Well, he sat us down, and we're all big men, obviously—professional football players—and we had some of the University of British Columbia football players with us. He asked us all what our plan of action was, what our safety plan was, when we go out for a night on the town. We're all looking at each other wondering what he's talking about. He said, “What do you guys think about? What do you guys do when you're going out at night into a dark parking lot or you're going out to a bar?” We're said, “What are you talking about? You know, we make sure we shower, make sure we put deodorant on, and then away we go.”
We were so confused. Then he said, “Well, what do you think women do?” We started thinking about making sure they parked near a lighted area, making sure they don't get on an elevator if someone else is on it, or if men are on it, making sure that they have someone with them when they're walking through the parking lot, and all those types of things.
I've been married 23 years, and being a somewhat obtuse man, I remember going home and asking my wife Jen if she actually thinks about these things when she goes out alone at night, and she said, “Of course I do.”
You know, I hadn't really put myself in her shoes. Part of our training was understanding the reality for women, because I can honestly say I've never really gone out and feared for my safety. I think putting yourself in someone else's shoes gives you the perspective to have empathy in caring for them, and I think that's what we're trying to do for men who may never have thought of this, and for the young boys who are our future.