Have you ever felt unnoticed and unrepresented? This episode is a heartfelt embrace of the diverse tapestry of humanity, as seen through platforms like TikTok, where the once-marginalized are boldly claiming their space. It's a candid conversation about the necessity of seeing ourselves in the world around us, and the profound effect it has on our collective psyche—whether we're discussing body positivity, neurodiversity, gender identity, or racial and ethnic inclusivity.
Stepping into our authenticity often takes courage, but it's a vital part of the healing process. I share a deeply personal narrative from my Patreon community, focusing on radical self-love and self-care. By reflecting on our individual paths to acceptance, we offer others the courage to challenge toxic narratives surrounding our bodies and worth. This episode is an invitation to engage with the collective strength of diverse voices demanding change, as we ponder the transformative power of representation in our lives. I encourage you to join our dialogue and share how visibility has touched you, adding your voice to the chorus calling for a world that celebrates every facet of our being.
Just about every morning I sit alone in the wee dark hours of the day, cuddled next to my dog, drinking a cup of coffee and spilling my heart and ideas into a notebook. This has become an important part of my self-care practice. Not only does it give me the space to process what's going on in my head, but it also seems to help me release my anxiety so I can get on with my life. And if that wasn't awesome enough, it also seems to spark a lot of content ideas. A lot of times what ends up on the pages of my notebook turns out to later become a social media blog or podcast post. But sometimes what ends up on the pages is too personal for public spaces, and that is what I share with my Patreon community spaces, and that is what I share with my Patreon community. But today I want to share something I posted on Patreon with you here, publicly. It's not necessarily too personal, but it is a bit more casual than what I typically like to post, and I want to share it because I think it's an important concept to ponder, and that concept today was about representation. Anyway, this is what I had to say at Patreon.
Speaker 1:
It's Saturday, so I can make my cup of coffee last for two hours instead of 20 minutes, and I am grateful for this small luxury. Anyway, I'm sitting here in actual daylight instead of the typical darkness, thinking about how important it is to be seen. I spent a lot of my life trying not to be seen or to be seen as something other than what I was, and if you've ever lived your life hiding in shadows and lies, you know this is an exhausting, soul-crushing way to live. Something I absolutely love about social media these days, especially TikTok, is the representation movement. Humans of all kinds are showing up and being seen. There's a rise in awareness that all bodies, brains and feelings are allowed to exist. The fat, the neuro-spicy, the gender spectrum, the differently abled, and every race and color of human is demanding access to health, respect and autonomy. Folks are showing up and saying I deserve to be here and I demand better. It gives me the fucking chills and fills my eyes with tears.
Speaker 1:
I wish that younger me had been given this permission to be seen, but I suppose I'm here now better late than never, and at a really critical time in life. It's a scary world out there right now and if I'm not careful it will make me go back into hiding. Hiding, after all, was how I used to stay safe. But I need to be present, in every sense of the word, if I'm going to survive. I need to embrace all that I am and all that I'm not and be fierce with my self-love and self-care so I can lead as an example for others. Because each and every one of us, no matter how public our roles are or whether or not we want to be, we act as mirrors for others to see themselves.
Speaker 1:
Representation matters. Living our lives with radical self-love and acceptance gives others permission to do the same, and I can't help but think the more there are of us who bravely choose to interrupt old, toxic narratives about our bodies, worth or abilities, the stronger we'll become collectively, and if we collectively gain power in a way that supports and includes diversity, the bigger, more positive changes we can make in this world. So what are your thoughts about this? Has representation impacted your life? If so, how? I would love to hear your story. My name is Crystal McLain. You've been listening to Creative Self-Care, where together we explore creative ways to care for the mind, body and mother, love and soul, so we can live healthy, fulfilling lives, individually and collectively. If you want to learn more about me and my work and how we're making a positive impact with our communities, you can visit crystalmclainncreative. com . I love you. I appreciate you. Thank you so much for being here and I hope to see you soon.