“It makes ME uncomfortable…”

I asked one of my friends to give me some constructive feedback on my blog.  After talking to her, she said something that though it made perfect sense to me I found it to be really interesting.  She told me I needed to make my blog a bit more accessible so that more people would respond and share.  She felt some barrier while reading the posts; like the “general audience” (those who haven’t been abused) wouldn’t connect as easily partially because my posts are…about me.

When I decided to blog, my goal was to share and encourage. Thinking that my postings would create a space for people to learn, be aware, pass it on, for survivors to find comfort and for EVERYONE to participate.  I do want to use various mediums (videos, articles, stories,etc) in order to have a well-rounded experience for my viewers but I also think that approach is easy.  Any ‘ol body can talk about incestuous child abuse/child sexual abuse but there’s something especially rich about getting the story, the “underbody” from a real live survivor.  My attempt here is to share life through the lens of  someone who has lived it.  My life is just a springboard for a universal issue.

To be honest, making folks uncomfortable doesn’t bother me.  Child abuse should make more people uncomfortable.  People should squirm right into a movement for change.  I see that as a first and crucial sign of possibly making a difference.  The funny thing is people comment all the time on things they know little to nothing or about.  While I’m not encouraging displays of ignorance, I am firmly saying that I want the worry of not knowing what to say or it not “being your place” to have an opinion to comfortably vanish.   People shy away from survivors for plenty of other reasons.  Discomfort cannot be one of them.   It’s not that I don’t understand the hesitation but there can’t keep being excuses not to dialog about a trauma that can cripple a person’s lifespan.  Simply put: there is a need for   people to be talking about child sexual abuse.  Start adding to the numbers.