If you experienced trauma in childhood or had a rough childhood, dude listen to me. Offer yourself play. You were deprived of it.
Keep bubbles in the house, blow bubbles in the yard, blow them in your room, get a coloring book that doesn’t have to be an adult one with mandalas, watch cartoons, laugh at stupid things, dress up as a superhero for Halloween, wear a Santa hat on Christmas and big light up snowflake earrings, lay down on the floor, lay down in the grass, eat eggos for dinner sometimes. It’s not stupid. You’re not childish. You’re giving your inner child what they had taken from them. They deserve it.
I know I’ve given you protest instructions and advice before.
This is absolutely one of those times to listen.
If you’re new, uninitiated, or considering going out for your First, be advised that you need to be careful.
And I’ve said this before:
LISTEN TO YOUR PROTEST LEADERS.
I cannot overemphasize that. The last protest I was at, a man pulled out a gun, an actual gun, and while I don’t think we were ever in any danger, the leader gave everyone an earful about antagonizing and escalation once we’d marched a safe distance down the street. At the end, they told us sternly that they knew how long it would take for someone to actually get to the point of shooting people, and that they could judge that because of their life experience. Odds are that your local protest leaders will have similar experience and awareness, and when it comes to that, it can literally mean the difference between life and death.
So if you do choose to protest or march this week, you. Listen. To. Your. Leaders. You move as a unit. You stay safe. You take care of yourself and then you take care of the person next to you.
Pack water. Pack illumination. Pack light. And study up on basic first aid, too.
full offence but some of you think disabled people don't interact with the rest of society and it really shows.
you make disgusting jokes abt blind and deaf ppl and then say "oh this is bad but its ok bc they cant see/hear this"
you say self diagnosing is bad because "only a doctor can tell" but somehow you're qualified to tell strangers on the internet that they're not disabled because you cant concieve of disabled people existing the way you do.
you always talk about disabilities like no one in your audience is disabled. like we are some mystical other. its always "you probably have an autistic child/sibling/cousin" but never "some of you are probably autistic."
you use mobility aids as props and gags so frequently that those of us who need them are scared to use them in public because no one will take us seriously.
disabled people exist. we are in your audience. when you talk about us, we know. we know what you're fucking saying.
(ok to rb. disabled ppl can add on, ableds dont say shit just take it in ok 💖)
Remember it is perfectly possible to both be aware that the struggle is going to continue and there is always more work to do AND feel deeply, profoundly relieved and even celebratory right now.
Let yourself enjoy any feelings of happiness, comfort or relief you have. Life is short and hard, and joy is a worthy and wonderful thing.