Self Defense

  I debated writing this, but this is my personal day, so it's my forum to speak up.

  Last weekend a friend of mine was sitting at a local coffee shop, working on her laptop, minding her own business.  She had her computer plugged in, along with another woman.  Along came a man, who kept watching them, and eventually started "huffing and puffing", making annoyed sounds and started complaining to them about needing to plug in his phone, and how long would they be. 

   The whole time, this man was pacing around them, scoping out the scene, checking out what they had, what they were doing, and intimidating them.  Eventually, this man waved his hands near the laptop, scared my friend, and left.  He didn't leave empty-handed...  While one hand was waving over the laptop, the other, was in her purse stealing her wallet.

  She'll admit, part of the problem was she was too afraid and embarrassed to make a scene.  This man violated her personal space, made her feel uneasy, and yet, she played the role of the "good girl" and didn't speak up.

  We as women need to learn it's ok to speak up.  If someone's making you uncomfortable, say something.  Tell them to "back off", go ahead and make a scene.

   I attend a monthly ladies-only self defense class in Eden Prairie.  It's at the same location where I train in Karate.  I hope and pray that I never have to use the things I'm learning, (and to be honest, Karate is more for me a sense of pride and accomplishment -do you know how very few people in the world attain a Black Belt?) but it gives me a sense of empowerment every time I walk out of a class.

   I invited you to attend the January class.  If you'd like to know more, please fill out the contract form on my website, and put "Self Defense" in the message box.  I'll make sure you know about the next class.