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October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

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While I find it silly to spend a month, bringing awareness about domestic violence to the forefront, I do think it’s important to realize it exists. I find it silly because it’s something that exists and we don’t talk about it, except for when it’s brought to our attention — it’s something that we should feel free to discuss, openly, without dedicating an entire month to awareness. We should be aware, always aware.

Women (and men), find themselves in excruciating situations for any number of reasons.  It shouldn’t surprise me, though often it does, that the more I visit with women, the more women I meet that have found themselves in these situations.  I was in this very situation, less than 15 years ago.  You may be in one now.  And I guaranteed you, you certainly know someone who is in this type of relationship now, you just don’t know it. 

It may not leave a physical mark. Abuse doesn’t have to be physical. In fact, emotional/mental abuse is probably harder to handle than physical abuse.  The constant wondering if you’re going crazy, hating on yourself because you’re not good enough, because you’re not pretty enough, or because you can’t do anything right will make you question your sanity. The fact is, those people, the ones doing the abusing, hate themselves. They’ll tell you no one else could ever love you or understand you; or that you’re the only one who “gets” them. They’ll say they’re sorry for doing what they did. They’ll tell you, you “made” them do that. Lies. It’s all lies. #YouAreWorthy #IAmWorthy

The statistics are staggering. From the  National Coalition Against Domestic Violence Website: 

 

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For the past several months, I’ve been working to try and find some women who are willing to share their stories with you.  Stories of Domestic Violence, Domestic Abuse and their escape.  I’ve shared about my own journey, and I may do so again throughout the course of this coming month.  I want other women out there to know they’re not alone. There is a way out and there are plenty of people willing and able to help.  If you’ve found yourself in this situation, and you’d like to share your story, please email me.  

I want to build a community of women who can build each other up, and support each other through any storm we may weather. I’d like to hope that this will lead to something larger — maybe a dedicated website full of resources such as women owned businesses that can provide jobs or services to those that need to start fresh. Let’s be some sunshine in the world.  We’ll be using the hashtag #IAmWorthy/ #YouAreWorthy to share and promote the posts associated with this movement. We are all worthy of genuine love; love that allows us the freedom to be who we are; supportive, nurturing love, not controlling, hold-you-back “love” that is actually that person’s hate for themselves. 

Stay tuned for stories… 

All the best –

Jenn

 

About ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~

Jenn Zeller is the creative mind and boss lady behind The South Dakota Cowgirl. She is an aspiring horsewoman, photographer, brilliant social media strategist and lover of all things western.

After a brief career in the investment world to support her horse habit (and satisfy her mother, who told her she had to have a “real” job after graduating college), she finally took the leap and stepped away from a regular income; trading the business suit once and for all for cowgirl boots, a hat, and jeans. She has not looked back.

When Jenn first moved to The DX Ranch on the South Dakota plains, she never imagined she’d find herself behind a camera lens capturing an authentic perspective of ranching, and sharing it with others. Jenn has always been called to artistry, and uses music, writing, images, home improvement, and her first true love of horses to express her ranching passion.

Horses are the constant thread and much of her work centers around using her unique style of writing to share her horsemanship journey with others in publications such as CavvySavvy, the AQHA Ranching Blog, the West River Eagle, the family ranch website, and her own website.

Using photography to illustrate her stories has created other opportunities -- Jenn’s brand “The South Dakota Cowgirl” has grown to the level of social media “Influencer”. This notoriety has led to work with Duluth Trading Company, Budweiser, Wyoming Tourism, Vice, Circle Z Ranch and Art of the Cowgirl, to name a few. She also serves as a brand ambassador for Woodchuck USA, Arenus Equine Health, Triple Crown Feed and Just Strong fitness apparel. Her photography has been featured by Instagram, Apple, TIME Magazine, The Huffington Post, and Oprah Magazine. Jenn’s work has been published internationally, has been seen in several books and has graced the covers of several magazines.

Jenn became a social media influencer by accident when she started to explore Instagram as a way to share her life on the ranch with folks that don’t get to experience it. It’s grown into an incredible platform that she uses to empower women, create an environment for self improvement and share life on the ranch.

When she’s not working, she loves to drink coffee, play with her naughty border collie named Copper, start ranch colts, and run about the country chasing cans. Her mother still thinks she doesn’t have a “real” job.

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