Greetings Readers,
Another year has gone by; it’s hard to believe it went by so fast, but the New Year comes with fresh resolutions and promises to ourselves that we hope we can keep. Do these sound familiar: be in better shape, take better care of ourselves, be better organized, lose weight or things like that?
I wonder if anybody thinks about being better prepared to defend themselves in the New Year.
It may sound a bit off, but I think this should be one of the things at the top of our list and somehow it isn’t. All or most of us have the subconscious idea that bad things are not going to happen to us, and we really hope that they don’t, but hoping in and of itself doesn’t take care of the reality.
The reality is - we are living in a dangerous world, one in which there are people that are looking to harm others. We don’t know the reasons; those could vary significantly, and we can’t change people’s minds, but we can change the way we respond to these actions.
Self Defense however, is more than just knowing how to respond to a physical attack. As a friend of mine likes to say, "Self Defense is a state of mind…." It starts with the mental decision and determination to stand up for ourselves, not only in a physical manner - but with a psychological mindset as well.
Just like there are different forms of abuse (e.g. physical abuse, domestic abuse, emotional and psychological abuse), our responses should be varied yet fitting according to whatever circumstances we may find ourselves in.
It all starts with believing that we deserve not to be abused. Whether it comes from the people we love (who most of the time are the abusers), from acquaintances, or ultimately strangers, we have to be firm in our minds not to tolerate abuse of any kind. Sometimes the abuse is subtle, so subtle in fact that we don’t consider it a big deal, but it is amazing on how damaging to our souls this is. It drains us of our energy, and little by little it eats away at our hopes and dreams, sometimes to the point where we have nothing left to sustain ourselves. The worst part of it all is that we become so used to it, we don’t even recognize it.
And then there is physical abuse, which is usually violent, having no merit or value whatsoever. In the most tragic cases, it has the power to take our life or the lives of our loved ones, and if we are lucky enough to stay alive, the psychological effects are devastating. It could take a lifetime to overcome these effects as well.
So, why not make a New Year’s Resolution? Why not set real goals and strive to keep and meet them?
Let’s start by believing that we all have a purpose in life, and that we deserve respect, no matter how we look, what we believe, and no one has the right to take our dreams away; no one has the right to destroy what has been given to us at birth.
And then let’s decide to be prepared in case something happens to us or our loved ones.
The phrase my sound a little intimidating, but "Self Defense" is not just for an elite group of people; it is for everyone regardless of race, gender, financial status, language, culture, physical ability – you name it. It helps us become more confident; it provides us with knowledge that empowers us and helps us to believe in ourselves and our own capacity to take care of ourselves and our loved ones if ever needed.
So why not? Why not make a fresh and unique New Year’s resolution right here and now? This year, let’s make sure we are better prepared - no matter what!
Guest Writer: Dulce Werner, co-founder: Enuff Self Defense: Chicagoland's Premier Women's Self Defense Training http://www.enuffselfdefense.com/
