Monday Musings

  I released my second poetry book,  Family Treasons , the beginning of October, in observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The book is a memoir in poetic form chronicling my history of child abuse, sexual abuse, and domestic violence. I am one of the lucky ones: I’m not only a survivor; I’ve thrived. 50% of the royalties will be donated to Domestic Violence centers. 25% to the  Domestic Abuse Project   of Delaware County, PA and 25% to   Hubbard House   in Jacksonville, FL. Thank you for helping support a much needed cause. To find ou t  more about Domestic Abuse prevention and services, see the links to the two centers above, and/or my  Author website . Follow me on Twitter  @JoanHuffmanMD

It’s been a productive but hectic year. Many haiku accepted, the publication of my second poetry book, and the completion of the first draft of my post apocalyptic novel. While I await notes from my fiction Beta readers, it’s time to take a little time to recharge my creative batteries. And what better place to renew my imagination than between the covers of books. Every good author is an avid reader. Time for me. Reading and doing a fall garden cleanup. How do you recharge? Follow the Author on Twitter @JoanHuffmanMD Visit my website at https://jlhuffman.com

Christopher Columbus “discovered” America when he sighted the Bahamas on October 12, 1492. He had sailed west from the Canary Islands, financed by Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand, searching for a new trade route to Asia. His three ships were the Santa Maria, Nina, and Pinta. His journal entry on October 12th notes: I believe that people from the mainland come here to take them as slaves. They ought to make good and skilled servants, for they repeat very quickly whatever we say to them. I think they can very easily be made Christians, for they seem to have no religion. Another entry during this voyage: …these people are very simple in war-like matters … I could conquer the whole of them with 50 men, and govern them as I pleased. He made a total of four voyages to the Americas. On the first, he encountered Cuba and Hispanola. He founded a small settlement in Haiti and took some natives captive. On the secon d  journey, he sailed with 17 ships. He noted Guadeloupe, Montserrat, Antigua,

The Power and Control Wheel explains the complex dynamics of Domestic Violence (Intimate Partner Violence). The following video helps describe the concepts: "Illustrations of the  power and control wheel   and the   post-separation power and control wheel   are particularly helpful tools in understanding the overall pattern of abusive and violent behaviors used by abusers to establish and maintain control over their partners both within and following a relationship. Very often, one or more violent incidents are accompanied by an array of these other types of abuse. They are less easily identified, yet firmly establish a pattern of intimidation and control in the relationship. As the wheels illustrate, abuse is cyclical. There are periods of time where things may be calmer, but those times are followed by a buildup of tension and abuse, which usually results in the abuser peaking with intensified abuse. The cycle then often starts to repeat, commonly becoming more and more intense

  As a survivor of Child Abuse, Sexual Abuse, and Intimate Partner Violence, I am honored to have served on the Board of Directors of both   Hubbard House   (from 2007–2012) and   The Domestic Abuse Project of Delaware County, Inc.   (from 2003–2007). Both organizations provide a number of services to individuals who are victims of domestic violence (Intimate Partner Violence). I am also proud to share my story in my new poetry book,  Family Treasons . Are you a victim of domestic violence? Find out more here  NCADV . If you are in immediate danger, call 9–1–1. For an o nymous, confidential help, 24/7, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1–800–799–7233 (SAFE) or 1–800–787–3224 (TTY).

  An abuser’s best friend is silence: the silent fear of the victim and the silence of those who could report. What is Domestic Violence [Intimate Partner Violence-IPV]? Domestic violence is the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other  abusive behavior  as part of a systematic pattern of power and control perpetrated by one intimate partner against another. It includes physical violence, sexual violence, psychological violence, and emotional abuse. The frequency and severity of domestic violence can vary dramatically; however, the one constant component of domestic violence is one partner’s consistent efforts to maintain  power and control  over the other. [NCADV] Domestic Violence Statistics  are staggering. [NCADV]. For anonymous, confidential help available 24/7, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1–800–799–7233 (SAFE) or 1–800–787–3224 (TTY). I am a survivor!  Anyone can be a victim of child abuse, sexual abuse, or intimate partner