As one of those who have been around in our field pretty much since its inception, I came into our work at one of the darkest times in my life. There at the beginning, I got to be part of something that I did not know was to grow and develop into what it is today. Never had I been at the advent of something.

Then, which was 1975, I had my great, “for a woman,” nice middle management job at the research and training arm of Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation in the Texas Medical Center where one of my station did not make policy. Policy came down from on high.

This was the beginning of the resurgence of the women’s movement. Women would ask me if I had seen this coming and gotten ahead of the curve. Nothing could have been farther from the actual reason. My unstable marriage needed the comfort of knowing I and the children could survive if the rug were pulled out from under us.

I endured a long and terrible divorce. Like being on a roller coaster screaming to get off, but not being able to until the ride was over, the ride finally stopped. I staggered to the platform. Little did I know then what working to help end violence, abuse, and control of women following would be my life’s work.

The lesson learned is sometimes darkest days guide us to new meaning, value, relationships with wonderful, talented, ethical, and dedicated others. And in so doing, women got to hold the wrench and to create policy.