Did you know, that  according to the Domestic Violence Resource Center, one in four women has experienced domestic violence in her lifetime. Domestic Violence knows no class boundaries. If you have not experienced it then you know someone who has.

How sad is this statistic? really one in four women? …. sad but true I was a statistic as well; I was beaten and talked down for 8 years; married my abuser because I was pregnant, thought it would get better, nope got worse… more hitting and beating as time went on, no one helped me but everyone knew; I got pregnant again and as most women think “it will be a turning point from now on”… it got worse; the drinking picked up as well as the abuse; I don’t want to go into details but I finally got the courage after 8 years to call the cops and he was arrested and charged with almost 10 years of domestic violence and put in jail for over 18 month; what an amazing State Attorney I had on my side….. God Bless her she was an Angel and a HUGE THANK YOU to the cops that came out that night, my hero’s and they don’t even know it!!! 

I never went back and filed for divorce; the scary part… I was on my own, I had no family, I was in a different country with two little ones and a part time job. I wished I had a place like the Brave Women at the time, I did it on my own and it was tough…. but none the less.. I made it.. I’m out and enjoying life; unlike many other women who never made it out and paid with their life. God bless every single one.

So I plea to you now, “DON’T LOOK AWAY”… like so many did around me, take the courage and help……!!!!

How can you help? Brave Woman is a grassroots movement to shift personal and public perception of women facing domestic violence situations from a victim mentality to one of courage and strength.

Don’t look the other way, go to Facebook, Twitter or on the Web and see how you can take action; if you are in an abusive relationship.. be brave and check out BraveWomen.org to get the courage to stand up and start YOUR life; no one deserves that kind of treatment, especially not YOU!!!

I’m fortuned to be here today to tell my story, I’m not proud of it nor am I looking for pity.. the part that I’m proud of… I made it.. I put the past behind me and I’m moving on, without my abuser and an amazing new family and loving husband….!!!

Please help and take the pledge:
I pledge to honor and respect brave women and children who tackle the difficult journey of change from domestic violence to a new life. I acknowledge my own moment-by-moment bravery, will remain aware of what is happening to others around me, and speak up against violence in any form. I will stand up for human dignity and safety for women and children. Pledge HERE 

Twitter Party Alert:
There will also be a Brave Woman Twitter party on December 19th at 1:00-2:00 PM EST; will post the signup link on Facebook as soon as I get details. Just mark your calendars and help support this amazing organization….

This post/shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. All opinions are 100% my own and this is truly a close to my heart cause and I want to help as many as I possibly can!!!.” #CBIAS