Amanda's Blog: Little Black Dress

  • Dec 13, 2010

    The Little Black Dress

     "It was an early December morning when Mandy woke with a chill that penetrated deep into her bones.  A cold front swept through Atlanta during the night and the two blankets Mandy had to cover up with weren't enough to keep her warm as she lay on the bare floor of the shelter.  Mandy had lived in shelters, on the streets and in the back alleyways of Atlanta for almost a year.  This is what her life had come to: a homeless person in a world she never dreamed she would be in.  A world filled with memories of her past failures and regrets of what could have been."  

    Excerpt from my book, The Little Black Dress.

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    The definition of homeless; living on the streets; living rough; dispossessed; destitute; without a roof over your head; down-and-out; itinerant.

    I have never actually been without a roof over my head but I have felt homeless in my heart.  Have you ever felt that way?  If so, I want you to know that you are not alone.

    The feeling of emptiness can stem from guilt, shame, abandonment, abuse, low self-esteem or all of the above. Women who have suffered abuse of any kind whether physical or emotional experience emptiness or homelessness.  

    Healing for me came when I wrote my story.  Although we call it "a little book with a big message", it took months for me to complete it.  Often as the words poured out over the pages, tears mixed with the ink leaving an imprint of redemption in my heart.  

    This is my journey but not mine alone. As the Founder of The Little Black Dress Society, it is my hope that you will realize that you are worthy of love and that one day you will share your story and help bring healing to women touched by abuse.

    Love, Believe, Dream and Never Stop Dancing!

    Amanda

    Purchase my book, The Little Black Dress 

     

     

     
     

     

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  • Oct 29, 2010

    An Analogy of a Dressmaker

     Recently I read about how geese gather in the winter for their annual flight to the south.  United together with one goal in mind... to move smoothly and quickly to their destination using the skills they have and working as a team.

    Geese don't fly separately because no goose alone can go the distance. They are designed to fly in the "v" formation making it easy for even the weakest to make the long journey.  As they travel south in formation there is always a " point goose" out front, leading and setting the pace for the others to follow.

    The "point goose" keeps the rest on target keeping the formation in tack.  They are the leaders. They set the example for the other's to follow.

    Within the Little Black Dress Society's organization, the Dressmaker is the "point goose".  She gathers women together for one purpose, to fulfill our mission to build awareness, raise funds, and positively impact the lives of women touched by abuse.  The Dressmaker sets the pace for others to follow and stays focused on the mission, to end the abuse of women.

    However, she is not alone on her journey.  She has other Dressmakers to network with, encourage, and build friendships with that make the journey all the more rewarding.

    We believe that Dressmakers play a vital role in our effort to end the abuse of women and therefore are held in the highest esteem.  They truly are the "point goose" of the organization.

    Amanda Graybill, Founder 

    The Little Black Dress Society

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