SENIORS \\MARCH, 2019
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Woman shares how she defeated abuse Alison Houston LIFE started hard for Tracey Horton, with horrendous ongoing mental, physical and sexual abuse by the time she was 12. But in the 1960s, no one spoke about such things. Which is why at 55, Tracey embraces with such gusto the chance to help others who have faced domestic violence and trauma to “find their voice”, and her success in doing so. The self-published Gold Coaster, motivational speaker and life coach was recently recognised with the Exceptional Woman of Excellence Award at the Women’s Economic Forum in New Delhi, India – the largest global gathering of female entrepreneurs and leaders. The turnaround wasn’t easy, brought to a crossroads when her boss caught her drinking at work at just 18, and a psychologist told her the trajectory she was on.
“So I set about finding out what ‘normal’ people knew that I didn’t,” Tracey said. She discovered what she calls nine keys to “overcoming” or breaking free, and it is these that she shares in The Unhappy Smile. Her philosophy is based on recognising the things no one can change, the things you can overcome such as grief and anger, and how to let go and move on. But even she has been surprised by the reception the book has received. “I’m a really strong believer in giving back to the world, which is why I wanted to write this, but people are hungrier for answers than I first imagined,” Tracey said. As part of “giving back”, for every book she sells, Tracey gives one to a woman in crisis. The book, which she began writing at 50, is full of insights to help people understand themselves and others, with clear references to her own abusive experiences, without becoming graphic.
FIND YOUR VOICE: Tracey Horton's book The Unhappy Smile tells how she overcame mental, physical and sexual abuse in her childhood to become a strong advocate for people's rights. “I didn’t leave anywhere to hide … but it’s written very conversationally, so it’s something you can pick up and put down, and maybe make notes in and answer a few questions at the end of each chapter,” she said. And it’s a book which has already gone far, with her friend, Country music star Adam Brand’s testimonial and contacts helping it find its way into gift bags for the Emmys and Golden Globes. But it is the ordinary women’s and men’s lives it has also touched which mean the most to Tracey, including an 89-year-old New Zealand woman who finally realised she needed to forgive her husband and herself for the years of domestic violence she had suffered. The woman wrote to Tracey marvelling that her adult children had seen such a difference in her, a new light, since she had done so. Tracey, now also a happy wife, mother and grandmother, said writing her story had been
Tracey as a child and copies of her book. cathartic for her, although she had long forgiven the abusers, and felt no grief or shame. “I’ve made peace with it – I am able to be in the story but not of the story,” she said. With statistics showing one in four women have been abused, she believes it is an important story to let others know that they don’t have to be
defined by what has happened to them. Her mantra is “never write your story in someone else’s handwriting” and she believes it’s relevant to women of all ages, as well as to men. “When I think of this book, I imagine people young and old, men and women all reading it,” she said, adding she hoped it
prompted conversations and helped people set and reach goals to become “the best version of themselves”. To order The Unhappy Smile, find out more about Tracey, her upcoming book The Reason to Smile, and her mentoring and speaking roles, go to traceyhorton.com or phone 0420 447 474.
Win a double pass to Event Cinemas’ Hotel Mumbai Seniors screening Watch the astonishing movie that uncovers the major incident that took place in 2008, when the Taj Hotel in Mumbai became the target of a deadly terrorist attack. A story which fearlessly tackles the defining global issues of our time. A story about ordinary people. Real people. People of all races, all colours, all creeds, binding together in a gruelling fight for survival.
See a special Seniors Screening of ‘Hotel Mumbai’ at BCC and Event Cinemas that includes a complimentary morning tea on Wednesday 20th March. Book now at eventcinemas.com.au
Want to watch what happens in the movie? We have four double passes to giveaway for the Seniors screening on the 20th of March. To be in the draw, just fill in our form online at seniorsnews.com.au/competitions
^Visit seniorsnews.com.au/competitionterms for full competition terms and conditions. Promoter is ARM Specialist Media Pty Ltd of 2 Newspaper Place, Maroochydore Qld 4558. Promotional period 18/02/2019 - 11/03/2019. Competition drawn 2pm 11/03/2019 at Cnr Mayne Rd and Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld 4006. Winners announced in Seniors April Edition 2019. Total prize value $128 (including GST). Entry is open to all permanent residents of Queensland living in the regions of Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast and Toowoomba and New South Wales living in the regions of Northern NSW, Central Coast and Coffs and Clarence.
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‘Never write your story in someone else’s handwriting’
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