I was *so* wrong...
Feb. 14th, 2006 08:15 amLast Sunday I attended the Impact Women's Basics "graduation" in SF for ![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
tenacious_snail's class. Earlier, I'd been rather dubious, even wary that I'd somehow become a target myself in mundane situations. I was completely wrong! Those scenarios demonstrated are nothing like any consensual interactions, so far apart that I felt silly for my previous fears.
As well as sheepish regarding my earlier lackluster support of Les. She was strong, and competent, and dispatched her assailants with strength and determination. I was happy for her and proud to be there to watch. She rocked! :^)
Sunday, I felt nervous, going in... I knew it was highly likely to be traumatic and triggering for me, personally. I went anyway, to support my sweetie. As well as confronting a few inner demons of my own ... had flashbacks from past assaults, trembling. The "reversal" scenes were particularly triggering, and the shouting. At least none of the assailants carried a 2x4 club... (shudder). I was twitchy, and not breathing, and I'm grateful forinflectionpoint and klrmn for sitting on either side, holding my hand at times and reminding me to breathe. And yesterday, I crashed a bit afterwards.
But first and foremost, we were all there Sunday to cheer on these strong women, as they faced their fears and muggers on the mat. Yelling encouragement, and even coaching "there's an opening! Go for the eyes!", and cheering when they'd finish and flushed, would scan for status, stomp their foot and shout "NO!" Bravo to all of them, including my sweetie. And I'm going to add the organization to my CFC charity list for next year.
tenacious_snail's class. Earlier, I'd been rather dubious, even wary that I'd somehow become a target myself in mundane situations. I was completely wrong! Those scenarios demonstrated are nothing like any consensual interactions, so far apart that I felt silly for my previous fears. As well as sheepish regarding my earlier lackluster support of Les. She was strong, and competent, and dispatched her assailants with strength and determination. I was happy for her and proud to be there to watch. She rocked! :^)
Sunday, I felt nervous, going in... I knew it was highly likely to be traumatic and triggering for me, personally. I went anyway, to support my sweetie. As well as confronting a few inner demons of my own ... had flashbacks from past assaults, trembling. The "reversal" scenes were particularly triggering, and the shouting. At least none of the assailants carried a 2x4 club... (shudder). I was twitchy, and not breathing, and I'm grateful for
inflectionpoint and klrmn for sitting on either side, holding my hand at times and reminding me to breathe. And yesterday, I crashed a bit afterwards.But first and foremost, we were all there Sunday to cheer on these strong women, as they faced their fears and muggers on the mat. Yelling encouragement, and even coaching "there's an opening! Go for the eyes!", and cheering when they'd finish and flushed, would scan for status, stomp their foot and shout "NO!" Bravo to all of them, including my sweetie. And I'm going to add the organization to my CFC charity list for next year.
