I have a confession to make…I have been busy for the last twenty-one days writing poems. I am NOT a poet. I appreciate all forms of poetry, but the most poetic I get is with the blackout poetry, through process of elimination.

The preface of the contest, that my friend and collegue, Misty Chaviers, sent me was to write a poem every day for the 21 day challenge. That is NOT as easy as it sounds, let me tell you!

I researched all different forms of poetry. My favorite is haikus, so I definitely had several in my work. I wrote some prose (meaning it was just flowery words, no rhyming). I wrote some traditional rhyming poetry. I tried several different types of poetry to make things interesting.

My topic? Surviving DV, naturally. I decided to call my work, The Gift of Survival. I wrote poems about all aspects of being in active abuse and surviving afterwards. After submitting the JotForm with all of my hard work, my BIO, my profile picture, my book title, my dedications, etc., I felt exhausted, yet accomplished. I will eventually receive a printed copy of my work and a certificate, and if I’m lucky, a Twenty-First Century Emily Dickenson Award! Fingers crossed!

I love pushing myself as a writer, but I’m definitely not a poet — and don’t I know it! Did you see what I did there? Nevermind, bad joke… I just love to write because my Abuser didn’t want me to. I wasn’t allowed to and didn’t, because I was afraid of the consequences of what might happen if I did. I have so many thoughts about the nature of my torture and captivity, that I have to write them in order to get them out of my psyche. It’s VERY healing.

Now, to become a best selling PAID author…what a delight THAT would be. Not only to see my dream realized, but to know that my Abuser will eventually see my name on a book in a store. I hope he knows that I healing through my writing and I did it IN SPITE OF his wishes. Knowing him, he will probably take credit or bash me beyond. I will thrive and be happy regardless.

We become who we are because of someone or in spite of someone. I appreciate the inspiration to follow my light, despite his darkness.