#MeToo

I live my life in front of the camera. Every day I show up for work and go on air sharing stories that matter to the community. Good hair days, bad hair days, waking up with a giant zit and all, it's my job. 

Just because it is my job to be in front of the camera does not give anyone the license to comment on my body. I don't look perfect every day, I'm human and some days I feel like I'm rocking it and other days I want to wear a paper bag over my head. Most people have bad days and don't have to worry about being judged for wearing their hair in a ponytail or wearing leggings, their clothing, necklace, hairstyle, makeup, but everything I wear is. 

Don't get me wrong I knew what I was walking into when I chose this career, however just because I'm a tv news reporter does not mean I'm not human. I still have feelings. I'm pretty dang good at not letting people's comments about my looks affect me, but there are some days where a comment is so mean it's like a punch to the gut.

I remember showing up for one interview where the person I was about to do a news story on told me I don't look as fat in person as I did on camera. Somehow I managed to not have my jaw drop open and pasted a smile on my face to get through the interview. I got back to the station and started pouring through old shows questioning if I was fat and picking apart every single flaw I could find. 

The problem was never me though. I was blaming myself for a problem that had nothing to do with me. 

It's the same way I was blaming myself for having my butt grabbed in Paris by a total stranger when I was just 16. In broken English he told me he just could not help himself. 

It's also the same reason I blamed myself for a guy forcing himself on me shortly after my 18th birthday. To this day thinking of this incident still makes my stomach churn.

My point here is this, the culture we live in often turns a blind eye to the bullying and the unwanted touches.

There is the #MeToo movement, but is it really going to create change? Is it going to stop guys from cat calling me while I'm out on a Friday night with friends? Is it going to stop people from touching others when it's clearly an unwanted advance? 

For so long society has blamed the victim. They've made the victim feel like the unwanted advances were their fault. Questions are asked like what were you wearing? Did you do something that made the other person think it's ok? 

When I was standing on a street corner in Paris I did NOTHING to warrant a strange man grabbing my butt in broad daylight in public. I should have turned around and punched him, but you know what I did? I questioned what I did to have this happen. When I was 18 and a guy forced himself on me I questioned if the shorts I was wearing were too short and made the guy feel like it was ok. I was so ashamed of the incident I never told anyone. I could have filed a police report and gotten the guy in serious trouble, but I society taught me that I had done something to warrant this guy acting like that. 

Screw that. I don't want to live in a world where people think it's ok to tell me I look fat on camera, or grab my butt, or force themselves on me. I really don't care what I'm wearing. Even if my shorts are so short that my butt is hanging out that does not give anyone the right to touch me when I don't want to be touched. 

There is change happening, but a lot more change needs to happen. Parents need to teach their kids it's not ok to touch someone when they don't want to be touched. People need to respect people's boundaries and understand that no means no. I also don't want to live in a world where people live in fear of hugging someone because it could be sexual harassment. There is a line that shouldn't be crossed, but no matter what no always means no. 

I think the #MeToo movement started an important conversation. I love how it's allowing men and women to step out of the shadows and say this has happened to me too and it's not ok. Harassment, sexual or not, is not ok and should never be tolerated. Ever. 

I have always preferred to keep my private life private, but stepping out and speaking up is something that should never be feared. I should have spoken up long ago, but I'm speaking up now and saying #MeToo. I don't want to be just another statistic. I want to help bring change. I want to be a part of the change so my beautiful baby cousins can live in a world where they don't have to fear being sexually harassed every time they walk into work or a bar or wherever. 

I want to be a part of a movement that's about changing the culture in which we live, speaking out against verbal and sexual harassment, and spreading kindness. The world needs all the kindness it can get. 

My hope is that anyone out there who reads this and has been struggling knows that you are not alone. Whatever harassment happened is NOT your fault and you are not alone. 

Cinnamon Rolls & the Super Bowl: Thinking Out Loud #75

Happy Thursday! What a week it's been. In some regards it's flown by, but it also feels like the longest week ever. Maybe it's because I'm super sleep deprived or because so much has happened in the past week. Regardless this will be short because a nap is definitely calling my name right now. So let's jump into this weeks thinking out loud. 

1. Are these not the biggest cinnamon rolls you've ever seen?! They had to at least be a few pounds, not to mention a bajillion calories. I'd be really impressed if one person was able to eat the entire thing because no photo does it justice- it's bigger than my head. I was doing a story with a bakery when I saw these and my jaw just dropped. I didn't even bother to ask how expensive they were because I'm guessing those bad boys cost a pretty penny. 

