your team will see that, it they will find it acceptable.  If you're going to talk the talk, be ready to walk the walk because the biggest success comes from your team duplicating a good program set forth by you.  All of your future team leaders beneath you will start out by following in your footsteps.  What path are you showing them?
3. Be an example-If you want to set a professional example for your team, be professional.  You can only set expectations by being a good example and leading your team by your actions and behavior.  
4. Always be teaching- Use every opportunity you can to teach and motivate your team.  
5. Honesty- If your'e not honest, you build your foundation on falsification.  Honesty and transparency are qualities that every good leader has.  If you don't want to be honest, go into politics.  Your team needs you to share your struggles and your successes.  Sharing your struggles after you've learned from them can help clear debris out of the path of your team.  

Remember, you're a trail blazer.  You are showing your team the way to the top.  Being a leader is a responsibility, not a right.  

XOXO

The Stun Gun Girl

Wonder Woman Wednesday-The first Phoenix of 2016

When you think of sex trafficking, what do you envision?  For most it’s a kidnapped girl trapped in a dog crate and only let out for paying customers.  Although that does happen, most of the time it’s not like that. 

Let me tell you the story of a girl from Portland, Oregon named Jeri Williams.  A member of the Klamath tribe, she married at 19, she found herself on the other side of the country trying to raise four children with an abusive husband.  At the urging of a friend fro

m Portland, she left that situation.  She and moved back to the West Coast to live with that friend, and that’s where the real nightmare began.

You see, this friend was no friend at all.  She was a former sex worker whose brother was a leader for the local Crips set.  This friend, who was pregnant, was being paid in crack cocaine to recruit women into prostitution. 

Jeri Williams

Jeri tells this horrendous account, “[The gang members would] pick up young girls to recruit downtown in Pioneer Square, bring them back to my apartment and pull trains on them on my couch.” I stopped her for clarification. “Trains. Gang rape them. You know, one after the other. And then they would say, ‘you’re a whore, you need to go out and walk the streets or we’ll tell your mom. Or if you get arrested, you know, it won’t be our fault, it’ll be your fault ‘cause you hung out with us.”

Jeri’s friend who urged her to move away from her husband for safety tricked her.  She ended up on the streets turning tricks while her ‘friend’ babysat her children and allegedly used them as bait to draw in other young women.

Jeri was kept in a locked room by her pimp, who often times let his friends in to rape her.  She was only let out from 8pm to 6am to work.  She had to bring back at least $300 each night, which she estimates to be about 15 dates.  Fifteen different men every single night.  

She finally got her chance to break free when a john tried robbing her and stabbed her in the back and arm.  She fought for her life and her money and when she brought it “home” her pimp sent her back out on the streets the next day to 'get back in the saddle'.  Shortly after, he was arrested for something.  Now she had help from the authorities to get out, but it was not easy. 

On her journey towards healing, she attended Portland Community College to get her degree to become an alcohol and drug counselor, and she also fell back into the pattern of dating abusive men and drug dealers.  During one night, the police kicked down her door and found Uzis and 27 grams of crack cocaine on the table.  Jeri received a felony conviction for the dealings of her boyfriend and her children were placed in foster care.  When she got out of jail, she was homeless for a while before moving into the West Woman’s Shelter for just over a year.   This is where she burned down her former self and emerged as a phoenix.

She stared working as a housekeeper at a Portland Red Lion Inn and was introduced to local unions and community organizing.  She co-founded the Urban Workers Union which unionized parking-lot attendants in 2001.  She became the executive director of the Environmental Justice Action group and helped defeat the expansion of I-5 that runs through low income communities in Portland.  The Governor appointed her to two task forces that worked on transportation and trade issues. 

In 2006, she won the Alston Bannerman Fellowship Award for activists of color and was offered a job with the Diversity Civic Leadership Program that teaches civic engagement to communities of color and immigrant-refugee communities.

Through all of this, her story began to emerge.  She began speaking about it to church groups because she realized, just as all survivors do, healed hearts heal hearts.  She has worked actively to help bring a human face to the problem of sex trafficking, and even has testified before Congress.  She is now a grandmother and activist, and the ripples she makes in the world create change. 

