Congratulations to Seattle Chapter member Carol Barnett on her award winning poetry!

Congratulations to Seattle Chapter Member Carol Barnett on her Honorable Mention in the recent “Power of Women Who Do” Hadassah national writing contest! Carol’s entry, a fabulous poem, is below. We thank her so much for sharing.

The Power Of Survival by Carol Barnett

I’ve been scared, I’ve been humiliated
I’ve been embarrassed and I’ve been harassed.
I’ve been lied to, deceived and abandoned,
BUT I’M STILL HERE.

I’ve been verbally abused, accused, used
Discarded, taken advantage of and mistreated.
BUT I’M STILL HERE.

I’ve been measured, tested and re-tested,
x-rayed, Cat-scanned, MRI eyed and
security checked.
AND I’M STILL HERE.

My spirit was nearly extinguished, but it has
Managed to be re-ignited, like the Phoenix.

I am blessed with an inner force:
The Steckman DNA, forged with strength
And endurance, to survive
all of life’s adversities.

I am blessed with a gift.
And I share it with others.

After all, I am the granddaughter
Of a Kohein.

That’s the Power of Women Who Do. We get up and start
over. That’s the Power of Finding a New Path, pushing away
fear, taking a chance, and sharing our experiences to help
others. That’s the Power of Hadassah.