Daily and world-wide, men and women are abused by the people they love the most, physically, psychologically, emotionally and sexually. Domestic violence doesn't care what race, religion, sexuality or gender you are. It doesn't care about your family back-ground or your education. Domestic violence gives no thought to where you grew up, how you spend your spare time or that you have dreams, hopes and ambitions. Domestic violence is an ugly thing, which can creep up on you when you least expect it and consume your life. Until you decide No Second Chance.
This page is your page, my page, our page. As victims of domestic violence, this here, is a place where we can find strength and solidarity, knowing that we are not and never will be alone in our suffering. Even in our lowest moments, when we feel lonelier than we ever thought possible, this page will hold host to a secret uprising against our abusers. Here, we can safely give No Second Chance.
I welcome all readers to send their photographs (they don't need to show faces if you don't want them to), drawings, poems, songs, stories and so on to gabriellasofia.buxton@hotmail.co.uk along with a description of yourself and they will be anonymously featured on this blog. I hereby promise never to use your names or allow anyone to find out which story or photograph belongs to which victim so think of No Second Chance as a place where you can notify the world to the existence of your abuser and the struggles you are experiencing in a safe environment. In the description of yourself, please try your hardest to describe a version of yourself that you are proud of rather than the person you have become since falling victim to domestic violence. I want to be able to describe you as the strong, confident, self-assured person I know we all have inside us. The person that will one day say, No Second Chance.
I am not a doctor, or even an expert in this field. In fact, having only succumbed to domestic violence on one occasion before reporting the guy that did it, I am much less experienced than most of you out there. I can't and won't judge you and I won't condone judgements of any kind to be passed in the comments section of this blog. Everyone has their own reasons to do the things they do, and each victim deserves our respect regardless of whether they are reporting an ex partner for psychological abuse, or staying with a current partner in spite of physical abuse. Although I will never judge or argue or push, I will support everyone in declaring No Second Chance.
Finally, I will occasionally share parts of my own story, feature news-stories on the topic and post frequent updates relevant to the victims of domestic violence community. Consider this a hub for healing in whatever way you need. It is as much your blog as it is mine, so please feel free to join in contributing. If you read an article in the paper about an uprise of domestic violence in your city, snap a photograph of it with your mobile phone and send it over to me. If you are organising a bake sale where all of the proceeds go to domestic violence victims, let me know. If you read a fantastic book which makes you feel super-empowered and you think would help the domestic violence community, even if it isn't ABOUT domestic violence, write a short review detailing why and how it affected you and email me. I want to know about everything that has helped you heal from domestic violence in any way, whether it be a fitness class, a GP that deserves a special mention, a new law, advice from a small child or a slogan which has really stuck with you. Anything which has helped you might easily help someone else to advocate No Second Chance.
So the floor is open to you. Send your anonymous emails to gabriellasofia.buxton@hotmail.co.uk and together we can rally other victims of domestic violence to scream No Second Chance.
This page is your page, my page, our page. As victims of domestic violence, this here, is a place where we can find strength and solidarity, knowing that we are not and never will be alone in our suffering. Even in our lowest moments, when we feel lonelier than we ever thought possible, this page will hold host to a secret uprising against our abusers. Here, we can safely give No Second Chance.
*A sketch I drew of myself after my assault... I wasn't sure I could remember who I was so I didn't include a face*
I welcome all readers to send their photographs (they don't need to show faces if you don't want them to), drawings, poems, songs, stories and so on to gabriellasofia.buxton@hotmail.co.uk along with a description of yourself and they will be anonymously featured on this blog. I hereby promise never to use your names or allow anyone to find out which story or photograph belongs to which victim so think of No Second Chance as a place where you can notify the world to the existence of your abuser and the struggles you are experiencing in a safe environment. In the description of yourself, please try your hardest to describe a version of yourself that you are proud of rather than the person you have become since falling victim to domestic violence. I want to be able to describe you as the strong, confident, self-assured person I know we all have inside us. The person that will one day say, No Second Chance.
I am not a doctor, or even an expert in this field. In fact, having only succumbed to domestic violence on one occasion before reporting the guy that did it, I am much less experienced than most of you out there. I can't and won't judge you and I won't condone judgements of any kind to be passed in the comments section of this blog. Everyone has their own reasons to do the things they do, and each victim deserves our respect regardless of whether they are reporting an ex partner for psychological abuse, or staying with a current partner in spite of physical abuse. Although I will never judge or argue or push, I will support everyone in declaring No Second Chance.
Finally, I will occasionally share parts of my own story, feature news-stories on the topic and post frequent updates relevant to the victims of domestic violence community. Consider this a hub for healing in whatever way you need. It is as much your blog as it is mine, so please feel free to join in contributing. If you read an article in the paper about an uprise of domestic violence in your city, snap a photograph of it with your mobile phone and send it over to me. If you are organising a bake sale where all of the proceeds go to domestic violence victims, let me know. If you read a fantastic book which makes you feel super-empowered and you think would help the domestic violence community, even if it isn't ABOUT domestic violence, write a short review detailing why and how it affected you and email me. I want to know about everything that has helped you heal from domestic violence in any way, whether it be a fitness class, a GP that deserves a special mention, a new law, advice from a small child or a slogan which has really stuck with you. Anything which has helped you might easily help someone else to advocate No Second Chance.
So the floor is open to you. Send your anonymous emails to gabriellasofia.buxton@hotmail.co.uk and together we can rally other victims of domestic violence to scream No Second Chance.
No comments:
Post a Comment