Saturday is my favorite day of the week. For me, it’s the first day of the week that I don’t have to wake up early, or work or even get out of bed. At the moment, I’m propped up in the bed in a semi sitting up position with hella pillows supporting my back, and my head leaning on the headboard. Deciding on what to have for lunch and scrolling through social media for the last 20 minutes or so. Yeah…it’s Saturday.
As I scroll through Instagram, I see that (the singer) Pink posted her practice of the National Anthem for tomorrow’s Superbowl. I have an affinity for football so I’m excited to see the game, even though my team totally bit ass this season. The half time show is going to be Ahhmazing because… hellooo… it’s Justin Timberlake! And Pink is the icing on the cake.
The next thing that happens is my brain takes a left turn and starts this game of association. Thinking about the abuse stats associated with Super Bowl Sunday. Then reminiscing about a few years back when the #NoMore movement made it’s debut with the first ever PSA campaign against domestic violence during the Super Bowl.
In case you forgot: 2015 Super Bowl #NoMore ad
As we know, the problem of abuse and sexual assault is still widespread, as 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men have experienced intimate physical violence in their lifetimes. However, this is the first time in history that victims are standing united and coming forward. For those of us that are in the lower to middle class statistics, we see that it really has nothing to do with your status. Half of the Hollywood elite are stepping forward to speak their truth.
Which brings my brain to another left turn, remembering Oprah’s speech at the Golden Globes. And when Oprah talks…people listen! The entire speech was perfect in every way but the part that spoke to me directly was:
“What I know for sure is that speaking your truth is the most powerful tool we all have. And I’m especially proud and inspired by all the women who have felt strong enough and empowered enough to speak up and share their personal stories… So I want tonight to express gratitude to all the women who have endured years of abuse and assault because they, like my mother, had children to feed and bills to pay and dreams to pursue. They’re the women whose names we’ll never know.”
Right there… the truth, spoken outloud, to the elite and destitute, to everyone watching, to everyone who didn’t watch but will hear about it, or read about it. Right there is where I said… You, are welcome… and my name, is Dawn.
It was at that moment I knew, I would never have to shy away from or be embarrased by my story ever again.
So after all of the left turns my brain made this Saturday morning, here I am… still chillaxin, grateful that I was able to do what needed to be done, as I had always planned, with minimal impact and less hiding than anticipated. Excited for the day in the near future when my Divorce Decree is delivered and reveling in the thoughts of everything to come thereafter.
Battered Wife Seeking Better Life 