I Am From

Today's been an emotionally draining day. It felt like it was one thing after another and I couldn't catch a break. How's that saying go? When it rains, it pours. Sounds about accurate for my day.

But it hasn't just been one day that's been tough. The last 70+ days have been an uphill battle, but I have the best people in my life helping me get through. Recently, a few people have come back into my life from my past and I couldn't be more thankful for these people. Y'all are truly a gift and I can't thank you enough for everything you've done for me. You know who you are <3

I also wanted to take this time to thank someone super amazing in my life. She always gives me tough love and tells me what I need to hear, not what I want to hear. Today was especially tough to hear the things she had to say to me, but it was exactly what I needed to hear to get through the rest of the day. Tess, thank you for being such an incredible friend! <3

While today was quite tough in more ways than one, there was definitely a silver lining to it: I got to write during work today. I had to think back to my childhood and life, which was tough, but I was able to write a little bit so I'll take it.

The poem we had to write was called I Am From. We did this to show the student staff what they would be doing with their residents during their hall meetings. Here's what I came up with:

I am from quiet backroads off of busy streets, streetlights turning on and calling you home.

I am from quick dinners before practice and small gatherings for holidays.

I am from everything happens for a reason and this too shall pass. Things will get better, you just have to work hard for it.

I am from two parents who worked themselves exhausted, a mechanic who never had clean hands so we'd always have a roof over our heads and a mother who cared more for everyone else, giving what little she had to those who had nothing.

I am a bunch of broken pieces, strung together into a body that I've hated to call my own for so long. I am me because of everything that I've experienced, the good, the bad, and the ugly. 

It isn't much, but it's what I've got.

That's all folks.

Privilege

I've spent the day trying to find a way to articulate how I am feeling about the last 24 hours, but like most, have fallen short.

I am appalled, to say the least. I think the toughest part for me about all of this is the selfishness that those who voted for Trump are experiencing. Those who keep telling me "it won't be that bad" or "it's going to be okay" or "this isn't going to impact you" absolutely do not understand the impact that having Trump as our president will have on our country.

Trump is the face of white supremacy, plain and simple. He was backed by the KKK, one of the most prominent white supremacist groups in America. People are tweeting about grabbing women's pussies now that Trump has won. People now believe that his words and actions are okay to do. ARE YOU KIDDING ME, AMERICA? This is not a "free pass" to be a racist, sexist, misogynistic asshole, yet everyone is coming out of the woodwork and making comments that are not okay.

Now, I understand that everyone has a right to their beliefs, but when your words and actions are going to truly hurt someone else, that is not okay in my book.

I want everyone who is reading this to know that I am here and I am fighting for you. Writing a blog post may not change anything, but continuing the conversations and taking a stance will.

I understand that I can speak from a place of privilege. I understand that many of the issues that Trump is going to cause may not impact me in the same way as others, but please understand that I want to be here for you all that will be affected.

These conversations cannot end. We cannot give up on each other.

You are important. You matter. Please don't give up.