Thank you, Meghan

I talked about this on my live yesterday.

Thank you, Meghan.

I read People.com frequently.

It is current events, after all.

However, Wednesday you could read about Meghan and her husband, Prince Harry, on every single news outlet there ever was.

People.com had some competition with this story.

The couple released a statement, basically stating that they are pulling back from all senior duties as Royals, and will be playing a different role, with financial independence, etc.

From the beginning of their relationship, it seems, they have done things differently than Royals prior to them.

Meghan is an American.

She is also bi-racial.

Which, People, means NOTHING.

However, from the start, she has been chastised and bullied and ridiculed and defamed in the media outlets.

In a brutal way.

Now, when I first read the statement that they released my thought was:

Wow. She knew who she was marrying. She knew how it was going to be. Now, she needs to put up with what is expected of her.

I then put soap in my mouth and put myself in timeout.

I could not believe that this was my thought.

Who am I to say what she should and should not do?

Who am I to judge what she, and her husband, feel is the safest life for their family?
Who am I to decide their boundaries?

Heidi Rae.
Get it the eff together!

I stopped and I started to feel an immense amount of compassion for these people.

Can you imagine?

Every single thing you do and say or don't do and don't say is not just known in your small circle, but is expected and even required of you to be all over the news...

Where you go, how you get there, what you wear, what you don't wear, how your hair is done, who works for you, where you live, how you look after having a child... it's ALL OVER the international news.

Whether you are at the family Christmas breakfast or church service...

What you ate seven years ago...

I can't.

And, for her husband - who frankly knows nothing else besides being a Royal...

Who lost his Mum years ago in a horrific incident which was predicated by the same amount of bullying and criticizing that is taking place now...

Who is expected to look a certain way, act a certain way, say certain things, and most of all CONFORM to the way things have been for centuries.

I suddenly had so much appreciation for this couple.

They, together as a couple, as a joint force, said, "No more."

Before we are Royals. 

Before we are part of a tradition.

We are humans.

Married.

Raising a child.

In a world that is brutal.

We will do things our way, with the boundaries that WE set, and we thank you for your support.

And, furthermore...

And, really my favorite part:

At no point in the statement, or in the answering of numerous questions, did they apologize.

NEVER.

Not one sentence started with, "We are sorry to disappoint..."

OR

"We are terribly sorry, but..."

It was instead united, confident, to-the-dang-point, and matter-of-fact.

It was articulate.

It was brave.

It was SO brave.

With no sense of apology.

Or disappointment.

Meghan, thank you.

Thank you for teaching me through this example that is far too public that WE have the ability, and even responsibility, to create our own boundaries.

Despite what others will think.

Thank you for reminding me that our story is just that: OUR story.

No one else gets to decide our chapters.

Thank you for reminding me that far too often, I judge, when I am begging others not to do the same to me.

Thank you, Meghan.