a moment

I was watching Oprah, where a woman whose boyfriend had shot her in the face, appeared to describe her trauma. She had lost an eye, her nose and mouth. It was hard not to gasp. Her boyfriend had been abusing her for eight years. He took offense with her talking to other men; he asked her to wear baggy clothing so she wouldn't show off her figure; he hit her; he yelled; he pulled out his gun on a previous occasion. But throughout all of this, she still loved him.

While i was watching this, and it was hard to even watch, i had to let Jon know that i appreciated him for everything he didn't do- no drinks, no drugs, no smoking, no abuse- Jon is just so kind that i often take it for granted. But today, i was reminded that there are men out there who make earth a living hell for women; there are men who don't respect women and belittle them constantly.

After years of being told that i was too dumb, too fat, too troublesome, i am now being told, by someone who has only known me for a year, that i am beautiful, creative, intelligent. I am princess. It just makes me stop and think and give thanks.