Stars
I realized today that Choice USA plays a bigger role in my life than I thought. I'm heading back home from the Destination 2012 Gloria Steinem Membership Conference in DC and oh my god it was amazing!!! Choice USA has come a long way and so have I. I remember when I first went to the Reproductive Justice Leadership Institue in the fall of 2008. I was just 19 and a sophmore then, barely being introduced to progressive movements, organizing, and activisim. The person I am now is almost entirely different from that person and yet still very much the same; I mean duh, it's ME! <3 This session helpped me in so many ways and stirred my passion for reproductive justice. One of the best parts... I MET SONYA RENEE!!!! <3 <3 <3 When I found out she was going to be at the G2G I was like overwhelmed with excitement. She is bar far my favorite poet. Getting to meet her, see her perform, and attend her workshops I am so so so inspired by her and am in deep admiration. All I have to say is RUHCUS projects coming soon! Radical Unapologetic Healing Challenge (4) US! I'm totally going to start my first RUHCUS in two weeks from now! I'm going to invite 10 members of my family to be at my ceremony. While there I just realized so much so so much. I feel like for the past year I've been in this endless learning phase. Everytime I feel like I can't possibly learn or grow any more I do and I'm amazed. I know I have much more to go though and I feel like the RUHCUS project created by Sonya Renee will totally help heal me and help me over come my issues with insecurity, lack of confidence, and fear of rejection which are the things that hold me back. Without this the possibilities could be endless!
Also, I attended the optional Art and Activism session and it really REALLY helped me to see things in a new light, which is very helpful because it helped to bridge the parts of me that were coming apart at the scenes. The parts of me that created internal dissonance and chaos. Thank god for Sonya Renee, Megan, and DJ Ladyface!
"The greatest hinderance to art is the desire to be good" - Sonya Renee.
So true! and so true for me. I am an artist by nature, always have been, always will be. I somehow allowed others to have me convince myself that this isn't so. Starting with the fear that i would be judged for not being good and it doubles as a woman in a male dominated scene. The judgments are suddenly harsher and the lack of support far greater. Fuck that sexist shit. I'm doing this fucking shit! I believe in me.
Not in it for the fame, in it to express what I need to express. That is the fucking point of art. That is something I've been missing. I've been missing myself and allowing the world to scare me into hiding inside myself or somewhere outside myself I'm not sure.
I took a risk. I wrote a poem and I read it at the conference in front of 70 people. Everyone loved it! I almost didn't do it out of the desire to be good, and the fear that I wouldn't be; but I did it and it was honest it was art and that was an amazing expirience. I haven't been able to share my art in a really long time especially in a space where I am comfortable, passionate, and proud about it -- no one should ever be anything less about their art. Your art is like a piece of yourself if not the very expression of your essence. So I am beyond ecstatic.
Last but definately definately not least. I met the most amazing people at this conference. I LOVE progressive people! They are amazing! I love the choice usa staff too! again, if it wasn't for choice usa I don't know where I'd be seriously they are amazing. I met some really great people and the folks from texas, colorado, nm, and florida stand out the most. But everyone was just amazing. truely awesome awesome people and I'm incredibly greatful to choice usa, the universe, and myself for lining this experience up. The stars make sense now.
Also, I attended the optional Art and Activism session and it really REALLY helped me to see things in a new light, which is very helpful because it helped to bridge the parts of me that were coming apart at the scenes. The parts of me that created internal dissonance and chaos. Thank god for Sonya Renee, Megan, and DJ Ladyface!
"The greatest hinderance to art is the desire to be good" - Sonya Renee.
So true! and so true for me. I am an artist by nature, always have been, always will be. I somehow allowed others to have me convince myself that this isn't so. Starting with the fear that i would be judged for not being good and it doubles as a woman in a male dominated scene. The judgments are suddenly harsher and the lack of support far greater. Fuck that sexist shit. I'm doing this fucking shit! I believe in me.
Not in it for the fame, in it to express what I need to express. That is the fucking point of art. That is something I've been missing. I've been missing myself and allowing the world to scare me into hiding inside myself or somewhere outside myself I'm not sure.
I took a risk. I wrote a poem and I read it at the conference in front of 70 people. Everyone loved it! I almost didn't do it out of the desire to be good, and the fear that I wouldn't be; but I did it and it was honest it was art and that was an amazing expirience. I haven't been able to share my art in a really long time especially in a space where I am comfortable, passionate, and proud about it -- no one should ever be anything less about their art. Your art is like a piece of yourself if not the very expression of your essence. So I am beyond ecstatic.
Last but definately definately not least. I met the most amazing people at this conference. I LOVE progressive people! They are amazing! I love the choice usa staff too! again, if it wasn't for choice usa I don't know where I'd be seriously they are amazing. I met some really great people and the folks from texas, colorado, nm, and florida stand out the most. But everyone was just amazing. truely awesome awesome people and I'm incredibly greatful to choice usa, the universe, and myself for lining this experience up. The stars make sense now.