ROAR - Reaching Out After Rape began as my own personal journey to heal from a traumatic date rape almost 7 years ago. Opening up about my own experience and sharing my story with all of you not only helped me release the shame I held onto for all those years, but I began to notice how sharing my rape story with others made other survivors want to share their story with me.
Over the last year and a half, since I first posted my rape story online, I have received dozens of emails from people all over the world; some who I knew or who I was even related to, and others who I had never met before... But all who wanted to tell me their story, too.
As painful as it is to read someones personal account of such a traumatic event, as I read those terrifying stories, my heart feels something so very strong for these survivors. Because I know how difficult it is to tell your story, especially when you are telling it for the first time... But I also know how incredibly healing it is to tell your story and put it out in the universe, release it from your wounded soul. As I said before, telling my story was releasing the shame, forgiving myself, forgiving him, taking back my power and moving on with my life. So when I receive one of those emails, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for these beautiful survivors who are allowing me to witness such a personal and powerful moment.
So, ROAR has not only been my personal journey to heal, but has now become my passion to continue connecting with other survivors of rape and sexual assault and to support them however I can along their own path of healing.
Every day, I am brainstorming new ideas of how to expand ROAR so that one day, no survivor is left unsupported. It may be a long road but it is one that I've never been more excited to travel.
Over the last year and a half, since I first posted my rape story online, I have received dozens of emails from people all over the world; some who I knew or who I was even related to, and others who I had never met before... But all who wanted to tell me their story, too.
As painful as it is to read someones personal account of such a traumatic event, as I read those terrifying stories, my heart feels something so very strong for these survivors. Because I know how difficult it is to tell your story, especially when you are telling it for the first time... But I also know how incredibly healing it is to tell your story and put it out in the universe, release it from your wounded soul. As I said before, telling my story was releasing the shame, forgiving myself, forgiving him, taking back my power and moving on with my life. So when I receive one of those emails, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for these beautiful survivors who are allowing me to witness such a personal and powerful moment.
So, ROAR has not only been my personal journey to heal, but has now become my passion to continue connecting with other survivors of rape and sexual assault and to support them however I can along their own path of healing.
Every day, I am brainstorming new ideas of how to expand ROAR so that one day, no survivor is left unsupported. It may be a long road but it is one that I've never been more excited to travel.