2. I've been starting work on the weekends at 7 a.m. It's disappointing to me because I don't get to go to the gym and lift since it doesn't open until 7 on weekends. I've been running and doing cardio before work though, but after 12 hours at work I'm dead. A lot of times I feel like a grandma because I will eat and go to bed, but I know my body needs the rest so no shame. Last Sunday was the Super Bowl and all I really cared about was the halftime show. I treated myself to a veggie omelette and after the halftime show I went to bed. What did you guys think of JT's performance?! I thought he was fantastic so I don't understand all the criticism🙆

3. Working weird hours on the weekends has my eating times all thrown off. Since I had breakfast super early I was starving by 10:30. Luckily I had thrown a rxbar into my work bag in case of an emergency, so I had something to ward off the hunger until it was a semi normal lunchtime. I'm not a snacker, but I feel like I almost have to on the weekends since I'm eating breakfast so early and I don't want to starve myself until lunch, no one likes a hangry Rachael...

4. This a much shorter than normal TOL post, but there has just been so much going on that I haven't had time to do much of anything. I came across this quote this week and it was just fitting. Life is so busy and so complicated. At times I wish I didn't have to deal with all that was going on (I'm pretty sure everyone thinks that at one time or another), but I know for me if I hadn't been through all the things in my past I would not be as strong as I am. I wouldn't have the same attitude about hardship that I do because I know that difficult times don't last and I'm never in it alone. Just like that old saying tough times don't last, tough people do.

Happy Thursday and have a terrific weekend!

What is your favorite snack food?

What is something that helps you get through the tough times?

ALL the Puppies: Thinking Out Loud #74

Happy Thursday! It feels like so much longer than a week because so much has happened. On the plus side it's been a week filled with a LOT of dogs, which is always amazing, but it's also been an incredibly long work week. A long nap is in order since it's my weekend😴 anyway, let's jump into this weeks thinking out loud so we can get to all the cute puppies🐶

1. Of course I have to start with Cora. Even though I was home less than 36 hours getting to see her again was the best. I miss her so much and hate being away from her even though I know she's in really good hands. My parents send me pictures and videos all the time, but it's not the same as actually spending time with her. Nothing will ever beat coming home to puppy kisses. 

2. More in the world of cute puppies, this is Addie. She is the sweetest pup and so gentle. I spent time with her and two other therapy dogs this week as they went through a local hospital visiting with patients and doctors. She's definitely a cuddler and I wanted to take her home with me. I think the doctors loved the dogs even more than the patients. It was awesome to see these massively important doctors just melt over adorable dogs, no one is immune to cute puppies.

3. My dog stalking ways have continued. I had to report from a protest this past weekend and leave it to me to find a spot in the crowd next to a dog😂 She was a service dog, but she was so well behaved and just a total sweetie. I've always thought service dogs are amazing, but seeing them at work has given me even more respect for all the work they do. Dogs are just the best🙌

4. It's hard to tell from this picture, but when I was flying back to Nebraska from Michigan we flew over this massive windmill farm. I've always found windmills fascinating and a really awesome source of energy, so to see hundreds and hundreds of them was really awesome, plus seeing windmills in real life is crazy. They're MASSIVE!

5. Dan and Shay's new song Tequila is SO GOOD! My best friend from back home and I are obsessed. It's such a beautiful song that I cannot stop listening to it. Have you listened to it? If you have what are your thoughts about it?

6. I had to throw in one more cute puppy. This guy came to visit us at the station. He's a trained PTSD dog. I spent some time talking with his owner and the training he has is pretty amazing. The dog can distinguish between when the veteran is having a nightmare that the dog just needs to go lay next to him or if he needs to be woken up. There's a ton of other things the dog could do so I was pretty floored at how smart the little fella was. 

7. This week I had to go with this quote and not just because it's about sparkles. There's been a few disappointing and weird things that have happened that have caused me to take a step back this week. I've just focused on staying positive, which I think makes a big difference. As my dad always used to say, crap happens, but if you have a good attitude through it all people will notice. Getting through rough times is a lot easier with a smile😁

Have a great Thursday and a terrific weekend🎉🎉🎉

How do you stay positive during difficult or frustrating times?

What is your favorite animal and why?