Last night I had the pleasure and discomfort of speaking openly and honestly at the wonderful launch of This Place is Yours, a storytelling initiative that celebrates the human experience. I was asked to join a group of amazing people doing brilliant and inspiring work in the communities and in the world at large. I felt honored, humbled and most definitely inspired.
We all have a story to tell
and we all tell in our own unique way. I continue to choose the path of least
resistance and made a decision a long time ago that in any and all speaking
engagements the very best and most authentic thing that I can do for others and
myself is to simply show up and speak from the heart.
Speaking my truth at this
inspiring event was centered around this one re-occurring sentenced that was
whispered into my ear straight from my heart and my very own life experience…”Never under estimate the power of a single act
of kindness, it has the potential to save a life"
I spoke about my childhood and the abuse I suffered throughout.
This isn’t new to me but each time I speak out it’s feels very new for each
audience to hear about such a life experience, unless of course I am speaking
to the minds, hearts and souls of those who have also known childhood abuse.
As I shared a very personal story about the time I had planned
to end my life at age of 13, I knew that there were others in the room that
knew of how I felt, there always is. There are many, many others out in the
world and many I know personally. This needs to be talked about. The dirty
little secret of childhood sexual abuse and the damage it has caused countless
numbers of children from one generation to the next, continues still. I will
not allow the discomfort, mine or other peoples to silence me as it did in my
childhood.
For what felt like a long and unbearable childhood I suffered
one abuse or another over a period of days and years. It left me feeling deeply
unworthy and unlovable. Child abuse breaks children hearts, literally and no
more so than when it’s carried out by the very people who are supposed to love
and care about us the most, the people that are supposed to keep us safe and protect
us from anything bad ever happening.
And sexual abuse, well it just crosses a whole other line. I
will continue to speak up and speak out and to all the women and men along the
way who have thanked me for my honesty and shared your truth and experiences
with me I thank you for your honesty. I no longer carry the burden of shame
that was never mine to carry; I gave it back to whom it belongs. I no longer
feel unworthy and unlovable. My heart, my mind, my soul now holds the light and
experiences of healing that grow everyday I nourish it. It is a brave and
courageous journey; full of falling down, falling apart, rising up and putting
myself back together again.
My heart is strong in all the broken places and stronger for
every time I share and honor my story and know that it makes a difference in
the lives of others.
Melanie Lee
You can find out more and visit our social enterprise here http://www.thecreativekind.org
You can find out more and visit our social enterprise here http://www.thecreativekind.org
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Thank you everyone for your comments and feedback, much appreciation :-) it seems to be that this particular post is resonating with many people and that makes the sharing of my story feel like the right thing to do. All to often the parts of ourselves we hide and deny we do so for fear of being vulnerable. I see my vulnerability as one of my greatest strengths and I hope that this post and and others on my blog empower others to connect with that strength within themselves. Best wishes to all :-)
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