new year’s resolutions: 12 days of ymf-mas
This is Day 7 of the 12 Days of YMF-Mas! Whether you love or dread the holidays, we’re here to help make spirits bright. Thanks for reading, and happy holidays!
At the beginnings of most years, I resolve to do things like exercise, study, and eat fewer Cheetos. For 2015, I’m making two, more practical resolutions:
*~*~New Year’s Resolutions for the Reduction of Bullshit~*~*
1. I resolve to stop preserving the peace
As I was writing this list in the Seattle airport, a man sat down next to me and asked what I was working on. When I said that I was writing an article about feminism, he asked more questions and I answered them as briefly as I could.
After a moment of silence, he asked if I would rather “have a corporate job or be desired by many.” I responded that I had a deadline and didn’t have time to talk. I added that I didn’t even know him. He told me that I should expect to be approached by strangers because I was sitting in an airport snack shack. I said that I was clearly busy, and he admonished me not to be rude to people trying to get in my pants “get to know [me]”.
I am done appeasing those people who try to dictate how I spend my time and with whom I spend it. I am done staying quiet to preserve the peace. I resolve to stand up for myself, even if that means (God forbid) making strange men at airport snack shacks feel unwelcome.
2. I resolve to cut myself a break
I’m not taking shit from other people anymore. I also resolve not to take it from myself.
I won’t always feel confident enough to speak up or walk away from bad situations. When I don’t have the courage—when I’m tired, scared, or otherwise unable—I resolve to forgive myself and move on.
Here’s to a new year, with considerably less bullshit.
Grace studies political science at Brigham Young University. She is deathly afraid of flamingos.
Young Mormon Feminists 
2 Responses to “new year’s resolutions: 12 days of ymf-mas”
Oh, well done! I congratulate you on your resolve not to be either silenced or bullied (even by yourself).
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