TAUGHT TO BE TEACHABLE

Today I learned a valuable lesson as a survivor of Domestic Violence: There's still more work to be done within myself, in order to help my community. In other words, I too have to be taught new resources, tools, strategies, poverty level(s), sexual agendas, escape and intervention plans to be able to continuously be effective in my endeavor of BREAKING THE SILENCE!

I always feel that I am grateful for my testimony of surviving an abusive relationship and ongoing into my marriage with that partner. That experience allowed me to be able to share that testimony amongst my peers with boldness and most importantly to me, my faith in that without God in my life, I would have NEVER made it through it. With that being said, I was chatting/messaging a new dear friend of mine today and the thought just came to me that I am still available to be taught the dynamics of domestic violence. Even though I've been through countless trainings and even wrote a book about it! There are always new ways to be taught a repetitive goal, dream, career, lifestyle, etc. Don't ever think that you know "ALL" there is to know about something or even someone. Dig deeper than what's on top of the surface. As long as you open one door there are enough steps to follow to get and go thru another one.

I often wear three hats in Domestic Violence trainings, conferences, literature, media, etc:

The first "hat" is me as the victim: Some scenes remind me of what I've been through. Certain dialogue transpire emotional tears to form in my eyes. I get restless and can't keep still.......overall, sometimes I just relive the trauma I experienced at that point in my life.

The second "hat" I wear is me being the student: This hat allows my brain to go into overdrive if I'm not careful. I absorb all that the presentor/facilitator, article, short film or whatever tool is being used, to discuss Domestic Violence. I turn into a full-time student of learning. I'm focused and have high expectations of what I'm looking forward to learning and then on to implementating the data into the lives and homes of victims and survivors.

The third "hat" I wear is the or of the teacher: Now this hat is very similar to the hat of the student, except I spectate and use the data to execute new curriculums or new interventions/enhance old interventions to prevent Domestic Violence. The teacher hat allows me to make plans for my future and the lives that I will impact.

I say all of this to say simply, you're never to old, too young, too wise or feel that you're too dumb to be taught anything!

Sometimes my greatest achievements and breakthrough moments have been in a teaching environment and almost never when I'm the speaker. I learn more about this epidemic by the real life stories and professional trainings. I encourage you to BREAK THE SILENCE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE and continue to get educated on this crime!