I made this art, with sentences like affirmations.
I like the colors–I felt brave, never using colors quite like this. And it helps how the sentences go on the colors…? It changes their movement.
Then I made this one for Ming to have sentences to say to me when I’m really upset. I talk to myself like this.
Also I made a list of things to do when I’m distressed. Sometimes I really draw a blank. I make lists like this periodically; it’s good to do a fresh one.
things to do when I’m distressed
ask for Ming to touch my back
deck cards–You Are Not Too Much, DBT, The Universe Has Your Back
reach out to safe person–email E
prep food for future meal, like veg
care for my body–shower, brush teeth, walk, dance, trike ride
sing, pray
ask Ming for kind sentences
tell myself kind sentences
gratitude journal
drink water, make tea
talk to Bunny
comforting music
noise canceling headphones
make art
make lists–visioning
cry, breathe
liberation is for everyone
It’s a lot of work, caring for myself and others. But I’m up for it. I can pretend that when the government awarded me disability, after years of waiting and two appeals, it was paying me to love myself really good and create a life of well-being for myself, outside of paid work. I can pretend the government was blessing me in a beautiful way, funding my freedom.
And of course, we are not well or free on our own. Interdependence is life. Liberation is for everyone. So we need to bring others with us, as we can. That’s partly what the Las Vegas Radical Mental Health Collective is for. And my blogs, zines, and poetry. Thank you for hearing me.
Hello from Rainbow, the resident charmer. “The only solution is love, and love comes with community.” –Dorothy Day
