Joy and Generosity - July 2022
OH JULY!!!
Beach days and sunshine and hugging my Pa for the first time in three years and home-grown courgettes from my godmother's garden and releasing a podcast with Shannon Barry! July, you have been so good to me.
Listen to Vulnerabili-tea with Shannon Barry here! She is the reason I created Tea with HB, so chatting with her was surreal and splendid!
In just 4 days we raised over £3000 for my power chair. I would say I cannot wrap my head around this, except I totally can, because this Communi-tea is filled with the most kind, generous, empathetic people ever. 135 people have donated so far, and if you want to see for yourself so you can marvel at the loveliness of humans, you can do so here!
The unprecedented heat in the UK has been wonderful for my fatigue, but definitely doesn't help my eco-anxiety! This is a video that helps me avoid climate doom:
How We Fix the Climate — www.youtube.com We should act as if this is an emergency, because it is. But part of that is understanding the tools and strategies countries are using to decarbonize and st...
This month also marks the longest I have ever gone without having a seizure since they started in 2019, a few things I've implemented (though no idea which, if any, have reduced the frequency) are regular omega 3, vitamin D3, and cutting meat out of my diet except for chicken and fish. These were changes I made to try and manage my Endometriosis symptoms, but the fact that my FND has improved a bit instead is lovely. It does make me wonder how much of an impact hormones and diet have over neurology?!
But wait... there's even MORE good news! Since becoming a councillor in September 2021, I have been advocating for more accessibility, as in the UK you are barred from contributing to council meetings unless you are there in person! This is obviously a law that discriminates against disabled people, students, or anyone with responsibilities that would make attending in person difficult. So, I wrote an Early Day Motion to try and change this law, and Caroline Lucas (the Green Party MP) has tabled it! It currently has 17 signatures, and if you'd like to help make democracy more inclusive, you can write to your MP and ask them to sign! I also managed to convince the council to hoist the Disability Pride flag for the whole of July! A small but important thing that has started conversations (I am told the local children think the colours are funky- and now they know more about Disability! Huzzah!) I hope July has been just as kind to you, please write back if you feel like it!
July Favourites
☀️ Good News: So, so much to be grateful for this month. That is the best news, after being in a very dark place both mentally, and physically, for so long.
🎶 Music: Inside Deluxe by Bo Burnham
📚 Book: The Rise of Nine, rediscovering one of my favourite book series that I used to read on the way to hospital appointments!
📺 TV: Clone Wars
🍿Movie: Office Space
🍜 Food: Egg Fried Rice by Chef Esther