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20-ish years ago I spent several weeks in Central Asia. As part of my time there I was allowed to visit one orphanage where children with routine, treatable birth-related disabilities were hidden away and left to die, often chained to beds or shackled to chairs.
When they got sick, medical care, food, and often even water was withheld to make their care "easier" for the "nurses".
These were dying rooms where society hid its most vulnerable. One of the "nurses" looked at me with my one leg and scoffed. "You'd be long dead here," she said.
And she was right. I was born to parents with the means and heart to fight for my care. I am privileged in that and many other regards.
NONE of us would EVER say what I witnessed in Central Asia decades ago was OK. Thank heavens there have been those whose purpose has been to shut those places down.
But I watched a video from @bowelbabe, a cancer warrior in the UK, who just got told point blank her life was less valuable because she lives with metastatic cancer.
The chronic illness community in the USA has been told again and again for the better part of a year we should stop getting in the way of everybody else who wants to live their lives. I've been told that personally almost verbatim by family members.
Friends, the way we care for our most vulnerable community members shouts volumes about what we actually care about. Our choices shout louder than our words.
Wearing a mask isn't a political statement. Physical distancing isn't an attack on your rights. It's the least we can do to keep each other safe and work harder together to make Covid history... permanently
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#designedtothrivecreative #courageouscreativity #purposemeetsprofit #designedtothrive #creativeatheart #creativepreneur #creativebusinessowner #risingtidesociety #calledtobecreative #creativityfound #communityovercompetition #jaxcreatives #wearethecreativeeconomy #madetomatter #thelittlevictories #dowhatyoulove #creativebusiness #creativeandchronicallyill #storymatters #itsthelittlethings #contentstrategy #contentstrategist #creativedirection](https://scontent-frt3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.29350-15/139787346_347269172896745_5067937779996572775_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=2&_nc_sid=8ae9d6&_nc_ohc=1pgb4LB3cGQAX_J1Xl9&_nc_ht=scontent-frt3-1.cdninstagram.com&oh=1cf39ae6a0fdea74bb47e5496b667212&oe=602D471F)
[Context Warning: Graphic description] 20-ish years ago I spent several weeks in Central Asia. As part of my time there I was allowed to visit one orphanage where children with routine, treatable birth-related disabilities were hidden away and left to die, often chained to beds or shackled to chairs. When they got sick, medical care, food, and often even water was withheld to make their care "easier" for the "nurses". These were dying rooms where society hid its most vulnerable. One of the "nurses" looked at me with my one leg and scoffed. "You'd be long dead here," she said. And she was right. I was born to parents with the means and heart to fight for my care. I am privileged in that and many other regards. NONE of us would EVER say what I witnessed in Central Asia decades ago was OK. Thank heavens there have been those whose purpose has been to shut those places down. But I watched a video from @bowelbabe, a cancer warrior in the UK, who just got told point blank her life was less valuable because she lives with metastatic cancer. The chronic illness community in the USA has been told again and again for the better part of a year we should stop getting in the way of everybody else who wants to live their lives. I've been told that personally almost verbatim by family members. Friends, the way we care for our most vulnerable community members shouts volumes about what we actually care about. Our choices shout louder than our words. Wearing a mask isn't a political statement. Physical distancing isn't an attack on your rights. It's the least we can do to keep each other safe and work harder together to make Covid history... permanently * * * * * #designedtothrivecreative #courageouscreativity #purposemeetsprofit #designedtothrive #creativeatheart #creativepreneur #creativebusinessowner #risingtidesociety #calledtobecreative #creativityfound #communityovercompetition #jaxcreatives #wearethecreativeeconomy #madetomatter #thelittlevictories #dowhatyoulove #creativebusiness #creativeandchronicallyill #storymatters #itsthelittlethings #contentstrategy #contentstrategist #creativedirection 
Mom.... do we get to open presents yet? Merry Christmas from both of us. Thank you for being a gift to us every day of the year. You are loved, appreciated, and seen. However you celebrate, know you aren’t alone. #designedtothrivecreative #courageouscreativity #purposemeetsprofit #designedtothrive #creativeatheart #creativepreneur #creativebusinessowner #risingtidesociety #calledtobecreative #creativityfound #communityovercompetition #jaxcreatives #wearethecreativeeconomy #madetomatter #thelittlevictories #dowhatyoulove #creativebusiness #illustratedbusiness #storymatters #itsthelittlethings #copywritingforcreatives #contentstrategy #contentstrategist #creativedirection #thrivecontentco #christmas2020 
Meet the quintessential 2020 Christmas tree + the "a pitta me" (according to Siri) aka epitome of social content. @maemae_co, Siri apparently doesn't understand me either 😆 PSA: the 'Gram is not WYSIWYG, not at all. Well, 2020 apparently applies to trees too. I bought a 6 ft Christmas tree from @michaelsstores online at 5x more than I normally would. I just wanted a tree I could hang all the ornaments on from mom. My 1st Christmas without her. I've been decorating through gales of tears when I least feel like it because, DANG it, I'm not about to let this year steal my Christmas too. Tree arrives. It's 5 ish ft, not 6, + the wrong brand. Not thrilled but I can deal. The plastic base looked almost melted. I put the feet on & the next thing I know the plastic rips completely & the tree crashes. Even though it's their mistake, & it means I'd have NO Christmas tree this year, as I'm physically unable to carry it, & I'm high risk for Covid, Michaels chose to put their policy over customer care in this case. They refused to refund without a return. I hope they liked