Edipus's Go Fund Me campaign has FINALLY started and I couldn't be more excited. It's been a long time coming and I couldn't be more pleased at how people are responding to it.

I just hope everybody that sees it gives and then shares. It truly is like campaigning!

It's funny because I really don't know a lot of people but the ones I do know seem to be part of huge cliques and networks. Weird.

Here's hoping they have generous friends!

If you're reading this and have donated - thank you.

If you reading this and haven't donated - go here.  :)

E x p o s e d

Exposure by accident is tricky. When you choose to do it to yourself, it's even trickier.

A friend of mine asked me some time ago if I was ever willing to share my story to the public. I kindly reminded her that I had in fact told my story - in bits and pieces - through radio interviews or speaking casually to friends. To which she volleyed back to me: exactly! Speaking through interviews or to friends about my past, she informed, wasn't the same thing as putting it down in black and white so everyone - Edipus supporters, friends, acquaintances, strangers - could see it.

I couldn't argue with that.

What I could argue about was the simple fact that people get tired of hearing stories. People are degraded by stories. They run from stories and especially if they're about rape. Also - can't people just figure out that because I'm petitioning Edipus to the public makes me related to the subject matter? Can't they put two and two together? Apparently not but that's ok. I spoke to a lot people about this and they totally agreed with my friend: tell your story. It wasn't/isn't about being ashamed about my past. I will NEVER be ashamed or blame myself in any way. That remains fixed and will never waver. It was and is about the exposure. Exposing yourself always seems daunting and a little pushy. Plus our society loves exposure, it feeds off of it and we love to exploit it until it dries up and blows away. But the flip side to this weirdo kind of thinking is, really? Are you serious? The revelation was a simple one: You do have control of what will be said just like you have control over what you're typing at this very moment. Chill out, homie.

So I did. I chilled out and then I wrote my bio. And I'm really, really pleased about how it came out. It isn't too flashy or narcissistic (yuck) but it isn't droll or filled with an insensate delivery. It just is and just like Sinatra (cue music!) I did it my way. Cheesy, I know but it had to be said.

If you're interested, check it out here. I'm very proud of it.

The Big Island

Yesterday I participated in Break Free Org's 5k marathon in Oakland. This lovely organization helps to combat human trafficking through education and fundraising events. It was wonderful to see so many people come out and show support for a great charity that helps so many people. Sex slavery is on the rise even more so now then it was a decade ago and it's important that we do something about it.

My race bib on Instagram

I don't know what it's like to be trafficked but as a rape survivor I do know that feeling of your body temporarily not belonging to you and the indoctrinated belief that you are a possession and not a person. Whether the duration of the assault lasts five minutes or five years the recovering process is often the same. Oppression is oppression, albeit human trafficking, rape or domestic violence and it must be eradicated. What can we do about it? We can run, walk, talk, listen and educate ourselves and others. We are not on an island by ourselves. This is not 'your world' and we are not just living in it. I am here and so are you. And there are others too: people that are living but are also hurting and need help and a little compassion. It's not your sole duty to save everyone but it is yours to help someone.

Edipus hopes to partner with Break Free for an event in the future. In the meantime, I encourage you to check out their website and learn more here.

Let's take care of one another. The island is big enough.