Because of her unfailing bravery to face her struggle, Jeri is the first woman featured on Wonder Woman Wednesday for 2016.  Her story is proof that you aren't the sum of the things you've done or the things that have been done to you.  There is light after the darkness.  

January is National Human Trafficking Awareness month.  Learn how you can help by contacting sunshine@yourdamseldiva.com.

Be bold.

xoxo

The Stun Gun Girl

Looking back on Damsel in Defense

From left to right: Mindy Lin, Co-Founder of  Damsel
in Defense, myself, Bethany Hughes, Co-Founder of
Damsel in Defense

On this day 2 years ago, Mindy Lin and Bethany Hughes, the Co-founders of Damsel in Defense didn't know me at all. Neither did CEO Bob Hipple.  We'd never met, and I know they were very busy launching this amazing company.

I earned Leadership Retreat that year, and half way through the first day, I came down sick. I mean so sick I had to go to the emergency room.  The problem was, my insurance wouldn't cover me outside of Oregon, so I after one excruciating night of literally feeling near death in a hotel that didn't even have a thermometer, I decided to fly home early.  It was one of the worst experiences of my life. 

Everyone kept telling me not to look sick or they wouldn't let me on the plane, so I opted for the hood up, sunglasses on, uni-bomber look.  Luckily they let me on the plane, and my husband immediately picked me up and took me straight to the emergency room. My temperature was approaching 104 degrees, I could barely walk, and the infection was bad. The doctor said, "Wow, when

you do something,  you really do it, don't you" and, "I'm so glad you came today, because this really could have ended badly."

Me and Mindy on a random
stop at Damsel Home Office

Turns out I had strep throat really, really bad.  I don't just mean pretty bad, I mean really, really bad.  It came on without warning and knocked me out completely in a matter of hours.  I was in bed unable to eat, move, or drink for 2 more days.  I had a serious double ear infection to go with it.  Had I waited a day, the hospital stay would have been more than an emergency room visit and being sent home with medication. 

In that time, not only did Mindy Lin post on Facebook, but she sent a private message and I received an email AND a phone call from Bob Hipple. They had all of my stuff that I didn't bring home packaged and shipped to me so that I had everything,  and they followed up a week later.

The famous Co-Founder husband photo bomb at a random
Damsel Home office stop

Not only that, but Damsel Pros came out of the woodwork to check on me while I was down.  My text message inbox and Facebook message inbox were both filled with well wishes and photos of notes on things that I missed.  No matter what team those girls were on, they didn't care, because my success was important enough for them to think of sending information to me that they felt I missed out on.  Never in my life, and in my 10+ direct sales company experience have I seen the kind Of love and compassion that I've seen from Damsel in Defense. 

The Red Hots at the 2nd annual Damsel in Defense National
Conference

Friday I embark again on a journey to sunny Southern California for Leadership Retreat. I'm filled with deep contemplation of the last 2 1/2 years that I've been an Independent Pro. It's one of the best business moves I've ever made.

Since joining this amazing team, I have made unbreakable friendships that I couldn't ever imagine my life without, I have been to 2 national conferences, one at which I was a speaker, I have been to half of a Leadership Retreat, and I've worked up the ranks to Senior Mentor, I've attended 2 Damsel Drop Ins, I've been to the Damsel Headquarters a couple of times, and I not only have the privilege of being able to meet Mindy, Bethany, and Bob, I have the blessing of their true and honest friendships.  

The first NW Damsel Drop in

If you're looking for that missing piece of your life, whether it's a few hundred extra dollars per month, or it's to create a lasting income for yourself, now is the time to jump. If you're looking for a company that operates like a family, join my team and be part of something bigger than you can imagine.

We're not only saving lives, but we're changing family trees, freeing people financially, and giving voices back to victims.

Email me at Sunshine@yourdamseldiva.com for more information on how to join.

Xoxo
The Stun Gun Girl

Domestic violence candlelight vigil in Gresham, Oregon

Rep. Carla Piluso, Sen. Laurie Monnes Anderson,Multnomah County Family Violence Coordinating Council, and the City of Gresham are asking you to attend the domestic violence candlelight vigil Tuesday, October 6, 2015 - 07:00pm - 08:00pm PDT at the Gresham Arts Plaza.

