And another chapter begins

Our business is probably ending. It's not our choice, but our landlord's. If we can't find another location within a few days, we're basically done. 13 1/2 years and it all ends when we finally stand up for our rights. Listening to Melissa Harris-Perry's show this morning, I learned about a woman who did the same thing and is now received rape and death threats. And then, her employer fired her. Just for standing up for what she believed in. She did nothing to deserve any of this but to set boundaries. 

The details of anyone's story really doesn't matter in the broader scheme of things. What matters is that anyone who has a problem is then viewed as the problem. The lowest common denominator wins. I find that odd. I guess I shouldn't, though, because this sort of thing is rampant. You don't protest anything without consequences. You'd think that the consequences would happen to whatever or whomever you're protesting about, but that's not what happens. I refused to talk to a dentist who was committing insurance fraud against me and my insurance company and wouldn't you know, he wrote me a scathing two page letter telling me what a horrible person I am. All for cancelling my appointment due to his little insurance fraud issue. 

With the NRA and the gun-rights advocates appearing to control the discourse on the availability of assault weapons, etc. it's disheartening to see that the majority voice in the country is being discounted and denigrated. The same is true with marriage equality and violence against women. As soon as someone stands up, the threats and consequences begin.  And there doesn't seem to be much the average person can do to stop it without incurring legal fees that may result in nothing happening. For many of us, it's just too costly financially to mount any defense.

But if I've learned anything over the last couple of years, you don't give your power away to anyone. No matter what the consequences, you have to remain true to your beliefs. In our case, this means ending a business quickly without the benefit of having any closing sales. Maybe that's a blessing in disguise as it would have been extremely emotional anyway. We don't have time for that now.

But you never know, perhaps something magical will happen. It has before. If not, then this feels like the right time for that new chapter to begin.