"You can't prevent what you don't see & you can't heal from what you don't identify"
The Extraordinary Gentlemen a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization, invited me to come and speak to their juniors that are part of their Extraordinary Gentlemen Jr's Academy this past Saturday. The Extraordinary Gentlemen and their Jr's plan to host their annual "Ladies Appreciation" event this October 23rd during Domestic Violence month. Therefore, they wanted their juniors to learn first hand the impact that domestic violence has on women and why learning to be gentlemen is so important. Therefore, my workshop titled "Identifying Unhealthy Relationships: Keeping Yourself & Your Loved One's Safe" was something they needed to hear. It's not always easy to see and hear the story and see the images that I share, but it's necessary in order to see impact and aftermath that domestic violence leaves behind.
Relationships are a necessary part of our everyday lives; intimate relationships, family relationships, working relationships etc.We co-exist in these relationships and interactions, without even realizing they may be toxic and causing harm to us or our children....without even knowing it.
The boys were gentlemen, they were respectful and paid close attention to me the entire time (even the youngest participant that was 5 years old) I was super impressed. Teaching others (especially our youth )about how to identify what a healthy and unhealthy relationship looks like is my passion...and our children can never be too young to learn. You can't prevent what you don't see & you can't heal from what you don't identify.
I am grateful to have had the opportunity to reach these young men and educate them with a lesson that I hope lasts a lifetime.
If that was not enough goodness in one day, I was also honored to have WBNS-10TV on site to get footage for a segment they are airing next Tuesday that will feature me as one of their "trailblazing women, paving the way for others" that I was nominated and selected for. Many thanks to Angela An from WBNS-10TV for making all the parts and pieces some together to get the day coordinated and make it all possible.
God took something that "the devil intended to harm me and used it for good, what is now being done, the saving of many lives." (Genesis 50:20)
Never in a million years did I see God using my pain to make it something so beautiful. This is not what I wanted but what had to happen. God needed to break my normal cycle of abuse and dysfunction in order for me to receive my blessing; because I could not have my normal and my blessing at the same time!
God has been using me in ways I never imagined, I have been obedient....even when it may not have been easy. He has been putting people of influence in my path to help me reach others. I am humbled and eternally grateful for the people that God has set in my path to help me reach the masses....because I can NOT do it alone. There is little effort on my part because God does all the work in lining everything up. I am blessed to know and connect with others that share my passion for saving lives and being the change we want to see in the world. When like-minded people get together the results are endless. When birds of a feather flock together, the sky is the limit!