Back to Loving Me: Celebrate Courageous Women

For National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, I invite you to join me in celebrating the courageous women who have experienced abuse and their strength to move forward.

What can we do?

1. Show understanding, empathy, and support for anyone that may be experience abuse. Learn the warning signs for abuse such as making excuses for his behaviour and acting nervous in his presence. Also, be aware of how he acts: Does he act as if he owns her, checks up on her all the time, or discourages her from seeing her friends and family? Encourage her by telling her she's not alone and to seek help.

2. Support a local women's centre / domestic violence shelter. These organizations always welcome monetary donations as well as supplies. Some suggestions for in-kind donations: food, clothing, toiletries, furniture, bedding, towels, toys, books, art supplies, and gift cards. We can also show support by volunteering our time and expertise.

3. Spread awareness. Statistically, 1 in 5 women in Canada will experience abuse. In the United States, the statistics are 1 in 4. We can let others know we care. There are many special events and fundraisers going on in our local communities year round.

There are deeply caring counsellors, trainers, and staff who provide support to women who have experienced abuse and have sought help. I invite you to join me in thanking these individuals for the work they do in their community.

If you are experiencing abuse:

Please know that you are not alone. Tell someone you trust. Reach out to the resources in your local community. They are there to support you. You are strong. You are courageous. You can move forward.

In honour of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, I'm sharing a poem that I wrote in my toughest times to honour the courageous women who have experienced abuse and those individuals who support them. This poem has inspired the book, Back to Loving Me, which has become the leading book in women's centres and shelters nationally. Thanks for your support.

BACK TO LOVING MErnby: Lourita Lue-Shing

I stand upon an islandr
Looking out to shorer
It is unfamiliar land so far awayr
But I dream of something more

I touch the waterr
The path that divides the twor
I am scared to leave this place I know so wellr
To seek out something new

I enter feet firstr
And feel the cold upon my skinr
So bravely do I set out to mover
Away from anything I’ve bee

But the swim is not easyr
Its resistance pulls me inr
I head back to where I started fromr
Now where do I begin?

I meet others on the islandr
That help me on my wayr
They tell me the path is hard and longr
To work at it every day

I learn about the water’s currentr
And the wind so hard to bearr
If I accept its natural course, I’m toldr
The flow will take me there

I meet others on the journey, toor
They’ve been exactly where I’ve beenr
We’re learning how to build a boat, they sayr
Forget everything you’ve heard, anything you’ve see

They are visionaries, these folksr
I see myself in their prider
And join them as they build their boatsr
From the strength they have inside

Time passes and my boat is doner
I’m ready and set off on the courser
I might fail a few times againr
But I know how to fix the source

I look backward and move forwardr
And smile at the ironyr
That it took a long, hard path aheadr
To bring me back to loving me

I reach the shore on my own timer
Still scared but somehow calmr
Looking far back to the island nowr
I know this is where I belong

I’m sad that others I care aboutr
Are now so far awayr
But I can still love them alwaysr
And hope to embrace them here one day

Where one journey ended now I beginr
Learning what to accept and refuser
Step by step, fast or slowr
And knowing I can choose.