Still Learning Lessons From History

Today is December 6, 2017 a day of reflection for 2 sorrowful events in Canadian history. On this day in 1917 the Halifax Explosion occurred. Two ships one carrying explosives collided with one another in the harbor creating a massive fireball and killed 2000 people and left incredible damage. Laws were changed to improve the shipping of dangerous goods.

The city of Boston sent EMT personnel to Halifax to assist with the wounded and the recovery. Every year since 1970 Halifax has sent a Christmas tree to Boston to serve as the cities official tree. Beautiful partnership and generosity between cities.

The other event was the Montreal massacre. In 1989 14 vibrant and energetic lives were taken by a young man who had a beef against women. Every year the anniversary of the massacre has since been commemorated as the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.
It also led to more stringent gun control legislation.

This year the day is more poignant than ever in light of the daily revelations about sexual assault and harassment against women. Today Time magazine announced their person of the year. It is not a person. It is the ME TOO movement. A movement that has taken the world by storm and is a long time coming.

I cannot fathom the emotional, mental and physical anguish women have had to endure. Rise up and continue to rise up. Your voices and stories are important and need to be heard.

What men once thought of as joke can no longer be viewed or shared. We have to learn to change our perspective. After all we are the weaker gender.

I would like to be able to say ME TOO, however, I say it in a different way. At many times throughout my life I have been bullied, taken advantage of, called names.

Some examples, in grade one I could not tie my shoes and was sent to the bathroom until I could tie my shoes. I spent many a lonely time in the bathroom learning to tie my shoes. At the age of 8, I started wearing glasses and was called 4 eyes. In my teen years I had a huge acne problem which people made fun of. Not to mention I was shy and immature.

At 15 my parents separated and I lived with my mother and essentially became a mamma's boy which I am only now starting to shed. I am 6 & 8 years younger than my brothers and am still seen as the little brother who they have to protect. At work in the past I have been bullied by managers and peers.

 Yet here I am at 53 surviving and thriving happier and healthier than I have ever been. I have a wonderful career and a beautiful loving and supportive partner. I am in love with her children and our 20 month old grandson who adds so much joy to my life.