Who are you???????

Why not look into the mirror and tell yourself what you see?  Do you think you are beautiful, ugly, skinny, fat, not lovable, very lovable?  How did you form these opinions?  Now look at the mirror again and smile.  Give yourself a great smile and love yourself today.  Make that effort.  What would you like to do just for yourself?  Will it hurt anyone, if you do it?  What can you do for yourself that will make you happy and not harm anyone?  Why not spend one day this week and do it?
      Now, let's go back to who you are?  Who are you really?  Have you changed from the happy person you used to be?  Why?  Are you being abused or are you the abuser?  Mental abuse is just as powerful as physical abuse.  But than you know this if you are the victim?  Survivor is the appropriate word but I still like to use victim because if you are in an abusive relationship, survival can have many connotations.  You are barely surviving perhaps?  I also like to use the term victim, because it is not your fault.  So many victims in horrible abuse think it is their fault because their abuser tells them so.  The abuser was perhaps abused him or herself and many times enjoys to inflict pain on those who cannot protect themselves such as a pet.  The abuser loves you passionately and showers you with gifts.  I had one person once tell me that no one has ever loved her with so much passion.  This was unrelated to my counselling but in another occupation where I was the protector.  I reminded her that this passionate man was the only man who had ever physically harmed her.  What happens to beautiful, intelligent women and men where they think they are being loved as they are being abused.  I have already talked about the "Honeymoon Effect" in abusive relationships so I will not re-iterate that again.  Look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself who you would like to be?  How can you get there?  Are you familiar with stalking laws and restraining orders?  Has he promised to hurt your pet, and family if you decide to leave?  This is all so common that it is almost laughable if it was not so serious.  Why not look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself who you want to be and take the baby steps to get there.  Do not isolate yourself.  There can be so much joy in surrounding yourself with people who love you, are free to be with you and who appreciate you for who you are.  Why not look at the mirror and find your voice?  Everyone in Canada is equal regardless of where you came from or how you were raised.  Why not take that first step of discovery to find yourself?  Who are you?  What do you think?