RISING

PREFACE: I understand that by voicing my opinion here, I'm setting myself and the comments section up for disagreement and potential arguments. We, both individually and collectively, do not need any more reason for division. I am simply voicing my opinion here because this is my platform, it is a way for me to process and move on, and because I refuse to be silent.

It's a tough time to be a woman in America.

It's a tough time to be a lot of things in America.

From Michelle Obama earlier this year:

The measure of any society is how it treats women and girls.

This is not normal. This is not 'politics as usual'. This is disgraceful. It is intolerable. It doesn't matter what party you belong to, no woman deserve to be treated this way, none of us deserves this kind of abuse. This isn't about politics, it's about basic human decency.

We need to recover from our shock, and depression. And do what women have always done in this country. We need you to roll up your sleeves. We need to get to work. Because when they go low, we go high.

From Hillary Clinton:

Never stop believing that fighting for what's right is worth it.

And to all the little girls watching this: never doubt that you are valuable and powerful, and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world to pursue and achieve your own dreams.

From Mother Teresa:

Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We only have today. Let us begin.

From me:

I am deeply saddened, shocked, and embarrassed for our country. Continuing to process. Still proud to be a woman. Still trying to see the good. Focusing on what I can control today, by trying to raise kindhearted people who respect differences. Together we rise.