Montclair resident Berenice Martin is living proof that one is never too old to reach your dreams. Ms Martin, 80, recently launched her debut book Journey's End to inspire women facing adversity, especially domestic violence.
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A Montclair great-grandmother has captured her life journey, including her painful experiences, in her debut book Journey’s End to inspire women facing adversities.
Berenice Martin, 80, who launched her book last month, faced all kinds of abuse during her 18-year marriage.
“I had to be mother and father to my children, maintenance lady, everything. I've been through emotional abuse and verbal abuse, but mostly physical abuse.
“Sometimes when you are in an abusive marriage, things get so hard for you that you don't see the horizon. You sort of lose hope, but I looked at myself in the mirror one day, and I thought to myself, 'This is not what God intended for me,'” Ms Martin recalled.
Ms Martin said that although she only started penning her story three years ago, it has been something she wanted to do for almost 20 years.
“I was looking at my age and thought, let me do this because life is unpredictable. I thought to myself, let me get this done before I die because I cannot let my children sit with an unfinished book,” she said.
Ms Martin, who has eight children, 23 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren, believes her story of hope will encourage young and older people not to give up during difficult times.
“My book is a story of hope for anyone. It is about my will to survive, to look the enemy straight in the eye and say no more will I shed a tear. I will take back my power as a woman and fight.
“I was a broken vessel. I had many mountains to climb, and deep oceans that I had to swim. I had to walk through vast stretches of deserts, but I had to find the courage in me, never to gve up on myself. I promised myself that I would reach for the glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel,” she said.
Berenice Martin's debut book Journey's End captures her life journey overcoming many obstacles and hardships.
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Ms Martin said like many women who have faced abuse, she questioned her purpose in life.
“I questioned myself so many times, why was I born? Was I put here on this earth to suffer all this abuse and pain? I felt worthless as a woman. I felt worthless as a human being because it was drummed into me that I was unloved.
The enemy wanted me to believe that, but deep down, I refused to believe it. I look at myself in the mirror and say to myself, I will fight back to find my identity as a mother and as a woman and to take back my power as a woman.
“I had to see my potential and my worth. My book is to encourage all women, no matter who you are and irrespective of your age,to fight to regain your power as a woman. There will be challenges and obstacles on your path, but never let anyone define who you are or who you have to be.”
Journey’s End is available for R200. For more information, contact Ms Martin on 073 954 6356 or email berenicealicemartin80@gmail.com.