Why Do You Blog – Daily Prompt QOTD

As a former reporter I hadn’t planned on becoming a blogger. I was tired of the lies, half-truths and motives I came across in the business. Sure, you expect a politician to lie to you. That comes with the territory. But it hits different when harassment comes from inside.

Remembering back to my beginning when a college friend asked me to cover sports for the student newspaper I was thrilled. I love sports played them throughout high school and know a great many that turned professional. It was the perfect gig and when the faculty advisor agreed the excitement got greater.

For a while I juggled the newspaper and doing public relations for the schools’ women’s fastpitch softball team. Travel, bad food, crowed motel rooms now that was fun.

But I had to make a living as I was basically on my own since I had turned sixteen after my grandmother passed away.

First couple years after high school graduation, at seventeen, I was working at a neighbor’s pop (soda for you southern folks) distribution center. Once I turned eighteen, I went to work for a bowling alley owned by friend of the family. But I needed more…hell couldn’t even afford the bare necessities…back then.

Enter a small hometown newspaper publisher, editor, reporter (He did it all) that finally admitted he needed help and opened a door for me to do what I had become to enjoy, write. I jumped at the opportunity!

Years later I’d relocate south with a girlfriend to work at another paper. With it brought great joy and a decent salary. Interviews with state senators and even a now former president highlighted the gig. But inside the office walls of the paper, turmoil resided.

As a twenty-five-year-old I had lived long enough to determine my own values and beliefs. And they were about to be tested when the papers publisher asked me to sleep with his wife.

Now I can see the red flags clear as day. Back then I was blind to it all. The invitations to their home for barbeques, drinks after work, the choice assignments with all the perks were nothing but part of their plan.

I’d like to believe I still would’ve said ‘no’ had I been younger and not committed to someone at the time. But it really doesn’t matter now as they’ve both long since passed and I feel the same today as I did back then. One should never have to sleep with someone for success nor advancement.

Yet, with this topic, ‘Why do you blog‘ and the year plus therapy sessions and meditation classes I’ve gone through; it has given me newfound strength to speak up.

William Penn once wrote, “Right is always right, irrespective of whether the majority agrees or disagrees, while wrong remains wrong, even if it garners widespread support.” I tend to agree.

I said, “No” to them that day. Yet it wasn’t the end as he and his wife, a couple in their sixties at the time, persisted. And to the day that I left, not once did they give up trying to lure me in. They wanted pictures and videos and made it clear that they’d be the only ones seeing them if I agreed.

However, I was not wanting to become their personal porn star, as that and sleeping with a married woman were clearly against those values and beliefs I held.

As time passed, assignments got worse, and my salary remained stagnant. Then one day I just walked away. No notice, no goodbyes, no nothing. I just left. And until now, only four people I know were aware of my story. To them I say thank you for being in my trusted circle as it took a lot of faith to open up about this portion of my life.

Upon hearing of their passing, sometime later, I contacted their daughter whom I thought I was close with back when it occurred. Her and I hadn’t spoken since I left, and she claimed to have not remembered me after answering my call.

Nonetheless, I wished her my condolences and hung up the phone, not knowing if she ever knew how poorly her parents had treated me and used that as an excuse to hide her own shame.

Sexual harassment is wrong period. But having it happen to you as a young man brings all sorts of other difficulties not just the who will believe you syndrome. When it happened, the subject was rarely spoken of in the news by women, forbit a young man accuse someone or worst yet a prominent couple.

That’s why I gave it all up. Writing wasn’t fun anymore in a world filled with people that have ulterior motives. Although I did return to do public relations for a few years afterwards, that was a bit different. It didn’t require a charming demeanor nor the day-to-day encounter with people in power.

Seven years later I married, and my life headed into a totally different direction. But the turmoil followed and it ended quite nasty. In doing so, it ‘Harden’ed My Heart.’

Flashforward another decade or so where I found myself with a broken heart from someone I still deeply care for, heart disease and cancer; I wonder what The Universe has against me as I fight for my life, not only physically, but mentally as well.

That’s why I started this blog. In it, I attempt to encompass a multitude of subjects from heartache and health to travel and fun. But mostly ‘I Blog to Heal‘ from life’s uncertainties. And I write because ‘I Am Me‘ and think everyone’s story is word worthy!

If you enjoy my website, please consider a small donation to help me keep it afloat at paypal.me/justmeric. Thank You.

You can find my sites on Linktree.