For questions about the event or to send your RSVP, please email rep.carlapiluso@state.or.us

Domestic violence affects one in three women. The cycle of violence will only be stopped when we come together as a community to end it. Love shouldn’t hurt.

GRESHAM ARTS PLAZA
401 NE 2ND STREET
GRESHAM, OR 97030

I hope you can make it. 

XOXO,

The Stun Gun Girl

Motivational Monday-Don't do what they do. Don't think like they think.

I did not create this video, but I am in love with the message. If you're feeling down, play it. Play it every time. Then pull yourself out of bed, or off the couch, or off of Facebook and DO what you're meant to DO!

 Just a little motivation for your Monday.

XOXO,
The Stun Gun Girl


 

Wonder Woman Wednesday-BREEessrig's story

The bravery it takes to step forward and use your story to help someone else is something that should be taken very seriously.  When you already spend your time in the public eye like BREEessrig who has a very successful Youtube channel, stepping out with your story can be more terrifying that you can imagine.

This week, BREEessrig's bravery and courage to step up and tell her story gives her this week's Wonder Woman Wednesday spot.

If you have been a victim of sexual assault, you are not alone.  There are resources and people out there ready to help you.  If you would like to have your story considered for the Wonder Woman Wednesday spotlight, please email Sunshine@YourDamselDiva.com.  You never know who will be touched by your experiences and could begin to heal from their trauma through your story.

I'm breaking my blog silence on the Duggar family molestation victim blaming fail

I haven't blogged about the Duggar molestation scandal because one, it makes me sick, and two, I wanted more of the story to unfold.  Everyone in the blogsphere hit the keys with happy hatred beating in their hearts, excited to take down a family that they knew couldn't be as perfect as it seemed to be.  I am not a piranha and refuse to hit the keys just because there’s blood in the water, however, I am a great white shark, and there is victim blaming on a surf board just above me.

I’ve been in several debates with people since the news broke about what the difference between molestation and exploration.  Exploration happens in childhood.  You've probably been curious about your body at some point and checked out a trusted friend’s body just to see what it looks like.  Exploration is entered into mutually by two children usually of the same sex and who are the same age and size.  There is never coercion or deception by one, and most times it’s just to see what parts of their body look like from a different view.  Children who are caught in exploratory play are often giggling because they feel it’s silly.  Child molestation happens when a person becomes sexually aroused by a child who is much smaller and younger than them.  Deception, such as touching during sleep or using coercion to perform or get away with sex acts on a child is child molestation.

In this case, the victims were more than 5 years younger, in a completely different age group, there was coercion and deception.  It seems cut and dry.  The Incest Survivors Resource Network states that "the erotic use of a child, whether physically or emotionally, is sexual exploitation in the fullest meaning of the term, even if no bodily contact is ever made."  It’s very important to remember that no touching has to ever occur for the damage to be done.  Even exposing one’s self or looking at a child who has been talked into taking their own clothes off for sexual gratification is sexual abuse.

Forget the abuser, let’s stop talking about how he was just a boy who needed therapy.  We have established that he meets both legal and psychological criteria to be considered a predatory sex offender. 

What about the girls?  And I’m not talking about who they are, where they live, and what they look like.  I’m talking about the fact that no one cared enough to protect the girls beyond counselling. 

When a girl is molested, several things happen from a psychological and medical standpoint.  A sacred barrier has been breached.   Psychologically, when a young girl is molested, there is an instant brand of shame put right on her heart.  It can take years to go away, and sometimes it never does, especially when the information is suppressed.  It’s not something that a short stint of counselling can fix.  PTSD, depression, anxiety, insomnia, weight issues, and even issues within the reproductive parts of the body can stem from even one time of child sexual abuse.  When a child is molested and the information is suppressed, it deepens the shame in that child and will take root and grow as that child enters adulthood.  Children who are sexually abused at a young age can always struggle with what box to put sex into.   They will often be either overly sexual or have no sexual desire.  This can cause relationship problems and even divorce as an adult.   Drug and alcohol use often becomes a factor as well.  According to the AAETS,  “specialists in the addiction field (alcohol, drugs and eating disorders) estimate that up to 90 percent of their patients have a known history of some form of abuse.   Children who have been sexually abused are at higher risk to be groomed for sex trafficking and working in the adult entertainment business. 

