The last year of my life has been a roller coaster. Full of adventures, challenges, accomplishments and failures. A little over a year ago, I bravely stood up in the world and said ‘This is Me’. A moment in time where I took my power back from the ones who taken it from me so many years before. I was finally strong enough to stand up and say NO MORE!

I had come to a point where I could see how badly the world needed to change and how much I wanted to help facilitate that change. Even though I knew I was only one small voice against a society that really did not want to hear what I had to say. Many telling me to let it go and move on with my life suggesting that I was somehow damaged and troubled. However, what they could not see is that I was motivated and passionate about what I believed was my purpose… the reason for my very being. It was not something that I could make those close to me understand. Ironically, it was through strangers and the most unexpected paths that lead me to a group people who believed the world needed to change too!

Finally, I was not alone. Others understood. Some because they were survivors themselves and others just because they could not stand the thought of a child being hurt. However once the #MeToo Movement began I found myself overwhelmed with emotion to what I was seeing across the TV – watching woman all over the world stand up in solidarity against an evil we all know too well. I felt like my prayers had been answered – the world was ready to start having the difficult conversations about sexual abuse, harassment and assault.

Ironically as I tried to continue with speaking out in the months preceding the movement – I began to find it hard to find the words. I felt my messaging was getting lost in all that was out in the world right then. However, truth be told I was reacting as well as survivor to what was happening in the world. The victim in me (a word absolutely hate) was grieving for the first time. I did not know how process that conflict within myself. That is when all of you reached out to me to let me know I was not alone on my journey. Something I am very thankful for today.

Now months later I have been able to refocus my strength and determination! The MeToo Movement changed me by showing me that when it comes to children being sexually abused – we must speak louder and never stop speaking because these children do not have a voice in this fight for freedom from sexual violence. We must be their voice until the world stops refusing to listen!

#TeamBelieve

1/3 girl’s 1/6 boys will be sexually abused by the time they are 18 years of age! We must do what we can to stop this from continuing to happen in our country!