-Howard Thurman-
Born in Charleston, WV, I am a Southern girl stuck in the land of cheese, beer, and sausage known as Wisconsin. I attend the University of Wisconsin in Madison and I am majoring in Political Science.
I have several passions including sports, music, writing, reading, exploring, yoga, eating pickles, vegetarianism, drinking tea whenever I can, the Chicago Cubs, da Bears, photography, and thinking critically about the world that we live in and the decisions we make. I am a brash, stubborn, opinionated, yet optimistic person and I am not afraid to write what I think. After facing challenges in life, I have realized that the most important thing in the world is to be happy and make decisions to support this idea. I am rarely seen without a smile and I am genuinely in love with life.
I initially created this blog to heal from an experience I had in my life. Since then, it has shaped itself into a creative outlet for my writing, music, and photography. I have not lost focus of the original inspiration, however, and firmly believe in healing through creativity.
Domestic abuse is defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in a relationship. It has many forms including physical aggression, emotional abuse, controlling or domineering behavior, intimidation, stalking, passive/covert abuse, and economic deprivation.
I have received emails, notes, and phone calls from people telling me that something I have written connected to them in some way. One email, in particular, explained how one of my posts made them feel like they weren’t alone in what they were going through. Being a survivor of domestic abuse, working in the field for awhile, and being a member of the Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence, I understand that sometimes knowing someone else has been through it is all the comfort you need. I will continue to write for the rest of my life. As a mentor told me, “You never get over what happened to you… you simply learn how to use the experience to better yourself and help others.” I hope my words continue to reach victims or survivors of domestic abuse and maybe even inspire them to speak out about their experience. Through sharing our experiences, we can provide more education on the issue and continue to raise awareness on the dangers of abusive relationships.
Enjoy this blog for what it is. Life from my point of view. I am always open to feedback that will better my writing.
Check out my brother’s website at www.stefanclaypool.com . He is an extremely talented writer and is currently working on numerous projects.
Also, go to my dad’s website at www.lorenclaypool.com . He is a gifted musician with a recent c.d. released called, “One Feather Shy.” You can visit him on facebook, myspace, or purchase the c.d. on iTunes.