When a girl’s heart has been affected by sexual abuse as a child, she looks to her champions to come to her rescue.  In this case, the champions in question suppressed the information and created a familial culture that it’s not that big of a deal.  When children, especially young girls have to grow up in this victim blaming culture within the family, being faced with their abuser every day and watching him get away without any real consequence, it deepens the chasm of shame, opens up the risk of it happening again and again as they head into adulthood, and never re-solidifies that barrier.  This is why women who have been abused often times end up with men who abuse.  That barrier that would send someone else running for the hills appears familiar and safe to a girl who has experienced the same barrier breach as a child, even if the woman doesn't understand why, therefore repeating the cycle of abuse.  

This chasm of shame can hold adults back from ever reaching their full potential.  In some cases, everything can seem fine until one day in her mid-30’s, Suzie Q has a psychological breakdown and doesn’t understand why.  The long term effects of sexual abuse are staggering, even in girls who have received counselling as a child.  It’s an epidemic that will not ever go away until people start standing up and saying, “We will not condone this anymore!”

Parents, protect your children.  Mandatory reporters, PLEASE REPORT!  IT’S MANDATORY!!!  Even if it feels like life will be really hard once you do.  This story proves that if you don’t, life will be even harder.

So, while I watch mortified as the only conversations people are having are out of anger that the girls have been victimized by this story coming out, I want to leave you with this.  They were already victimized.  No one cared to be outraged then.  Nobody who was supposed to protect them did.  A piece of their soul is forever missing, and they are just supposed to be okay with it.  The more the conversation minimalizes the actual event in their lives by diverting the outrage to other avenues, it creates this new feeling that

what happened was really no big deal.  THIS FURTHERS THE VICTIM BLAMING RAPE CULTURE WE LIVE IN TODAY and will continue to leave victims blaming themselves for something that maybe should be no big deal.  It will continue to stop victims from speaking up because they believe no one will do anything to help them, which will leave them to be victimized over and over again in their lives.  The trauma isn’t that this came out now, it’s that no one did anything in the first place. 

Abuse is always a big deal.  Coercion and deception are the path to abuse.  Always report it.  Be part of the movement to stop the cycle and hold people accountable for their actions.

Let me ask you this.  If a 15 year old kid shot your child in cold blood, would you not want them to be treated and tried as an adult?  Why is sexual abuse any different? 

Wonder Woman Wednesday-Body Positivity

There are some women in this world who seem to have it all.  Money, fame, sex appeal, a thin body, perfect hair…you name it, whatever you see as perfect may be out there, but it’s just an illusion.  On the other hand, there are some women out there who struggle at every turn. 

One of those women is an overweight actress who has made her way into a long line of blockbuster movies with her Chris Farley-esqe antics.  No matter how good of a human she may be on the inside, she is met with resistance at every turn.  Critics call her fat, even ‘tractor sized’, and scoff at how unattractive she is.  Boy, what that must do to a person’s heart.  Even still, the once fit and thin woman who some would say lost track of her looks wants to take a stand against body shaming critics, and to do that, she’s creating a line of clothing that will have all sizes of women feeling good in their own skin.  She said she wants to empower women no matter what the number on their clothing tag is.

Because of her body positivity campaign, cries of ‘hippo’ and ‘fat’ were drowned out by the cheers of women everywhere who dream of a world where no one cares what you look like on the outside.  A beautiful ocean of body positive women lifted this actress up and carried her message through the world.

That was…until they all turned on her.

After her last movie, she hit the red carpet and estimated 50 pounds lighter, and immediately the body positivity gurus hit the blogsphere about the day that their favorite body positive fat actress sold them out.  Sold them out.  As if she sat in a back room tapping her fingers together and laughing diabolically as she marched forward on her….treadmill.

So, not only is she the girl with a fat critic problem, she’s a girl…with…a…fat…critic…problem as her chubby adorers turned on her like the nice old lady with the candy house who suddenly pushes you into an oven.  No matter where she turns, she’s met with resistance.  Suddenly every tabloid in the universe is asking her the age old question, “What’s your secret?”

