#MeToo : it is never too late to tell your story

So it has officially been a year since the huge #MeToo movement began (again) and with all that has gone on in regards to this subject publically since then, I felt it was time to share my own personal thoughts on this subject. Now to be clear, this amazing movement truly began in 2006 by activist, Tarana Burke. It came around full circle in October of 2017 with the help of actress Alyssa Milano via Twitter and the rest they say is history. Actually, HERstory.

When someone has been robbed, raped, sexually assaulted or physically and verbally violated in anyway shape or form, most often people ( both females and males) do not tell - anyone. You know why? The shame itself can sometimes even feels greater than the assault itself. No, I have never been a victim of a physical sexual assault of any kind, in which I am so grateful to never have experienced. However, when my home was broken into, and it was a feeling of such violation. It was a scary and unsettling thing to experience. So, I can't even begin to imagine how all the women out there that have been assaulted in some way, must have felt when it happened to them. My intrusion made me have a paralyzing fear that I have never felt before and it took me a while to feel normal and safe again. I reported it to the police and yes they found fingerprints and no, they didn't do anything with this information to catch the intruders. This obviously made me furious, that I was in such a rage that I can't even explain.

So having now come out the other side of this experiences, despite that horrible end result, it gave me a perspective on how all of the millions of women must have felt, both during and after their own experiences. I can only imagine the feelings that rearose for all these women hearing all of the Me too public stories. One by one, from Bill Cosby to Harvey Weinstein to Brett Kavanaugh and everyone in between. While each woman's experiences are different in there own way, they all have one common thread. To all of the ladies that have reported it to authorities, told others, shared your experiences publicly, I must commend you and say bravo. For all the women and young girls who have still not told, please reconsider. If Dr. Christine Blasey Ford showed us anything, is that it is never too late to tell. No, the number of years does not matter and despite all the time that has passed, her horrible experience still affects her today. Her testimony was one of immense bravery and of true class. I am obviously devastated to witness his horrific behavior during the testimony and then get promoted to Supreme Court Justice. If a woman behaved the way he did, she would be vilified and lose her career in an instant. But actions sometimes speak louder than words, as true guilt results in showing uncontrollable anger. Christine was obviously terrified but she never forgot what happened to her and she showed millions of men and women to not keep quiet. I cried sad and hard tears for her as I watched her testimony. I realized how she was showing millions of women how to stand up for themselves, and to tell her truth, no matter the fear or no matter the cost.

So let me say this again to those who have never told, it is never too late to tell. It can be a therapist, a teacher, a friend, a parent, a spouse, a co-worker, a family member, as long as it is someone that you trust. I know it’s scary but remember that not only will you possibly be saving someone else to never go through what you went through, but telling your story gives you power. It also takes back the assaulter's power against you. You will begin to heal in ways you never thought possible and you're speaking up not only for yourself but for millions of women. Statistics don't lie and we need to lower the assault numbers where there will come a day when no woman can ever say, "Me too." If women who work in a powerful industry, such as Ashley Judd, Annabella Sciorra, Salma Hayek, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Uma Thurman (just to name a few), can tell their personal stories - so can you. I know that there might be the possibility of some not even believing you, supporting you or even fighting with and or for you. But you still need to tell your truth, to show other’s that they can tell too. Karma does not have an expiration date.

Here is a timeline of #MeToo events, to remind you of what can happen in a small amount of time when someone finally tells.

Do we have a ways to go? Yes, of course, but as we all continue to come together from all of the work and support that is being done today; this will help for a better future for generations of women, present and future.

So for those contemplating on telling, I am behind you. In fact, if you want to share your story on this social media platform(s), please do. If not, still know that I am behind you, and yes I believe you and in you. Yes, you can and you will survive this. Because you are braver than you know, stronger than you realize and you deserve to be healed and to feel safe again. Remember that no matter happened to you, you did not deserve it and no it was not your fault.

I know the first step is the hardest, but you do deserve to be heard, deserve to be supported and deserved to be believed. Do it for yourself as you deserve to have peace from a painful experience and it is time for you to take back your own power and move forward with it.