When it hits too close, too damn close home

When IT happens to someone you knew. Someone you met more than once. Someone you spoke to just the day before they met with that accident or were diagnosed with something terminal. Just the day before they got mugged. Or just the day before they were conned and raped. Thats when you realise that these things just dont happen in some distant planet. That two para mention in the paper isnt something that could happen to oh somebody. It could so easily be someone you love and care about. It could so easily have been you.

When it hits too close home, you can no longer ignore it, no longer read and forget about it. No longer can you say, 'Oh but if it was me, I'd have known all along he was up to something'. When it happens to someone you knew, the air empties out of your lungs and your mind freezes. The countless ways you know how to avoid or escape such a situation make no difference, because SHE DIDNT KNOW THEM. And for her, its too late now.

More than anything else its a reminder that the knowledge we possess is useless unless we dispense it. And quick.

If there is one tip I could put out here and ask you to never to forget, it is this:

Make a commitment this very minute to protect your body with everything you have. Respect your feelings. It's not rude to move away if someone moves too close, no matter how well you know him. It's not rude to decline an invitation if you have even the slightest inhibitions about taking a drop or a nightcap, no matter how nice he is being about it. And any moment you dont feel right about whats happening, say NO. Let him call you a tease - you can deal with the labels later. And if he doesn't listen - FIGHT! And no matter what happens - DONT GIVE UP!! Don't allow yourself to feel helpless. Look around, there will be something. Grab anything you find and go for it. Dont worry about hurting him. You can call an ambulance on your way home.

Self defence classes are not hogwash. Join one today if you can. Learn to protect yourself and your loved ones. I wish we all lived in safe cities where 'these things' never happen. But we don't and they do. The best gift you can give yourself is to learn to defend yourself. I cant emphasize this enough. Learn from books, people, Internet, whereever, from whomever, but LEARN TO DEFEND YOURSELF. There's no husband is strong enough, no god good enough to save you.