Things Never Better Left Unsaid

On Saturday, January 21, 2017 there was a local Women's March in the city in which I currently live.  A peaceable protest of over 10,000 local residents and visitors...and  I didn't go.  I could have.  I certainly feel I should have.  I absolutely wanted to be there.  I just didn't go.

While I adamantly wish I had gone (especially after seeing all of the pictures and hearing the positive stories), I had instead spent the day with my eleven-year-old daughter doing "ordinary" things.  I watched my daughter develop her physical strength by kicking ass in her martial arts class.  I listened as she then honed her voice at her singing lesson.  I worked on costumes for a show and thereby helped a female friend of mine create her art.  I crocheted pink kitty hats for others who wanted to attend the march but couldn't.  I led a rehearsal of Eve Ensler's The Vagina Monologues, as I do every January and February to raise awareness about Violence Against Women.

But I didn't go to the Women's March.

When I later expressed my frustration to my daughter about not attending (and my disappointment that she hadn't even wanted to go), my daughter responded in a very flip manner, "Well it's too late now."

To which I replied, "No, it most certainly isn't."

It was then that I realized that even without attending the public display of solidarity, I was already right there in the middle of it, acting and speaking as one of thousands, even millions.  It is never "too late" to take a stand, to have a voice, to speak up.

And I have been speaking up a lot lately.

I am speaking out against all of the ugliness I have seen from people I did not expect to see.  I am calling out rude behaviors or hateful statements, especially those that clearly come from "us and them" mentality.  I am reminding others that opinions are individual, but respect should be universal.  I am also prompting everyone to remember that any change in legislation has the potential to affect society as a whole--even if it doesn't affect or isn't supported personally--and to be sensitive to that.  I am questioning others about their thoughts, actions and statements, but I absolutely will not engage in a futile "I'm right, you're wrong" line of thinking. I am encouraging everyone to have his/her feelings, but I will not tolerate anyone attempting to dictate or invalidate the feelings of others (or mine), especially in a hateful, generalized manner.  I am speaking up, even if no one listens.  Even if no one agrees.  I am speaking up.  It may not always be loud.  It may not always be overtly public.  It will always be honest.  

This is how I will empower myself.  This is how I hope to empower others.  How we empower our society doesn't always have to be in huge, historical, highly visible ways.  Sometimes, we can empower ourselves (and others) through the ordinary little things, the "every day" occurrences and actions, through love and kindness and respect.  But, for all of our empowerment, we still have to SPEAK UP.

Only then can we hope to assuage our fears, alleviate the chaos and instill our faith in humanity once again.  Or maybe that's just my hope?

Until next time, my Lovelies....