Ben Hunnel, Joan Waitt, Cindy Waitt, Ted Waitt, and Marcia Waitt
Memorial Day has been gradually morphing from a celebration of war to a celebration of loved ones who are no longer with us. Cindy Waitt at the Waitt Foundation is writing a blog about the loves of our lives. The Waitt Foundation is a leader in preventing domestic violence, and I am beyond intrigued that Ms. Waitt has launched this project:
Much of my work in this lifetime centers on how to create a more peaceful world by preventing violence before it starts. The flip side of violence, I think, is love. Though we hear “the love of your life”…and hear it alot, I think the tale less told is “the loves of your life”.
I’m gathering feedback from women and men about that here and I hope you’ll join me.
Ms. Waitt is wickedly funny and wise. Her first installment “Dating is a process of elimination” made me laugh out loud and brought stinging tears to my eyes. It’s been 20 years since I’ve been on a date. Like many abuse survivors, I’m beyond terrified that I’ll pick Mr. Really Wrong again. However, I’m reading all these articles and statistics about how happily married people live better quality lives and have better health. So, I’ve decided it is time to get fit and healthy and open my heart to love again.
To this end, I have added a Journey 2 Joy blogroll.
Lovebirds shared by Julie Owens
Peace on Earth Starts at Home
Why do we too often wait to celebrate someone’s life until after they are gone? My late, great auntie Mame taught me to show people how much we love them every day. She helped me understand that peace on earth starts at home. She celebrated life and love with tremendous passion and enthusiasm. Her summer home on the shores of Lake Michigan in South Haven, Michigan was my favorite retreat. The sound of the waves crashing on the shore is the absolute best antidote to stress.
Mrs. Hal David, Pres. Barack Obama, and Burt Bacharach
What the World Needs Now Is Love, Sweet Love
Burt Bacharach and Hal David recently won the Gershwin Prize for their lifetime achievement. The songs performed during the PBS documentary at the White House brought back memories of a time when our world was filled with hope, optimism, and love. I think we all need more love. Love helps us find winning solutions. Love helps us weather the storms of life. Love fills our hearts with joy and makes life worth living. I hope the lyrics from their song “What the World Needs Now Is Love” will inspire you.
Hurricane Ridge overlooking the Strait of San Juan de Fuca
Purple Haze lavender
Anne Caroline Drake 
Thank you – a great reminder! If only our global focus were on waging peace, not gaining power, what a “Wonderful World” it would be (another song that brngs thng back into focus for me) .One of my favorite quotes is “I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day.” (E. B. White), thus I post pictures of precious bluebirds and delicate flowers in between the posts of KKK rallies & hate speech.
Thanks, Julie for adding that wonderful quote to this post. I think you do an excellent job in planning your day. Your support and inspiration mean the world to me.
I too love “Wonderful World.”
Sending hugs,
Anne Caroline
Hello Anne, and thank you so much for your kind words about my new blog “Loves of your Life”. I love that you shared the words of that great song. The words are simple, but powerful. I look forward to visiting your site for the information and the inspiration!
Cindy,
Thank you for visiting my site and leaving a comment.
I am beyond thrilled that you are doing “Loves of Your Life.” The ultimate solution to preventing DV is to teach people about healthy love. My friends and colleagues are teasing me about reading your posts and taking notes, but I’m not ashamed to admit I have a lot to learn.
Respectfully,
Anne Caroline
Hi,
Do you go by Anne or Caroline? Just want to make sure…a friend of mine thought you went by Caroline.
You have a lot of great information on your site and thanks for making it available.
I’m certainly not a “love expert”. I think I’d call myself a “student and observer”!
A chapter I’m going to do is “To thine own self be true”….exploring how we can love our own life, regardless if we are attached or not!
Warm wishes,
Cindy
Cindy,
When I launched this site, I adopted my paternal grandmother’s name as my pen name. My parents named me Carolyn, and many of my friends and colleagues call me Caroline.
After Crystal Brame was murdered by her estranged husband (Tacoma, WA’s chief of police David Brame), I knew it was time to break my silence and share my survival secrets. I had been reading the stories of successful survivors and realized we could create a new DV paradigm if we could find a way to connect and share our expertise and insights. Social media is making it possible and very cost-effective.
We are guiding each other on how to survive, thrive, and find joy. You have a very gentle touch with your observations that I think most survivors need. While my life is rich and full, I will confess that I don’t yet have the courage to let the abundance of love inside me overflow. So, I’m looking forward to your guidance on this aspect of my journey.
Warm wishes to you,
Anne Caroline
I’ll just call you Anne Caroline then, how’s that? The internet is a great way to share stories and sharing yours is so important and needed!. Kit Gruelle, Cynthia Hill and I released a free film about men who have become part of the movement and are teaching the next generation of boys about respect for women and non violence. It’s called “A New Kind of Strength” at privateviolence.com., and totally free to anyone who wants to see it. It’s going all over the world. Keep up the good work!
Thank you, Cindy. I’m planning on interviewing Kit to help promote your film. I also admire all the work the Waitt Foundation has done to bring men into the quest to prevent DV. Thank you.