alanakarsch

[alanakarsch]

If you ever wonder why women (and anyone in a marginalized and/or racialized body) is fearful of speaking up, being their true selves, being noticed...Here's a visual for you.

This is a scold's bridle. It was used as punishment. Women were to wear it on the street as passerbys watched. The bridles were often made of iron, encased their head and face, and depressed the tongue, sometimes with a spike. Sometimes there was a leash attached to lead the woman down the road and further humiliate her.

We carry these stories in our bodies, and they still have an impact now.

What do you feel when you see these images, and read about this act of abuse?

[alanakarsch]

(via Here Are All the Positive Climate Stories From 2022)

[alanakarsch]

“You cannot use someone else’s fire; you can only use your own. And in order to do that, you must first be willing to believe you have it.”

— Audre Lorde

[alanakarsch]

Fronds Forever

Fern fronds The curly bits of new fern fronds never, ever bore me. I will always, always stop and admire them. They are simultaneously beautiful and silly. A kind of wondrous site, and also adorable. The growth of new ferns tells me when winter is leaving its last bit of frost behind and making way for sunshine. These stretching, growing ferns reach for my legs as I walk by on the…

[alanakarsch]

Happy place

Do you have a happy place? Mine is definitely my garden. But it turns out, it’s pretty much any garden. Doesn’t even have to be mine. And it also turns out, that I’m likely to create a garden wherever I go. It’s the first thing I look for in a place. And it’s the first thing I start dreaming about once I arrive. Lavender in my garden. I find gardens endlessly soothing. As someone who can be a…

[alanakarsch]

Happy place

Do you have a happy place? Mine is definitely my garden. But it turns out, it’s pretty much any garden. Doesn’t even have to be mine. And it also turns out, that I’m likely to create a garden wherever I go. It’s the first thing I look for in a place. And it’s the first thing I start dreaming about once I arrive. Lavender in my garden. I find gardens endlessly soothing. As someone who can be a…

[alanakarsch]

Happy place

Do you have a happy place? Mine is definitely my garden. But it turns out, it’s pretty much any garden. Doesn’t even have to be mine. And it also turns out, that I’m likely to create a garden wherever I go. It’s the first thing I look for in a place. And it’s the first thing I start dreaming about once I arrive. Lavender in my garden. I find gardens endlessly soothing. As someone who can be a…

[alanakarsch]

Love these simple thoughts that remind us we can get through the hard spots. When things are really tough, it can help to remember that it’s often temporary - even when it feels like it’s permanent.

It’s not that we should be so resilient - I wish we didn’t have to be. But for some people, the hits just keep coming, and these coping thoughts could help in a hard moment.

[alanakarsch]

I've found this to be very true! Though I wouldn't necessarily ask for the hardships, nor would I wish them on anybody!

“Hardship often prepares ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.”

— C.S. Lewis

[alanakarsch]

“Life is amazing. And then it’s awful. And then it’s amazing again. And in between the amazing and the awful its ordinary and mundane and routine. Breathe in the amazing; hold on through the awful; and relax and exhale during the ordinary. That’s just living heartbreaking, soul healing, amazing, ordinary, awful life. And it’s breathtakingly beautiful.”

— LR Knost

[alanakarsch]

My favorite mindfulness activity. It's simple and you can do it anywhere. It needs to be altered for folks who are disabled, though, so keep that in mind. (Blind, Deaf or HoH folks will need to adapt it.)

[alanakarsch]

An example of children showing us how to be kind to each other. One team is sad, the other has won - but they spend time comforting the sad team after a little celebration of their win. It's heartwarming and lovely and reminds us how to think of others, even when we are wrapped up in our own experiences.

[alanakarsch]

Yellow

The brightness of a forsythia blooming. It shocks and awes with its boldness, and they are easily spotted on any walk on any block at that time of year. They signal spring, loudly, and with excitement! Here is a forsythia quote: Forsythia is pure joy. There is not an ounce, not a glimmer of sadness or even knowledge in forsythia. Pure, undiluted, untouched joy. Anne Morrow Lindbergh Here are…

[alanakarsch]

Reminder to myself that being present, even if it’s only for a minute or two, is so peaceful. Take a break from thinking ahead.

[alanakarsch]

I hope there are days when your coffee tastes like magic, your playlist makes you dance, strangers make you smile, and the night sky touches your soul. I hope there are days when you fall in love with being alive.

Brooke Hampton (via onlinecounsellingcollege)

💙💙💙💙💙💙