Healing Starts at Home a Story of Overcoming

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“Life is meant to be loved. Life is meant to be lived.”
— Dana S. Diaz

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WHO IS DANA S. DIAZ?

Memoirist | Empowerment Speaker | Abuse Recovery Coach

KUWTC: Dana, your voice has become a lifeline for so many. Can you tell our readers who you are and what you do?

Dana S. Diaz:
I am the author of a memoir trilogy, a women’s empowerment speaker, podcast favorite, and abuse recovery coach.

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THE POWER OF TRUTH & TESTIMONY

KUWTC: What inspired you to begin this journey of authorship and advocacy?

Dana S. Diaz:
As a victim of child and spousal abuse and domestic violence, I spent the first 45 years of my life believing that what I wanted didn’t matter—that I didn’t matter.
It wasn’t until my emotional distress manifested into physical illness that I finally realized some self-respect. I realized I had the power to say “no”—to the mistreatment, to the expectations, and to a life that didn’t even feel like mine. When I did, everything changed.

Since I hadn’t used my degree in journalism from DePaul University, instead working as a housekeeper in a Podunk town, I decided to develop a journal I’d kept hidden under the couch cushion in the basement into my first book.

Gasping for Air: The Stranglehold of Narcissistic Abuse was a #1 New Release and best-seller, leading to the release of two more books and nearly 300 podcast interviews! The success was bittersweet, though, because it meant that my story resonated with too many.

“The success was bittersweet… because it meant that my story resonated with too many.”

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USING HER VOICE FOR OTHERS

KUWTC: How do your personal experiences shape your work now?

Dana S. Diaz:
Every single day, in everything I do, I share wisdom that might prevent anyone a second of the emotional and/or physical distress I experienced. Life is meant to be lived. Life is meant to be loved.
As a child of God, my life has taught me that my purpose here is to lead people back to what matters, to what is good, to what is real, and to what life is really about. So, I share everything very openly, hoping people will see that none of us are perfect, but that we weren’t meant to be.
We were just meant to love and accept—ourselves and others—regardless of our perceived imperfections. Because we are all worthy. We just need a reminder sometimes.

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WHERE THE HEART IS

What does “home” mean to you?

“Home is wherever I feel safe and loved… which, for me, is wherever my husband is.”

KUWTC: That’s beautiful. What are the must-haves in your dream space?

Dana S. Diaz:
A soft, wide comfy chair that I can snuggle up in with my husband or my cats and a good book!

Where do you feel most inspired?

Dana S. Diaz:
On a sandy beach, with the sun shining down on me. There’s something about the sound of the water rushing the shore and retreating that soothes my soul. It’s also very humbling and where I gain my best perspective.

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SANCTUARY IN SIMPLICITY

KUWTC: How has your home impacted your healing and your lifestyle?

Dana S. Diaz:
It’s very important to me to protect my peace. I’m grateful for the 25-acre estate my husband built in the midst of cornfields. It’s a quiet escape from the hustle and bustle of life, even if that busy-ness is accomplished on a computer in my home office.
I appreciate being able to walk outside and sit on our pond or walk along the creek in the back, listening to birds chirping and leaves rustling. It’s a very grounding experience that allows me to reset.

“Nature reminds you the chaos in life is created… It’s meant to distract us from what is important.”

KUWTC: What advice would you give someone designing a space that supports healing?

Dana S. Diaz:
Make a space that feels good. Colors, textures, visuals—they all affect your energy.
I asked my husband to paint my home office a matte blush pink. The lighter, softer color brightens my spirits much more easily than the dark blue it had been before. The pink is also more “me,” so perhaps it just makes me feel like I belong—like this space is truly mine to be exactly who I am.

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FAITH, FAMILY & THE FUTURE

KUWTC: What role does faith play in your life and legacy?

Dana S. Diaz:
I wasn’t wanted by my mother when I was born any more than I am wanted by her now. Much of the family sided with her premise of my conception, thereby deeming me unworthy of the love we all deserve.

So, my Faith is what has kept me going. Knowing that the Lord wanted me here. He wanted me to exist, for a specific purpose that I am fulfilling.
Sure, it came with suffering. However, I would have never been able to help others heal from something I had never endured myself. Therefore, I see it as a lesson I had to learn and grow from to be able to fulfill my purpose here.

“My Faith is what has kept me going… Knowing that the Lord wanted me here.”

How do you maintain balance between your calling and your personal life?

Dana S. Diaz:
Boundaries. I have had to learn to say “no”—to people, to opportunities, to invitations.
My time with my son, my husband, and friends and family, is sacred. I will not allow work to intrude on that with unnecessary phone calls or emails or distractions. I give myself permission to live my life and have private time, even alone.

What do you want your legacy to say?

“Love is my legacy.”

Dana S. Diaz:
I want people to see that love is always the answer. Love brings people together. Love creates space for understanding and accepting, even if there is still disagreement.
Love fulfills and love unites. And if more people could see others through loving eyes instead of hateful or critical eyes, what a wonderful world it would be!

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FUN & FEATURE-WORTHY

Favorite place to recharge?

Dana S. Diaz:
Any city or small town in the Caribbean. My mother’s family is from Puerto Rico, and I’ve made many trips to the various islands. There’s nothing like the clear water, palm trees, island food, and tropical music playing to make my heart sing!

Dream dinner party?

Dana S. Diaz:
I was always fascinated with the grandeur of homes in the 1920s, with circular drives around water fountains and ballrooms where big bands played.
So, any one would do and anyone could come! I’d want my husband and son there, and I wouldn’t mind having Taylor Swift and comedian Matt Rife. Add in Steve Harvey and Dave Chappelle for extra entertainment—I do love to laugh.

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FOLLOW DANA’S JOURNEY

• Website: https://danasdiaz.com
• Facebook: @danasdiazauthor
• Instagram: @danas.diaz
• TikTok: @danasdiaz

📣 Catch Dana live! She’ll be taking the stage at the Chicago Women’s Expo in October — don’t miss it!

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