Caminante, son tus huellas el camino, y nada más; caminante, no hay camino, se hace camino al andar. Al andar se hace camino, y al volver la vista atrás se ve la senda que nunca se ha de volver a pisar. Caminante, no hay camino, sino estelas en la mar.”

Translation”

Traveler, the tracks you set down are the path, and nothing more; Seeker, there is no trail, the trail is made by walking. By walking you create the path, and upon glancing back you see a route that will never be trod upon again. Traveler, there is no path, only the ripples of the sea. ~~~ 20th century Spanish poet, Antonio Machado.

Bill Lackner is our GUEST this friday on BlogTalk 6pm (Click here).

… is a Six letter word for the Four letter word RAPE

I was listening to public radio this morning and discovered that in Oregon, once you have reached the age of thirty, you can no longer press charges against your abuser. The average age that anyone begins therapy is 35 and older. It then takes a little while to find the strength and fortitude to even confront them This is wrong. WRITE YOUR CONGRESSMAN OREGON…. This is barbaric!

I’ve been overwhelmed with request to fight this or that. Complain more. Talk about (fill in the blank) because afterall it is April and you have the ear of many. I am proud to say this is true. But, I can’t do it all.

Someone is offended because I don’t try to rally people againt Child Protective Services. I don’t. They are correct. I have zero experience to complain about. I have known people who were over worked, offices that have been understaffed and most recently saw two little children who should have been removed from their parents long before they were. The judge was attempting to keep the family, which was and is miserably broken, glued together. Which side are you on? Keeping the child in the home or removing them?

Then there is the teacher or day care worker whose background check was clean. This only means that they weren’t caught previously. Secrecy, shame and unacceptable conversation working to thier advantage.

Someone else is offended that I don’t take on the courts, trafficking, prostitution… I have no real experience here either. hoever, I kknow it is also mired in secrecy and shame.

I wish I had an answer for all this. I don’t. I only know in my heart that the best defense is open conversation. ALL of this must become acceptable to talk about. Take the weapon of secrecy out of the abusers hands.

We are all after all looking for the same end. Safe, happy, well adjusted children to go forward into the future with peaceful hearts to become loving productive adults.

Tomorrow morning when I get up it will be the first day of Child Abuse Awareness Month. April 1st.

Isn’t it funny that it should start on April Fools Day? Your first breath is a little anger that I even thought it. It was mine too! But you know what? It’s appropriate. The perpetrators of child abuse try to fool everyone including their victims that what they are doing is not wrong, that it should be a secret and that there is nothing wrong. April Fools to all who abuse children. We grow up and we KNOW who you are.

My thoughts will be on the children who did not survive. But for the grace of God I would not have survived. My hopes will be for future that doesn’t need a month like this. And a child will be able to speak freely about something heinous happening to them. Keep talking, talking and talking. Take away the possibility of a secret and change a life. We can do this! Make a difference, it has to start somewhere. Let it begin with you and with me. XO ♥ Annie

I hope that you picked up a Chocolate Bunny for your inner child and that you smile as you chomp off a chocolate ear! Then eat some peeps, (pink or yellow) and some Jelly Beans! Good wishes and good times this Easter sunday. Love and hugs to all. XOXO Namaste, Annie