Diane - THE CURVES MAGAZINE - Fall 2006

I Learn To Understand

I believe that in order to truly strengthen women, we need to discuss topics now and then that are not pretty. Domestic violence is one of them. And it is the subject of diane Magazine fall issue. For complete articles, see the link below.

Because domestic violence is so misunderstood by friends, family, and society as a whole ("Why would a woman stay in a relationship that is harmful?" we ask, incredulously), victims carry so much shame. And shame makes it difficult for a woman to leave. For whom can she reach out to who will not judge her?

My hope is that together, we can help change and save the lives of these women by first understanding why. And then how—how we can help. We all have been touched by domestic violence—either personally or through someone we know. But sometimes we don't recognize it for what it is. We have to talk about it openly and honestly. And believe me, women do want to talk about it.

Just the mention in my summer letter that we would be focusing on domestic violence in this issue of diane opened a floodgate of letters, e-mails, and phone calls from women who were or are in harmful relationships. They were desperate to tell their heartbreaking stories— not only as a way to help with their own healing, but to help others.

There's not just one story of domestic violence—there are many, and each is as unique as its victim. And there's not just one victim—domestic violence transcends age, race, religion, culture, class, and, yes, even gender. We owe it to each other and to our children to talk about it, to recognize it, to understand it. Because only when we understand it can we learn how to make it stop.

More than ever, I pray that you'll continue to let your light shine as you help those whose lights have been dimmed by domestic violence to shine again.

Left to right, top row: Jennifer Burggraaf, Andrea Walker; Bottom: Catherine Dolen, Abigale Leonard, Diane Heavin, Christi Proctor; Not pictured: Jan George

Make a Difference!

The Family Abuse Center in Waco, Texas, received a new building—a former summer juvenile detention center with big rooms and a great kitchen. My project: Add some warmth. So I recruited some local designers to help me create the center's homey new bedrooms. We stuck to the center’s strict guidelines—fire-retardant everything—while personalizing the spaces with our own touches. No matter how different our decorating tastes, we all placed a snugly blanket on each bed. When the women arrived at the new shelter and went into their bedrooms, they were so overwhelmed that they began to cry. Wow. I was humbled.

Here are ways that you can make a difference:

• VOLUNTEER your time, talents, and donations to a shelter in your community. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 to locate the shelter nearest you. For more information, go to www.ndvh.org; in Canada: www.shelternet.ca
• CREATE a shelter if there isn’t one. In 1978, a coalition of concerned Waco citizens requested a community development block grant for $40,000, which they used to purchase the first Family Abuse Center shelter.

For a copy of the articles featured in Fall 2006 issue of diane Magazine, please click here.

The documents above are in a printable pdf format. (Requires Adobe® Acrobat® Reader™ plug-in.) If you do not have Acrobat Reader, please click here for a free download.