kate + lemonade
In my first post on abuse, I said not to read the domestic violence chapter (chapter ten, “Intimate enemies”) in The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker.[1] I’ve changed my mind.
Becker implies that on some level, victims choose to be abused—words that are both dangerous and wrong.
Abuse isn’t your fault. You didn’t choose it. It just happened to you.
Although I’m an atheist, and always will be, I have had a spiritual awakening.
This is a letter to my younger self. This is part two; see parts one and three.
The whole reason people are in abusive relationships is that they will put up with practically anything for the sake of the relationship.
What people don’t understand is the fact that you’re willing to “put up with it” is the result of abuse—not a personal failure to stand up for yourself.
The Lululemon mantra includes this line: “Successful people replace the words ‘wish’, ‘should’ and ‘try’, with ‘I will’.”
Here are some things I appreciated in Southeast Asia and Japan that I wish we had in Canada.
If you read one book a month, you probably have less than 800 books left to read in your life.
(I’m 26, so assuming I live to 90, that is 64 remaining years x 12 months = 768 books.)
In my first post on this topic, I said how my highest values are benevolence (for the world), reflection (for myself), and sincerity.[1] However, that has changed.
Sometimes you can’t win. When you’re overweight, the only message you get from the world is that you’re ugly and should lose weight.
Once you have lost weight and become more attractive, though, you’re accused of trying too hard. “Relax,” other people start saying, “it’s the holidays. Have a piece of cake. After all, you wouldn’t want to get too thin.”