By Tara Jones-Wise, edited by Jim Luce.
New York, N.Y. After my active duty service as I, a service-connected gulf war era navy veteran, began my transition stage, I didn’t psychologically see “Me” in society.
“Me” a military service woman, underrepresented in political offices and as leaders with fortune 500 businesses. “Me” a mother with a very young child fighting to change barriers that women have fought for long before me. “Me” with a variety of health challenges like undiagnosed military sexual trauma, anxiety disorder, overmedication, and severe body aches as a result of performing like a machine. Me - struggling to provide housing and stability for my family.
Tara Jones Wise speaks passionately as Dr. Lois Lee of Children of the Night listens.
Photo: David Lynch Foundation.
My challenge was women veterans matter too. I always questioned why the civilian community wasn’t really fighting for me the way I did for them? Today is so very important for me because I am still here. I researched all I could about transcendental meditation. Then I reached out to them. They immediately responded. It’s been over a year now since I contemplated suicide. I felt so low that I wanted to “just not be here.” Today I can say I am a meditator it’s that simple.
Amazing video presentation by Tara Jones Wise at symposium Women, Violence, and Meditation. Courtesy of the David Lynch Foundation.
Transcendental Meditation saved my life. It calmed my mind, helped to restore my nurturing nature, restored my femininity, and has helped me to become a better thinker. Once I learned, I didn’t have to depend on anyone else. It makes me feel good inside mentally and physically.
Tara Jones Wise – really good video presentation.
Now I can picture my future of being a grandmother, a successful business woman, and a strong advocate with my fellow sisters. David Lynch Foundation found me - well I guess we found each other. Because of T.M., today I feel like I matter for the first time in a long time.
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand supported the David Lynch Foundation’s symposium.
Tara Jones Wise is executive director of the National Women Veterans Association of America.
The symposium “Women, Violence, and Meditation” was held at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in New York City, March 31, 2012 sponsored by the David Lynch Foundation and Third Fire Films. Every nine seconds, a woman is assaulted or beaten in the U.S. One in every three women has been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused during her lifetime around the world. Most often, it is a member of her own family. Over 19,000 women veterans have been victims of military sexual assault during the past year.
Healing and Empowering Women and Girls. For more information on how you can help secure funds to support outreach to women and girls, please contact the David Lynch Foundation’s Women’s Initiative, 654 Madison Avenue, Suite 805, New York, N.Y. 10065 or by e-mail.
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