Powerful doesn’t begin to say it all. I’ve my own 4 year old imprints. Teenaged ones and my 20’s. You didn’t break. Nor did I. Bruised. Yes. But they don’t show. Just on the inside. Great work!
I’m fighting beside you friend, to protect our softness. To finally have the freedom and safety to run with headphones on, or walk alone under a moon without keys laced in our fingers, jumping at every sound.
We are owed that. And like me, I know you won’t stop until we make it so.
Love you. Proud to be beside you in this moment. You’re good, Katrina. All the way through.
Love you, too, friend. You are the best. I'm not all good, but I promise every day to keep trying to be better. I'm so lucky to have you in my corner. XO
I can only imagine the courage that it took to write this all down the first time. I sense that you have told this story long enough that it is integrated, a part of you - but if this is the first telling, I bless and witness it with you. It has taken us years to get these stories out of our bodies, out of the shadows and on to paper and every time someone dares this, the world changes for the better. Thank you for telling it - and sharing the wisdom you have gleaned along your way. Bless little you and what she went through. I hear here. I hear you.
Thank you, Amy. I have told the story enough now that it no longer burns. But I feel the need to keep re-telling it, especially in this country's current state. Thank you for bearing witness to it with your beautiful heart. XO
I can only imagine the courage that it took to write this all down the first time. I sense that you have told this story long enough that it is integrated, a part of you - but if this is the first telling, I bless and witness it with you. It has taken us years to get these stories out of our bodies, out of the shadows and on to paper and every time someone dares this, the world changes for the better. Thank you for telling it - and sharing the wisdom you have gleaned along your way. Bless little you and what she went through. I hear her. I hear you.
OMG I love your little eight-year-old girl and sorry for her nasty grooming without consequence for the takers. I could’ve written the same story. I’m sure so many of us could. Thank you for your voice and your fuck you from the rooftop. I’m right there with you.
I just wrote a short piece called forbidden, it’s only 500 words. I’d love for you to read it. 🔥💪🏽🔥♥️
I would love to read it, Prajna. I will go find it right now. I'm sorry you could have written this story, too. Can you even imagine a world where we're free of this misogyny and abuse? I wish we could. XO
Oh, my darling friend. Yes. Yes. Yes. There are too many bad men, there always have been. I'm tired of being afraid, of muting myself because of imagined (at this point) repercussions. We have to keep talking and shouting and saying FUCK OFF every way we can. I'm not a marcher, I'm a writer. This week, I'll be publishing a story about the time I took an almost 12 year old for an abortion, a legal abortion. I've been carrying it around for 18 years, seething about the injustice, the attitude of men that they think they and and do take whatever they want without consent.
I'm grateful that little girl was able to stop her life from being ruined, and I'm grieving for all the little girls who can't protect themselves or make choices that will affect the quality and the trajectory of their lives. Don't stop fighting, don't stop yelling, don't stop calling out the bullshit we're being handed.
Thank you Katrina for letting us be witness to your story. I admire your courage in telling it thoroughly. I am so sorry for the shit you went through. Those lovely smiling faces of eight-year-old's 10--year-olds 12-year-olds hide so much.
I wish I had the answer. But the first thing I can think of is dismantling our patriarchal structure. Men in this country have long been told they are superior to women in every way. Our religious structures support this ideology, too. We have so much inequity to undo. And we haven’t even begun yet to undo it.
I too SEE your wise young one, who continues to show and to speak up. She walks into the fire. 🔥SO many men are afraid of us, thus they have tried to silence us throughout the ages. NO MORE! We continue to rise, stronger than ever. As my mom always said if child birth were up to men, there would be zero population growth. Weenies in big, bad bully suits! It is exhausting, yet WE must continue on, it’s our birthright. Powerful piece you have written Katrina from the marrow of your BEing. 🙌🏼
Thank you for seeing me, Joanie, and for seeing women the way we should be seen--as fierce and powerful and foreboding. I appreciate and honor your heart. XO
I stand by the phrase. If you consider "treason" as "betrayal," I think it is the utmost betrayal of our sisters to try and eliminate our collective bodily autonomy. Men should have no business in our bodies, but for women to vote for women's oppression is a whole other level of betrayal. I'm sorry for your assaults. We need to change the odds. It shouldn't be an expected part of a woman's existence. <3
Powerful doesn’t begin to say it all. I’ve my own 4 year old imprints. Teenaged ones and my 20’s. You didn’t break. Nor did I. Bruised. Yes. But they don’t show. Just on the inside. Great work!
We are unbreakable. We shouldn't have to be, but thank goodness we are. XO
Pardon the cliche, but… me too.
You are a warrior. I wish you didn’t have to be.
I’m fighting beside you friend, to protect our softness. To finally have the freedom and safety to run with headphones on, or walk alone under a moon without keys laced in our fingers, jumping at every sound.
We are owed that. And like me, I know you won’t stop until we make it so.
Love you. Proud to be beside you in this moment. You’re good, Katrina. All the way through.
