Stories

⚠️ Trigger Warning: This blog includes content and language related to relationship abuse. Please read with care. 💙 October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time to illuminate the often-hidden struggles faced by individuals in abusive relationships. At One Love, we believe that sharing stories empowers survivors and helps others recognize the signs of relationship […]

July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, and it’s an essential time to talk about our relationships and the unique challenges faced by minority communities.  The Impact of Domestic Violence in Communities of Color  Domestic violence is a pervasive issue in communities of color, exacerbated by historical and systemic inequalities. African American women experience […]

Three months prior to my high school graduation, I found myself in the municipal courthouse signing a marriage certificate. I carefully crafted our public image to avoid disapproval. To my friends, coworkers, and mentors, we came across as dedicated, albeit young, loving partners. At least that was the story I tried to tell myself. Everyone […]

 Written by Writer’s Corps member Amanda Phillips It is a Tuesday afternoon, and you are a ball of nerves as you walk down the plaza toward your favorite coffee shop. It’s the same place you’ve camped out in, tucked away in the corner on so many other afternoons — but today, you’re going there for […]

Thanks to #selfcareSunday and other trends that urge people to #treatyoself, people are realizing now more than ever that self-care and being good to yourself is not a luxury but a necessity. So what is self-care really about? Self-care allows us to respond to stress while addressing our emotional and physical needs. In a world that […]

 Written by Writer’s Corps member Amanda Phillips  When I started dating my abuser, I had a Master’s degree in counseling under my belt; it’s true. During our time together, I was in school for another one and even I had never heard gaslighting discussed in-depth. For a season, gaslighting was a part of my daily […]

Written by Writer’s Corps member Shaneka Seals “The right relationships fortify your resilience and fearlessness, empowering success in all aspects of your life. No matter what happens, you know you’re not alone. You know someone’s got your back... Being valued and adored makes you stronger.” --Judith Orloff (The Ecstasy of Surrender) Simple acts of kindness have [...]

Written by Writer’s Corps member Kerry Mallett   In my first six weeks of college, I sat at Take Back the Night and acutely felt for the people who spoke in front of the crowd about their experiences in abusive relationships. I could not imagine enduring what they spoke of, but I also naively thought [...]

A letter to myself on the first morning after walking away from my abusive relationship.   [This is a letter written to the woman I was 9 months ago. These are the things she needed to hear, and that I can now put a voice to after months of therapy and healing space. This is […]