Just about every morning I sit alone in the wee, dark hours of the day, cuddled next to my dog, drinking coffee, and spilling my heart and ideas into a notebook.
This has become an important part of my self care practice.
Not only does it give me space to process what's going on in my head, but it also seems to help release my anxieties so I can get on with life. And if that wasn't awesome enough, it also seems to spark a lot content ideas. A lot of times what ends up on the pages of my notebook, turns out to later become a social media, blog or podcast post.
But sometimes what ends up on the pages is too personal for public spaces. That’s why I share it with my Patreon community.
But today I want to share something I posted on Patreon. It’s not necessarily too personal, but it is a bit more casual than what I typically like to post publicly. And I want to share it because I think it’s an important concept to ponder. And that concept today was about representation.
Anyway, this is what I had to say about being seen...
It's Saturday, so I can make my cup of coffee last for two hours instead of 20 minutes. And I'm grateful for this small luxury.
Anyway, I'm sitting here in actual daylight (instead of the typical darkness), and thinking about how important it is to be seen.
I spent a lot of my life trying NOT to be seen, or to be seen as something other than what I was.
And if you've ever lived your life hiding in shadows and lies, you know this is an exhausting, soul-crushing way to live.
Something I absolutely LOVE about social media these days, especially TikTok, is the representation movement.
Humans of all kinds are showing up and being SEEN. There's a rise in awareness that ALL bodies, brains, and feelings are allowed to exist.
The fat, the neuro-spicy, the gender spectrum, the differently-abled, and every race and color of human is demanding access to health, respect and autonomy.
Folks are showing up and saying I deserve to be here, and I demand better.
It gives me fucking chills, and fills my eyes with tears.
I wish that younger me had been given this permission to be seen. But I suppose I'm here now, better late than never. And, at a critical time in life.
It's a scary world out there right now. And if I'm not careful, it will make me go back into hiding.
Hiding, after all, was how I used to stay "safe". But I NEED to be present, in every sense of the word if I'm going to survive.
I need to embrace all that I am (and all that I'm not), and be fierce with my self love and self care, so I can lead as an example for others. Because each and every one of us, no matter how public our roles are, or whether or not we want to be, we act as a mirrors for others to see themselves.
Representation matters.
Living our lives with radical self love and acceptance gives others permission to do the same.
And I can't help but think, the more there are of us, who bravely choose to interrupt old toxic narratives about our bodies, worth or abilities, the stronger we'll become collectively. And if we collectively gain power in a way that supports and includes diversity, the bigger, more positive changes we can make in this world.
What are your thoughts about this?
Has representation impacted your life? If so, how?
I'd love to hear your story.
I love you.
I appreciate you.
Thank you so much for joining me today.
