This Post is About July
It was supposed to be a newsletter, but I wrote two, so this one is here.
Howdy, it’s about July.
The post is.
This post.
It was supposed to be a newsletter I sent to my list on July 1st, but I forgot that I wrote it.
And then I was like... do I just scrap it? Nah. I'm sharing it anyway.
—-
June went out like a three headed dog, chasing the dead BACK INto hell. First, I was toppled by vertigo on the longest day of the year (in my case, it was indeed the longest day of the year, which I spent paying homage to indoor plumbing and pharmaceutical antiemetics). Then, Friday happened.
Can you imagine how many of us (me) would have had a stroke upon seeing that headline without the prior leakage?
[PS this is the appropriate time to stop reading and unsubscribe if you are over the moon with the SCOTUS]
I for one hoped and prayed that perhaps with the leaking would come an overwhelming realization of reason, but that is not what happened.
What did happen?
Bad news, bears.
Life just got a lot harder for all of us. Not just the people with uteruses, or the people who live in states governed by insanity, but all of us.
Many of us, including those of us (me) who were pinned to the couch in a very specific position attempting not to vomit again so-help-me-god felt like maybe what we ought to do is rest. Just take in the news and let it settle. Fine.
That was Friday.
This is the email I sent to my team of sweet and soft-hearted yoga teachers Monday (minus some logistical shenanigans):
Honor Your Emotions
I know this isn’t your first rodeo, and you know more about your emotional landscape than I do. I can’t offer you direction about managing these sweet dimensions of yourself, other than to honor them. The unyielding lesson from Terrence Williams is to be with it, but not to be alone with it.
Advocate for Bodily Autonomy
One of our founding principles and values at White Lotus is to empower people to be advocates for their own health. Although it is rare that we are called to discuss the reproductive healthcare of our individual clients, doing this in other ways shifts the culture. By reminding people that they retain bodily autonomy regarding their practice and where and how their body is touched (or not) by a person in a position of authority, we are supplying consistent reminders and language they can use in other conversations. Whether that is directly with their own healthcare provider, or in conversation with a friend or family member in a far off land, this work matters.
Educate
Not only are we 100% able to inform people about how their bodies are built and function, we are also here to educate our students about HOW to go about making decisions. Who to consult, how to weigh options, and what to do to support others. We are space holders, and so much of what we do as space holders is convey to others how to be space holders.
Connect
Can I say it louder? This is **not** a time to be or feel alone. You are not. We are not. And yet loneliness and disconnection are the the emotional plagues of our time. It is imperative that we stay connected to peers, mentors, and professionals, and work to tend the gardens of our social connections so that we may authentically support those who see us as teachers in doing the same.
I stand by it, but it’s only Monday afternoon as I’m writing this. Maybe my ideas will change again with another round of edits, but I don’t think so.
I think it holds water.
As soon as I could upright, I made a rather mediocre IG live sharing the why behind my career in birth work. It felt like the fall of Roe was the right day to do so. Did you know that my first job after college was working in an abortion clinic? If you care to know why, the story is there.
It is not pretty.
I have worked through my 20 year career (Gah!) since then educating people about how their bodies work. Reminding them that they have bodily autonomy. Sharing the consistent reminder that you absolutely cannot conceive of all possible reasons anyone would do anything, including this. Trust me when I tell you, I believe the most important thing we can do for our friends and fellows, our children and our rogue family members, is ensure they are encircled in a Higher Council of representatives they elect to help inform the difficult decisions in their lives.
You can do this now with a silly decision. Practice making a higher council, and then roll with it. Practice asking for appropriate help, not dialing 1-800-ASK-BOB.
Thanks for reading,
K