There are few characters in television history who have made an impact the way Buffy Summers, vampire slayer extraordinaire, have. She’s the one protecting the world from evils the likes of which most of us could not imagine. However, Buffy does also deal with non-supernatural threats, just like the rest of us do. In cases like that, where someone is attacked, it’s really important to know how to fight back in the way that’s safest. This is where programs like IMPACT Personal Safety come in, to teach people self-defense. A couple of local IMPACT teachers, Ellen Snortland and Lisa Gaeta, have come together to write a book called The Safety Godmothers: The ABCs of Awareness, Boundaries, and Confidence For Teens.

The book is a basic set of various stories of self-defense, one for each letter of the alphabet, and information about why each of the examples of self defense worked. The examples vary from people being in situations where they’re unfamiliar with their surroundings staving off an attack to people calming others and peacefully ending hostile situations, etc. It’s very informational, and also a fantastic reminder that everyone, regardless of gender or age, can use defensive skills  in a variety of situations.

I really enjoyed reading the book, and I wish I’d found some of the advice contained within when I was younger and dealing with harassment while at school and on the job. However, even with just reading the book, I was able to think about some of my past actions and what I could have done in some of the situations I found myself in to help bring them to a peaceful end faster. As a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I also recognized some of the general stories in the book and saw how the same actions that were recommended in the book were shown, often via compassion and understanding, through Buffy and her friends’ actions towards others. It made my connection to the advice recommended within The Safety Godmothers that much stronger.

Though the title of the book focuses specifically on teens, the information contained within is absolutely applicable to people of all ages. Be sure to check The Safety Godmothers out! The book is available via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iBooks. Just like the power shared in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its underlying message that even the “weakest” among us can be truly powerful, this book reminds readers that everyone has the power to use self defense to benefit themselves and others.

You can learn more about The Safety Godmothers via their website and Facebook page. It’s absolutely worth checking out! I know that I intend to check out the IMPACT classes promoted by this book.