What's your personal revolutionary act?
On self-care, that dreaded word, and how it leads outward
Photo by Charles Earl
Revolution
We need one, don’t you think? Housing, healthcare, climate, education, food, labour, equity …it’s all a shambles.
I ask myself how I can add to the good, rather than just write a litany of complaints. I will vote in the forthcoming Ottawa municipal election, obviously. I will sign petitions against the nonsense of the Ontario government’s profit before people policies, and global petitions relating to climate change, social justice etc. But what is my personal revolutionary act?
I could muse about my curation of literature and visual poetry and my activism to center, support and promote systematically excluded creators. I have made destroying the patriarchy and fighting against hate a life’s work. None of these things are enough, of course. I am always looking for ways to do more for women and gender nonconforming folk who are mad, crip, neurodiverse, chronically ill, BIPOC, queer, trans, fat, polyamorous and creative.
Recently diagnosed with diabetes, I am doing a little fundraising to help find a cure and raise awareness. It’s called Lace Up To End Diabetes. In September I will track all my physical activity: daily walks, elliptical, stretch and strength class…and whatever else I get up to that helps improve my physical well-being and all of this will go toward supporting the campaign. If I raise $500 it will go toward half a day in the lab to work on a cure. Please donate, if you can by going to my page
Here’s more info from the Lace Up to End Diabetes page:
Every 3 minutes a Canadian is diagnosed with diabetes or prediabetes.
Diabetes is not slowing down and more work needs to be done. One in 3 people across Canada are affected by diabetes or prediabetes, and some will experience serious and even life-threatening complications.
That’s why we started Lace Up to End Diabetes. Every dollar raised helps fund education, support services, advocacy and diabetes research that could lead to the next big medical breakthrough.
I wasn’t planning on making this post about my diabetes because I have a whole other blog for that. But here I go, talking about diabetes. Since my diagnosis in March this year, I’ve gone through a sea change. I’ve had to make huge changes to the priorities in my life. I need to eat the right foods, get enough sleep and exercise and I need to take care of my emotional health as well. It’s a lot.
I guess my personal revolutionary act is to improve myself through diet, physical activity and mindset, to educate myself about nutrition and its role on the body and mind. It feels a little selfish to write this and to prioritize self-care. Even that word irks; however, I don’t think I can be capable of anything else unless I am taking care of myself. So all of this is for me, but also so I can continue to be loving and compassionate to others, to find ways to love more and give more every day.
What’s your personal revolutionary act?
Drop me a line and let me know. I’d love to hear it. How can we make this world a better place? How can we ensure that the harm and hatred stops? How can we bring joy? I’m all about the joy, folks.
We’ve almost reached the bottom of the year. I want autumn to be joyous for you. How can that happen? What do you need to do to make joy possible?
I think my next post will be about sex. Hope you subscribe…