Yesterday my walk to clear my head landed me in a difficult scenario. Tried to do one nice thing (paid for someone's coffee while passing my vendor-friend) & ended up being sexually harassed with a level of persistence I haven't seen in a while, in a way that suggests real mental damage on their part. It happens - but it was my final straw, so I put myself to bed rather than be awake through a breakdown.
...Which was a good call! 🎉
I clearly needed to catch up on sleep.
Fresh start Monday. 🙂💪
@MLClark Jeeze. I am so sorry.
You probably did need sleep, though, that is amazingly healing. Hope you start Monday off with power and complete vitality and health!
You too, rockstar! 🤗💛
@MLClark
I'm glad you're fine. I know that can shake your sense of safety when it happens. I should've asked first if you were OK, I assumed it was an overly aggressive catcaller. Did they touch you at all? I hope not. 😟
Catcaller is putting it mildly. The person followed me a ways, asking tons of invasive questions, pressing for my number & for me to go out with him, then moving into no-filter monologue about how he'd never been with someone with white skin before & *very* much grabbing at me because he wanted to see how that skin would look against his.
Honestly frustrating because he wasn't mentally well, but he *would* be beaten down by a crowd of paisas if I hadn't de-escalated things myself.
Trying to keep myself safe while not also inviting disproportionate violence on to someone who isn't well is something I know how to do, and *prefer* to do, but it definitely left me feeling extra exhausted on a day when I'd woken badly, witnessed a robbery, and... *just* wanted to see a little kindness in a world filled with so much trauma in the news.
So... back to bed was best. :)
Thanks for listening. It really helps to say aloud what happened, in a safe space like this. 🤗
@MLClark If that happened to me, I'd have been terrified. I am glad there were apparently lots of paisas around. 😟 💜 That's not OK, I don't know why people think it is, although in this case it does seem the perpetrator was not in his right mind.
@MLClark I'm actually impressed with how brave you are, and that you were able to handle him in a whole different language. Do you know how cool that is? I'm extremely impressed.
I concur.
MC...sending you stars of positivity, hoping they land when and where you need them. 💞
🤗 Oh, that is so kind. Thank you.
Unfortunately, I learned how to manage this in Canada. In KW, if I was harassed on the street by a fellow white person police driving by would assume it a lover's spat - but if the person was Black, passing police immediately took notice. It's a complicated thing, being the victim in both cases but also knowing there's a terrible power one can wield against the further marginalized. Intersectional awareness for feminized people is a tricky affair!
@MLClark
Yep, agreed. It (aggressive catcalling/sexual harassment) sure as heck 100% is a thing that happens between multiple races and in multiple countries!
What a planet. 🙃
Thankfully it's filled with good people and good animal familiars, too.
Thanks again for your presence. 🤗
@MLClark I started at the end so firstly, I'm happy you were able to deescalate the situation and are okay after catching up on some much needed sleep and restoration. I am so sorry that this happened to you and I wish all the best for you today.🤗🥰
And I you, you brilliant fount of care and insight you! I hope this week is so good to you and yours. 🤗💛
Yikes. I’m glad you’re safe, tho concerned about the assault. Thankfully, sleep is a great balm.
May there be clear skies & smoothe sailing ahead!
oh my😬 i do admire your ability to remain steady in such disruptions.
good going ‼️ i'm glad there were others at hand should you have needed help, but you did it👌🏽
may today and henceforth be harassment free🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
To be clear:
I'm fine.
Just... *super* isolated this year, in a way that sometimes makes the normal run of events for someone who looks different here overwhelming if I don't manage my stress levels well.
I have to figure out how to fix a few things long term, but... 2023 has just been a very bad year. One day at a time is the best I can do right now.
Hope you're all being good to yourselves if this has been a tough year for you too. 🫂
We'll get through this one to complain about the next!