108 - Sharing Your Trauma is a Gift. Interview with Cindy (Part 2)

108 - Cindy, Part 2

CW: suicide ideation 

 

This is part two of our interview with Mary’s friend Cindy. They live in the same neighborhood/ward, and Cindy has been an inspiration to Mary for several years now. We hope you enjoy hearing more from this remarkable woman! You’ll hear a few background street sounds, but this was really a heartfelt, vulnerable conversation between friends. It is very church/Utah centric, and we talk about sexual assault, abuse, and suicidality, so if any of these things are triggering for you, please proceed with caution. Cindy has such a valuable perspective and has been through so many difficult experiences and can still manage to be a light for others.

 

If you are thinking about leaving an abusive relationship, please make sure you have someplace to go, and know that you deserve better. The domestic abuse hotline in the United States is 800-799-7233, or you can text START to 88788. The suicide hotline in the United States is 988 (call or text), or text HOME to 741741 for the crisis text line. 

 

One thing that has helped Cindy get through all of the difficulties in her life is that she always knew that she was a daughter of God, and that He loved her. One of her favorite quotes is, “There is no strength where there is no struggle” (probably a version of this quote from Oprah). Cindy also talks about learning to love the will of God, not just accept it. 

 

“There’s better ahead. There’s better around the corner. We can’t see it, but it’s there. It’s there. And it’s gonna be better than we thought would be possible.”

 

Lexy also dropped a nice truth bomb: “It’s not being brave unless you’re scared.” 

 

Cindy refers to a General Conference talk by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland given in October 2013. Read it here. Mary references a scene from Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix. Watch the scene here on YouTube. Cindy talks a bit about taking part in iftar, which is part of the religious observance of Ramadan for Muslims, as part of her outreach calling within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She also mentions President Nelson and his collaboration and friendship with the NAACP, and the Genesis group within the church.

 

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Thank you for listening today, friends. Let’s be the kind of people who can call (and answer those calls) in the middle of the night. Sharing your trauma is a gift, because it can help others feel less alone. Remember that, and we love you more.