“Be Not Afraid” is a self-help book for young women to teach them how to defend themselves against attack, using not only common sense and basic self-defense strategies, but relying on the inspiration of the Holy Ghost to guide them in choosing their friends and where they should spend their time. The book is dedicated “To every innocent young woman who has suffered as a victim and every young woman who will not have to.” That is the message of the book – how to avoid, overcome, and most of all, understand that when these things happen, it’s not your fault.
The introduction begins: “This is a wonderful yet increasingly violent world we live in. When I was growing up, the issues of sexual harassment, carjacking, kidnapping, rape, and murder were not on my mind. My friends and I walked the streets alone day or night and drove around without a care. Believe it or not, hitchhiking was my husband’s favorite form of transportation. Were we careless? Yes.” She then goes on to say, “My children are growing up in a different world.”
It seems that every time we turn on the news, we are hearing stories of attack and harassment. It appears to be unavoidable, and sometimes, it is. But we have a choice in how we react to it and what we do about it, and that can greatly determine the outcome of the event.
Chapter One is titled, “Keys to Personal Defense.” In this chapter, the author outlines the most important tools we have in keeping ourselves safe. Rather than talking about hiding a knife in our purse, she says that believing the Lord, believing that you are His daughter, believing in yourself, and believing that you have choices are crucial to your wellbeing and can be more effective than any weapon. Jean Nidetch is quoted as saying, “It’s choice – not chance – that determines your destiny.” In the following chapters, the author tells how to use these keys to help us stay aware of our surroundings and to gain the confidence we need to act when and if the time comes.
We are taught about assaults and assailants, choosing not to be a target, and how to avoid becoming a victim. We learn how to take action and to hit them where it hurts, hitting and hitting hard. Just as important is making choices while we can, and resolving beforehand what we will do in any given circumstance.
Each chapter gives a quiz with a multiple choice answer so we can see what we should do in cases of threat or danger. Real life stories are included of young women who triumphed over attack and how they came out the winner.
This book gives hope. Yes, there are dangers out there, but we can learn how to avoid and conquer them. I enjoyed seeing how the author tapped into the strength of the reader and encouraged them to be strong. I highly recommend this book for young women, slightly older women, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers. You’re never too young or too old to learn these valuable tips.
(This book was published by Legacy in 2003.)
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