The Achievement Sanctuary™

Elevate the “NORM OF LOVE’  End Domestic Violence

 

If we teach, comfort, love, honor self and respect then behavior outside of these taught “norms” will be uncomfortable and incongruent. The nagging inner voice may be just enough to keep your daughter, wife, or sister safe from violence inside of their own home. October is National Domestic Awareness Month. 

 

Emotional violence does not leave scars.  It is not prosecutable —- until it “elevates” to physical.  I have watched my friend Charles Okeke raise two daughters – my God daughters.  He loving teases them, opens the car door for them, provides for them and just plain loves them.  His eyes light up when you mention an accomplishment or if you compliment the girls on their manners.  He is gently teaching them the behaviors of how a man loves.

 

So my point is that we need to expose our children to the “norms” of appropriate love, caring and respect so that anything outside of this norm is questioned, evaluated, and acted upon.

 

For those of us that may have experienced life outside of the Norm of LOVE.  It is our obligation to teach, speak, and write about our journey out so people can see that this moment of horror is not a life sentence.  For me, my path took me through yoga, Qi Gong  inner reflection and energy healing.  With violence and an abhorrent male model called “father” in my home my young norms were distorted so that in my adult life I remember at one point in a relationship saying…. “Well at least he is not hitting me.” This low standard unbeknownst to me was my level of acceptability.

 

As our young girl treasures emerge through their youth to womanhood their standards for eloquence, compassion, grace, joy and love will be what WE – their parents, aunties, sisters and neighbors teach.

 

Let’s elevate the NORM of LOVE for our children.