I'm not sleeping well. I wake up with my mind spiraling in 16 different directions. My stomach has been tied up in knots so tight I can barely breathe, let alone eat. Every single nerve in my body is fired and ready to kick-start my sprint away from all the dangers that are lurking around every corner of the interwebs. In short, my PTSD has been re-activated.
What I've decided to do to help myself is stop buying into the rhetoric and join
NaBloPoMo began and continues to be a writing challenge to help people who love to write get into a regular writing routine by posting daily for a month. Whenever I've *participated--and I use that word loosely--it's always been to add a touch of structure to my peculiar schedule. Right now I need a distraction. I'm pretty sure **Melissa Ford picked September's theme especially for me. Don't you?
I have a stockpile of photos that I never posted because being online made my headaches worse. It's very likely that I'll simply toss those up most of the time. Should I decide to post something other than photographs, there are plenty of thought-provoking and just plain fun prompts.
Since this is the first day, I figured, why not start at the beginning. So I did.
* I have never linked a post to BlogHer during a NaBloPoMo nor have I visited the other participants. Shameful, I know.
** I've never met Melissa Ford. To my knowledge, she's never met me.
1 If you feel the need to share your or a friend's story about any form of sexual assault, for the love of whatever it is you hold dearest, please insert a warning at the beginning of your tale before you toss it out there into the interwebs. One thing all survivors have in common is a trigger response to anything that brings them back to their own experience. Each of us is in a different place in the healing process. Please respect that and front-load your story with something as simple as, "This may contain language or content that could be a trigger for those of you who've been sexually abused or assaulted." Thank you.
Pee Ess: September is one of our busiest months. If adding this to my already busy schedule doesn't help, Je vais passer au Canada. Comprenez-vous?
well, if this is what you're going to offer us, this month, i'll certainly enjoy it! :) thanks, cheryl!
ReplyDeleteA complicated life, but beautiful scenery.
ReplyDeleteOn behalf of Canada, I would like to officially welcome you! Will be sending you your maple leaf, free medical care card and mountie souvenir button under separate cover ... (j/k ... those things are just part of the fantasy)
ReplyDeleteha. i rather like your picture...the golden rays of sun....its good to see you regardless of the reason you know....
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful photo, a colorful bold approach to a new day. Good Luck with the daily postings!
ReplyDeleteI don't hardly watch TV anymore or even read news sites. Being in a swing state we have mucho commercials for the candidates. 9 times out of 10 they are negative, ha. I think I won't be watching again until after November. Grrrr. Lovely photo.
ReplyDeleteI'm suspecting it is good that I don't have access to US media.
ReplyDeleteThe photo is beautiful. The PTSD is not :(
I'll look forward to a regular diet of Deckside Thoughts, while continuing to be somewhat dilatory about my own blog:)
I feel calmer already, just seeing this photo!
ReplyDeleteCheryl this is so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteYep, pretty much. While I may have been unable to be on the web, I was still able to shoot whatever pleased my eyes.
ReplyDeleteThank you Linda.
ReplyDeleteThanks Paula. Early mornings are the most peaceful part of my days (until recently but I'm working on that).
ReplyDeleteOh H, you have no idea. Sometimes I think the entire country has gone mad.We have a vice presidential running mate to the conservative nominee who believes all abortion should be illegal. He co-sponsored a bill in Congress with a Congressman seeking re-election in Missouri who is now making distinctions between rape and 'legitimate' rape. That wingnut believes that a woman won't become pregnant if she's legitimately raped. Somehow we've gained some kind of magical control over ovulation and conception. Most women are outraged but three are other members of the party who already 'want to discuss this new information.' Ignoring science in favor of pandering to those who disagree with abortion is something I never thought I'd live to see.
ReplyDeleteI don't watch political commercials, it's the news stories about the complete insanity of Akin & Ryan's position on rape, 'legitimate' rape, and women's rights in general that have worn me out.
ReplyDeleteThanks buddy. Workin' on it.
ReplyDeleteSince I was a kid, aware of conscientious objectors to the war in Vietnam heading to Canada, I often think of it as a refuge when the going gets crazy down here. Besides, all of my ancestors landed in Canada before making their way down to the states. In that respect, I'd be going halfway home.
ReplyDeleteThank you Rainfeild. It is and it is.
ReplyDeleteThis was a peaceful and perfect photo to begin your blogging spree.
ReplyDelete=)
Cheryl, it's so good to see you here. That photo is awesome. Honey, turn off the news. Tune out the negative. Things change, but they remain more the same than they change. Right now, you don't need these idiot politicians making you tense. Go inside you for information and ideas. You are the best at knowing what will work for you. Keep your chin up, Gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sue. Already falling behind. EEK!
ReplyDeleteThanks Linda. Workin' on it. Deep down I know it's all more of the same but sometimes it feels like women are losing ground so quickly. When the great THEY start redefining rape to serve an agenda of anti-choice, I become completely terrified that victims will have an even more difficult time getting justice.
ReplyDeleteShat you've said here, Cheryl, about warning and explaining about trigger responses, almost needs to be a post on its own. And then sent to BlogHer. Serious.
ReplyDeleteI remember a few posts that I just shook my head on and thought -- probably very wrong of me -- but I thought, "Now, how could this NOT have had some kind of warning."
My mind and soul ruminated on those posts for days afterward.
Cheryl, you have the voice, the indescribable ability to inform with firmness and empathy at the same time. You're the one to write on what a trigger is, and what it does to a person, and that those drawn to a site will more than likely be the ones with an interest in it for personal reasons (such as having had something happen in their lives)
NO! I meant to say "WHAT you've said here." OMG, I can't believe it says "Shat" OMG.
ReplyDeleteCheryl. Can you believe this??? OMG
Toss away if they're as gorgeous as this one! I hope the discipline of writing helps you. I always love to read your posts. Take care and be well, my friend. xoxo
ReplyDelete" If you feel the need to share your or a friend's story about any form
ReplyDeleteof sexual assault, for the love of whatever it is you hold dearest,
please insert a warning at the beginning of your tale before you toss it
out there into the interwebs. One thing all survivors have in common is
a trigger response to anything that brings them back to their own
experience. Each of us is in a different place in the healing process.
Please respect that and front-load your story with something as simple
as, "This may contain language or content that could be a trigger for
those of you who've been sexually abused or assaulted." Thank you."
AMEN. AMEN.