"I Am Loved and Respected."

Years ago, on my way to a celebratory event, I noticed my discomfort.  I had been looking forward to seeing many out of state family members and of course great food and conversation.  I realized that my discomfort was concerning a particular distant family member that would be there. I asked myself why I felt this way and it came to me; I felt repeatedly disrespected by him. Whenever we'd meet, he would get in my space, mess up my hair (I'm much older than him and higher in the hierarchy of our family) and speak in an ignorant, racist manner that he knew I distain.  I remembered a Law of Attraction video about setting your intentions before you go somewhere so I began reciting this affirmation in the car, "I am loved and respected," over and over.  When I arrived at the event, he was the first to greet me and guess what he said.  "It's so nice to see you; you're so loved and respected."  He said it again when he invited his son to greet me.  I thought, "I've got the power!"  I've been practicing the Law of Attraction ever since.

So what is bringing up this old memory today?  The Barbie Movie!  Spoiler Alert if you haven't seen it but it's about "Barbie Land" where Barbie is "loved and respected."  She knows nothing else since all the "Barbies" are successful, brilliant, beautiful and happy.  When she ventures out to the "Real World," she finds out that women hate her since they are not feeling loved and respected in the real world where men still rule, make more money, have more power and think they can control, molest, abuse and disrespect women at will. In my feminist opinion, centuries ago, ever since Man realized how superior women are, they have dedicated themselves to keeping it a secret from the world by continually pushing the narrative of the "Little Woman."  Barbie was happier in her "Barbie Land" bubble.  I can understand why.  

So now I live in a "Lisa Land" bubble.  Ever since the Pandemic, I've been blissfully working from home seeing counseling patients via video.  I feel rewarded, loved and respected and happy here.  I have most things delivered and even though the Pandemic has become an endemic, I still choose to limit my time "out among them." (a reference to the movie, "Witness.") lol

I do leave "Lisa Land" periodically and have mostly positive interactions in "The Real World," but when I do experience disrespectful men who exhibit passive aggressive behavior and gaslighting language, I use healthy boundaries and make it clear that it is not OK.  Whether they take responsibility for their behavior or not, I remind myself of a Maya Angelou quote:  "When people show you who they are, believe them."

"When women thrive, all society benefits."  

       -Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the UN