Time's Up

I had planned to talk about how fast you can fall in love today. Before you get too excited, this was going to be your introduction to my new furbaby, Ollie. But as I scrolled through Insta this morning, I saw all the posts about Time's Up and realized that this is what I needed to be talking about.

Aside from my post last year after the Women's March I haven't written much about this or really anything political. Until this moment I hadn't contemplated why I have stayed away from this topic, but forced to confront the why, I can say it is because it breaks my heart. I am truly saddened that we are now in 2018 and this is still a fight that we are in and the end doesn't appear near. I am sickened that people are still surprised when these stories break and that the refrain continues to be "but he was such a nice guy." I am exhausted realizing that each time we march forward and gain ground that I look back and see how little we have actually moved. And yes, I am angry. I am furious that we look to our leaders, only to see them tumbling down as perpetrators. I am enraged to still hear people making excuses and assigning blame to the victim. I am flabbergasted when I read that attackers are trying to clean up their reputations. And so, I haven't written about it; because in so many ways, I couldn't help but wonder - what will it serve?!

That was wrong of me. I marched with a sign that read "I will not be silent!" And I have been, at least here and here should count. I am not going to pretend I have millions of readers, but there are enough of you that a voice speaking out counts. 

And so here I go. It has been almost a year since that March and I take heart in how much women have banded together and that we are raising our voices and saying that we will not be silent any longer. I will not be silent any longer, my voice will be heard. I will not let the anger and sadness take my voice from me. I will say - Me Too, because I have been a victim: from the basics in the office of: "Yes, Dear." "Don't worry your pretty head about that." "Those shoes sure do make your calves look great." "You look tense, want me to rub your shoulders." "Your tone was so cold." "Why don't you smile more." "You should be a lot nicer to me;" to having men grab me on the metro; to having someone I dated grab me by the throat and threaten me because he didn't like the way I interacted with another man when we were out. 

So yes, #me too. And yes, the time is up for silence.

By sharing my story and promising to continue to talk about these issues moving forward, I stand in solidarity with all the women and men out there who are saying TIME'S UP. I hope you will join us, because we may have a long way to go - but I know we will get there.

In solidarity.