
Have you or do you know someone who has been abused or been involved in an abusive relationship? What is your definition of abuse? All of us know that physical violence is abuse. We also know there is emotional and mental abuse too, but do we know what it really is?
What counts as abuse?
I, myself have experienced physical, emotional, and mental abuse to different degrees. My family members and friends have suffered abuse from spouses and significant others, and in some cases even family members.
If you slap someone, that is abuse, and we know that. If you tell someone to shut up, is that abuse? Is it the tone of your voice or the conviction in which you say it, do those things make it abuse? Name calling is definitely a form of abuse.
Abuse breaks a person down bit by bit. Sometimes you don't make it back. Your self -esteem is gone, you become out of control yourselves, sometimes the victim becomes the abuser.
Abuse will affect the way you look at yourselves and others. I have been slapped, punched and kicked, my nose has been broken, I have lost a baby because of abuse, and that is just the physical form.
I have been in knock -down drag -out fights with men because I didn't agree with the way I was being treated and talked to. Because I wouldn't accept the bull that people throw at me. I have been called names, such as bitch and whore, because I didn't agree with a man, my opinion differed or because I was acting up, and because I made them jealous.
I got hit by a man (if you want to call him that) for the first time when I was 17 yrs old. You know what that did? It made me a fighter. I wouldn't back down, and I'll tell you I have had my ass kicked a few times, but I have also kicked some myself. Because NO man will ever lay a hand on me again and Noone is ever going to disrespect me and take away my spirit. They have tried, I am independent and I don't need a man that bad.
I would rather live the rest of my life alone, then with someone who disrespects me and hurts me. There is always hope, there is always a way out. Someone will listen, someone will help. Noone on this earth needs to be treated badly. We were not put here for other people to knock us around. We are all special people in God's eyes. We need to take care of each other, protect each other, do right by each other.
I have not been in an abusive relationship for years, I NEVER will be again. I am not afraid to face life alone, there is no need in anyone being that afraid. God Bless, and take care of each other, find happiness, everyone deserves that.
Vaughn Pascal
For God and Country
To God and Jesus; Thank you. To Bub and Doc; I love you.
AP - Israel resumed its Gaza offensive Wednesday, bombing heavily around suspected smuggling tunnels near the border with Egypt after a three-hour lull to allow in humanitarian aid. Hamas responded with a rocket barrage. Despite the heavy fighting, strides were made on the diplomatic front with the U.S. throwing its weight behind a deal being brokered by France and Egypt.
AP - Pointing with concern to "red ink as far as the eye can see," President-elect Barack Obama pledged Wednesday to tackle out-of-control Social Security and Medicare spending and named a special watchdog to clamp down on other federal programs — even as he campaigned anew to spend the largest pile of taxpayer money in history to revive the sinking economy.
AP - Senate Democrats beat a hasty retreat Wednesday from their rejection of Roland Burris as President-elect Barack Obama's successor, yielding to pressure from Obama himself and from senators irked that the standoff was draining attention and putting them in a bad light. Burris said with a smile he expected to join them "very shortly."
AP - The upcoming inauguration of Barack Obama is an attractive target for international and domestic terrorists, but U.S. intelligence officials have no information about specific threats to the Jan. 20 event.
AP - Confronting a grim economy and a Middle East on fire, Barack Obama turned Wednesday to perhaps the only people on the planet who understand what he's in for: the four living members of the U.S. presidents' club.
AP - Rain and high winds lashed Washington state Wednesday, causing widespread avalanches, mudslides, flooding and road closures as the heavy snowfall that has buried parts of the state began to rapidly melt.
AP - "The Dark Knight" could soar away with several trophies Wednesday night at the 35th annual People's Choice Awards. The Batman film will vie for awards in such categories as favorite cast, action movie, on-screen matchup and superhero.
AP - Eric Mangini is the new head coach of the Cleveland Browns, a week after being fired by the New York Jets. A person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press that Mangini will be introduced Thursday at a news conference at the team's headquarters in Berea.
Reuters - Israeli aircraft and tanks pounded the Gaza Strip on Wednesday and troops battled Palestinian guerrillas on the ground as U.S. backing for a proposed truce raised expectations of an end to the 12-day-old offensive.
Reuters - The U.S. budget deficit will swell to a record $1.186 trillion in fiscal 2009, congressional forecasters said on Wednesday, the result of an economic recession that has cut tax receipts and caused massive government bailouts of banks and automakers.
Reuters - In an abrupt switch, Democratic leaders began talks on Wednesday to swear in Roland Burris, appointed by embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to replace President-elect Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate.
Reuters - United Auto Workers bargaining teams are arriving this week in Detroit as the union gears up for negotiations with General Motors Corp and Chrysler LLC, which are mandated to cut labor costs under a $17.4 billion federal bailout.
Reuters - The case of Ali al-Marri, accused of being an al Qaeda "sleeper" agent and held for 5-1/2 years at a U.S. military prison in South Carolina, will be an early test for President-elect Barack Obama.
Reuters - An outbreak of salmonella food poisoning has made 388 people sick across 42 states, sending 18 percent of them to the hospital, U.S. health officials said on Wednesday.
Reuters - Accused swindler Bernard Madoff should be jailed for violating a court order by mailing $1 million worth of diamonds, watches and other jewelry to friends and family, U.S. prosecutors told a court on Wednesday.
AFP - Israel on Wednesday approved an even tougher war on Hamas, warning residents to flee southern Gaza ahead of planned bombing of cross-border tunnels, as the Palestinian death toll passed 700.
AFP - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Wednesday laid down terms for a resumption of Russian gas shipments via Ukraine to Europe as tens of thousands of Europeans suffered heating cuts amid freezing weather.
