I'm with you.

I have not posted on here in quite some time. I've been keeping busy (distracted), but a lot has happened. Some of what has happened has led me to this post, specifically. I love the message behind Colbie Caillat's song "Try." Songs that promote inner beauty and self-confidence are always a hit. However, after listening to the song a few times, I realized I could tweak the lyrics a bit to hopefully help another group of women: women who have survived rape and sexual violence.

I have come to realize that there are often two major changes in a woman who survives these horrible circumstances. She either hides away, feels disgusting and/or shameful, and tries to become as small as possible OR she decides that her body is now worthless, that if he can take what he wants regardless, why is she protecting it anymore? Either way, you end up with a beaten down woman, one who usually believes it is her fault, and one who will hopefully resonate with this song. You don't have to hide.

"Hide," a rewrite of "Try" by Colbie Caillat

Put a sweatshirt on

Tie your hair up

Look away

Take the longer path

Skip that class

They can’t see you. Do they see you?

Keep it to yourself

It was your fault

Hide the scars

This is what you want, to be numb.

They can’t see you. Is it over?

You don’t have to cry all night

You don’t have to stay in bed all day

You just have to breathe in, breathe in, breathe in, breathe in

You don’t have to run from everyone

You don't have to hide, hide, hide, hide

You don't have to hide, hide, hide, hide

You don't have to hide, hide, hide, hide

You don't have to hide

You don't have to hide

Oh

Get your sexy on
At the bar
Take too many shots
You don't have a say
Give it up
It's not yours now
They can have it

Wait a second 
Why should you stop giving your consent
No matter what they did 
In the end you are still you
And we love you

You don't have to drink too much
You don't have to give it all away
You just have to look in, look in, look in, look in 
your heart and know that you are brave

You don't have to go or stay
You don't have to let it be the end
You just have to talk to, talk to, talk to, talk to
someone, who can help you heal

You don't have to hide, hide, hide, hide

You don't have to hide, hide, hide, hide

You don't have to hide, hide, hide, hide

You don't have to hide

You don't have to hide, hide, hide, hide

You don't have to hide, hide, hide, hide

You don't have to hide, hide, hide, hide

You don't have to hide

You don't have to hide

Mm, mm

You don't have to change yourself
You don't have to listen to society
You just have to know that, know that, know that, know that
You are beautiful to me

You don't have to hide, hide, hide, hide

You don't have to hide, hide, hide, hide

You don't have to hide

You don't have to hide

Go back to your class
Keep your head up
Take a breath
Look into the mirror, you survived
You can love you
You are still you


I hope this matters to someone someday. xo