Oh my GOSH people!  Can’t you leave a girl alone?

Graciously, she answers, “I just quit stressing out.”  Really, one day, she just decided to let it all go and 50ish pounds went away with it.  Still, no matter what size and shape she’s in, who hates her for being overweight, or who hates her for losing it, she is moving forward with her clothing line because she is tired of plus sized women having fewer options than their fashion forward smaller counterparts.  In an interview, she talked about the negativity an overweight actress goes through in Hollywood, from the critics to not being able to find a designer that will dress you for the red carpet for your Oscar nominated role…yes, I said Oscar nominated role.  Every designer is dying to dress Angelina, but not the chubby girl.  Finally, she purchased a dress by a designer that you would be able to find at Saks or Bloomingdales, while most actresses were flitting around in dresses they don’t get to keep that would cost your first born to own. 

She was so frustrated that there were not any amazing plus sized fashions and said, “You either look like a 90-year-old, or a 14-year-old hooker.”

Because of her uphill battle, her dedication to body positivity and never giving up even though someone’s face is always against her, Melissa McCarthy is this week’s Wonder Woman.  You don’t have to be battered and beaten by somebody’s hands to be a survivor.  McCarthy is a strong leader and a beautiful woman, both on the inside and outside. 

This body positive Damsel empowerment blogger can't wait to wear something from Melissa's line.  

If you are fighting with being overweight, underweight, or any other over/under, you’re not alone.  There are millions fighting right alongside you.  Don't let body negativity sink you into depression.  

If you're not, help spread the message of body positivity.  Support organizations that help lift women up rather than holding them back.  Most of all, never, ever judge a person by their size, color of their skin, or other features.  You are beautiful, no matter what size you are.  

#EndFatShaming #LoveAllHumans #PushBackTheDarkness #ShineTheLight #MelissaMcCarthyIsRad #AllPeopleMatter #AlwaysKeepFighting 

   

Wonder Woman Wednesday-Always Keep Fighting

I know, I know, Wonder Woman has been on vacation for a while, but I promise she's back and has gathered some stories that are going to make you laugh, make you cry, and call you to action.

This week was a peculiar week for me.  It seems that every time I tell my story, I peel back another layer of the onion.  Things that only sort of made sense suddenly are clear because I'm no longer looking at them through the film of the other layers.  Well, it happened again as I met with one of the founders of OAASIS this week to discuss speaking for them.  And then it happened again.

There is this amazing campaign going on right now called Always Keep Fighting.  It started when a very famous and very brave soul shared his struggles with depression openly for the world to watch.  He partnered up with another organization and decided to use his fame to spread awareness.

What stared out as awareness for suicidal thoughts, depression, and self harm suddenly spiraled into awareness for the broken.  I spend the better part of last night pouring through story after story of countless brave and beautiful souls who, many for the first time ever, were sharing snapshots of the struggles in their lives.  I read about a 9/11 first responder, soldiers, teenagers, mothers, grandmothers, people struggling with chronic and fatal illnesses, survivors, and so many struggling with self harm.  I knew I was going to share my story, because it's become my biggest tool in helping lead others through the darkness, but I never knew that I was going to share parts of my story that I had never shared before...and for the first time understand an event that happened in full HD clarity.

I sat in front of the computer screen, feeling I had just let loose a wounded little girl who was cowering in the corner, and all I wanted to do was tell her that it gets better.  That little girl was me.  There is still so much healing to be done.

If you don't know Jared Padalecki, he's worth learning about.  He's most famous for his tenure as Sam Winchester in the hit TV show Supernatural, where he plays the emotional and much more level headed...well, sometimes level headed brother of Dean Winchester.  For the last ten years, adoring fans worldwide have watched him live, die, come back, fight monsters, and battle his own demons.  When he stepped forward to talk about the depression he'd experienced, even in the midst of fame and fortune, he did it with intention to send a ripple of hope out into the world.  He has done just that.
I don't know how long it will take me to read all of the stories posted on his facebook page, but I'm willing to bet I'll spend the better part of forever attempting to do it.  To see the lives that have been changed, and the people who have come together to purchase the Always Keep Fighting shirt in an effort to raise money for organizations that help people who are broken has been truly amazing, and you can see how humbled Jared is when he talks about the depth of what is happening.

