To Be Strong

An Abused Women's Affirmation

I celebrate my courage. I was alone, but now I am not alone. I was victimized, but I am no longer a victim.

I name the violence in my life--and declare it wrong. I name that I need help, and that I am willing to give help.

Nothing I do provokes the violence. Nothing about me causes the violence. Nothing gives one person the right to abuse another person. Abusers can change themselves, but I cannot change them.

Nothing I can do will change my past. Everything I do changes my future.

I have protected myself and my children. Resistance to violence, defending myself or my children, is not abuse.

I believe myself; I believe my sisters. I can ask support; I can give support. I can change myself; I can change the world.

My being here helps others. I am not here to judge my sisters, but to support their healing. I will take the risk to trust other women here. Every time a sister resists, she creates a space for resistance around her.

I am here in solidarity with my sisters of all persuasions, all colors, all orientations, and all faiths to say NO ! to violence. We will not be divided by our diversity--we will be strengthened by it.

In the words of Alice Walker, "I am the woman offering two flowers whose roots are twin. Justice and Hope. Let us begin."