On...

I am privileged in a way that only white, middle-class Americans can be. I grew up in a nice house, went to great schools (elementary through grad), and was always secure in the knowledge that I would have enough... Even in my most challenging moments, I have always had enough: money, freedom, medical assistance, education, safety. Always enough. Let's take this a step further because I am also privileged in a way that only white, middle-class American women can be. You see, I have been afforded the luxury of being able to play dumb  or to at least turn a blind eye  to what is going on in the world. I can proclaim it too much to deal with,  turn off my tv, and go about my business - I can do this because the things that are going on in our country right now are not directly impacting me. I am privileged. I cannot change the circumstance of my birth. Quite frankly, I don't really want to. I both acknowledge and am grateful for my privilege. I think, though, that this...

These last four years, I've had a series of... let's call them "grand-scale challenges," with which I have been tested. I do not think, however, that the test of these challenges has been one to determine strength. I may have been dangerously close to the edge of the cliff at times (maybe now), but I know that I am strong enough to hang on - I am sure of this. Instead, perhaps the message for me is that it is okay to accept help, and even possibly okay, to ask for it. You see, I am not the kind of girl who subscribes to the fairytale - you know, the one where I am a damsel in distress who needs the knight in shining armor to come swooping in to save the day? I'm more of the "I'll do it myself" variety. And for this reason, I have a lot of trouble not answering the "what can I do to help you?" question with "I'm doing just fine, you don't need to do anything at all." I stumble on the "yes, I need help... her...