I know I got the expression wrong in my subject line—I usually get expressions wrong but often it’s an accident. I am terrible at idioms. But this time I did it on purpose.
I’ve been thinking about how change is slow sometimes and hard to see but that doesn’t always mean it isn’t happening. Whether it’s vaccine doses finallyrolling out but then second doses getting delayed, or friends who have had it up to HERE with jobs they have been dissatisfied with for years just now beginning to send resumes out for new opportunities, or even the weather warming up in Texas, there is progress. It’s not smooth, it’s not predictable but I see it.
On the podcast
Last week Natajia Miller, a diversity and inclusion expert joined me So Much Further To Go: The Consequences of Racial Injustice and True Allyshi.
The first time Natajia, who grew up in the Bahamas, was stopped by police for Driving While Black she was en route to graduate school in Georgia, her mother in the passenger seat right beside her. After being pulled over, confronted by and racist and threatening language and police dogs, she and her mother were taken to the police station. There she was told that without paying a hefty bail she would not be released. The next time she was pulled over the arresting officer did so for a minor incident the arresting officer brought her into the station, put her in shackles, and she spent a night in jail.
Not only did she feel ashamed, her life irrevocably changed that day. She knew that she would never be viewed or treated as equal in America because of the color of her skin. In episode 64 Natajia, who is now a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Consultant, shares her story, offers actionable steps on how to be an authentic-ally rather than a performative-ally, and weighs in on how much work there is to do. You can listen to our conversation here.
To mark National Eating Disorders Awareness Week Alli Spotts-De Lazzerlicensed professional clinical counselor, LMFT, and a certified eating disorder specialist joins me for episode Conquering A 20-Year Eating Disorder.
At a young age, Alli was only 9 years old when she started dieting. For most of her life, she equated weight with purpose and worth and fought to overpower her body’s instinct to get the nutrition it needed to keep her healthy. After battling anorexia nervosa and avoiding treatment for years she finally reached the point where she wanted to be held accountable for her actions. She decided to share her experience with a therapist and begin to heal her relationship with weight and food. And when she did, she was able to see her body and all bodies as a vessel to carry our mind, organs, and everything else that makes people who they are. Now, Alli helps others overcome their battle around eating disorders and hopes that her new book, MeaningFULL: 23 Life-Changing Stories of Conquering Dieting, Weight, & Body Image Issues which tells not only her own story of recovery, but also the stories of others. It’s Alli’s hope that these accounts will encourage body acceptance and positivity and create a new dialogue about what good health means. You can listen to her episode here.
Next week I speak with Lafiro Gomez III for episode 66: Moved to Create: Life After A Massive Stroke
After suffering a massive stroke caused by a previously undiagnosed vascular malformation Lafiro A. Gomez III became paralyzed and utterly dependent on his family for care. He entered rehabilitation and worked on recovering some of his strength but was unable to carry out many basic functions on his own. Facing infections, deteriorating kidney function, and amputations he grew weary and depression shaped his days. Until loved ones encouraged him to begin writing again and he did. Using his thumb and an iPhone he created new worlds with characters that came alive and reminded him that nothing is impossible. Now the author of the novels Parachute Island and The Variants he joins And Then Everything Changed to tell his story, share his writing process, and reflect on what he’s learned about himself through the challenges he’s faced.
Look for his episode on 3/1.
Please take care of yourself. And remember sometimes it’s time to push, sometimes it’s time to regroup. But you don’t ever have to stop growing.
XO,
Ronit