When I first started working in abortion, I wasn't as passionate about it as I am now. I knew I wanted to do work in women's issues but didn't have a lot of specific experience. I didn't know what particular direction I wanted to go in, and I knew almost nothing about abortion. I didn't necessarily see it as the most important issue facing women's health (I didn't think/know about serious threats to a woman's right to choose). This all obviously changed, and I realized how difficult abortion services are for women to access and the many barriers that are constantly being put in their way. It became more and more important to me and part of my everyday life.
I've had to scale back on my abortion work for various reasons - other life events happen and sometimes trump our passions. At first I really missed not doing abortion work daily. I really missed talking to the women and helping them when they had just about given up. With anything though, the more and more I'm away from the work, the less I think about it. I get caught up in my everyday life, in the new events I have happening. Then I read the other posts on the blog, think about what I want to write about, and those feelings come back.
Not only do I miss it, but I feel kind of bad. I feel like I've abandoned abortion work and that I'm now a somewhat feaux abortioneer. I've thought about becoming more involved again and maybe in different, more manageable ways. Maybe I could start escorting occasionally at the local Planned Parenthood, I could become involved on a part-time volunteer level with a local fund, or maybe I could get involved locally with Obama's campaign (because he is FAR preferable to any of those Republican a-holes).
This is something I think about and toy with a lot. I beat myself up about it (whether it's fair or not). Maybe we all move on at some point. It may not be realistic to think I would work in direct service abortion work forever. It's not sustainable, and it's difficult to grow professionally. Have any of you felt this way with something in your life - like you abandoned your passion to be practical and then beat yourself up about it late? Because I sure hope I'm not the only one.
Monday, January 9, 2012
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My abandoned passion for now is being a midwifery student(bummer heavy sigh), instead I am choosing to be practical ie being a mum and wife (husband has had many health emergencies this yr). I wish I could do it all but it's impossible without my husband being able to hold down the fort and be parent on duty. Will be trying to go back to school in a year :)
ReplyDeleteBtw, can we get the word out that Operation Rescue is trying to run a holocaust type anti-abortion ad during the Superbowl? If enough of us pro-choicers email NBC in protest hopefully it will not air.
http://jezebel.com/operation-rescue/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randall_Terry#2012_presidential_candidacy
AnonymousAbortionMe, I'm sorry to hear about your husband's health problems. I hope he is able to get better and that you get the chance to get back to school. Having to put aside your passions is difficult, especially when you have such a challenge in your life.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't heard about the Operation Rescue ad. Thanks for giving us a heads up on that.
FCC Loophole May Allow Graphic Anti-Abortion Super Bowl Ads
ReplyDeleteHis current appeal for funds -- he apparently hasn't yet raised the money from the ads -- is in the form of a fundraising letter Terry sent to supporters in which he goes after "The Abortion Gang," a pro-choice group that gained some media attention when one of their bloggers called for supporters to make small donations to local pro-choice organizations every time Tim Tebow (who starred in a Focus On the Family-sponsored anti-abortion ad during the 2010 Super Bowl) scored a touchdown. Terry wants to retaliate by raising enough money to air graphic ads showing images of dead fetuses in 40 cities during this year's big game.
http://slatest.slate.com/posts/2012/01/11/randall_terry_graphic_anti_abortion_ads_during_super_bowl.html
Terry is hoping to air the 30 -second spots in 25 television markets on Super Bowl Sunday.
ReplyDeleteHe has already purchased ad time in 11 markets. The ad will air in Grand Junction during the Super Bowl. He has purchased time in pre-game shows for major markets including, Kansas City, Minneapolis and St. Louis.
http://www.9news.com/news/article/243086/339/Graphic-images-of-abortion-enter-pres-campaign-