In a couple of hours am I meeting a woman I admire in many ways.
She is the founder of the nonprofit organization Kainos. A ministry working against human trafficking and sexual exploitation in prostitution.
Their vision is to see freedom for victims of human trafficking and sexuality exploitation with an opportunity for a new life.
Last Saturday me and my children joined a manifestation in Stuttgart, Germany.
The amazing thing was that it was a manifestation worldwide.
Against human slavery, prostitution and human trafficking. I think it’s important for everyone to join and learn more about the silent tragedy out there. But also the helping hands that are there. And for a victim, it’s very important to be seen, heard and taken seriously.
And especially today when we are stressed and tired, many are unhappy. We disappear daily into Instagram or FB world, maybe dreaming about someone else’s life.
It doesn’t have to big changes right away. However showing support is a big step in the right direction.
And give someone a compliment, send a heart spontaneous to someone and tell the person you thought about them.
If someone shared an emotional help to you, maybe you cannot help, however, you can show the person that you are there!
Don’t be a stranger!
Don’t say later!
We never know what road we have to walk, or when.
Be a Friend
Be Kind
That’s Amore!
Animals has always been a big part of my adult life. They have always been there for me, they never betrayed me.
Without any expectations or demands.
In their moment I can be me and breathe.
Together in the nature it is a higher experience, the birds singing, butterflies flying around, colors sparkling around with a touch of the sun.
I was being told that if you spend a lot of time in the nature it lowers the risk of being exposed by cancer!
One thing I know for sure, is that i become very different, –in a good way, –being surrounded by horses and nature.
Calm and thankful.
Sometimes my days can be stressful, or I am very sad. I hurry to the stable when I get the chance, and after only five minutes, have I landed in myself.
This is why it’s not difficult for me rescuing horses.
It’s my way of saying, thank you!
That’s Amore!
“You never know how your story might inspire another.
Share what you wish, save some just for you,
And always remember to keep adding new chapters as you go along.”
Maria Shriver
Amazing Max 10 years-old.
“Mom, when I grow up I want to become an Animal Cop, but I also want to work helping children with broken hearts.”
This is my son ❤️
Ones up on a time, a relative told me when he got cancer, the whole family got “cancer”. First he didn’t realise it, but a sign with those words in the doctors waiting room made him think deeper about it. Of course, he told me, there is not one family that reacts the same as another one, but pretty close. His whole family crashed into depression, a big change knocked on their door. Would they survive the cancer and marriage?
It made me think. My whole family had been infected by depression, in different stages of course. I always disliked the word depression. But my son (10y) said, “I have sadness in my heart that affects my brain.” He is the smart one –like children always are.
Family depression can also become a blaming cause. Who’s fault is it? Who will need the treatment(s)?
Everyone need treatments not only one family member, everyone gets infected.
Depression/Sadness is contagious, I believe. Some families become stronger after treatment/coaching –we all are responsible in one way or another. However, it is not about who is the worst (blame calling). Other families breaks apart, some members don’t want to deal with it. “Its nothing wrong with me! If you only change, everything will become better.”
Depressions can become ugly if not taken cared off. Ten months ago I fell down into a deep dark whole. I swam in a dark ocean. I couldn’t see anything, only my thoughts were pounding inside my head.
My family were swimming, still we couldn’t see each other. We couldn’t even see the light since we kept looking down. We felt our presens, yet we couldn’t reach each others hands. We were occupied trying to save ourselves from drowning.
Then one day, something triggered me to lift the phone and call for help. The Animals were always there for me as healers. Animals are always in the moment, patient and loving (In the same way I would imagine God) We humans complicates it for each others, and many times for ourselves. That is why we need a human to talk too, to sort out all the fals feelings and beliefs we have told ourselves, or trusted what others had said about us. Maybe old believes that are no longer true.
I broke the pattern in our family, and it was a painful journey, and still is in another way. Nevertheless, even if its painful, I feel like I am now swimming above the surface. Still peddling with my feet like a duke. Trying to get my family up to the surface, and guide them to the best qualified helpers I can find. Now, that was another puzzle, being from one country, living in another nationality, in another country. A language I didn’t even speak.
Thats where I love and adore children. They want help. They understand. They want their parents to be helped.
Many tells me, I am very strong. person. How do you measure strength?
Life passes on so quickly. I spoke to several elderly people, and many of them told me the same, ” If I only would have dared more. Fear and shame and regret made me not dare.” (dare to break an old marriage, dare starting something new, dare talking about feelings, showing feeling etc)
I can relate to that. For several years I felt the same, and hid behind the walls were no one could see me crying. Only together with my children, and animals, did I feel something different. Now my soul told me I had to start searching for my answers deep inside of me. Peal the layers off.
I started to surround myself with a new kind of energy, mentors, and love. And started to say good bye and say thanks to the old ones. I thanked them, since they had been my mentors to whom I had become (in good and bad) To show anger towards them who left me wouldn’t help. They left to make room for new teachers arrival.
That’s Amore!
Text: Mia Mattsson-Mercer
Photo: Shutterstock
Outside my door stood a very thin girl in her too big t-shirt. By her side sat a messy dog.
The girl could not be more than seven years old that first day. When the social workers came to pick her up, she refused to accompany the assistant without her dog. One of the social workers was a big animal lover who had heard me tell how important animals can be for the humans healing.
The girl was interrogated while her dog, Duncan, laid next by her chair. She stretched and gently petted him over his coat. “He is my best friend. When my mother and stepfather argued, me and Duncan always crawled under the bed together. ”
Later I met them both, but the main character for me was Duncan.
He was calm and did not leave her side.
Bottles thrown, furniture being thrown around, punches, loud voices, followed by a spooky silence. Several times Duncan went to protect the girl. The dog even bit the man, but out of protection.
The social worker later confirmed that the girl’s stepfather had tried to get rid of the dog.
Children who come from a violent family can usually heal faster with animal therapy. The healing ability from the animals affects us humans strongly.
Over the years the girl and I have been in touch with each other and especially after the difficult time when Duncan died. Duncan fought against death to continue to protect, though his master was safe and away in school. He did not want to leave her.
We were many who were afraid of what the grief and sorrow would do to her.
But life often surprises us, I thought. You are many times fooled by your own assumptions, in advance of concrete actions of others.
Of course, she mourned. But after a while she started studying to become an animal lawyer. Her dream was to fight for animals that were not allowed to accompany the children in their new foster home. She spoke of her vision as “Duncan’s Law Firm”
She ends in the letter to me:
The way back is a lifelong path but definitely not impossible. It is a healing process on a long journey. We often wonder when we will come to the healing destination. But the wounds are also a way to learn to live, and together with Duncan I became stronger than ever.
Chris and Duncan
That’s Amore!
