Rising above the pettiness of Trump trolls.

It’s been a year. A very long year.

Beginning when I started to question my own political beliefs. A journey that I never planned on taking — but have no regrets that I did. I am at a point right now where I have developed a true set of beliefs. I now think for myself and know we need to pick and choose our battles wisely, especially within the realm of social media.

My own journey was not simply processing factual information, it was also emotional, too Ending friendships, leaving groups, seeing people for who they are (i.e., Trumpists), and looking within and recognizing my own my demons, I often felt that I had to justify my change of beliefs.

To my former colleagues — my story is true; my story is who I was and who I am now. it wasn’t for attention. It wasn’t for money. It wasn’t for anything else. I have often felt that I have to prove what kind of person I am outside of Twitter. I admit that I am not a righteous person or a hero. Just an American who was fortunate to have experienced an interaction  that changed, and challenged, my outlook in life and politics.

I realized today that. no matter what I say to my former Trump Train team, what we all feared was actually just change. So many don’t want to believe that a person can leave their movement. That might mean they have to look at their own values, and perhaps challenge themselves to find truth in what they hold dear to them.

I will no longer waste my time with those who are vile and deplorable. Not all Trump supporters are that way, and those who are civil I will dialogue with. But there are so more important issues to fight for than worrying about what the Trump supporting Republicans may think of me. I made a statement which rattled their cages. For that I will never be sorry. I will stay and I will make a difference. I hope that I have so far. I need to be strong to handle it or go home. I am not going home. People’s lives are in the hands of this administration. We have to fight for Democracy and Decency. I promise to use my time and effort fighting for rights for immigrants, for women’s right to choose, gun safety, police brutality, and any other form of bigotry and racism. I’ve learned that Democrats fight for the rights and safety of others. And  they are not going to take individual freedoms away. Isn’t that what the USA is all about?