So as many of you know, yesterday was the Pro-Life Day of Silent Solidarity.  Now, I knew that giving up my voice for 24 hours was going to be difficult, and I knew that some people wouldn’t understand but I was ready for the challenge.

I woke up Tuesday morning to an orange-red sunrise, and not long after I placed my first piece of tape over my mouth did my sister start asking me questions.  I was surprised with how well she could understand me, but I still couldn’t communicate too well.  We took some pictures, and got ready to go shopping.

Before we left, my mother decided to question my support in Pro-Life, (and my sister had no problem joining her) and I found that situation frustrating because I couldn’t defend myself and my beliefs.  I just stood there and listened to the somewhat insulting words she had to say, and then my sister and I left when she was finished…

It was about 1 pm, and Bree and I were at Plato’s Closet.  It was there that I spoke my first two of four words.  (We both stood there in shock for a second… And then she laughed at me.)  I wasn’t wearing the duct tape when we went into the store because… Well… Duct tape hurts!  Plus, it doesn’t taste very good… So yeah… Anyway!  The second (and last) time I spoke was it Borders.  I was trying to get in and someone was trying to get out, and we were kinda doing that polite “you-go-first” dance and neither of us would go… So I told her “go ahead”… Again, Bree and I just stopped… I didn’t utter another word the rest of the day.

I felt so bad that I couldn’t keep my mouth shut for 24 hours, but then I remembered that I didn’t do this to test myself… I did it to support something I believe in… I did it to give up something everyone takes for granted… I did it to raise awareness to a crisis… I did it in hopes of making a difference. 

Now, do I think I made a difference? No.  But I did learn something about myself from this experience.  I learned that I listen to what people have to say, but I don’t always do what they say.  I learned that I don’t have a problem with openly supporting what I believe in, and I don’t fear people with opposing beliefs.  I learned that I don’t care how stupid I look, whether I’m wearing red duct tape across my mouth that says “life” or a hot pink shirt that says “virginity rocks!”  As long as how I’m dressed, what I’m doing, and what I’m saying coincides with what I believe in then I’m good to go!