For too long, I was invisible. If I opened my mouth, I had no voice. And had I had a voice, I wouldn’t have known what to say. For too long, I didn’t know my own worth. I allowed abuse. I experienced assault. For too long, I closed my eyes. I got lost in the pain. I tolerated the lies, infidelity, betrayal, violation, and all the possible ugliness I could absorb. For too long, I wondered if anyone would miss me if I were gone. I questioned if my presence made a difference. I feared I was a failure of grand proportion so it was easier to remain invisible and silent.
Today, I will not black out my profile picture as a means of proving to anyone what it would be like if my presence disappeared. I no longer need to prove to anyone what it would be like without me. Instead, I will put this picture right here, with me looking straight out at the world, wearing a smile because THIS IS ME.
I AM here. I AM brilliantly bright. I AM LOVE.
AND…
I am so fucking grateful that I am all that AND I AM A WOMAN with Divine Worth who cannot be made small by anyone. You may try to shut me up. You may try to squash me. You may try to repress me.
But I’ve been there, done that.
Enough, I say.
I choose Love.
