How I Got Here

I am so grateful for the support I've already received in just a few minutes! God is Awesome!

Many I have known, or who have known me, are surprised by my confession that I am a domestic and spiritual abuse survivor.

Proof that so many of us put on these masks of armor and hunker down. Just keep going in spite of tectonic shifts.

That's one of the things I hope to offer - support and encouragement for the amazing people we are.

Men and Women.

So how did I get here? How did I find myself in this place?

It started with my desire to have a happy, Huxtable-esque marriage that was anchored in the church to ensure that we would beat the odds.

I loved my husband with all my mind, heart, and soul. But unfortunately, I didn't love myself the same. I eventually found that many churches were invested in this dysfunctional paradigm that favored men at the expense of women (not all, just some).

Since my name Allison literally means "Truth," I eventually found that I could no longer lie.

And my life was a lie and that wasn't acceptable to me.

And that meant deconstructing everything and I was beyond terrified.

Here I was a stay-at-home mom with no real income of my own and even less self-esteem.

Surely I couldn't be a single mom.

But something within me would not let my daughter internalize all the messages of inferiority so I had to go.

So I did.

Inch by inch.

It was NOT easy.

And I did it alone - no family, loss of my support network in the church. Just a renegade on her own.

Lord, have mercy!

But I did it!

And I became radically committed to supporting others who may find themselves in this place.

One of the reasons I have resisted writing about this is because I didn't want to seem bitter. I wanted to be sure I wrote from a place of love and healing.

For sure I am imperfect.

My crisis of faith was far more painful than losing my Stepford-wife lifestyle.

But it's about the Truth.

So if there are any of you out there - men and women - who have been stripped of your very sense of self that knows there's more to you and your life and your relationship to God, let me hear from you.

With love and kind blessings -

Alli!

The Time Has Come

I have been "writing" forever and have many encouragers. But I finally started believing them - I have a gift, a unique voice, and something vital to say. So I took the plunge and set up a Blog! I am excited!

Where do I begin? My desire has always been to share lessons learned from my experience as a domestic abuse and spiritual abuse THRIVOR (not survivor but THRIVOR) in order to help others.

It's my time and it's yours, too!

So this will be a place where we exchange ideas, encourage one another, and do our best to be, as Oprah says, Our Best Selves. It's within each and every one of us and God's gift to us simply by being on the planet.

Stay tuned.....

Peace and Blessings -

Alli