#sayenough

[shehzilm]

What does a world free from fear look like for women? To me, it feels like it's the simple things that make all the difference. It's the freedom of mobility that let you take ownership of the city. It's the ability to walk and cycle and drive and work and play and laze in public spaces without concern. It's a world of beauty and color; a world where life is lived to its fullest by all.

I see glimpses of such a world in my travels, and I dream of the day when I'll see it in my own country. 

(Image created in collaboration with @oxfaminpakistan for their campaign for #16DaysOfActivism against gender violence. Thank you to Shiza and Sara for supporting my ideas!)

[thesurvivorprojectblog-blog]

Me. Just enough

I, me, myself. Why…. What? So many questions. Why am I telling you all of this stuff? Someone asked me to. Someone asked me to tell you that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Not that I have made it through the tunnel. But that at one time I was surrounded in darkness and I found some light. I was once overwhelmed. I was once bombarded by life and circumstance. I was overtaken by my thoughts and feelings. I was caused to feel a way that I could not grasp or heal or reconcile. And I am no longer in this situation. I am no longer a victim of my situation. I no longer fear all that I cannot see. I have made progress from chaos. I was once buried in emotions. Now, I am not. At one time, I couldn’t breathe. Now I can. At one time, I was always afraid, now, there are times that I am unafraid. Someone took me from myself once, never, now, never again. There is life after survival. There is peace. There is getting on. It takes work. It takes getting things done. It takes becoming in control of the things that maybe seem overwhelming. It takes knowing or at the very least accepting that there is someone worth fighting for inside you. Inside me. I was worth fighting for. I was worth taking a stand. I am worth standing up for.

[dscola]

Repost @lous666 #wakeup #standup #openyoureyes #openyourmind #sayenough #murderracism #destroyhate