Last night on t.v., I was particularly drawn into a story in which three young escorts were murdered in NYC. Granted, it was a created story, but those things stem from reality.
The female detective that looked like the three victims volunteered to go under uncover to try and catch the perpetrator. Her male detective partner DID NOT want her to go undercover, but she wasn’t going to be deterred by a mere male. Even if it was risky and perhaps to some, totally stupid, she was willing to take the risk.
Primarily the reason the female detective wanted to go undercover is because she was on her own at a very young age, although she was never an escort. She could identify with the young girls who had lost their way and has just been trying to find their footing in an often scary world.
She knew that just one toss of the dice, she may not have become a detective. She could have been a dead girl too!
While watching this undercover operation go down, I could identify with that female detective.
She wanted to make a difference.
She wanted to catch the deviants so they would stop murdering young women.
She wanted the pain she survived as a young woman to MEAN SOMETHING.
She wanted to make it clear that she was willing to give her all to save a life.
All this got me thinking about how so many people step into the darkness so they can shine a light on the problem and bring forth healing for those mired in the dark.
And it reminded me once that I too was once a lost, running-for-my-life-girl. I didn’t know where to turn and I was fortunate to have a Grandma who let me live with her to finish high school. Thankfully I had somewhere to run to. I also promptly pissed my Grandma off by enlisting in the military, but that decision saved my life in many ways.
My experience escaping from a hoarded home was painful and it has taken me many years to get here. To this moment; where I fully own that history. To the present, where I acknowledge the despair and frustration of having a “non-normal” upbringing. To the joy I now find in encouraging others who need to know they are not alone!
Then on to the full awareness of how hard it is to navigate the path of having a parent that hoards and resists help in almost every aspect.
Thankfully, I, like the female detective, never had to discover the harsh path of being an escort.
Thankfully, I, like the female detective, understand that it’s righteous and life affirming to take the despair and the pain and the AWARENESS of our own struggle and use it to shine a light where others will not tread.
This light shining is never an easy road to take as it may make some uncomfortable or angry. Sometimes it may mean we are disowned or shunned in some other way.
BUT, if your mission is to shine a light, tread where others won’t; it will be deeply imbedded in your soul and at some point the light will be turned ON. All that will matter is that now the light is ON! It will never dim or burn out. It will shine brighter and brighter because the truth will always come out.
If we are lucky, we shine bright. Or else? Well, we will come down in flames because no matter what the LIGHT MUST SHINE.
One of my missions is to empower and encourage people to claim their own inherent value. If this resonates with you and increasing your self-value is something you know you NEED TO DO for you, then please join us at Extreme Self Worth.