A New Year! A New You!

The dictionary describes abuse as “cruel and violent treatment of a person or animal”. Because of the committed efforts of two women, Dr. Johnnie Martin and Sally Claroni, Rutherford County is now redefining that word. The word still is properly defined, but those women it has been applied to are now becoming “a new you!”

Lieutenant Eric Shelton of the Forest City Police Department was one of the speakers when the Domestic Violence: Support and Education Program celebrated its’ first year of existence at the Carolina Event and Conference Center on Tuesday, December 17th. He stated that today 1 out of 3 women in the United States are abused. Every 9 seconds someone is abused, assaulted or beaten. “We see it every day” he told the collective group of ladies and supporters of this new and wonderful organization. Rutherford County now has a much needed program to help those in need and give them a chance to become that “new you”. The entire evening was an overwhelming projection of love, caring and self determination. Testimony by the initial group that began this much needed program was given among those with a new strength and many tears of joy.

One participant of the program clearly stated: “It’s taught me how to be free again. I now have my self esteem back.” Others chimed in: “Classes were healing. We shared our problems. Everyone listened. Everyone cared. We learned how anger hurts US. There was no sympathy, but lot of empathy. We learned that emotional abuse hurts- maybe even more than physical abuse. We are gaining strength as women, and the will power to direct our lives. We have learned to look for goodness and beauty, to love and forgive ourselves.”

To regain self-esteem, to feel good about yourself again, to finally get the courage to let go of an abusive controlling existence is what the program is all about. On participant said: “The physical abuse is not as bad as the mental abuse. The body will heal but it takes a long time for the mind to do the same.”

The program meets weekly. Everyone keeps a journal of their feelings. Write everyday: “something positive and what makes you happy.” Writing and talking are part of the cure. Participants also choose patterns and fabric for quilts which are: “warm and comforting and add to security.” All are also asked to draw a picture of how they see themselves. The pictures are amazing. From the darkness of where they were to the sunshine of all good things emerging. 

Rutherford County now leads in an effort to successfully give abused ladies a “new you”. Sally Claroni and Dr. Johnnie Martin are to be congratulated for initiation this great program. Those ladies who need you hopefully will find you. 

The Support Group phone number is 828-245-1390, extension 104. The funding for this program was a grant from the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina.