A year out loud
A few weeks ago, I got an email asking me to participate in a celebration. I waited, as usual, to the very last second to do my part, and didn’t realize until this morning on my way to school that today was the day.
You see, a year ago today, my internet friend Maggie created Violence Unsilenced. She created a website that was devoted to giving victims of violence of all kinds, a voice. She gave us a place to come together, to tell our stories, to get support.
Prior to Violence Unsilenced, I had never told my story to anyone. I had not told my mother. I had not told my husband. I had not told my closest friends.
I had no voice. I had the fears. I had the memories.
But I had no voice.
To say thank you to Maggie seems so insufficient. It seems so tiny compared to what she has given me. Maggie and the supporters and commenters at Violence Unsilenced gave me a safe space to share my secret. They gave me advice, they gave me a little bit of myself back.
101 of us have told our stories, have spoken out, have unsilenced ourselves to the violence we experienced. 101 of us have been given a chance to raise awareness to the sad reality that many men and women face.
And while the words thank you are no where near as profound as I wish they were, they’re really all I have. Thank you Maggie, for creating this place for us. Thank you to the other 100 people who have participated and to the thousands of comments that have supported us in this journey, in this moment of triumph.
I spoke out. Have you?
5 Responses to “A year out loud”
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Welcome! I'm Katie, a 28 year old, full-time graduate student who just happened to have brain surgery in November of 2007 to give my ginormous brain a little more space. This blog chronicles my daily life, from relentless headaches to being a doctor's wife. Sit down, get comfortable and stay for a while.
Thank you so much for sharing your story. I’m so thankful for Maggie for making a space for so many to speak out. I feel honored to be one of the first 101 myself.
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I love Violence Unsilenced. I didn’t realize it was only a year old. What a difference VU has made in just twelve months, for me and many other people.
Thank you for sharing your story, Katie.
Hugs and love.
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I just re-read yours. I remember reading it when it was posted, though I doubt I commented. Hugs Katie.
I have trouble commenting over there. But yes, I shared mine. Wasn’t brave enough to send in a picture though. Maybe next year.
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Oh, Katie.
You guys are killing me. What an emotional couple days.
I know what you mean about thank you not feeling like enough because I feel the same way right now. But….thank you all the same. xo
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Thank you, Katie.
I wish, fervently wish, I had enough pieces to submit my story, too. It’s hard for me to process how I feel when reading VU blog — as always, there is that little voice telling me that since I can’t tell my story, it isn’t worthy, isn’t real.
It’s important that these stories are told. People need to understand, or at least hear them. I’m grateful that people who can tell their stories are able to, and are willing. So thank you for speaking for those of us who can’t.
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