Dream to work somewhere like Seeds of Happiness

December 11, 2014

I have to wipe back the tears. What a lovely, lovely letter, but I am no ones hero. I appreciate the words, but they just don't fit. The heroes in my line of work are the women who are brutalized and beaten, but still find a way to go on with their lives. Can you imagine what a life that must be? To be constantly battered and bruised by someone that is supposed to love you? It's unimaginable.

Please tell all your employees "Thank You" for the kind words. It is really nice to hear. Many people who have never experienced domestic violence cannot understand why a woman would stay in a relationship like that. Do you know that a woman is 75% more likely to die LEAVING a relationship than if she stayed. Unfortunately, it happens more than people can imagine. One in four women experience DV at some time in their life. Domestic violence knows no economic boundaries. I have worked with the very poor and the very rich.

We spend so much time teaching our children to beware of strangers, not to do drugs or drink, not to text and drive, etc and all of those are important lessons, but do we ever think to teach our daughters to beware of the men they fall in love with? Most times we don't. We need to start making that a priority. We need to teach our boys it is never, ever cool to hit a girl. Please don't get me wrong, I have helped many, many men, but this is statistically a crime against females.

I certainly didn't mean to go into the preaching mode, but when I hear someone is the least bit sympathetic, well I just don't seem to have an off button. Education is the only answer to this horrible crime.

I know everyone that works for you have a wonderful sense of community and what a joy it must be to go to work everyday to make "smiles". After 16 years of working with victims of crime, it would be my dream to work somewhere like Seeds of Happiness just to see more smiles. Giving out your "seeds" definitely helps me get through.

Thank you all for what you do and for the beautiful letter. It is so appreciated.

Sincerely,

Sherry

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