Glori Meldrum – Little Warriors

The Gift of Being Well

Twenty seven years ago, eight year old Glori Meldrum endured almost two years of sexual abuse at the hands of a family member. She was threatened that if she told anyone her sister and mother would be killed. The threat worked, for a while.

As a pre-teen, when Glori found the courage to speak her painful truth she was met with disbelief, hostility and ostracism. Suicidal by age twelve, in a dark moment of despair, she was faced with only one choice, to live or to die. “I became a little warrior that day when I decided to live, not to retreat and die.”

Glori exudes warmth and quickly connects through dark, shimmery eyes. She talks a-mile-a-minute with clarity and purpose. This charming, five-foot something ball of fire is a creative force to be reckoned with. Her energy is palpable. There is no ‘victim’ sign hanging around this girl’s neck. “After I made the decision to live, I essentially raised myself. I set goals and moved forward. I may have been a victim, but I prefer the term survivor.”

Through her teenage years, Glori prayed every day that God would send her someone who would love her unconditionally. “I’ve been married to the same wonderful love-of-my-life man for fourteen years. He saw me before I saw myself. He has been my foundation, my biggest supporter and advocate.” They have three children, aged ten, five and one and a half.” They recently adopted a child from Africa. “We always knew we would adopt a child internationally.”

Thirteen years ago Glori started her first company, g[squared], a successful marketing agency in Edmonton. Several other companies followed; trafik digital design inc., Barking Dog Photography and a commercial property management company. Armed with the power of choice and unwavering faith in a higher purpose, this bright woman’s drive and ability has been recognized. Glori was honoured as a YMCA -Woman of Distinction, was the first female president of the Young Entrepreneurs Association of Edmonton, and sits as a member of the board on the Edmonton Economic Development Corporation. In April 2008 she was named Woman of Vision.

All the while, Glori struggled with bottomless shame.

Four years ago, while at a restaurant in Montreal, Glori found herself mesmerized by a painting of a Native Warrior. Mi’k Maq blood runs deep in her lineage and she felt a connection to this painting. The next morning, while listening to a key-note presentation at a conference, Glori had what she describes as a spiritual vision. “Little Warriors came to me in that vision and, there amongst all those men, I sat and cried and wrote furiously.” The outcome was a business plan for a charitable organization with a national focus that educates adults about how to help prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. (Little Warriors also provides information about the prevalence and frequency of child sexual abuse and information about healing and support resources.) That vision also began Glori’s own journey of pain, challenge, destiny, faith, hope, forgiveness and healing.

THE NATIVE INFLUENCE

“I believe the vision that became Little Warriors was given to me. I may own it, but I believe without a doubt it came to me. I instantly knew it would focus on prevention and education. I believe my connection to the warrior painting was a precursor to it,” Glori says of the name and brand. “The warrior; because all kids that have been abused must fight to stay alive. I’ve named it for all survivors, no matter where they are in their healing.”

Glori has been inspired by the courage and the good in some people, and awakened by the complacency or indifference of others. “It is the survivors and supporters who have stepped up to the plate to make this dream come alive. I’ve made so many beautiful mistakes along the way. I am truly blessed to have amazing staff and mentors,” which includes a devoted advisory board and board of directors. The journey has been powerful. “So much positive has come with the realization of this dream. But there has also been pain. “It is only recently that I can honestly say I’m finally well.”

She returned mid January from the Hoffman Institute in Hamilton, Ontario; a healing program for survivors of physical, emotional and sexual abuse. “It took me twenty-seven years to know who I am, to love myself and to find peace. This program has given me my life back.”

“Before the program, I would have insisted I loved myself if I was asked. But, I didn’t love myself. I carried the shame. The (Hoffman) program changed my life. I learned how to care for my sad, inner child, and how to forgive all the people I was carrying hatred for. I learned compassion. I discovered I can forgive.” Glori’s energy and hope radiates, “Forgiveness doesn’t make what happened okay, it just means I make peace with it. Peace starts inside and is the only way to be happy. The program brought me to my knees, but out of all my pain I came back truly healed.”

That’s the odd thing about the mask that survivors wear to cover pain and shame. As a stranger, looking at Glori you’d see a well-dressed professional; an entrepreneurial energy. She exudes a personal power that awes and inspires. Her life is filled with healthy working relationships and loyal staff members and she is blessed with a beautiful, healthy marriage and family.

Yet underneath a survivor is the toxic poison that is shame.

Glori’s life and healing are testimony to the power of choice. When faced with the fork in the road, Glori chose survival. She chose love. Hope. Grace. And then she chose to extend a hand out to children and adult survivors who share the shame. “People aren’t victims because they want to be. A person can’t get away from pain, but suffering is optional. We’re human. We beat ourselves up for all of our mistakes. But we owe ourselves the gift of being well.”

She is fragrant with warmth and expression. “I have so much hope in the world, and that the world is a beautiful place in spite of all the pain.” Glori Meldrum helps make the world a beautiful place.

10 Questions for a Real Woman on the Run

How to contact Little Warriors: Take Action. Register in the National Acclaimed Stewards of Children Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Training today. Visit www.littlewarriors.ca or call toll free at 1-888-440-1343.

~ Interview and article 2009 Kim Bérubé ~
~ Glori Meldrum’s photo by PennyMoffittPhotography.com, 2009 ~