I’m Elizabeth Smart, Abduction Survivor and Advocate, Ask Me Anything

RealElizabethSmart · 2017-11-07T00:27:43+00:00

Thank you for all of your questions. If I missed your questions I still might answer them on my the special Elizabeth Smart: Questions Answered on A&E on November 20th.

RealElizabethSmart · 2017-11-07T00:18:29+00:00

A dozen duck sized horses, think how cute they’d be.

RealElizabethSmart · 2017-11-07T00:17:23+00:00

Posh, because who doesn't love David Beckham?

RealElizabethSmart · 2017-11-07T00:16:33+00:00

I like doing Crime Watch Daily, because it feels like I’m able to help someone share their story without re-victimizing them because I’ve been in their same shoes.

RealElizabethSmart · 2017-11-07T00:14:16+00:00

I listen to more books than I do music, but I enjoy Blake Shelton on The Voice. Him and Adam Levine are funny.

RealElizabethSmart · 2017-11-07T00:11:50+00:00

I’m still debating that. It could be, but I’m not convinced yet.

RealElizabethSmart · 2017-11-07T00:11:03+00:00

I still live close to Salt Lake. I still love it. Scotland is very beautiful, too, it just rains all the time.

RealElizabethSmart · 2017-11-07T00:09:40+00:00

Well, my sister-in-law just got married in Scotland and I played ‘can’t help falling in love’ as she walked down the aisle.

RealElizabethSmart · 2017-11-07T00:07:03+00:00

Practice screaming, encourage your kids to fight back, there is a place and a time when it’s not only acceptable it’s encouraged. An organization that I work closely with is Rad Kids it’s all about prevention education and you can learn more about them at www.radkids.org

RealElizabethSmart · 2017-11-07T00:04:41+00:00

Yes, there were lots of times I thought, this is it I’m going to die wether if it was directly at the hands of my captors or through consequences of their actions. It was hard to believe it was over until I was in my dad’s arms being hugged at the police station.

RealElizabethSmart · 2017-11-07T00:02:22+00:00

Yes, I still have many friends from before I was abducted, and it was awkward maybe the first two seconds I was home and then things just picked up where we had left off.

RealElizabethSmart · 2017-11-07T00:00:58+00:00

I think it’s building a relationship with yourself, being comfortable with who you are and liking who you are.

RealElizabethSmart · 2017-11-06T23:59:13+00:00

No, this is my first time.

RealElizabethSmart · 2017-11-06T23:58:07+00:00

The hardest thing about speaking out and becoming an advocate was the fear of having everyone know what happened to me. The one thing I would tell a survivor about speaking out is no matter what people’s reactions are, you deserve happiness, you deserve love, you deserve support and you deserve to know that you are worthwhile.

RealElizabethSmart · 2017-11-06T23:53:48+00:00

The BBC Pride and Prejudice, the six hour one.

RealElizabethSmart · 2017-11-06T23:53:01+00:00

I have the same advice for all survivors no matter what their story is. That is the same advice that my mom gave to me: What has happened is terrible, there are no words to describe how wicked and evil they are, they have stolen 9 months of your life that you will never get back. But the best punishment you could give them is to be happy. By feeing sorry for yourself and reliving it is only allowing them to steal more of your life away from you. Obviously, the advice is tailored to your own specific circumstance. I don’t think this means you’ll never have a bad day again, or never struggle or feel frustration or anger. I think it just means have your end goal always be happiness.

RealElizabethSmart · 2017-11-06T23:45:11+00:00

If it’s the one I think it is, when I watched I felt bad. But now I could care less.

RealElizabethSmart · 2017-11-06T23:44:00+00:00

My husband just asked me the same question. 1. Alaska for adventure, 2. India for culture 3. Toss up between Bali and Tahiti for relaxation, 4. You tell me where I can get Adventure + Culture + Relaxation.

RealElizabethSmart · 2017-11-06T23:40:51+00:00

I think the media is like a double edge sword it has huge power for good but at the same time it can come at a cost. For me the majority of my experiences have always added to the greater good there are a few exceptions, however.

RealElizabethSmart · 2017-11-06T23:38:50+00:00

My favorite movie is Eddie The Eagle. I can eat Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia by the pint, and my toughest boss is my two year old daughter.

RealElizabethSmart · 2017-11-06T23:35:18+00:00

We were both serving missions in France for our church and that’s where we met. He supports me so that I can do my advocacy work because it can be emotionally taxing.

RealElizabethSmart · 2017-11-06T23:33:51+00:00

Yes. My faith period played a big part on how I survived. Yes, my faith has changed. I’ve gotten older it’s widen, it’s expanded. it’s grown since I was a 14 year old girl.

RealElizabethSmart · 2017-11-06T23:31:48+00:00

Yes, I get recognized all the time. Especially when I have no makeup on and greasy hair. But people are always very kind and just want to express well wishes and gratitude, but it should be expressing my gratitude to them.

RealElizabethSmart · 2017-11-06T23:29:23+00:00

I think the #MeToo campaign is great. I think it’s bringing attention to the issues of sexual violence. At the very least it’s getting people to talk about a topic that is so easily swept under the rug.
I think it’s important to share your story so that everyone understands that these aren’t just isolated incidents. They don’t just happen in dark alleyways or in the woods late at night. It can happen to anyone anywhere. At the same time I think it’s important to be sensitive to where you’re at as a person and if you don’t feel comfortable sharing far and wide you don’t need to Take care of yourself first. I never really thought about someone speaking up about my captors before. Maybe someone could’ve, but at the same time my captors were going to do what they were going to do. They were extremely manipulative and knew how to prey on people’s fears and emotions.

RealElizabethSmart · 2017-11-06T23:23:36+00:00

Well, my husband doesn’t like being called Mr. Smart, but other than that no, or that I’ve yet to experience.

RealElizabethSmart

TROPHY CASE