Teddy's name: Duckie
Age when sexually assaulted: 3 through to 11, then 12, then 15
Who assaulted Teddy: Brother, Church Elder, Youth Group leader
Town or State where the assault happened: south australia
Teddy's message to the world:
Being taught from a very young age that My body was what men wanted, set me up to be abused as a teenager by 2 different people. It was written in the way I moved, the way I spoke, Unwittingly sending messages I didnt recognise... but they did.
Having who I would have been stolen, left me bereft of a sense of self. An appreciation of the gifts I had to share with the world was lost. I have come out the other side as an Adult most certainly different than the Adult I would have been without this horror in my past..... But none the less an Adult worthy of Love and dignity even though they all taught me I was worthless.
What ever happens in your life shapes you and turns your life into a beautiful patchwork quilt, with shades of darkness and light. You can't see the beautiful pattern until you can stand far enough away, then you realise that within the darkest or the dark... it makes the brightest of the bright stand out clear and YOUR patchwork quilt is the most beautiful of all because you had the bravery to stand again tall and proud and make the scraps which were left behind into something beautiful.
Age when sexually assaulted: 3 through to 11, then 12, then 15
Who assaulted Teddy: Brother, Church Elder, Youth Group leader
Town or State where the assault happened: south australia
Teddy's message to the world:
Being taught from a very young age that My body was what men wanted, set me up to be abused as a teenager by 2 different people. It was written in the way I moved, the way I spoke, Unwittingly sending messages I didnt recognise... but they did.
Having who I would have been stolen, left me bereft of a sense of self. An appreciation of the gifts I had to share with the world was lost. I have come out the other side as an Adult most certainly different than the Adult I would have been without this horror in my past..... But none the less an Adult worthy of Love and dignity even though they all taught me I was worthless.
What ever happens in your life shapes you and turns your life into a beautiful patchwork quilt, with shades of darkness and light. You can't see the beautiful pattern until you can stand far enough away, then you realise that within the darkest or the dark... it makes the brightest of the bright stand out clear and YOUR patchwork quilt is the most beautiful of all because you had the bravery to stand again tall and proud and make the scraps which were left behind into something beautiful.
3 comments:
That is really beautiful. You are right, where there is darkness, the light shines brighter. Thank you for sharing.
Message received from Hannah via the Teddy Tour's facebook profile:
"I love the quilt analogy, never quite thought of it like that, truly beautiful. I believe in balance, so those who have the lowest lows, will also get the highest of highs. I hope your highs will help you reach the stars, and in the end, the bright colours of your quilt drown out the dark. Best of luck for the future you deserve and create for yourself. ♥ "
Thankyou for your words of encouragment. I hope you both have an easy safe and love filled journey also <3
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