This blog is dedicated to the many brave women I have met who have left an abusive relationship and gone onto lead safer and happier lives. It is never too late to start over.

You can like my page at https://www.facebook.com/karenfernandezaustralia.

When I am sometimes talking to people I feel like saying “You should read my book”. Of course, this can come off as being rude so I just listen quietly. The other day I was talking to an acquaintance and she mentioned that a few years ago, she was going to the US for a holiday and mentioned to her husband that she wanted to buy a particular brand of watch as it was cheaper overseas. Her husband said no, that it was not a good brand. Six months later her husband bought himself a watch with the exact same brand she wanted. When she confronted him about it, he could not understand why she was so upset. She told me that her husband had the belief that since he was the main breadwinner, he could buy whatever he wanted.

I was quite upset by this conversation. I knew she was not happy and her husband’s attitude was going to make her resent him in the long term. There was no equality in the relationship.

A strong partnership is allowing each person in the relationship to feel equal, this includes looking after money.  If you are unhappy with the way you are being treated, then have a conversation with your partner. Let them know how having to ask for money makes you feel. A solution may be for you to have your own bank account so that whenever your partner gets paid, a certain amount is automatically put into your account. This is your money and you can then do whatever you want with it. There is no need to ask permission to spend your money. This may empower you and stop you from feeling powerless.

You can like Karen Fernandez's page here https://www.facebook.com/karenfernandezaustralia

I meet people and some of them are over seventy who like to complain about their parents. They are bitter about how their parents had not shown them the love and care that they felt they deserved. I then hear their children complain about exactly the same thing. This has taught me that everyone is trying their best according to their own life experiences. People need to stop blaming others if they want to live a happier life. Constantly looking back at what happened is wasted energy as it is not going to change the past. Have a period of 'grieving' and then move on. See a professional if you need help in overcoming the past. You are here 'now' and YOU are the only one who can change your life for the better. You can like my Facebook page here https://www.facebook.com/karenfernandezaustralia

Like Karen Fernandez's page here https://www.facebook.com/karenfernandezaustralia

Losing weight involves more than just focusing on reducing how much you eat. It includes analysing your own state of happiness, relationships, and having the right mindset. Focusing on what you can do everyday to have a healthy body is important. A friend of mine named Gina, read my book and said "You are right. Whenever I look at what food to eat, I think will that replenish my body." Gina believes this mindset has helped her lose weight and keep it off for years. So stop trying to lose weight and instead focus on having a healthy body.

You can like Karen Fernandez's Facebook page here https://www.facebook.com/karenfernandezaustralia.