Every time the media uses the term “victim,” I cringe. The term implies a current state of helplessness. You and I SURVIVED and got out! We are NOT helpless!
Trigger Warning! I will post calming pictures throughout this post.
If you feel your anxiety building, focus on the picture as you breath in 3..2..1..hold 3..2..1 breathe out 3..2..1. Repeat until you feel calm.
According to Thesaurus.com, the definition of victim is “someone or something sacrificed, preyed upon.” The top synonyms are:
- casualty
- fatality
- martyr
- sufferer
Now lets look at survivor.
“a person who continues to function or prosper in spite of opposition, hardship, or setbacks.”
Dictionary.com
THAT sounds like us! We may struggle to function and prosper, but we ARE doing it! We’re moving forward.
According to The National Domestic Violence Hotline, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men have suffered SEVERE physical violence.
SEVERE violence!
Not just violence. SEVERE violence!
The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) states that 72% of all murder-suicides involve an intimate partner.
Now, let’s look at other life threatening situations:
- Someone who kicks cancer’s ass is called a SURVIVOR. (And y’all are amazing, btw)
- Walking away from a car accident = SURVIVOR
- Plane crash? Yup, that’s right, SURVIVOR
The list goes on and on, including the television show that I won’t mention.
We all (myself included) need to be reminded just how strong we are! We ARE survivors!
Feel free to save this image as a reminder. Use it on your lock screen, print it to hang on your mirror, use it as a bookmark, etc.
As always, find me on social media, comment here, or use the “contact me” page if you’d like to be discreet. Please like and share. Together, we make each other stronger.
Thank you for PLANTING ME 
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