A Marine that was sexually assaulted, said that she wasn't speaking as a victim or a survivor, but as a Leader for Change...I love how she sees herself as an instrument for change. Using her life experiences to help others, to make changes so others don't have to experience the awful way she was treated...not so much about the abusers - for that is a given, but from her commanding officers and how their response was felt as abuse, again and again.
I too want to be a leader for change in the way families deal with victims and the way victims themselves deal with families.
We need to teach others how to have healthier responses so as not to harm victims further. And to hold responsible adults who know and do nothing to the perpetrators...while demeaning and disbelieving the victims.
The only way we can start turning around and lowering the numbers of children being abused, is to be a leader of changing how we deal with abuse.
Instead of passively feeling as a survivor....I love the role "Leader for Change" inspires within me. It leaves me hopeful and inspired and to use my experiences to shed light upon a broken system...and ways towards healing and living that changes the patterns of abuse.
To be a leader of change, you have to be willing to lead the change in your own life....to make different choices and to walk different, talk different, be different...everything changes; when you are leader for change.
I love these two ladies, attached by a chain....we can't know who is changing who?
