When I made up my mind to do a solo kayak trip on Georgian Bay a few years ago,
I had no idea it would guide me so powerfully through the upcoming changes in my life.
What I did know was that I could no longer continue my present work with women and girls who had experienced sexual and/or domestic violence. I was ready for change but didn’t know what was next.
I had started my career working at a rape crisis centre, then moved to a shelter for abused women, and eventually became the manager of a hospital sexual assault team. I had heard women speak of overwhelming, chronic pain from repeated physical injuries and horrible emotional abuse. Traumatized women and teenagers, often reluctantly, described acquaintances, relatives or dates forcing them into sexual activities against their will. Most heartbreaking were the stories told by little girls, and occasionally boys, who sometimes needed acute medical care and always needed healing, no matter the degree of sexual invasion.
How could I walk away from my 25-year personal and professional commitment to end violence against women and girls?
Change is really hard. So I decided to go on my own personal Vision Quest. 
For the full blog, please see my column in the Kingston Whig-Standard…. https://www.thewhig.com/health/change-is-hard-but-sometimes-necessary
