LIVE MAGAZINE VOL 8, Issue #204 March 6th THRU March 20th, 2015

14
Healing the Man Within
The Journey of Randy Boyd
from Victim to Survivor
By Angela Romeo
What happens when one lives with
conflagration that causes untold casualties
to that person and those around them? If
you are Randy Boyd, you face the flames
and tell the story. “Healing the Man Within”
(www.courageoushealers.org) is Randy’s
journey from sexual abuse victim to
survivor.
As a teen Randy was sexually abused by
his stepfather. His mother by allowing the
conduct to continue, was also a sexual
abuser. As Randy faced this issue there
were few places to turn to for help.
In the early 1980’s the country had yet
learned the term McMartin Preschool.
Charles Napier, a teacher who abused 23
boys between 1967 and 1983 was still 30
years away from arrest. Sexual Abuse was
just becoming a topic that people openly
discussed but even then the conversation
concerned girls and men. Never boys. Never
women.
“I had no one that I could reach out.
When I did reach out, it was to a bottle. A
circular path of nowhere and everywhere. I
functioned and self-destructed. I did it so
many times. Each time the toll on those
around me was worse,” noted Randy. “It was
a long time for self-acceptance. My journey
is just one that male survivors face. It is
more socially understood that an abused
girl will have behavioral problems, intimacy,
sexual issues, and a damaged sense of selfworth.
Society in general, however, does
not give men the same understanding, even
though men experience the same effects.”
“Sexual abuse is a betrayal of trust and
theft of innocence. It is one of those
secrets that, kept hidden, will eventually
ruin a life. Boys seem to hold that secret
in– fear of being seen as weak, less a
man. What ever the reason, holding that
secret, robs you of a life. This book is my
journey to acceptance and my healing
process. My journey is not everyone’s
journey. Nor is the book meant to be
read as a novel. Each chapter standing
alone so a reader can find what they
need at that monent,” continued Randy.
“ I am not advocating reliving the past,
seeking apologies nor retribution.
My hope is victims of sexual abuse,
especially men, realize that healing is a
journey that can happen at any age or
any stage of life. Once taken, healing
will lead to a better life. Our society has
changed over the past 30 years. Topics
once taboo are openly discussed. These
changes are essential for a male sexual
abuse victim. To acknowledge the
trauma is to be a man. Sexual abuse is
stigmatized when a society pretend it
doesn’t happen. It happens. But there
are people ready to help. It is key to
know that. I want every abuse victim to
know, they are never alone.”
Randy’s book may be hard to read.
Good. When we are uncomfortable, we
are ready to change. Sexual abuse is not
a sin of the abused. Thank you Randy
for standing up for those afraid to speak.
Randy’s book is available at
www.courageoushealers.org.
Angela Romeo is the producer /host of COLLIDING WORLDS TV and COLLIDING WORLDS RADIO.
For more information visit: www.collidingworldstvandart.com
Colliding Worlds TV is available on YouTube at
www.youtube.com/user/AngelaValenteRomeo
or at Colliding Worlds Vimeo:
www.vimeo.com/collidingworldstv
Colliding Worlds TV broadcasts on KPSE (MY 13 Palm Springs California) Saturdays at noon and
Thursdays at 6:30 am
Colliding Worlds Radio, broadcasts and live streams weekly,
Saturday from 11 am to 12 pm on KPSF 1200 AM (Money Radio 1200)
Colliding Worlds is now on KMIR (Palm Springs)Saturday at 5 am and on KPSE Thursday (Palm
Springs) at 6:30 am
CW Radio podcasts are available at
www.collidingworldstvandart.com