“Although the holidays are supposed to be a time to come together with those you love, they can often be a stressful time of year for LGBTQIA+ folks, s£x workers, non-monogamous folks, & anyone whose life revolves around alternative spaces. If you find yourself in this situation, consider doing any one of the following to ease stress and anxiety. Assert your boundaries. Decide before seeing your family what information you want to share and what you want to keep private. Decide how much physical touch you are comfortable with. Decide how much time you realistically want to spend with others. Come up with a few things you can say when you feel as though your boundaries are being pushed. Examples: “I’d rather not talk about that but I’d love to hear more about your...” or “I appreciate the hug but I would prefer a handshake or high five in the future.”🤚 Remember that you have no obligation to become an educator. Although you may love your work and lifestyle, you do not have a responsibility to try to educate or change the minds of your family members on the ins & outs of your polycule or why s£x work is work. It can be extremely taxing to take this on yourself so consider giving them outside resources (like books & podcasts) instead. You’re welcome to refer them to me too! @misscoryb Maintain at least one self-care practice or ritual that you are already committed to. 💞 Even if you have to modify it based on where you are or who you’re with, keeping these practices allows us to stay grounded in the lives we have chosen for ourselves. This is especially important when we feel like we have little or no choice in visiting family for the holidays. These can be things like journaling, meditation, yoga, exercise, masturb@tion, dance, reading, & therapy (see if your therapist provides virtual sessions!) How do you take care of yourself during this time of year? Feel free to share your thoughts and ideas in the comments.” -@misscoryb • Words of wisdom by @misscoryb & I love that she shares this message of love, self-love, boundaries & self-care. 🙏❤️✨ Sending you love, D’Vita #setboundaries #selflovecoach #christmasselfcare (at San Francisco, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/B6gXE54HPXH/?igshid=cnemy8cvgyd9