"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world."
To some of you it's going to sound a little "way out" for me to say this, but when the idea for Sexography came to me, it felt almost like it was handed to me from somewhere out in the ethers - like it came from outside of me. And when it happened I didn't completely understand why. I mean, yeah, I'm a writer and I feel the need to express myself, but there was something about the book that felt bigger than me... and I couldn't quite figure out what the hell that meant. Until tonight.
read more ↓
It should come as no surprise to anyone that my epiphany came as I was reading the Vanity Fair article on Madonna, particularly the part where she speaks about how she got the calling to work in Africa. For the past month I've been spinning like a top on this online fundraiser, and although my intentions are pure, there was still a part of me questioning what the bigger picture was. Kind of like when I was going through all the mess that I was going through in the book. I constantly told myself, "There's a reason why you're going through all this, and if you don't die it's because there's something profoundly big for you to do." I thought that's why I wrote the book, and in part, it was.
But the book itself isn't enough. And neither is the fundraiser. However, they're both key components to what the bigger picture is, and the bigger picture is this:
I want to help girls and women who have been sexually assaulted and abused.
I want to help them find their strength and courage.
I want to help give them a voice so that they feel strong and whole.
I want to help them find a sense of self again, and discover who it is that they are after what they've experienced.
I want to help a new generation of young girls in finding their self worth so that they know when to leave a situation that could get out of hand, and how to safeguard themselves.
I want to help change the language we use around abuse and assault so victims no longer feel shame.
I want to encourage healed victims to pay it forward and help lead the generation that comes after them.
It all starts with the online fundraiser.
I don't think I've ever been so passionate about something in my life. Ever.
Thanks to those of you who have already enlisted and are spreading the word. Thanks to those of you who maybe aren't blogging, but are planning on donating funds to RAINN anyway. Either way, I'm eternally grateful that you've agreed to be part of this.
Let's go change the world.
↑ close
