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What a joy it was to speak with Rena Romano for the last episode of the season. Rena has gone from childhood sexual abuse to contemplating suicide, from appearing on the Oprah Show to the TEDx stage. She\\u2019s a respected speaker, author, TEDx coach, and a \\u201csur-THRIVER\\u201d of abuse with a mission to show people how to live the endless possibilities of positive life after trauma.\\xa0

Rena\\u2019s abuse persisted for nearly 20 years, from age 4. At such a young age, she had no language for what was happening to her, and was unable to speak up about what she was going through. When she was older, she knew it would have torn her family apart to speak up, but as an adult reflects that it\\u2019s not the child\\u2019s responsibility to stop the crime.\\xa0

Even after escaping her situation, Rena still struggled with abuse in early adulthood. Perpetrators of rape and abuse were like a lion sniffing out blood, sensing when their victims are most weak or wounded. Rena was addicted to abuse, believing it to be what love looked like, and continued to attract it into her life.\\xa0

The Law of Attraction doesn\\u2019t work unless you put it into motion, Rena says. Having watched Oprah talk with other sur-THRIVERs, Rena was certain she would be on the show. She sent in an email with her story and waited, but even in the 2 years leading up to that call, she spoke and acted like she already knew she was going to be on air--which she did.\\xa0

One of Rena\\u2019s favorite practices is writing. For 5-15 minutes a day, she would sit down and create her future through writing. She would write about how happy and grateful she was that her TEDx talk had reached so many people, long before it had happened. \\u201cHappy is the best revenge,\\u201d she says.\\xa0

In overcoming abuse, Rena says to speak about what you\\u2019ve gone through. Survivors have no reason to be ashamed of crimes committed against them. Writing her book, \\u201cHis Puppet No More\\u201d, was like spitting out the last bit of cancer that Rena still carried from her abuse. The more she shared her story, the more healed she was. \\u201cHealing begins by telling, but we must make telling safe.\\u201d Rena hopes that other sur-THRIVERs listening in know that they are enough and have nothing to be ashamed of.\\xa0

Listen in to hear more about Rena\\u2019s journey, how she wrote her book, and her advice for success and healing.\\xa0

Resources Mentioned

Join Me on Speak Loud Platform

Speak Loud Podcast on the web

Find Rena\\u2019s services on her website\\xa0

For more information and support, visit RAINN\\xa0

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