Love you, too, friend. You are the best. I'm not all good, but I promise every day to keep trying to be better. I'm so lucky to have you in my corner. XO
I can only imagine the courage that it took to write this all down the first time. I sense that you have told this story long enough that it is integrated, a part of you - but if this is the first telling, I bless and witness it with you. It has taken us years to get these stories out of our bodies, out of the shadows and on to paper and every time someone dares this, the world changes for the better. Thank you for telling it - and sharing the wisdom you have gleaned along your way. Bless little you and what she went through. I hear here. I hear you.
Thank you, Amy. I have told the story enough now that it no longer burns. But I feel the need to keep re-telling it, especially in this country's current state. Thank you for bearing witness to it with your beautiful heart. XO
I can only imagine the courage that it took to write this all down the first time. I sense that you have told this story long enough that it is integrated, a part of you - but if this is the first telling, I bless and witness it with you. It has taken us years to get these stories out of our bodies, out of the shadows and on to paper and every time someone dares this, the world changes for the better. Thank you for telling it - and sharing the wisdom you have gleaned along your way. Bless little you and what she went through. I hear her. I hear you.
OMG I love your little eight-year-old girl and sorry for her nasty grooming without consequence for the takers. I could’ve written the same story. I’m sure so many of us could. Thank you for your voice and your fuck you from the rooftop. I’m right there with you.
I just wrote a short piece called forbidden, it’s only 500 words. I’d love for you to read it. 🔥💪🏽🔥♥️
I would love to read it, Prajna. I will go find it right now. I'm sorry you could have written this story, too. Can you even imagine a world where we're free of this misogyny and abuse? I wish we could. XO
Wow.
Bam.
I know you know, friend.
I am so, so sorry you had this many horrible encounters and interactions. Beautifully written piece.
Thank you, Joy. XO
BLESSED BE.
🔥🔥🔥
Oh, my darling friend. Yes. Yes. Yes. There are too many bad men, there always have been. I'm tired of being afraid, of muting myself because of imagined (at this point) repercussions. We have to keep talking and shouting and saying FUCK OFF every way we can. I'm not a marcher, I'm a writer. This week, I'll be publishing a story about the time I took an almost 12 year old for an abortion, a legal abortion. I've been carrying it around for 18 years, seething about the injustice, the attitude of men that they think they and and do take whatever they want without consent.
I'm grateful that little girl was able to stop her life from being ruined, and I'm grieving for all the little girls who can't protect themselves or make choices that will affect the quality and the trajectory of their lives. Don't stop fighting, don't stop yelling, don't stop calling out the bullshit we're being handed.
The 70’s and 80’s…girl, you and me need to have a beer\ glass of wine…
I would gladly raise a glass with you. SO much to talk about. <3
Thank you Katrina for letting us be witness to your story. I admire your courage in telling it thoroughly. I am so sorry for the shit you went through. Those lovely smiling faces of eight-year-old's 10--year-olds 12-year-olds hide so much.
Thank you, Anitra, for bearing witness. It means so very much. 💙
what do you think is the first step toward preventing abuse like you went through, and I went through also from a neighbor.?
I read once an estimate that 70% of US women have been molested at some point in their life.
I wish I had the answer. But the first thing I can think of is dismantling our patriarchal structure. Men in this country have long been told they are superior to women in every way. Our religious structures support this ideology, too. We have so much inequity to undo. And we haven’t even begun yet to undo it.
How could anyone read this without their heart breaking? I couldn't. Love to you, friend. Thank you for telling your story so powerfully.
Thank you for your kind words, friend. And please don't let your heart break for me. Mine is strong and full of gratitude for people like you. XO
I can’t help it. I know you’re strong. It’s empathy heartbreak…for me, for everyone. For all the tears shed. I am full of gratitude for you, too. xo
I hear you. I would feel the same way. I DO feel the same way. And I shouldn’t tell you how to feel, anyway. XO
You weren't telling me how to feel. You just didn't want me to be in pain for you. But it's everything. I know you know. ❤️🔥
I too SEE your wise young one, who continues to show and to speak up. She walks into the fire. 🔥SO many men are afraid of us, thus they have tried to silence us throughout the ages. NO MORE! We continue to rise, stronger than ever. As my mom always said if child birth were up to men, there would be zero population growth. Weenies in big, bad bully suits! It is exhausting, yet WE must continue on, it’s our birthright. Powerful piece you have written Katrina from the marrow of your BEing. 🙌🏼
Thank you for seeing me, Joanie, and for seeing women the way we should be seen--as fierce and powerful and foreboding. I appreciate and honor your heart. XO
“Gender treason” is an interesting phrase. Of course I was plagued by sexual assaults small and large all my life, too. Odds are for it.
I stand by the phrase. If you consider "treason" as "betrayal," I think it is the utmost betrayal of our sisters to try and eliminate our collective bodily autonomy. Men should have no business in our bodies, but for women to vote for women's oppression is a whole other level of betrayal. I'm sorry for your assaults. We need to change the odds. It shouldn't be an expected part of a woman's existence. <3