Moving On With Life After A Me Too Moment

The past is gone and bringing back bad memories only hurts the person who holds onto them.  Telling the bad memories to someone diffuses the power they hold in our mind.  The Me Too movement is changing the world for women.  Their voices are being heard and it has been a long time coming.  Thank you to the women who have had the courage to stand up to the powerful bullies.  You are paving the way for us to be respected and to have work place violence  protection.

My Me Too blog writing has freed me of secrets that I have carried way to long.  I wish that I had been confident and brave enough to have reported the doctor that assaulted me 30 years ago.  I had buried the pain of that day in my mind and it had paralyzed me in certain situations.   I am reminded of the encounter 30 years ago every time I have encounters with male doctors and it paralyzes me.  It has affected the choices I have made in medical situations and left me feeling worthless.  It was my secret because I feared that the people who loved me the most would judge me.  Until you are a victim you can not understand what it does to your soul.  If you are reading this I hope you never have to be a victim.

The media reports of the Me Too Movement has encouraged me to speak.  Speaking has helped some people I love very much understand my silence and my reluctance to work in the medical profession.  Telling my story has let me heal and move on with life.  I do not know what ever happened to the doctor that threatened me 30 years ago.  I have chosen not to pursue finding him and I have learned a lot about forgiving and moving on with my life.  I can tell people it is better to always report those who violate us even when threatened and yet I know the fear that paralyzes us.  Hopefully this movement is going to pave the way for nurses to have a safe way to report those who violate them.

No one should ever have to live in fear, be shamed or dismissed if they have been sexually harassed in their profession.   Reporting the incidences is only the beginning of a long journey of healing.

The incident is the past, but how he made feel will always be sadly remembered.  

Life is beautiful!

Elizabeth:)