For all of his hard work, this week's Wonder Woman isn't a woman at all.  He's a man named Jared Padalecki, and he's started a social revolution.  If you haven't seen the Always Keep Fighting shirts around, you will soon.  So far there have been 2 campaigns, and photos of people in their shirts are coming in from all around the world.  Thank you Jared for lighting the match.  It's just a spark, but it's enough.

The first two shirt campaigns are over, but I can only imagine what they will come up with next so that we will always remember to stay strong, bond together, and always keep fighting.


If you or someone you know has a story of overcoming hardships in their lives and using their story to inspire and help others, please email Sunshine@YourDamselDiva.com to be considered for Wonder Woman Wednesday.

Tips from the top-What to do when someone in your network unsubscribes

I just came across something that I’m sure you’ll come across in your direct sales business, if you haven’t already.  It can be a mood killer and suck the business right out of your day, but you have to learn how to let it go.  It has nothing to do with you.

So you love a company.  You've sent people to them, you use their services, you've sung their praises to everyone who might remotely want to know who they are.  Then you start a business, and you’re sure that you’ll get business from all of those great local companies you supported.  Besides, you put in all of that free time posting, tagging, spending your own money, and sending others to spend their money, right?

Then you send out a campaign.  Whether you send out a Facebook blast, emails, or a newsletter, and you’re waiting with anticipation to see what comes back, and one of the first thing that does is an unsubscribe from one of the businesses you've sent everyone to and used several times yourself.

You feel it.  It hurts.  You’re angry, and you want to find all of those posts and take them down and un hashtag everything you've ever done, right?  Wrong. 

There are a couple things to remember with a direct sales company.  Businesses get newsletters, junk mail, and inquiries at every turn.  Most companies get to a point where they hire an office manager that all inquiries have to go through, and one of the jobs of the office manager is to be the gate keeper.  No one gets through to the owner.  Why do you think so many telemarketers lie about personal business?  It’s to get past the gate keeper, who is specifically designed in the future and sent back to never let anyone get to the person it’s in charge of protecting.  After all, the future of mankind depends on them….

Well, if they are protecting John Connor.  But you get the idea.

Instead of getting mad, pick up the phone.  Set up a lunch date with them.  Build that relationship because it can’t be built through newsletters alone.  For everyone who unsubscribes, there are three people reading what you have to say, so make sure your content is good.

Another thing to remember is that business owners are busy.  Aren't you busy?  Maybe they haven’t make the connection that you are the person behind your business or newsletter.  Maybe they have ten emails from different people representing the same company sitting in their inbox.  Wouldn't you stand out a little bit if you sent them a card in the mail?

There are so many ways for you to stand out, don’t let one little unsubscribe get to you.  It doesn't mean the end of your relationship until they specifically say, “Take me off your list,” and if you've developed any sort of a relationship with them, they won’t do that to you.  Do you know how many people unsubscribe from newsletters every day?  It would blow you away!

So keep your chin up!  I see an unsubscribe as the face of Number 5 from Short Circuit saying, “Need more input.”

Take these steps to save the relationship:

• Make sure your newsletter or email is factual, well put together, and useful.
• Send a nice handwritten card in the mail
• Set up a lunch or coffee date
• Don't be a repeat offender by sending them another email or adding them back into your newsletter list.
• Find a way to stand out

Wonder Woman Wednesday-Awareness in motion

I watched a movie once about a call to action to help fight abuse.  It said to use your talent, no matter what it was.  If you're a writer, write something, if you make movies, make a movie, if you're a musician, write a song.  Whatever your talent is, use it to do something.

I would like to introduce a woman named Christine Watson.  I don't know her story, and I can't even tell you for sure if the story portrayed is her own or the story of someone in her life.  She doesn't give the story words, but she still tells it in a way that will send chills up your spine.

***WARNING*** this video may trigger emotions for survivors.

Please enjoy this week's Wonder Woman.  She used her talent to spread awareness through beautiful and fluid movement.