my $130 because I will sadly be choosing to take my buying as an artist elsewhere after this. I'm putting it down as a $130 lesson in how I NEVER want to handle customer trust. Ever. Y'all trust + loyalty take years in many cases to build, + mere minutes to destroy. What you don't see in the first picture is that the tree base is in a wood box wedged in by gallon jugs of water. But just because we can make something work, doesn't mean it works. And all in the scroll isn't what it seems. If you are struggling this season, please know you aren't alone. - #designedtothrivecreative #courageouscreativity #purposemeetsprofit #designedtothrive #creativeatheart #creativepreneur #creativebusinessowner #risingtidesociety #calledtobecreative #creativityfound #communityovercompetition #jaxcreatives #wearethecreativeeconomy #madetomatter #thelittlevictories #dowhatyoulove #creativebusiness #illustratedbusiness #storymatters #itsthelittlethings #copywritingforcreatives #contentstrategy #contentstrategist #creativedirection 
On this day 7 years ago... Hard to believe so much could change in so little time. I miss my Mom more than words. I knew Christmas was going to be hard, but I didn’t think it was going to be a grief riptide starting with the first Christmas playlist. Cancer is evil and death is the ultimate thief. On this side of eternity at least. In the middle of a season filled with personal loss and pain, choosing to still celebrate this season my mama loved so much is, for me, making joy a series of small revolutionary acts. Still Christmas will never again be the same. And neither will I. If this is a hard season for you too please know you aren’t alone and you are not compelled to celebrate, or choose joy. You are free to be loved right where you are without having to do or become anything other than yourself. Sometimes just being is the most revolutionary act of all - #designedtothrivecreative #courageouscreativity #purposemeetsprofit #designedtothrive #creativeatheart #creativepreneur #creativebusinessowner #risingtidesociety #calledtobecreative #creativityfound #communityovercompetition #jaxcreatives #wearethecreativeeconomy #madetomatter #thelittlevictories #dowhatyoulove #creativebusiness #illustratedbusiness #storymatters #itsthelittlethings #apartbutnotalone #contentstrategy #contentstrategist #creativedirection 
These are deeply strange and hard times. Tomorrow (actually tonight) around 1:30 AM my Dad took his final breath here and his first in eternity. Less than 6 months later my Mom followed over Mother's Day. My heart aches right now in a way that defies language. It is the first holiday season without them. Then add pandemic. I want nothing more than to be surrounded with in-person family right now. But that is just not an option because of Covid. So I have had to look deep into the empty spaces and make some decisions. I can't change what is, but I can choose how I attempt to navigate it. I may be apart, but I'm not alone. And neither are you. I looked at the holiday season and made a personal list of things I've wanted to do for years. Books to read. Deep business plan dives (yeah that counts as fun for me). Movies I want to watch. Christmas cards I want to send. My annual urge try making a new recipe or two. Skillshare classes to take. Projects to serve others. Making and holding space for YOU in any way I can in this season. Thinking about hosting a virtual holiday party... Even in the best times, holidaying can be hard. Mine were destined to be hard anyway this year because of losing my parents. But I want you to know, you and me, we aren't alone. If you're struggling or just want someone to see you and know you're there, please feel free to DM me. Grateful for each one of you. * * * * * #designedtothrivecreative #courageouscreativity #purposemeetsprofit #designedtothrive #creativeatheart #creativepreneur #creativebusinessowner #risingtidesociety #calledtobecreative #creativityfound #communityovercompetition #jaxcreatives #wearethecreativeeconomy #madetomatter #thelittlevictories #dowhatyoulove #creativebusiness #apartbutnotalone #storymatters #itsthelittlethings #copywritingforcreatives #contentstrategy #contentstrategist #creativedirection 
I'm about to be blunt. Really blunt. Might be uncomfortable. I'm OK with that. A year ago today my dad was dying in a local hospice. Thanksgiving Day will be the 1 year anniversary of his death. It will also be the anniversary of my mom coming home from hospital given weeks to live. She fought like the warrior she was and held on till Mother's Day. I lost them both less than 6 months apart. But I got to BE with them in person, stroke their hair, & say goodbye. You might not be so lucky. Today I'm angry. I went to my local chain gym for my 1st training session in a year outside, masked, distanced, sanitized. I poked my head in to register. It was packed. No distancing. I saw maybe 3 masks on members TOTAL. There is no excuse. None. It is an outbreak waiting to happen. Maybe they won't get sick. Maybe all that will happen is someone they love will catch Covid & then no longer be there. Would it be worth it? Masks are not about rights or free speech. They are about protecting one another. Our rugged American individualism is killing us faster than the virus that weaponizes it. This Thanksgiving, this Christmas I no longer have immediate family to be with. They're gone. I can't be with local extended family in person because between my lungs & brain I'm vulnerable. And for those saying it just affects the vulnerable... A. Dead wrong B. Thank you for showing how much you value life. I'll keep it in mind in the future. So yes I'm angry. I don't want you to know how god-awful lonely & painful this is. The ache that never goes away when there are NO chairs to even fill at your table. For the love everything good & decent, FL wear a mask & be inconvenienced now so you might have more than an empty chair at an empty table next Thanksgiving #dropsmic - #designedtothrivecreative #courageouscreativity #purposemeetsprofit #designedtothrive #creativeatheart #creativebusinessowner #risingtidesociety #calledtobecreative #creativityfound #communityovercompetition #jaxcreatives #wearethecreativeeconomy #madetomatter #thelittlevictories #dowhatyoulove #creativebusiness #storymatters #itsthelittlethings #contentstrategy #contentstrategist #creativedirection