Merry Christmas and/or Happy Holidays!
I’m revising one of my very first posts, written almost exactly two years ago.
Though I will continue to be committed to reconnecting with lost loved ones, issues of child abduction, and domestic violence, in 2014 I’ll be expanding to include more about love. What is a safe and healthy relationship? How do we find them? Keep them? When should we let go of them?And how do we cherish their memory, once they’ve ended?
And there will always be room to connect on other topics every once in awhile.
I hope your holidays are full. Thanks for being a constant part of my life over the past two years.
–Liz
My intent when I began blogging was to write about the things I know and care about, focusing on the following three:
1) Domestic violence
Recently, I was contacted by two friends within hours of each other about their concerns over a loved one being abused. It’s been more than a decade since I’ve worked formally with abuse victims, and more than twenty since I left my own abuser, but the calls and e-mails still come in.
Dear Liz,
I need your help/ advise about a friend that is possibly at the worst time in life these past few days from controlling/ mental abuse/ possible a recurrence to old physical abuse but not sure.
In her situation, she’s been (insert emotional/physical/sexual abuse)…
Do I take the information and meet with a police officer, or just give her the information about the local domestic violence agency? Lead the way.
Thank you.
Thank you.
The fact is, domestic violence continues to be one of the leading causes of injury to women in our country. And the children who witness violence against their parent often end up in their own trouble later on if the cycle goes uninterrupted.
2) Parental child abduction, especially international child abduction
Sixteen years ago, I recovered my abducted children from Greece. Only a fraction of parents whose kids are kidnapped and taken out of their home country ever see them again. I was (am) lucky.But despite the passage of time, issues of child abduction cross my mind daily, if not hourly. Perhaps it would’ve been more manageable had I not been a stolen child myself.
3) Recovering/reconnecting with loved ones.
Random, you say?
Not really. Because the first two topics are all about isolation. Being disconnected from supports. From family. From yourself, even. I firmly believe losing strong and healthy relationships isn’t just sad, it can be dangerous. Conversely, I’m convinced that having those relationships in tact can be instrumental in preventing or getting out of a violent intimate relationship.
So now that I’ve stated my blog’s raison d’etre, I’m committed to writing about them. At least some of the time. And I hope you’ll let me know your thoughts from time to time.
3) Recovering/reconnecting with loved ones.
Random, you say?
Not really. Because the first two topics are all about isolation. Being disconnected from supports. From family. From yourself, even. I firmly believe losing strong and healthy relationships isn’t just sad, it can be dangerous. Conversely, I’m convinced that having those relationships in tact can be instrumental in preventing or getting out of a violent intimate relationship.
So now that I’ve stated my blog’s raison d’etre, I’m committed to writing about them. At least some of the time. And I hope you’ll let me know your thoughts from time to time.