Click here to celebrate with Maggie and all the survivors who have finally found their voices.

When I wrote my story for Violence Unsilenced a few months ago, it took a matter of twenty minutes once I started. That story is something I’ve always known about, never didn’t talk about, sometimes even leaned on, and its always been a part of who I am. Talking about it isn’t really . . . → Read More: I spoke out today.]]> Well.

When I wrote my story for Violence Unsilenced a few months ago, it took a matter of twenty minutes once I started. That story is something I’ve always known about, never didn’t talk about, sometimes even leaned on, and its always been a part of who I am. Talking about it isn’t really new to me. When Maggie started gathering stories for the Violence Unsilenced project, I was excited, almost giddy to add mine. She even emailed me last week to make sure I was ready and I gushed Yes of course! Of course I am! Yes yes yes! Why wouldn’t I be!?.

Then this morning I woke up and saw this:

and I have to admit, my guts lurched a little bit. A lot. I panicked, typed out no no wait wait – I didn’t really want you to and then deleted it. I went and read it. I cried a little into my coffee and then sent a freaked out, all-in-caps text to my husband. He wrote back “You are awesome, baby” and helped me get back to being strong. I love him more than there are even words for.

Odd that while it was not as gut-wrenching to write my story, it was incredibly difficult this morning to read it. I’m still trying to figure out the why to that one.

I’m strangely proud of myself. It feels absolutely amazing to purge that kind of filth out of you and put it out there for other people to see and know about. Scary, intimidating, overwhelming and one-hundred other words too – but absolutely amazing is summing it up well for me right now.

Please go read everything you can get your eyes on at Violence Unsilenced – everyone’s stories are so important and necessary and relevant. Share them with everyone you know, because statistically speaking, you know them. Maybe you are them. Go. Read.

Psst – when you’re done, go vote for Violence Unsilenced for Most Inspiring Blog – voting ends July 6th: