Me, too

three, actually.

This wave of anger and tenderness, which has breeched its virtual banks and spills into real-life conversations daily. It makes my daughters call me to have deep conversations.

The aspect I am most grateful for is the spreading of awareness: this massive presence of the topic of sexual harassment and assault on social media and in our conversations means that people are getting informed. Young people are getting informed.

I was so young, I thought it was normal. This normality was confirmed when it happened a second time. and a third. The first (abusive) relationship meant at least the guy stayed?
My god, what a long way I have come since then.

I was in my late twenties when I realized what had happened to me fourteen years earlier. It explained the incessant urge to shower, then. I remember at the time getting into so much trouble with my mom, for using too much hot water.

This water is far gone under my bridge and from my body, and I stand high above, strong and whole.  My gaze is raised.

I have been so fortunate to have kind and gentle people in my life, who have helped me heal.
I follow a path that looks at things as they are. And I have the great fortune to now live with the love of my life, and to have found a way to create a livelihood from my passion for creating works of art by hand.

Most of all: I managed to raise two strong young women.
Gratefulness is what I am left with. So much gratefulness.