“It was only that once.” I’ve heard that before. You’re fighting with your spouse, it gets heated, and he or she hit you. But it was only that one time. Just once. It happens. Not to everyone, so don’t delude yourself into thinking it’s normal. But it does happen. One time, though, is one too many. Once is enough to raise a red flag. But 32% of the time, he or she will hit you again within six months. If he or she has hit you more than once, your danger increases exponentially.
It’s the first-timers and repeat victims that I’m talking to today. All of them. Yes, you. You’re here reading this because you found it on purpose (or by accident), or it was shared with you by someone who loves you. Please keep reading. It’s uncomfortable. It’s upsetting. It’s embarrassing. But you know what? It’s just you and me, here. And it’s normal to be sad, angry, and ashamed, but these feelings are paralyzing and they’ll keep you trapped in the cycle of abuse. My goal, today, is to give you the knowledge and resources to move forward into action.