Regina's Journal

What does Confidence look like? Confidence is your verbal and most importantly non-verbal communication. It is taking up space, like your hands on your hips. Making eye contact and fronting the person you are speaking with. Fronting is directing your toes and torso toward the person. Have you ever thought “Confidence, some people have it and […]

This post is for those who are struggling due to surviving a toxic childhood. If you had the good fortune and luxury of a healthy and loving relationship with your dad, may this post serve to help you gain insight. It is no secret that I am a survivor of childhood domestic violence and sexual […]

“Your story does not have to define you, you can come out on the other side.” ~Debby Madera “I was about 6 years old, with three younger brothers, when my world turned upside down. My mom divorced my dad, we moved to El Paso and she remarried. My mom’s new husband was a high school teacher and […]

So much information out there, and educated awareness has been displacing my childhood and societal teachings. I have come to the computer today with the recent observation. One person will feel inclined to whistle at or make suggestive statements regarding someone’s attactiveness based on what is being worn. The same mindset leads to comments about a woman […]

Stepping Stones From Skeletons is an ongoing series on my blog: KUTA Empowered Women. This is a platform for survivors to encourage, inspire and share so other survivors can find their own voice. #NoMoreSilence Thank you for sharing your strength and your voice Raquel.   I am prepared to blog about what happened to me […]

Random? What do you think? Man broke into a home and tried to sexually assault a woman. Frankfort police said it happened just after 6 Friday morning at a home on Hawthorne Drive. The victim said her husband had just left for work and she was getting ready for her day when someone broke into her home. Police said […]

Are you like a runner? I have several friends who are. They really enjoy the benefits of hitting the path. For some, this includes zoning out and escaping the mental focus our daily activities require of us. Unfortunately, our community had a couple of incidents with women being attacked. Here is a recap from a recent […]

The woman was pinned to the ground by her attacker, who straddled her. She was screaming when the door of the train car opened at the North and Clybourn stop. Another man boarded the car. She screamed for help, hoping the man would do something. But, she told police, the man took off. Police said no […]

April, a month of showers and flowers as Spring unfolds in vivid shades of green, purple, yellows and reds. The bluebonnets, indian paintbrushes and dandelions blanket the roadsides. Spring is my favorite time of year as all is new and fresh. It is also the month I attend the Every Victim Every Time conference each year. My mind is grapling with the […]

The parties have already begun! Are you planning to join in the festivities for Mardi Gras this year; bead throwing, parades, parties, gumbo and beignets? Maybe find the baby in the King Cake? Celebrations are a much needed break from our normal routines. They provide an opportunity to relax and de-stress.  🙂 While there is […]

Love is respect… respect yourself and respect others. Part of respecting yourself is to make time to take care of your emotional and physical well being. This includes time with family and friends, other than your significant other; eating properly and getting enough sleep; doing activities that put a smile on YOUR face. April is […]

Hello Dear Friends! I hope you have closed out 2014 on a positive and promising note. 2015 is an unwritten book, ready for us to live with purpose and fulfill our legacy! Since applied knowledge is power, we must first gain the knowledge in order to apply it. This is an ongoing project for me, […]

February… the month of Love, hearts, flowers, candy, dates, day dreams and respect. As we wrap up the month of love, it is a good time to think about what love is and is not. Kim Grove Casali began what became the “Love Is . . .” phenomenon in 1967 when she met and drew funny […]

Well, here we are mid August. It’s time for Back to School and the Life Changing Conference Texas tour. I’m hearing about a few kiddos who have already started back. Has school started in your district yet? As we prepare for another year of gaining knowledge and growth let’s talk about a few of the […]

I just love inspiring quotes. Don’t you? As I was looking for a familiar quote, I stumbled upon a few worth sharing. Perhaps you will find value in them and think of someone who could benefit from them as well. Life is short and it’s a small world. Let’s be a source of strength for […]

Hello Friends! There have been a few new developments since we last connected by blog. I thought I would share a few with you today. SheKnows.com is an online publication dedicated to information women need and want to know. I hope you will check them out. They have so much variety. I am now a […]

The above analyses indicates, women who participate in self-defense training are less likely to experience sexual assault and are more confident in their ability to effectively resist assault than similar women who have not taken such a class. This study was conducted by sociologist, Jocelyn Hollander, at the University of Oregon a year after the students […]

I have often encouraged my students to trust their instincts. And while there is a vein of truth this, Mary Ellen O’Toole, author of Dangerous Instincts, guides us through a few tactics to help us avoid unsafe situations. The truth of the matter is, we can’t always tell if people are dangerous just by looking […]

Do you find yourself going through your days knowing you have a greater purpose? Not that there is anything wrong or dishonorable about your current life, but just a deep knowing, you are here for an even greater purpose? There is more, a deep passionate purpose? Maybe you are like me and you already know […]

Warning Signs: He frequently gives her “advice” about her choice of friends, hairstyle, clothes, or makeup. He calls her demeaning names, then laughs and tells her he was only kidding or that she’s too sensitive. She makes excuses for his poor behavior or says it’s her fault. He calls and texts her many times an […]

As I was in my car waiting at a traffic light today, I noticed a young lady running with earbuds. She had paused at the intersection, waiting for traffic to clear. It occurred to me how easily someone could come up behind her with a sucker punch or other ill harm. Being aware of your […]

A concerned mom reached out to me after hearing about the following incident. She is wondering what to do? How to get her child and self into the car safely. “I was in a parking lot of a very nice shopping center. The armed robber approached me after I buckled my child into his car […]

It always makes me sad to see joggers with ear buds. Although I totally get it, running to music is enjoyable and motivating, plugging ears with ear buds reduces the ability to hear approaching danger. Anytime we reduce/minimze our senses, we increase the opportunity to be caught off guard. Should you find yourself being followed, […]

If you hear or see something, report it! Whether it’s a family member,  friend, neighbor or co-worker; even if it is someone you do not know, you have a responsibility to report abuse. If you aren’t sure what you heard or saw, contact National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−SAFE (7233) or TTY 1−800−787−3224 for guidance. If […]

www.NoMore.org Your voice can end the silence. “The flower that blooms in diversity is the most rare and beautiful of all.” ~The movie ‘Mulan’ I am a survivor of childhood domestic violence. Of course, we never spoke about it at home. I didn’t say much about it to anyone outside of home.  Extended family members knew, but said […]

Stalking is defined as “a pattern of repeated and unwanted attention, harassment, contact, or any other course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear.”  ~ According to the U.S. Department of Justice An estimated 3.4 million women and men become stalking victims each year. Their privacy […]

  Every year, more than 3 million children witness domestic violence in their homes. Children who live in homes where there is domestic violence also suffer abuse or neglect at high rates (30% to 60%). A 2005 Michigan study found that children exposed to domestic violence at home are more likely to have health problems, […]

What is more dangerous for women than car accidents, muggings and rapes combined? Domestic Violence!  Does this surprise you? Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women between the ages of 15 and 44 in the United States, more than car accidents, muggings, and rapes combined. (“Violence Against Women, A Majority Staff Report,” […]