I’ve been thinking about the concept of visibility lately and what it means for me to be visible in my own life. Society often teaches humans socialized as women to stay small both physically and emotionally. We’re supposed to lower our voices, lose weight, and smile. We follow the rules that we didn’t create and …
Sometimes I notice that my throat closes up when I am about to take an action that breaks through some of the gender norms that I learned as a child. This physical reactions still happens today years after I left the town where I was raised, stopped following the religious denomination that preached fire and …
How to speak when the patriarchy tells you to stay quiet. Read More »
I have been reading Dr. Valerie Rein’s book, Patriarchy Stress Disorder and recently read a section where she stated that women often wear a sheath of invisibility to protect themselves which simultaneously harms them. For example, it’s risky for women to walk around this world fitting into standardized beauty expectations. It’s dangerous for the patriarchy …
I remember when I couldn’t write even when I had a brilliant idea. I used to lament the times when I fell in love with a book, but wouldn’t finish it. I’d feel too distracted. My “to-do” list would magically pop into my brain. Then I’d feel guilty and jump into something “productive.” That was …
Disrupt your patriarchy-fueled creativity stagnation cycle today. Read More »
Feminist laryngitis can be a slow process of self-censorship as a form of survival in a patriarchal world. It can happen over time when we stay quiet even when we want to speak up. It can emerge we apologize for taking up space. It can take hold when we try to make our feminism feel warm …
Shame is feeling bad about ourselves. It’s not about an action. That’s guilt. Shame is about US and our inherent value. Shame tries to convince us that we’re flawed humans. The messages that we receive throughout our lives, especially from the patriarchy, teach us that we are unworthy because of our sex assignment at birth, gender …
“Constraint” is a gift of intention, freedom, and calm. I recently pressed “pause” on three important activities in my weekly schedule. Here’s why. Like you, my life operates in seasons and sometimes I want to slow down the pace to make space for new focus and intention. I practice constraint to say no for …
Think back to a time when you intended to relax, but you couldn’t sit still. Remember when you planned to take a vacation but started to worry about all sorts of unrelated things? This “unpredictable” negative self-talk happened to me recently when I stayed in Croatia for a month. (Ok. It didn’t happen TO me. …
You want to take a break but you can’t sit still. Read More »
Read all the way through to find out why I added a photo of paprika to the newsletter. Autumn is my favorite season an it’s NOT because of pumpkin spice everything in the U.S. Autumn has often felt like a season of reflection for me. I think it’s because I love the warm colors of …
I’ve seen over one hundred sunsets over the last seven years while sitting at the Sea Organ in Zadar, Croatia. Tourists from all over the world flock to the Sea organ, an art installation built into the Adriatic Sea. As you approach the Sea Organ, you see steps that seem to take you right into the waves …
