22 Comments
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Julie M's avatar

What a scary way to grow up Sage! I am so sorry that happened to you and your family. Sending you love.

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Sage Justice's avatar

Thank you, dear one. Yes, my heart goes out to little me and all the littles of the world still enduring domestic violence. Sending love to you too! Xo

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Michelle R Teel's avatar

I am so sorry you had to live through that.

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Sage Justice's avatar

Thank you dear Michelle. Me too. Grateful to have learned from the mistakes of others and raised my child with love and protection. ❤️‍🩹

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Prajna O'Hara's avatar

Sage, what a beautifully written brutal story. I feel you deeply, I feel that little girl and I’m sorry she wasn’t protected. I know she’s healing. Sending a big hug.

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Sage Justice's avatar

Thank you, dear Prajna. I appreciate your engagement here. It’s nice to know when our work is read and how it makes others feel. Healing, yes. ❤️‍🩹

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Prajna O'Hara's avatar

Yes yes yes Sage Woman Justice

💙🌹🧡

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Tara's avatar

Heart-shattering raw truth that offers us a glimpse into where your backbone grew.

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Sage Justice's avatar

Thank you, dear Tara.❤️‍🩹

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Danni Levy's avatar

You are proof that we are not what was given to us, but who we choose to be. And that flowers can grow in the most unexpected places. Love to you girlfriend. 🩷

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Sage Justice's avatar

Thanks, sis! Love to you too!!🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻

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MJ Coppola's avatar

My heart breaks but then it is a little more open. Thank you for your beautiful sad words. I also love your voice 🫶

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Sage Justice's avatar

You always leave the most quote worthy comments. Thank you, sister.

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Michelle Buck's avatar

Sad! I’m sorry for all of this!

But I like your voice recording. You have a great voice for podcasting.

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Sage Justice's avatar

Thanks Michelle. The Sage Word podcast is available on Apple and Spotify.

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Michelle Buck's avatar

Oh I had no idea!

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Pamela Schacht's avatar

i know the facade well. the children protect the parents activities without instruction. peace at any cost. beautiful piece, Sage

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Sage Justice's avatar

Thank you, dear Pamela.

I stopped trying to protect my mother after she chose to stay and take her pain out on us. My main goal was to protect my brother and any other kids in the house as well as our pets. I was almost always the oldest and the tallest and just like I am now, I was outspoken and bold so I landed in the crossfires many of times … often just for calling 911. But I escaped for good by age 12 and had many broken years where I was passed along other family until my grandparents took me in. There were evil things that happened in that house, far worse than this poem. I do my best to find gratitude for any silver linings … in this case, having horrific parents made me a loving and devoted parent. Seeing injustice, made me brave to fight it. Having to fight taught me how to live with courage. Xoxo

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Pamela Schacht's avatar

no. please. i look forward to reading and listening. I have found that I cannot give proper concentration to absorb a message like this until allow my mind to assimilate if there’s anyone around or if there’s any noise so often times it might be if I can’t sleep at night or before I go to bed. Because although the messages are deep and thought provoking, they feel very safe to go to sleep with you know not nightmare material and I like how you make peace with things that have happened and speak of them with respect because our history should be respected. Just look at how easily we are just look i’m very proud of I listen to your pieces and read them that I feel more proud of how a little girl negotiated them… Me.

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Sage Justice's avatar

Beautiful. Yes! Be so proud of yourself, dear one. You’re here and you’re creating beautiful art! What a success you are!! What a gift to the world, YOU!! Xox

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Stephanie Marie's avatar

May God bless you and your resilient spirit. 🙏

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Sage Justice's avatar

Thank you. It was many years ago. Blessings to those who are enduring it now.❤️‍🩹

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