Today’s a day of sharing, so I’m going to share: I have been angry and scared and tired because of the state of our country for many years. I don’t remember a time where I thought about the USA and could say “I’m proud” or “I love it” or “We are the best country in the world.”
I’m queer. People like me have been murdered in this country and around the world BECAUSE they were queer for longer than I have been alive. I’m tired. I am angry. I am afraid.
I’m a woman. People like me have been murdered in this country and around the world BECAUSE they are women for longer than I have been alive. I’m tired. I’m angry. I am afraid.
I’m white. People UNLIKE me have been murdered in this country and around the world because they were NOT WHITE for longer than I have been alive. I am so, so tired. But my voice and experience is only important in this matter to make sure that I use my privilege and platforms to get those voices heard. My anger is nothing compared to the people impacted. My fear is nothing compared to the fear of people of color.
I have remained quiet even though I am full of anger and sorrow and grief about the state of the world. I have to prioritize myself right now because I am in no position to help others. My health and safety needs to be my priority, and mental illness has a way of making ‘health and safety’ immensely more complicated to achieve. Once I am safe, I will return to fight alongside you. No less angry, no less tired, but infinitely stronger because I took care of myself first.
Place the oxygen mask on your own face before you begin assisting others. You cannot safe people from drowning while your own ship is sinking.
Healer, heal thyself. First. Then, when you’re stronger, you can reach out and start doing REAL, lasting good.
For now, just do what you can, when you can, in any way that you can. Remember that not all activism happens on social media, nor does it need to be documented or reported to “count” in some way.
Lessons from the Lotus 