It may sound strange, but people who have lived with abuse for many years may not even realize that they are being abused.

If you have grown up in a family where abuse occurs almost every day, you may think that hitting, pushing, or constant yelling are normal ways to treat the members of your family and other people.

Every family has arguments, but when yelling goes too far or lasts too long or when disagreements turn physical, that is abuse, and abuse is not normal or healthy.

National Crime Victims' Rights Week is April 18-24, 2021

If you have been hurt—physically, sexually, emotionally, or due to neglect—you are a victim of abuse.

 

Abuse and neglect can affect the way you view yourself and the rest of the world.

You might—

Feel afraid, anxious, angry, confused, or sad.
Fear being hurt again.
Have trouble sleeping, eating, and concentrating.
Skip school or not do well in school.
Have lots of headaches or stomachaches.
Use drugs or alcohol.
...

Nature energizes my spirit and my life. I enjoy my connection to nature. The outdoors helps me regain my focus.

I can disconnect from my busy lifestyle so that I can reconnect with nature. 

Modern society challenges my relationship with nature. I put aside my technology to focus on the incredible, natural splendor all around me. I take time to walk outdoors to be grateful for the majesty of the animals and plants.

I pay attention to the rhythm of nature during my outings. I listen to the sounds that envelop me. I observe the connections between plants and animals. All of these beautiful elements raise my spirit.

My spirit feels vibrant while I delve into nature.

I easily re-establish my relationship with nature, even when I have been away from it for a time. I try not to stay away too long because nature is essential to my soul. It makes me healthy, serene, and strong.

Nature unlocks a channel in my heart that embraces love. It helps...

Independence is a skill that not every woman possesses at birth. Of course, everyone has to become somewhat independent as they grow up towards adulthood, but it is far easier for some to accept their independence than others. Evading independence as an adult creates problems in many different areas of your life, especially as you enter into professional and personal interactions.

Learn to:

• be your own strongest supporter – vital to success in any area of life.

It can be challenging for some women to realize they are responsible for any life occurrences—choices made shape your life. Your decisions develop your direction. Being practical about this is beneficial and necessary. When you know you can rely on and take total care of yourself, you can accomplish anything.

• stand on our own two feet – although trust is not always detrimental.

It is healthy to be able to trust and rely on others. What you should not do is leave your potential...

As long as I allow myself to see the beauty surrounding me, my life is enhanced a hundred-fold. Therefore I strive to release any negative thoughts and feelings that can blind me from this beauty.

Beauty abounds in my loved ones and my relationships with them. Each one has its unique beauty, unlike anyone else. I see this beauty in their smile, feel it in their caress, and hear it in their song of life.

They share their beauty in their hopes, dreams, and aspirations. I listen and am lifted as I encourage them. When I feel down, they let their beauty shine through to bring me back up again.

I find beauty in everyday things - a wildflower lifting its bloom through the rocky soil, the puppy that greets me with glee, the crystals of the morning dew, and the soft comfort of my bed at the end day.

Even humdrum routines bring the beauty of their own. When I get something done at work, it is a beautiful thing! When I make a tasty dinner, that is beautiful also,...

One of the most empowering things women do for our children is to teach them to be independent and to be able to make decisions and take actions on their own. This independence will raise their self-esteem and enable them to handle any situation confidently.

Here are eight effective and fun ways to help your child become more independent.

1. Enlist your child’s help. Tell them that you have observed that there are things they can do on their own that you have been doing for them. Then ask for their support in allowing you to let them carry out those activities. This makes it seem like they are helping you change, not the other way around. It also fosters cooperation.
2. Look for occasions to create more independence. Make a list of things you believe your child could do independently. Then have the child select which ones they feel they would like to do. This empowers them to make decisions independently and try to do more things without your help.
3. Do not try to hand...

How I deal with the world each day largely determines the kind of day I have and the quality of connections I experience. So I make a conscious decision daily to be cheerful. I strive to spread joy.

Because I prefer that people positively affect me, I want to do the same for everyone I come into contact with too. This means managing my mood and ensuring that I stay positive.

However, to have something to share with others, my cup must be full. So I also tend to my joy by engaging in interests that satisfy me. This helps uplift my mood and empowers my approach to life to be filled with joy and passion.

I do my best to both uplift others and be uplifted by individuals I meet. Life is more pleasant when I am in the company of happy people. To boost the spirits of others, I am joyful and spread happiness and positivity among those around me as much as I can.

Today, I promise to put all my effort into releasing joy everywhere I go. I stay on top of my moods so...

You cannot talk about independence in life without mentioning financial freedom. Becoming an adult comes with many responsibilities, not the least of which is making your own money and learning to provide for yourself appropriately.

Learning how to budget your money is also essential. As you enter adulthood, learning to budget and pay your bills every month on time will allow you to build strong credit.

And just about every major purchase you will make will look to your credit score and credit report as representative of how consistently you pay your bills and utilize your available credit.

Here are five ways to grow your financial independence:

1. Learn to live within your means. What this means is, do not spend all the money you make. When you bring home your paycheck, you will have bills that you must pay first to make sure you are on time. After that, you can decide what to do with the rest.
2. Learn to create a realistic budget and stick to it. By utilizing a...

Life can be overwhelming. Work is busy. My home life is hectic. And my social calendar is full. So I make conscious decisions to schedule free time to engage in activities that fulfill me.

I understand that I am the only one responsible for ensuring I do things that bring me joy. It may be spending time with my husband, going out with my friends, playing a game with my child, or just having some “me” time.

The more joy I experience, the better prepared I am to make it through the challenging moments in life.

I attempt to end my days by engaging in activities that bring me comfort and solace. I often read a book, paint a picture, or watch an old movie to relax. I might call my parents or a close friend.

I take part in actions that make me smile or laugh. I am excited and happy to spend time doing my favorite things. I know I am blessed.

Self-Reflection Questions:

1. How much spare time do I have daily, on average?
2. When was the last time I...

One of the most challenging aspects of independence is that many people today fear it. They fear to be in control of their own life because that means that you cannot place blame - for anything - on anyone but yourself: scary prospect, that.

But society today has a confused outlook on what independence truly is. Freedom is not about you hardening yourself, suppressing who you are, and never letting anyone help you. Surprised?

Dependence and independence are pretty misunderstood.

• Independent does not mean you are narcissistic and anti-social, overly-driven and aggressive.
• Dependence does not mean you are weak, spineless, or cannot do anything for yourself.

First of all, society hints that depending on anyone is a sign of weakness. Anytime you get involved with another, and you begin to feel as if you can rely on them (a significant definition of dependence), others may make you feel as if you are doing something wrong.

This is not the case. But if you listen to...

The most beautiful and enjoyable things can be the simplest. While many others pursue enjoyment and pleasure in luxuries, I can find enjoyment in everyday things.

Something as simple as a tree, flower, laughing child, or song can be immensely enjoyable on many levels. Fortunately, these beautiful things are all around me. I only need to open my eyes and pay attention.

Even in troubling times, there are simple experiences to be enjoyed.

I live a peaceful, easy life. This allows me to see and enjoy life’s simple pleasures. It is more than just a choice. It is a lifestyle.

 I am constantly simplifying my life.

Many people spend precious time and energy chasing after extravagances. I know better. I choose to take advantage of the simple enjoyments to be found in life.

I reject those things that are unnecessarily complex. My ability to perceive is the only limit to my joy and pleasure. Yet, it is a generous limit as I am a highly...