Damaged Goods ~ a personal card

Four years ago, I walked into the door of my home after visiting my parents for the weekend. I was greeted by bits of tattered cardstock and crinkled designer paper. My Cricut cutting system lay up against a wall where it had been thrown, it's handle askew. Crafting embellishments were strewn about, scattered in piles with markers and other crafting supplies.

A note had been left for me, laying on the dining room table where my crafting supplies once were: "You shouldn't have left it out. Now maybe you'll clean it up like you should have in the first place."

There have been many, many cardmaking challenges this month relating to breast cancer awareness month (which is a great cause!) but I haven't seen one yet about another issue that has its official month in October: Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

I lived for seven years in a relationship that was filled with abuse - scenarios just like the one above. I didn't realize that abuse wasn't just physical bruises... It was a willful beating down, tearing down of my mind too. I felt ashamed, tarnished, damaged. 

After that day four years ago, my crafting stuff stayed tucked away in a corner and gathered lots of dust. I was afraid to use it again because I knew I had the propensity to leave things "messy".

I haven't really talked about it publicly. And I'm still not sure that I want to... but I did want to do something to honor other domestic violence survivors and to bring attention to an issue that one in four women will deal with in their lives.

I've finally gotten back to doing something that I love - CRAFTING!! So this is my message to those of you still suffering. Maybe you are afraid or ashamed but I want you to know:

You may have started off bright and filled with fresh hope

And it's NOT YOUR FAULT

No matter how many tears you've cried

YOU ARE NOT ALONE

If you feel damaged and bruised

THERE IS HOPE AND LIFE

Though you've tried to cover and hide

You still feel cracked and broken

Though your heart is crushed and faded

YOU ARE WORTHY OF REAL LOVE!

There is still time, there is still life to live, it's never too late to:

NO MATTER WHAT YOU'VE GONE THROUGH

YOU ARE A BEAUTIFUL CREATION!

If you are experiencing domestic violence, reach out for help! 

Call the 24/7 confidential National Domestic Violence Helpline at 1-800-799-7233

Abuse is not just physical. It can be emotional, too! 

I am so thankful for my family and friends who supported me during a difficult time in my life. If you know someone who is in an abusive relationship, reach out with support. They may not be ready to talk, or listen, or take help, but maybe one day they will. 

For my fellow crafters - would you consider making a card and spreading the word? It would mean so much to so many. Purple is the official color for domestic violence awareness. 

Challenges for this card:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Anything goes

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Use Kraft

Creative Card Crew - Bows

Craft Hoarders Anonymous - Layer it

Pile It On - Cheerful Uplifting Message

A Blog Named Hero - Recycle it (My heart is made with an old paper bag)

Eclectic Ellapu - Purple Team - Texture

Just Us Girls - Color Challenge