francene--blog. Year 2013
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March 24th

3/24/2013

 
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www.envocare.co.uk
After an hour of shouting for help, a tourist jumped from a balcony to escape assailants.

In Agra, home of the Taj Mahal, a knock roused a woman in her Indian hotel in the early hours of the morning. At the door, the manager and a guard pushed their way into the room with promises of an oil rub. Jessica Davies managed to repel them and close the door, but they remained outside trying to penetrate the barrier she'd erected. Nobody responded to her continual shouts for help and pounding. Desperate, she jumped out of her window, injuring both legs.

With the safety of women in India still a simmering issue since the brutal assault of a Delhi student before Christmas and the recent gang-rape of a Swiss tourist, Jessica's plight got instant headlines in India and abroad. She remains adamant that she will return to India, but never alone.

Have you ever wondered how you would react when threatened this way? And, more importantly, should we test ourselves to danger?


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www.photography.gordonengland.co.uk
This morning, meditating in my warm living room, I listened to the soft coo, coo of a wood pigeon. The bird must have sheltered on a tree outside in the corner of the garden where fallen snow had melted. I replaced the dove with an image of myself, snug and protected, cooing in a daily blog. Never venturing out of my comfort zone or placing myself in any sort of danger. It seems that some people live secure lives and others are at risk.

I don't think I need testing at my time of life and circumstances. I'd surely fail to repel anyone intent on doing me harm. Yet, I've faced up to an anticipated risk. In 1987, after a traumatic marriage, I left my protected life in Australia and arrived in London alone. Before planning the venture, I'd heard about roaming gangs of thugs and stabbings on the underground and knew I'd need to use that form of travel when I arrived. However, a cloud of protection hovered over me while I rode on the trains and arranged a live-in job as a nanny. I've never felt unsafe in my whole life.

The pigeon outside my window eventually flew away to face cold and hunger. Should we push ourselves more in life?


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Suerae Stein link
3/24/2013 11:44:09 am

Very thought provoking post. Risks need to be weighed. And our comfort with those risks. Your situation was risky in both directions and you weighed the risks, and fortunately, your outcome was a good one. But I don't think we need to push ourselves to take risks unnecessarily. I think life pushes us enough! Such frightening situations for women in India. Traveling there alone is not a risk I'd take right now. I think it is a foolish risk.

Francene Stanley link
3/24/2013 08:48:00 pm

Excellent answer to the question, Suerae. Life itself is full of risks. I'm glad I'm a woman living right now, with all my past experiences to guide me.

K'Lee Banks link
3/24/2013 12:28:19 pm

Excellent post! It is sad that especially as women, we have to be concerned about such things, still, in the 21st century. My heart aches for women in India and other oppressive countries - yet the risk to our safety can be just as real and alarming in our "developed" countries!

I actually did leap for safety, or more accurately, dropped three children to safety and then I fell out from a second story window - 28 years ago, nearly to the day, on March 25, 1985, to escape a fire!

So yes, if the situation calls for it - sometimes it's necessary to literally take a leap of faith and risk the unknown in hopes it will be better than what you're currently facing or trying to escape.

Francene Stanley link
3/24/2013 08:50:24 pm

Your escape sounds amazing. You must have been so worried for your children. You took the plunge to escape something worse.


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    Author

    Francene Stanley, author of many published novels. If you like my writing, why not consider purchasing one of my books? You'll see them on the sidebar below.
    Born in Australia, I moved to Britain half way through my long life.

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