Let me set the scene for everyone...

It was a Tuesday afternoon, and I needed to update my birth control prescription. Formerly, I went to the pharmacy to do this, but I've since come to learn that Planned Parenthood is much cheaper (ladies, if you're taking birth control pills and are ballin' on a budget, PLEASE go to them), so I headed straight there. Now, normally, their ab clinic days are Fridays and Saturdays, I believe, but because of one situation or another, they switched it from Friday to Tuesday this week. Having never been there on the ab clinic days, I wasn't prepared for the lone man holding a "hate has no home here sign," walking around in front of the clinic, or the other, extremely kind man that escorted me from my car to the clinic. I had seen the protesters in passing before, driving by, but I had never firsthand been at Planned Parenthood while they were there.

I don't know why I thought this was a smart idea, but I sat on the bench outside of the clinic for a minute or two to send a text and check my work chats. The clinic escort stood with me the entire time, so maybe I just thought that I was safe from the hate. Maybe I'm just naive sometimes and didn't think that I would be spoken to. I was wrong.

The man with the sign came up to me and asks if I just came here to sit out front and send a text. I told him that I was going into the clinic in a minute. I didn't say what for, because why would I need to? What business is it of his? That's when he says, "To abort your baby?"

To say that I was taken aback is an understatement. I was, legitimately, speechless that he would even ask that and feeling both very anxious and pissed off about it. Again, I need to say what business is it of his? I wish I could say that I had some sassy remark to spit back at him, but I simply scoffed and raised my eyebrows in both disgust and shock.

"You're just going to raise your eyebrows?" he asked next, followed by, "No one aborted you." That was all the old man got to say before he was shooed away from me by the clinic escort. And it left me with a lot of thinking.

Not that it should matter or be anyone's business but my own, but I was there for birth control, in an attempt to not get pregnant. But if I was there to get an abortion, I would have been devastated to hear any of that, because that's already such a hard option to choose to begin with. Do you think you're being helpful? Do you really think that they deserve to hear your abuse and inconsiderate words? Your hate?

Women are not objects. We make our own decisions regarding our own bodies and what's best for us, our health, and our livelihood. Kids are a huge responsibility and commitment. They require money, time, energy, and even more -- and some don't have support in their home lives to help them out.

These people that protest seem to have such an idyllic image in their minds that everyone just has the funds and support to raise a child, no matter what the age, or that the adoption system is flawless and will be great for the child going into it once they're born. In reality, this is hardly true, and even if a woman does choose adoption as her path, pregnancy itself is still incredibly expensive between ultrasound appointments and prenatal vitamins and everything else that the fetus needs. For some, for many reasons, being pregnant just isn't an option.

I don't hate anyone that's pro-life. I sincerely believe that your beliefs are your beliefs and that that's all okay, just so long as you don't harass someone that is doing what they think is right for themselves. Don't become the hypocrite that holds a "hate has no home here" sign while spewing hate. Offer love and support and kindness, whenever you can.

At the end of the day, our bodies are our own and we get to decide what we do with them. No matter your religion, your gender, race, or whatever else differentiates us, please remember this and support those around you. Spread the good in the world wherever you can. Be the good, always.