Go with your gut
One year back in my college heyday, I took a six-week, women-only class called RAD – Rape Aggression Defense. Each class typically began with a lecture and then we spent the rest of the time practicing some life-saving moves that would help us defend ourselves against an aggressor.
I remember a few of the moves. Thankfully, I have never had to use them. But, what I remember more than the moves was a particular lecture where the instructor told a story about the value of a woman’s intuition – this “sixth sense” that we women have that alerts us of how to respond to a situation.
Ultimately, the point of the lecture was to go with your gut – if something feels wrong, or off, or even right, trust your gut that it truly is and make a call based on that.
I doubted my gut for many years – believing that analysis and careful evaluation of situations would surely provide more clarity than going on a gut feeling. I’m not saying that this approach can never provide more clarity…I think most of us make a living analyzing, evaluating, and then planning. But, my gut was never wrong either. And I’ve come back around to realizing that. And going with it. My gut told me to...
Leave and work through that pain to move forward.
Apply to the job I wanted and knew I deserved.
Stand up and tell them how it is.
Sit down and relax for a minute.
Swipe. Respond (or not).
Lay off the coffee and sleep, missy.
---
During the final RAD “exam” – “Fight Night” – we executed the moves we learned first against one aggressor (a well-protected campus police officer) and second against two aggressors (you got it, two well-protected campus police officers). The goal was to take them down and then run for your life – because, as they explained, in these situations the best outcome is for you to see the sunrise the next day. Our final exam was videotaped and after everyone in the class finished their Fight Night, we watched it back all together...
I will say, I kicked some serious ass (*ahem* balls). My gut told me everything I needed to know and do. And even though it’s been raining here for what feels like the past month, the sun rises every day and shines brightly through my bedroom window.
with love,
KB
I remember a few of the moves. Thankfully, I have never had to use them. But, what I remember more than the moves was a particular lecture where the instructor told a story about the value of a woman’s intuition – this “sixth sense” that we women have that alerts us of how to respond to a situation.
Ultimately, the point of the lecture was to go with your gut – if something feels wrong, or off, or even right, trust your gut that it truly is and make a call based on that.
I doubted my gut for many years – believing that analysis and careful evaluation of situations would surely provide more clarity than going on a gut feeling. I’m not saying that this approach can never provide more clarity…I think most of us make a living analyzing, evaluating, and then planning. But, my gut was never wrong either. And I’ve come back around to realizing that. And going with it. My gut told me to...
Leave and work through that pain to move forward.
Apply to the job I wanted and knew I deserved.
Stand up and tell them how it is.
Sit down and relax for a minute.
Swipe. Respond (or not).
Lay off the coffee and sleep, missy.
---
During the final RAD “exam” – “Fight Night” – we executed the moves we learned first against one aggressor (a well-protected campus police officer) and second against two aggressors (you got it, two well-protected campus police officers). The goal was to take them down and then run for your life – because, as they explained, in these situations the best outcome is for you to see the sunrise the next day. Our final exam was videotaped and after everyone in the class finished their Fight Night, we watched it back all together...
I will say, I kicked some serious ass (*ahem* balls). My gut told me everything I needed to know and do. And even though it’s been raining here for what feels like the past month, the sun rises every day and shines brightly through my bedroom window.
with love,
KB
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