I have experienced some deep hurt and great loss in my life and cried deep tears. Nothing hurts as bad as election night did. I cried in a way that I never cried before.

I keep assessing how much of my hurt is for me as a woman and person of color, and how much of my hurt is for the collective WE.

I hurt more for WE.

We must continue to put words to our hurt and voice our concerns so that we don’t bottle them up and explode or implode. We must acknowledge the elephant in the room often and talk about gender, race, class and sexuality, even when it gets uncomfortable.

My journey and desire to help empower others has lead me to a non-profit where I work with at-risk teens. I keep thinking of what I will tell the girls when I see them this weekend.

The next theme we will discuss, with the girls is the future, which is a silver lining.

The future has not happened yet, we dream it into existence with our words and actions.

Fear occurs when we stop living in our present. We need to take it one day at a time and remember to breathe. Breathe through each struggle.

The words that came to me, to share with the girls this weekend are from Maya Angelou…
“You may write me down in history

With your bitter, twisted lies,

You may trod me in the very dirt

But still, like dust, I’ll rise.
Does my sassiness upset you?

Why are you beset with gloom?

‘Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells

Pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns,

With the certainty of tides,

Just like hopes springing high,

Still I’ll rise.
Did you want to see me broken?

Bowed head and lowered eyes?

Shoulders falling down like teardrops,

Weakened by my soulful cries?
Does my haughtiness offend you?

Don’t you take it awful hard

‘Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines

Diggin’ in my own backyard.
You may shoot me with your words,

You may cut me with your eyes,

You may kill me with your hatefulness,

But still, like air, I’ll rise. […]”

With Love – Stephanie