There’s a meme going around Facebook for survivors to write “me too” to call attention to the issue of sexual harassment and assault.
Look, from one survivor to another, I will say this as clearly as I know how.
You owe no one your pain. You owe no one your story. You have every right to shout it from the mountaintops if you are ready and you feel moved to do so… but you are under no obligation to share that part of yourself if it doesn’t help you to do so.
You have suffered enough.
It’s okay to take care of yourself however you need. If that means adding your voice to the rousing chorus of “me too” that we’re hearing right now, feeling strength in the commiseration of those who’ve been through similar, compassion from those who haven’t, good. Please don’t stay silent if you feel moved to speak.
If you are not in a place where you can add your voice, or you can’t stand the idea of another person adding their opinion to your story, or you just don’t want to? Know you’re not alone in that either, and that you don’t owe it to anyone to join the chorus.
(I’m glad a lot of people are coming forward. I hate that people feel pressured to put themselves out there that way.)