“We delight in the butterfly but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.”
– Maya Angelou
People who possess internal beauty are all around us, yet it is easy to assume that beautiful, strong, and resilient people are created by beautiful experiences. That is not always the case. According to the Center for Disease Control at least 1 in 7 children have experienced child abuse or neglect every year! With this staggering statistic as your lens, look again. Many of those beautiful people have experienced darkness, hardship, chaos, and severe forms of abuse. They are right there beside you.
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. This is your opportunity to re-evaluate preconceived ideas you may have about those who have endured difficult circumstances. Having worked with survivors of trauma for nearly 35 years, I am often asked if this is “hard work” and “how do you handle hearing such sad stories?” My answer is always the same. I explain that I consider myself unbelievably fortunate, as I get to witness miracles unfold before me every single day. I watch vulnerable people turn into warriors, care takers, leaders, champions of change… I watch them evolve into survivors. It is with great admiration that I walk alongside people as they embrace the painful process of becoming a butterfly. It is a true miracle, an incredible honor, and every single time it is awe-inspiring. To see children who have endured unthinkable acts of harm skip down the halls of our building, giggle and laugh again, lead lives of courage and confidence, or become parents themselves – these children define the word resilience and embody the meaning of hope. I am humbled to bear witness to these incredible transformations.
This miracle is not restricted only to me. You can find it happening in the people right next to you if you look for it and seize the opportunity to reach your hand out to become involved in caring. This month, make it your priority to exchange pity and sadness for pride and reverence. Join in solidarity to not only prevent child maltreatment but to honor the millions who have survived. Let them know you see their beauty; keeping in mind that it may be hard for them to see those beautiful butterfly wings unfolding behind them.
If you’re not sure where to start, take a stand with us. Let people in your community know you care by wearing blue, place a pinwheel in your yard in honor of survivors, talk to your kids about safety, volunteer, or donate to a local nonprofit.
Ashley Elgin, Ph.D.
CEO