A love letter to women who are hurting right now

I am always hesitant to speak up about anything controversial, but I’m done playing small because the stakes are too high and your well-being is at risk. I believe anyone who has a platform can and should use it to connect with people who resonate with them morally. Especially as a healer who helps people navigate their wellness journey, it would be a disservice for me to NOT acknowledge the collective grief and fear many of us are feeling after the presidential election this week.

We live in a time pretty much everything has become political.

Health is political.

Food is political.

Religion and spirituality are political.

Relationships are political.

Family is political.

Our bodies are political.

We can no longer ignore the fact that what’s happening on a national and global stage has very real impacts on all aspects of our health and well-being. So I will not brush this under the rug and go on business as usual.

As a coach who works with women who care deeply about people and the world, I want to make it abundantly clear that I hold a safe space for women who are feeling fearful, confused, hopeless, despondent, and angry about how this country clearly does not care about us and our well-being. And I help them practice self-care as an act of resistance.

As women, you must understand that no one is going to give you “permission” to take care of yourselves or make yourselves a priority. You have to claim that for yourself. I want you to know that I am committed to supporting women who are done with the capitalistic, patriarchal BS; women who recognize they have to be the ones to make a change in their lives because it’s now very clear the system isn’t going to pave the way for them.

Coming to this realization might feel lonely, frustrating, or confusing. My reaction to Tuesday’s election results was to isolate and feel sorry for myself. But I had to remind myself that I’m not the only one going through this, and I cannot let my fear isolate me from others. There are allies out there, and there is healing available in community.

Community is so important for our healing. Of course, part of the process of healing is individual, but ultimately, we can’t do it alone. So for those of you who are feeling sad, scared, mad, judgmental…I encourage you to seek connection and support outside of yourself to help you keep putting one foot in front of the other, because we can’t stop.

And this is not the final word. I don’t expect you to feel better after reading this message. But I hope you feel seen and know that you are still worthy of care, and you get to choose to claim it for yourself, always. And I hope you remember that staying connected with others is almost always going to be a beautiful way to nurture yourself through the ups and downs of life.

The work we're doing here together is bigger than just changing your diet or helping you find some friends. This work is helping to build yourself up physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually so you can continue to show up meaningfully in the spaces that need your brilliance and be a light in this world.

​I write all of this knowing that we as women will have to continue to fight for our humanity and dignity to be recognized. Today, that feels heavy, and tomorrow, I will keep fighting so we all get to experience ease and peace in our lives (which seems totally contradictory, but I have to believe it’s possible). And I find solace in knowing we don’t have to do it alone.