Direct Answers - Column for the week of August 19, 2002I am... Read More
The women at the cross. Have you ever thought about them?Why not... Read More
Today I just wanted to write you a quick note to encourage... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of March 31, 2003I don't... Read More
There is an old story that tells of a man walking along... Read More
IntroductionNearly all employers and human resource professionals are aware of the Americans... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of August 25, 2003My wife... Read More
Consider this. If it is possible to quote you as a person... Read More
Emotions are the most powerful forces inside us. Under the power of... Read More
For many people, life has become as dull and despairing as death.... Read More
How many times have you found yourself dreaming you were more passionate?What... Read More
Yes you got it. You read it correctly. We're not out of... Read More
"If unresolved anger is a toxin to the spirit, forgiveness is the... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of January 6, 2003What can... Read More
A young man in search of enlightenment had traveled to Tibet at... Read More
How often do you decline an invitation because you have something else... Read More
You don't have to excavate diamond mines or oil fields to find... Read More
A number of years ago I worked for one of the UK's... Read More
Even immediately after my car accident, every single person who saw me... Read More
Over the years as I've sought out ideas, principles and strategies to... Read More
Here's a simple parable with an important moral.Each mirror, you see, has... Read More
After more than thirty years of studying the Bible I can say... Read More
Chorus: An' he said: "I went ski diving, I went rocky mountain... Read More
Back in the good old days of school, the teachers would often... Read More
My best friend, Ryan, told me last night he got his girlfriend,... Read More
The one question I keep coming back to is..."Am I involved with... Read More
Buying a VCR may not seem like a noteworthy purchase in a... Read More
Let us renew our hope in humanity. It's so easy to lose... Read More
Remember when you were really young? It was an era of inconsequential... Read More
"Hope is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul, And... Read More
It has been six months since I left the corporate world ?... Read More
It has been said that a man is what he eats. Someone... Read More
I always had an active imagination when I was young. I hated... Read More
Ask any of my kids and they'll tell you immediately that you'll... Read More
Even though this article was next on my idea list, and I... Read More
Poverty can sometimes only be a state of mind, based on our... Read More
A LOST WORLD OF SOULWhen you hear the word 'divination', chances are... Read More
"It`s life Jim but not as we know it." -SpockIn Corrogue there... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of December 9, 2002I was... Read More
What Inspires You? What motivates you to get up in the morning?... Read More
In this world we don't have to afraid to anybody except to... Read More
Spend some time thinking about how good you have it. We know... Read More
Many of us are unable to move forward with our lives because... Read More
Passion can guide you, not just to live, but to live with... Read More
This statement has stopped many a war in my house. My oldest... Read More
I am not going to tell you the story of an extraordinary... Read More
Water is the source of life, yet so few of us understand... Read More
I've always loved the awesome majesty of mountains. They are, however, the... Read More
It has been six months since I left the corporate world ?... Read More
"There are fine things which you mean to do someday, under what... Read More
I had been fighting with the software program that I used to... Read More
Safety is an interesting concept. When we think of safety we almost... Read More
How often do you decline an invitation because you have something else... Read More
Wonders never cease. Just when those in our area of the Delaware... Read More
Discernment is an inner guide or compass. It is loving and expansive,... Read More
Waking up one day and realizing your world just isn't working for... Read More
As small children, we were all wild. Not unlike the wolf pup... Read More
One of the most undervalued blessings is God's will to make every... Read More
On June 3rd, 1948, a blast rocked the Black Hills of South... Read More
When disorder comes into our lives, we obviously aren't paying any attention... Read More
As we've reached the half way point of the year I'm thinking... Read More
The other night I was watching a documentary on that famous boxing... Read More
Not long after the beginning a being fell from the heavens to... Read More
Life is too hard and too risky in the eyes of many.... Read More
If we want to fill our heads with the doom and gloom... Read More
In 1982, I found myself in Eden. What I found out from... Read More
Trouble, trouble, trouble. Nothing but trouble. The night before, I was just... Read More
When you get home from work, do you feel enriched, fulfilled and... Read More
Treasures of a lifetime...At the end of your life will you be... Read More
"If unresolved anger is a toxin to the spirit, forgiveness is the... Read More
When my older son was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, my... Read More
Humanity seems to be the only species that never seems pleased with... Read More
At SPIRIT Connections, we believe that the most powerful tool we have... Read More
Have you ever said thank-you to the cow that provided you with... Read More
All of our lives we always seem to direct our concern toward... Read More
The physics professor with the unruly shock of white hair strolls up... Read More
You're a remarkable person. But, you knew that already. Still, buried among... Read More
You may be one of the thousands who think "Strategic Thinking" applies... Read More
Text: Matthew 12:46-50, Mark 3: 31-35, Luke 8:19Mother's Day has passed. All... Read More
At some stage of living your life you will ask the question... Read More
1. You can relax and enjoy your life more if you don't... Read More
I have always thought that grandparents were the icons of wisdom, the... Read More
Not long ago, I attended a seminar that featured Naomi Judd, half... Read More
I've spoken with many people who, over time, have felt inundated by... Read More
It was a mild summer day in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina when I... Read More
"We're on a one-game winning streak!" That's what freshman Dawan Boxley said... Read More
Have you had a challenging day or week? Feel a little tired... Read More
Each night, when I put my head on the pillow and turn... Read More
All you want is a little more.More money, more love, more fun,... Read More
One of the keys to being successful in anything you do is... Read More
People often ask me how they can improve their lives.I always give... Read More
Your own level of frequency raises or lowers the overall frequency of... Read More
I believe it's important for you to develop a mission statement for... Read More
(excerpted from the New Jim Rohn Weekend Event DVD/CD series)Is thankfulness a... Read More
Inspirational Inspirational |