when i managed to log into my blogspot account again i found this post that i wrote awhile ago, but hadn't posted (for various reasons)...but then when i re-read it i thought, "ya know, i think it's time" so here goes...
an average day in this city takes a lot of fight...from making sure you don't get it by a vehicle, to making room for yourself on the crowded metro...from trying not to be ripped off at the market to being highly aware of your surroundings to avoid unpleasant interactions.
it's just normal now.
in lots of ways i'm used to it.
when i'm walking through the city i'm aware of who is around me. I am aware of who is looking at me, and how they're looking at me.
...and when i am being followed by someone, I'm aware it's happening...and i know what to do about it.
recently a friend and i were followed for a long time. the normal ways of handling the situation didn't work...so i followed our handy-dandy policy on what to do in situations like this and called the office. Sarah sent the guys out to meet us. To protect me. To defend me.
I walked into the courtyard of SB, and there were my brothers. still getting their shoes on all the way since they'd run out of the office in such a hurry because of their concern for me...because they wanted to take care of me. and i felt so incredibly loved.
these two men...who see and observe...and know some of the things that are hard about life here...
these two men who care deeply about me...and the rest of the SB community.
these two men...these brothers...they were there...and they were ready to protect me...to be sure I was okay...to defend me. to "fight" for me so i didn't have to "fight" for myself. sure i can handle myself (most of the time)...yes, i can solve the problem...i can work it out...but on this particular day it was such a gift to not have to defend myself. i received love from their actions. it was a gift to be defended. it was a gift to be taken care of.
I don't have very many positive interactions with men here (there aren't a lot of men in my life at all over here - so most of my interactions are with strangers who are acting inappropriately)...but this day...the way my brothers took care of me...well, it's a beautiful treasure...tucked away safely in my steel trap mind...to be remembered and celebrated whenever needed.
an average day in this city takes a lot of fight...from making sure you don't get it by a vehicle, to making room for yourself on the crowded metro...from trying not to be ripped off at the market to being highly aware of your surroundings to avoid unpleasant interactions.
it's just normal now.
in lots of ways i'm used to it.
when i'm walking through the city i'm aware of who is around me. I am aware of who is looking at me, and how they're looking at me.
...and when i am being followed by someone, I'm aware it's happening...and i know what to do about it.
recently a friend and i were followed for a long time. the normal ways of handling the situation didn't work...so i followed our handy-dandy policy on what to do in situations like this and called the office. Sarah sent the guys out to meet us. To protect me. To defend me.
I walked into the courtyard of SB, and there were my brothers. still getting their shoes on all the way since they'd run out of the office in such a hurry because of their concern for me...because they wanted to take care of me. and i felt so incredibly loved.
these two men...who see and observe...and know some of the things that are hard about life here...
these two men who care deeply about me...and the rest of the SB community.
these two men...these brothers...they were there...and they were ready to protect me...to be sure I was okay...to defend me. to "fight" for me so i didn't have to "fight" for myself. sure i can handle myself (most of the time)...yes, i can solve the problem...i can work it out...but on this particular day it was such a gift to not have to defend myself. i received love from their actions. it was a gift to be defended. it was a gift to be taken care of.
I don't have very many positive interactions with men here (there aren't a lot of men in my life at all over here - so most of my interactions are with strangers who are acting inappropriately)...but this day...the way my brothers took care of me...well, it's a beautiful treasure...tucked away safely in my steel trap mind...to be remembered and celebrated whenever needed.
1 comment:
That's a good feeling.
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