If you have a talent and you have used it to spread awareness for abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, or human trafficking, please email it to Sunshine@YourDamselDiva and you will be considered for our Wonder Woman Wednesday showcase.

There are things I wish everyone knew about love.

Today, I was listening to a training call, checking my email, writing, and all of the things that a woman with ADHD does in one moment, and I was stopped in my tracks.

That doesn't happen very often.

There are some things I wish that all humans could learn about love.  I know that is a lot to ask,  but imagine the world if everyone loved deeply.

This is how I live, it's the example I want to be for my children, and it's how I want them to grow up living.  As the tears welled from my eyes while this video played, I knew I had to share that moment with all of you.

I know too many people who are so stuck in their own beliefs that they would rather remove themselves from their loved ones than learn to love past themselves.  I know too many people who believe they are so right, whether it's in their faith, their life journey, or their political party who would rather snub everyone who doesn't agree exactly with them, judge them, and cut them out of their lives than learn to understand.

Today, remove one of your hatreds.

Wonder Woman Wednesday-When she told her mom she had been molested, her dad came to the rescue

One of the strongest methods of healing after surviving abuse is learning that you are not alone.  Out there are thousands and thousands of people who have lived your same story.  Of course, the details aren't going to be the same, time frames will differ, but when it all comes down to it, no matter how often, how intense, or how terrible the abuse was, it leaves you with the same emotional trauma.

Sharing your story is the hardest, yet most freeing way to begin healing and help show others the out of the darkness. 

In a world where we hear terrible stories about parents selling their own children, mothers siding with abusive men over their babies, and terrible things that become family secrets, when someone puts their personal relationships aside and does the right thing and then they share that story, their bravery should be commended.

For the first time ever, Wonder Woman Wednesday goes to a family.  When 10-year-old Breann was molested, she was fortunate enough to have the strength to tell right away.  When it came out that it was her father’s dad, Breann’s parents went above and beyond to protect their little girl. 

If only every child had the love of a mother and father who would both do everything under the sun to protect them, imagine what kind of world we would live in.  If you or someone you know has been sexually abused, do not keep it a secret.  Do not forgive and forget.  Do not let them get away from emotionally, physically, and sexually damaging you for the rest of your life.  Report it to the local authorities.  Tell someone right away.  

If you or someone you know has a story to share, please email sunshine@YourDamselDiva.com.  You never know how many people your story could help.

Shared Hope International Webcast Wednesday March 4, 2015

This just came from Shared Hope International:

This Wednesday, March 4, Shared Hope International will be convening experts from around the country in our nation's capital for an advance release of our JuST Response State Systems Mapping Report. This report compares some of the most progressive approaches currently being implemented to connect trafficked youth to the services they so desperately need. We would like to offer our friends and supporters an opportunity to be a part of this important event by joining us via webcast from 10 am to 12 pm EST.

This is a great opportunity to bring together your area's local leaders to learn about trending approaches to state laws, child serving agency response and service provision for the children we serve. To tune in to our live stream go to www.sharedhope.org/webcast, and don't forget to submit your questions live viaFacebook and Twitter. Our team will be monitoring social media so you can direct questions straight to those on the forefront of implementing this important work. You can learn more about JuST Response atwww.sharedhope.org/justresponse.org.

Sincerely,

Eliza Reock

Director of Programs

Shared Hope International

Join the End It campaign to help end human slavery

Join the End It campaign on Friday, February 26th 2015 and help spread awareness on human slavery.  Thousands and thousands of people are enslaved today, and most people believe that it's something that happens only in far off lands, but it's happening right here on American soil.  The land of the free is being inundated with human slavery of all types, and it's up to us to END IT.

As a show of solidarity, grab a red sharpie and draw an X on your hand and join the fight.  You can spread awareness, create a ripple, and give to the cause.

Damsel in Defense proudly stands in unity in the fight against human slavery of all types.  No one should have to be enslaved by another for any reason.

What will you do tomorrow?  Will you ignore it?  Or will you join the

#ENDITMOVEMENT

Share your photos on social media with your red X and hashtage #enditmovement

Alone, we may be able to save a handful of people, but together, we can save thousands.  

For more information on the End It campaign, contact Sunshine@YourDamselDiva.com.