Lithgow Community Projects is a community based, non profit organisation funded by the Dept. of Community Services SAAP Program. LCP provides support, information, accommodation & counselling services, as well as co-ordinating a variety of social and recreational events and groups.

Women’s stories

J’s story of courage and words of wisdom from the heart

click here for Js_story_of_courage
Note from LCP: There is so much more to J’s story… …. … but for now, the author wanted to reach out to other women, to share her story, to hopefully help others to feel a little less alone, and to inspire us all to protect children from abuse.

We are mindful of how difficult it was to share the pain of her story, and are humbled by the courageousness of her stand against being silenced all these years…..and her determination to help other women despite her own ongoing battles…….

J’s Words of Wisdom -Getting free from violence and abuse

 you are not on your own you can get help
 talk to someone who understands
 you have to reach out – push yourself to get out of that headspace, you can do it
 find someone you can trust
 tell yourself you cant stay there because it’s pulling you down, argue with yourself to get out, find that bit of strength in you to fight to get yourself out
 find someone to talk to that doesn’t make you feel ashamed, you need to talk about it not keep it in your head otherwise it tortures you with anger and pain
 GUILT: look at it another way, tell yourself it was not your fault, if you were a child you would have been too young to really understand
 Tell yourself it wasn’t your fault and believe it otherwise you can’t get out of it
 There is a light at the end of the tunnel, at times you may feel like there isn’t but you do get out of
 Keep moving forward, even in the darkness, even if you can’t see the light, in my heart I knew it was still there
 At times the pain and guilt is so bad, but you need to find someone to trust and who can cope with what you need to say and not take it on as their problem
 If you do keep it inside its torture, that’s when you want to give up and fel like you cant take it anymore, that’s when you have to force yourself to reach out
 I don’t want people to commit suicide, its not the answer, the pain still goes on with your family and friends
 Talking makes it easier to release, its not in your mind all the time, don’t be frightened to talk to the right people, it takes the pressure and pain away a little
 Talking about it with others who understand and don’t take it on as their own baggage helps, and maybe you can also help someone else feel better

POETRY from “I carried the teapot, my sister carried the cat”.

THANK YOU
Look at me my friends
I’m learning to fly
I’ve let go of the hate
I no longer need to die
You stuck by me through thick and thin
I’m learning to fly
Only now, can my life begin
I never believed you when
you said you’d be there
I would not hear you
I could not see through the fear
The words “we’ll support you”
were said many a time
But I did not believe you
The battle was mine
the time had come
and I needed to run
you were there by my side
like a shot from a gun
Through my fears and through court
I was not alone
and together we fought
I’m still fighting on
Stronger than ever before
because of your help and support
You’ve opened the door
it’s the door to freedom
See I’m learning to fly
I can float through the gullies
or soar through the sky
I thank you so much
and that’s from
the deepest part of my heart
it’s all because of you
a new life I can start.