Although “Consent is Sexy Week” has come and gone, consent is a part of our every day relationships. When I think about consent, I view it as an agreement or a mutual understanding between two people—a pact. When you agree to be in a relationship with someone, consent is being put into action. You are consenting to being committed to that person, which includes getting to know that person for his or her strengths and weaknesses. This takes time and effort; for this reason, consent, should not be taken lightly. Life is too short for that. Yes, we all make mistakes and mess up, however, when someone verbally agrees to be a part of a relationship and does something to breach that agreement, maybe it is an indication that you should take a step back to reflect on whether or not the relatinoship is still meaningful in the way you want it to be. What did you exactly agree to?Â
The person you are with should never make you question your worth or existence. Who said relationships are easy? They definitely take work and maintenance, but consent is supposed to be sexy right? Sexy to me means that your partner should make you feel good, not only physically. What does your partner do for your mental state and your spiritual self? I think all these elements are important when discussing consent. Consent, the agreement, should be revisited if both parties involved are not living up to the verbal confirmation. Just because you agree to something does not mean you have to remain in an unhappy situation. We all have experienced growing pains and the urge to move forward. So, take a look at the relationship you are in right now and ask yourself, “Do I need to reevaluate?” It’s your life and you have the choice to live it the way that you please.Â