For me, being a survivor started when I knew something wasn't right in my marriage and in my relationship, because every day it was walking on eggshells. COVID was a nightmare. I was locked in a house with a beast, with a demon, angry all day long 24/7, 2 o'clock in the morning.

I grew up in the inner city, so domestic violence was just another day in the neighborhood. That's what was expected in our community. I think a big thing we forget about the trauma of domestic violence is it's not just the individual and their children or it's the family, it's the community that's affected by it so it's not just a one person problem.

The most surprising part of my healing process is I don't hate my ex. I realize this because I don't want to give that energy and I want to put that energy somewhere else. What was really healing is I realized the healing journey is not just my journey. The healing journey was my children, too.

I speak from the fact that I read Eve as the mother of all living things. So as the mother of all living things you have the ability to nurture, to teach. To grow, to discipline. I learn to love people and forgive people, and to forgive myself, because I have a big job, a big role. And it's okay sometimes to say, okay, it's too much. It can get a little challenging.

Six months ago, I couldn't lead. I was still stuck in the tornado storm. But now I'm at a point where I'm on the outside, like, we can fix that.