Lisa’s (AKA Dinah Lost) Story – From Silence to Strength

For years, I lived beneath the weight of silence—bound by fear, judgment, and the illusion of appearances. Raised in a Jehovah’s Witness environment, I witnessed firsthand how

reputation was valued over truth, and obedience was prioritized over genuine care. My childhood was shaped by rigid expectations, manipulation through fear, and a system that hid abuse instead of confronting it. I endured the unspeakable, holding the pain inside for far too long.

Surviving meant navigating layers of trauma, betrayal, and deep emotional wounds. I faced abuse, dismissal, and isolation. When I finally dared to speak, the system failed me,

protecting the abusers while leaving me to suffer in silence. For years, I carried guilt, convinced that my pain was a burden rather than a truth that needed to be heard. My struggles led to self-destruction, addiction, and countless battles with the desire to escape it all. But silence is not where the story ends. It took years of searching, falling, and fighting to unearth the truth—not just about the organization that sought to control me, but about the strength I held within. I learned that I was

never meant to live under the weight of shame or fear. I was meant to rise.

Now, I write. I speak. I reach out with empathy and

compassion, creating ripples in the world that may reach those who feel lost, unheard, or trapped. My poetry is my voice, my resilience, and my hope—a reflection of my journey and a call to others who seek healing.

To the ones still struggling in the shadows: You are not alone. Your pain is real, but so is your strength. There is light beyond the walls they built around you. There is truth beyond the silence. There is freedom beyond the fear.

And together, we rise.

Ripples of Empathy

In a world of bitter divisions, we're lost at sea.

Boundaries' strong currents, pulling humanity.

Be a ripple of empathy, and compassion too.

Spreading understanding, to see this journey through.

I'll share the hard stories, listen to yours as well.

In the deafening silence, we'll find a truth to tell.

No more judgement labels and no more walls to climb.

The beauty of connection, intertwined heart and mind.

Let’s escape the restricting weights, and lift up the blinds.

And find our common ground, leaving the hate behind.

We'll stand beyond the noise, beyond the grief, beyond the

pain.

Be the change, the love, the hope we need to sustain.”