bliss in the midst

Reality might be depressing, but working to change it doesn't have to be. There is bliss in the midst of change. Bliss in the midst of the struggle. A blog dedicated to encourage activism and to appreciate those already doing the hard and often unrecognized work. THANK YOU! Because... "Nothing happens in the 'real' world unless it first happens in the images of [y]our heads." -Gloria Anzaldua

[swamp-songs]

things i need u to please know right now:

bad days don’t last forever

napping is never a crime

all the cells in ur body are working so hard to keep u healthy and happy and they love u very much

also dogs, they love u very much

instant hot chocolate takes 2 minutes to make and requires no culinary expertise please indulge urself

u are a part of this world 

and a very important part

don’t doubt that for a single second

[end-rape-culture]

http://www.gofundme.com/femtorship

Now more than ever we need to invest in our youth and provide them with safe spaces for dialogue and organization. Sisters of South LA provides young woman in South Central Los Angeles with alternative education, resources, and female identified role models. We need all the help we can get to make this year’s Femtorship Program happen. Please consider making a donation. And please help us spread the word. 💚

[bliss-in-the-midst]

Now more than ever we need to invest in our youth and provide them with safe spaces for dialogue and organization. Sisters of South LA provides young woman in South Central Los Angeles with alternative education, resources, and female identified role models. We need all the help we can get to make this year’s Femtorship Program happen. Please consider making a donation. And please help us spread the word. 💚

[fitmamachelsea-blog]

I love giving the middle finger

[echothroughthefog]

How to call your reps when you have social anxiety

When you struggle with your mental health on a daily basis, it can be hard to take action on the things that matter most to you. The mental barriers anxiety creates often appear insurmountable. But sometimes, when you really need to, you can break those barriers down. This week, with encouragement from some great people on the internet, I pushed against my anxiety and made some calls to members of our government. Here’s a comic about how you can do that, too. (Resources and transcript below.)

Motivational resources: There are a lot! Here are a few I really like:

Emily Ellsworth explains why calling is the most effective way to reach your congressperson.

Sharon Wong posted a great series of tweets that helped me manage my phone anxiety and make some calls.

Kelsey is tweeting pretty much daily with advice and reminders about calling representatives. I found this tweet an especially great reminder that calls aren’t nearly as big a deal as anxiety makes them out to be.

Informational resources: There are a lot of these, as well! These three are good places to start:

Find your representative at house.gov

Find your senators at senate.gov

Use the “We’re His Problem Now” scripts when calling (or write your own!)

Keep reading

[sofsocialgood]

Wangari Maathai was a Kenyan environmental activist who founded the Green Belt Movement, which focused on planting trees and women’s rights; her organization paid a small stipend to women to plant seedlings throughout the country. She received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004, with the committee citing her contribution to “sustainable development, democracy and peace.”

[healthforgrace]

[bliss-in-the-midst]

[bliss-in-the-midst]

[wordsnquotes]

Never apologize for how you feel. No one can control how they feel. The sun doesn’t apologize for being the sun. The rain doesn’t say sorry for falling. Feelings just are.

Iain Thomas, Intentional Dissonance. (via guy)

[fongtranpoetry]

“Don’t be an Activist” by Fong Tran & Chaz Ashley

Chaz and I believe so much in this video and its need to be shown to our fellow activists and agents of change. In honor of the people that choose to stick out by speaking up, in honor of all the folks that choose the hard path because they understand its the right one. We hope you find fuel from this piece Shout out to Dale the Gentleman of Burgundy Suite Records for helping us bring this vision to life! Shout out Casey Groat for our music! Shout out Sol Collective for providing the space and art! This was a long time in the making and we couldn’t have done it without everyone’s incredible collaborative energy.

- Fong and Chaz

Tumblr link to Words of Poem: http://fongtranpoetry.tumblr.com/post/119476674737/dont-be-an-activist

Chaz Ashley Instagram: chaz1124 Tumblr: openlychaz.tumblr.com For show bookings or workshops email [email protected]

Directed and Edited by Dale Muong of Burgundy Suite www.theburgundysuite.com/

Sound & Music by Casey Groat caseygroat.bandcamp.com www.facebook.com/caseygroatmusic

Facility and Art by Sol Collective https://freesolarts.wordpress.com/ https://www.facebook.com/ArtCultureActivism/

[bliss-in-the-midst]

Beautiful! 💜

[flyteestudio]

Learn to accept, make changes or do both! 

[bliss-in-the-midst]

Perseverance

One door closed today Can't see the open window yet Can't even feel the breeze blowing through it With scents that will awaken my hope A dead end, it seems One that I didn't see coming Had I seen it, I would've been better prepared Yet, this would have meant that I doubted myself Something I refuse to do "Prepare for the worst," some say Then I'll never be disappointed But that is unlike me I am an optimist A 'hopeless romantic' type of activist Who after a fall can get up And somehow manage to believe again wholeheartedly In change Transformation Things will be better I just need a minute to heal I will persevere

[bliss-in-the-midst]

Practice radical self-love! <3

[bliss-in-the-midst]

[micdotcom]

12.5 million low-income women ages 19 to 64 rely on Medicaid health care coverage. Due to the 1976 Hyde amendment, those women can’t use Medicaid to pay for abortions. The Affordable Care Act also explicitly adheres to the amendment as well. But that may change soon thanks to the EACH Woman Act.

[bliss-in-the-midst]