Walking Barefoot in Snow

Harvey Weinstein.  I find it so perplexing that anyone would think what he did wasn't rape.  Or at the very least  sexual   assault.   Why didn't these women speak sooner?  They got what they wanted in return for sex.  If it was  rape  why didn't they call the police  when it happened ?  These aren't uncommon thoughts and questions from decent, intelligent people.  Unless you have experienced rape, or sexual assault or know someone close that has, it is difficult to wrap your mind around the nuances of what rape really is.  or can be.     Rape doesn't have to involve having a gun held to your head, or a knife to your throat by a stranger.  I think everyone agrees that rape doesn't have to be perpetuated by a stranger.  It can be by someone the "victim" knows, trusts, even loves.   While that may be accepted as possible, the fact that no threat of death or serious bodily injury is not....

What goes around comes around, so trite. So true. How does it feel to be controlled? Be given ultimatums? Be forced to be someone you aren't? To make someone else temporarily happy? To be afraid if their anger and what it will cause you to lose this time. how do you prove yourself? Over and over, no warning of when its coming. You less and less.

My people will always be my people As i am theirs You aren't me never will be They will always see me where i was supposed to be Where are your people Acquaintances Not me, not mine Ride or Die More loyal than your man those places you go I've been before these people you meet still with me the life you chose someone elses set free from lies and betrayal That, is yours now

Our bodies speak to us.  It tells us when we need to slow down, pay more attention to it.  If  we don't listen, it MAKES us listen. Years ago i gained a lot of weight when i was pregnant with my son.  That weight never came off and because I was a stay at home mom at the time, I added to it.  And added to it.  In retrospect I realize that although I had two young children at home with me, part time work was not stimulating my brain. I needed more.  My ex husband realized this and gave me the ultimatum, "go back to school or I will".........knowing full well that i could not financially support the family. So off to school i went.  I loved it.  I did well.  I thrived.  I made friends and my wants and needs expanded.  School was the appetizer not the meal.  This new independence threw my husband off.  I had been pretty isolated to him and his family (a whole different post) so when i became social outside of h...