#self agency

[odinsblog]

“Love has never been a popular movement. And no one's ever wanted, really, to be free. The world is held together, really it is held together, by the love and the passion of a very few people.”

—James Baldwin, on life, love, despair and choosing who you want to be

[francainhiding]

SELF AGENCY CAMPAIGN

CD By Franca Chase,

Directed by Finnbar Porteous

[michellemiyagi]

Power Comes From Within

Power Comes From Within

We all want power and control over our lives. The most power we have is over our awareness, plus how we are being, thinking, and responding. To do what’s loving and healthy for ourselves, we sometimes have to disappoint others, which is painful. We have to do what’s right for us. Even though we don’t want to hurt others, sometimes there’s just no avoiding it. We have a responsibility to be true…

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[crown-eater]

Nicola Griffith, Slow River

[rubysdaydreams]

Why am I so guarded?

Because the world isn’t kind to vulnerability. Plus, it’s not my job to make you feel more comfortable.

Ruby’s Daydreams

[terrypratchettparadise]

You couldn't say 'I had orders.' You couldn't say 'It's not fair.' No one was listening. There were no Words. You owned yourself. [...] Not 'Thou Shalt Not'. Say 'I Will Not'.

Terry Pratchett - Feet Of Clay

[neo-somaliana]

Ok, let me clarify something my good people: Mental illness isn't a character deficiency. It's not what drives self-absorbed or malicious behaviour. By saying that, for instance, Trump is mentally unstable and that's why he is the way he is, or that an obnoxiously shallow and egoistic person needs psychological evaluation, you're implying: A) Mental illness robs one of self-agency and free will B) All evil can be traced to some mental disorder C) A mentally stable person can't be evil D) A person with a mental illness becomes their illness. And it's severely damaging and damning on so many levels, not least that it propagates the idea that once you have any form of mental illness, you're done for. You have no say in your life and there's nothing you can do to live your life as fully as possible. It's also signalling to those who don't have mental disorders that they are morally and spiritually wholesome *because* they don't have a mental illness. My mental illness makes it difficult for me to entertain any hope or future whatsoever, it makes keeping up with the daily salahs like wading through quicksand, and it's extremely tempting to isolate myself and not write or go to my therapy sessions. But guess what? I've prayed 5 times a day for 11 years, I've held myself to higher moral standards than most, I've never let all the horrendous traumas and disabling emotional pain stop me from finding my truth, and I've never let my rich history of being betrayed and being hurt stop me from seeking meaningful connections with other people nor did the fear of loneliness deter me from walking away from relationships and friendships that compromised my integrity and my emotional health. In other words, mental illness is a part of me, NOT me! The illness may accentuate toxic parts of me that I wouldn't have seen before, but it does.not.create.them. Regardless of what I feel or go through, I still retain my power of choice.

[odinsblog]

Paxton Smith, Lake Highlands High School 2021 valedictorian