October is DV Awareness Month, and this year, I decided to shake things up and do something different. Yesterday, I posted a video on my social media that I hope will open up more conversations around domestic violence.
Talking about domestic violence (DV) can be triggering for some and bring up feelings of shame and guilt for others. As someone who works closely with professionals to find solutions for survivors, I understand the complexity of leading someone toward safer living. The pain, fear, and emotional turmoil are very real, and it's important to acknowledge that.
My hook says it all: “Watch Me Traumatize My Dad While I Teach About DV.” Is it a little dramatic? Absolutely. But here’s why: As a survivor, I’ve learned that society often tries to put the burden of shame and guilt on us, the survivors, when DV is actually a societal issue. It’s a problem that requires more than just individual healing—it needs communities, nonprofits, business leaders, and politicians to step up and fix the broken systems that have failed us.
The statistics around domestic violence are staggering. Instead of getting better, the situation is getting worse, with more and more lives being affected. It’s time to act if we want to reverse the damage caused by generations of fatherless homes, broken families, and communities that lack love. Without real intervention, we risk raising a society incapable of loving itself or others the way we were called to.
Fear and heartbreak from past experiences often keep us on the defensive in relationships. But in doing so, we all lose. Love was never meant to be a battlefield—it’s meant to be given selflessly, with a cheerful heart, and without expecting anything in return. That’s who we were created to be: lovers.
Throughout October, I’ll be an open book. I plan to share my journey, including things I’m still processing, and expose the flaws in our judicial and community systems that claim to support survivors but often fall short. I’ll shed light on the real obstacles we face on the road to safer living.
This journey will be uncomfortable, but it needs to be. To truly address the issue of domestic violence, we have to face some hard truths head-on. I encourage you to join me on this journey. Speak up, add your thoughts, and embrace the uncomfortable emotions that come with it. Together, we can push for the change that’s desperately needed.
Moral of the Story
Domestic violence isn’t just a personal issue—it’s a societal problem that impacts us all. Healing requires community, not just for the survivors but for the systems that are supposed to support them. We must be willing to confront the uncomfortable truths, both in our personal lives and in the structures that govern us. Only by facing these challenges can we begin to break the cycles of abuse and pave the way for safer, more loving communities.
If you’re a survivor, I invite you to join our Author's Lounge this month. Let’s help you get comfortable with the uncomfortable parts of your story so you can take back control of your narrative. Use code MyStoryMatters to get 50% off your first month of membership. Your story matters—let’s tell it together!
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