Be the helper.

It's been 5 years this month since I left a job I loved after being retaliated against for reporting the sexual harassment of a young woman by her male boss, which culminated in a chair being thrown across a room. Speaking up had its consequences. I was isolated, banned from meetings, kept from my assigned projects. It was traumatic at the time, stressful, anxiety-inducing. I quit. All for speaking up and doing the right thing and trying to protect other young women from experiencing the same toxic masculinity. Five years later, I can tell you it still is hard. I often wonder late at night if I did the right thing. I set our family back financially. I lost my confidence. I did not lose my story or my integrity, though. I am slowly getting my fierce back. I accept I took the higher path, which is never the easier path. The most worthwhile things are the hardest things. I want to always be one of the helpers. For anyone else considering speaking up about what you're seeing happen to others, know that it will not be easy, but it will be worth it.