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Fifty-five feels good. Celebrating quietly—the beauty of Life, and the wondrous oneness of Source that flows through every living thing, brings me a peace that is indescribable. 

I find, the more I verbally express my deepest, heartfelt gratitude for the birds that line my fence every morning waiting to be fed, for the bright warm sun, blue skies and cool breezes that embrace my being, for the earth beneath my feet, for the flowers blooming in my backyard, for every utterance of appreciation from the simplest trivialities to the major milestones—the more my soul is elevated, the more Love I feel, and the easier life becomes. 

So, talk to the bee that lights on a dandelion. Tell the old oak tree in your yard how strong and beautiful she is. Smile up at the stars on a clear, cloudless night and wonder at the magnificence of it all. Walk barefoot in thick green grass and give thanks to Mother Earth for the gift of being here. Sit quietly with your face to the sun and listen when Spirit lovingly calls you, child. 

I’m so blessed, and humble to simply Be. Life has never been better. Live in this moment, truly be, in this moment and your life will change. You will witness miracles.

Be well.  

Beaten in Love—New Edition Author's Note

I used to be a big, leap before you look, girl. It’s no big surprise then, that all my romantic relationships have been unsuccessful. After my last train wreck I said, no more, and I meant it. You see, I entered each love affair with the best of intentions, only to find that the man I thought I loved was someone else completely. Is it my defect of character that’s to blame, or do my exes bear at least some responsibility in the failure of the union? Well, it takes two to tango, so I’ll just leave it at that.
      It took 49 years for me to realize that I am enough. I don’t need a companion to complete me. I wish I had learned this lesson in my 20’s. I could have avoided so much pain. Specifically, I would not have allowed myself to become a victim of violence at the hands of the man I loved. Please believe me when I tell you that if he lays hands on you even once in anger, he will do it again, no matter how sorry he claims to be. Love yourself enough to walk away. 

It is human nature to shy away from people, places, things, and situations that make us feel uncomfortable. I wrote this book to draw attention to domestic violence. It is not a pleasant subject to talk about, or read about, so how do you think women who are actively involved in abusive relationships feel? The cycle of abuse; you ask any woman who has ever been a victim of domestic violence and she can tell you with certainty what that means. Each story is similar, yet unique in its horror.

     Embarrassed, we don't want to call attention to our own plight. Ashamed, we live in fear. Alone, we don't ask for help because of the consequences, i.e., a beating. It isn't easy to ask for help, especially after Stockholm Syndrome sets in. Thirty-thousand women and men around the globe lose their lives at the hands of their partner every year. How many of these stories get one iota of recognition. Very few.
   Then, there are those that cry out for help, time and again and no one comes to their rescue. They may get out, save themselves, only to be stalked, hunted down, and killed like an animal. Sometimes in these situations, tragically, other family members become victims as well. Again, have you heard about these cases? Maybe, but no more than a blip on the local news.
    The cases that do make national headlines are the Scott Petersons and Chris Wattses of the world. Morbid, voyeuristic curiosity makes their stories trend #1 on Netflix. Laci and Shanann may not have been domestic violence victims in the way we traditionally think, but their lives and the lives of their children were brutally and unexpectedly ended by their sociopathic husbands. Which is more terrifying, living in constant fear of being hurt, or being ambushed with no warning? Does it matter? Neither is acceptable. Both are heartbreaking. Are you uncomfortable yet?

Domestic Abuse Hotline 800-799-7233

Beaten in Love is now available, again, on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited. Republished by me, still a work in progress, forgive the flaws.