Breaking Silence
My beloved Soul Shelter friends…
I am thinking of you this morning, in all the different places you find yourself...in all the ways life can feel so hard. Abuse turns us upside down and inside out, and hiding can seem like the only safe option.
It's not.
Please tell someone. And if they don't listen, tell someone else. That might sound like a terrible idea because it breaks the code of silence you've been under and you fear the repercussions. Understandable. Asian culture pressures us to keep it all quiet. Our Asian American faith communities might dictate silence as well. It can feel shameful that you're in the situation you're in.
All the more reason to say something. To name what’s happening to you, to get it out into the light, even if it is tricky to explain. Yes, there's always the risk you might not be believed (which is why you want to pick safe people) AND it's a chance worth taking. Even one person who knows, who believes you and can walk with and pray for you can make a huge difference in your safety and your ability to hold onto what's real and true about who you are (beloved!).
If telling someone feels a step too far, maybe practice saying it when you're alone - in your car, in the shower, walking to get the mail. This will help you get a grip on the reality of your situation. The abuser wants you to think his/her treatment of you is normal, even deserved. Nothing could be farther from the truth. You are worthy of love and respect, not abuse.
Stand tall and take up your sacred space. It's yours and you belong here.
I am praying for you.
24/7 U.S National Domestic Violence Hotline, voice: 800-799-7233, text: “START” to 88788
Image: mizanundin for Unsplash