Recently I watched Mystic River, putting it off for months after it's initial release. From the previews I knew it would be an emotionally painful movie...I had no idea. From the start of the movie I was uneasy...I could tell... For someone like me it was a given. With dreaded anticipation of what I knew was bound to come, I alternated with sitting and watching the screen through a couch pillow and running into the kitchen with shouts to my husband to call me when the murder scene was over.

"Oh my God!" I yelled out, "I can't believe I'm watching this movie!" I circled the wooden floor, pacing like a caged animal. The mortifyingly cruel injustice Tim Robbins character was subjected to, scorched my senses. 'This is a fictious story', I kept telling myself, but my gut knew better. What my gut knew, was the terrible pain of the scars of a victim and the double-edged dagger of being misunderstood to the point of persecution. Wow! This movie really pulled my triggers.

When my husband finally called me back into the room, I was emotionally drained. I don't remember what I did next, probably ate a big bowl of ice cream, but I know I wanted to forget...forget the emotions this movie had stirred in me.

Then, only a few weeks later, a quote from a poster named "Joe", caught my eye and my heart. It is beautiful, and because it had such a warming effect on me, I wanted to share it with everyone at the top of this weblog.

"I always thought this Oscar acceptance speech (for “Mystic River") by actor Tim Robbins had a great message for abused people: “In this movie, I play a victim of abuse and violence and if you are out there and are a person that has – had that tragedy befall you, there is no shame and no weakness in seeking help and counseling. It is sometimes the strongest thing that you can do to stop the cycle of violence. Thank you.”

Wholeheartly I agree. For me there was no other way out of that hell. And I am out, I know it. Come to think of it, that bowl of ice cream wasn't as big as I thought it was anyway.

Thanks Joe, for sharing.

Dawn