f

2.

.., I_"_~' ,,- -,---

,\ I
, ~- ,I
I (-...,-,
I
I ' ) ,~-
\_ ~ , -
- ",
_' I
& JI l'
•
- --r" --," I'
,' 2'
'.- .1 I, '...
~
:' ,'J
1

•, ",.,.-'
• I'"
._" -
, •
2'/-'-.'"
, .""Y .
J
 The next issue ofS.upport 'N Destroy wilt focus on these topics,
but is hungry for submissions on anything you'd like to talk
about, related and otherwise ....

-quitting smoking: where motivations come from, ways to quit,

Self care rocks!! ! support and boundaries, how life changes after quitting) D.~
h."....o to ~ ""'e~.)+"'-~ ~k..-:(~~oI<.A:A~
Because You and you alone can truly
-how to fall asleep and stay asleep, how to cope with getting
understand what's best for you.
Because self-care will make walking less sleep
away from all types of situations easier.
Because we can survive and be happy- -nutrition and food
Because I can accept it when people
aren't there for me. -what "ableism" means to you or those around you,
Because I won't need the capitalist and
oppressive psychiatric, health, and intersections with it and power structures, how it effects people
legal systems. and communities, what empowerment looks like
Because self-care can help us know who
we are and why we're rad. "'submissions canbe just text that I will lay out, or finished half-
Because liberation rocks.
Because accessible self-directed care sheets (4"x51/2"l_ no oppressive garbage please.
is personal power, and is autonomy.
8e~ Svo..rvl"aJ ~.:!s;M'-COJe
ore-nO+ ser-C'r.sh.- +l-.e.'Q c>..J'e
a-p61"t- QF ~Vr,,~ o,C 'r":»
at- cOr"\+t"~t1~.~~o
* co

-
/
 •

Support 'N Destroy! Is a rad/anarchist health skills and

reflection zine. It is a space filled with nurturing freedom and
autonomy, self-defining the meaning of hearth, and speaking to
ways of being, healing, strengthening.. and growth. While
respecting each other, we can become stronger individuals and
communities if we can listen to and learn from each others'
experience. It is a place acknowledge the deep ties of
oppressive forces with health, and resist these cycles. without
sacrificing our own desires and needs for well-being.

Support 'N Destroy is about survival and practices of growth and

•
healing. It is the goal of this zine to take the power to heal back •
from oppressive systems, to create and generate this power, to
liberate it, by channeling the voices of those who are growing
under pressure. S+D seeks to support the means wanted by
those seeking health, including getting support from the
dominant health system.
 rr-: .----- ~.~ ~Si.
kEEPING WI!lrn! FOL all you No(""ell.ste~~.
body else \.iho does. winte("') c:J,ooo,~
wi-dwestecs ....
e~~oc:J.~ e(k. ~
"ny ( So, 1!Jtarted -th .. 1i.....

had Nldly bad enough of...,. amr-iOll

boII two ~

my Ufe. nol the fint ...,.I moot Ilk.oly not the .....
ag~.when I..,...

and ~
1 W1llI
..merging

tearing
... them.
hom
my5t!1f apart.
"BUper

I'd abo had enough

... rd period of
and my friend:I
of the
'\

.... y I was treatiug people. <nod bow I "'.. pushing man! and man! fri"""" farlh .... lIWilY. For (
People under'es t Lee t e the ·powe!'":toE the cold. By the spl"ing ~ the fim: tinw In. """'e. I"qbl Ilbou1somg1o the psyo:h ~pitaI. and the fad: th;o.t l'had
body and ednd has started to feel it. My bt:ain is shon-flt'ing g_ 80 bad th.t 1 consi<loned golog to that hellish aiT-Iock ...... the scouiuI part. I .........
fLoa chronic exhaustion. evefy syste~ in my body is slowing down
or done for. I've been in the house too l'!Il.1ch. Then sp r Lng
that rd 1_

that __
a lot of lITouad l·cI .........

place, and ~
with undlOl"Standlng

• Lor of the \I&lue :r'r- ~I

myself. Uilth healing, ...,.I go ~

ca,:-Oo fTo~ r-. ,,:r'otlons_1L.

10

of.
I
comes and 1 don' t want to fest flbm being cold. I wauna get
caught up on being outside. and d~ things with my friends.
W1llI feeling. RatheT I1JAD ..... aappy choice ~I:;rt .LA"~JL~" r---
decided 10 ItdiveIy take ClIIICli ID-" • ....-arching and leaming nom othen .bout _ I
This cold ti_ is har-d, so heret.. soee cold tips fL<mr-~, could do this • .mill I n....w ... be healthy and nol boo inthe huge llIDOunl of ....... tional
a jacket-lover thse days. turmoil and pain. and pftyoicaf ",udo: that I had been infOT. while. I staned to ~ • jouTnal
°Showers and be tbs : These can be addicting. CaSUle's,
of the things 1 ...... doinw . ..,."ding thlnlP ... 1 fell like 1 undenotood them. I thought the besI
mo~ who is fco~ the great land of cold. Chicago, says that they
.... Y 10 c:bannel what ...... PDlI OSTwas to .-ntua1ly it into II zlnII. I ........to! • f..... ..-Dy
a~ the best because they heat you to the COfe. They can dry
in_ IlfticIa .houl the Ioooialth ~ and oppresaion p;ut of that pn>a!SS. I started to
out youe skin. They ~y statt feeling absolutely mandato£y
..... ke my _ t.-...ls prinIiBog h maybe II yea".fIer 1 aWMd recording things. I edited lltuff. I
e~pecially if you live in a c~azy house oc have s~one~~ --
t . --- - who you can't hide from except in the showe;:- The made II table of contentll, tIl.e3>••• l ... t on the lIoddam thing fOT'Ii II yeaT.

other conside~tion is that no matter how long you spend in the This zint! hu bn>ughr .. p 00 many _tions 10...... as e who is driving t......,..,u
sITKoweC. you still have to get out. Keep your clothes in the .nuchy, 10000rds!lberatlol. _poed:. equallty and divenirY. 1 ttanpted to not divide
bathrDO~. towel off real well and then leap into them. It also those who wknown .nd m-- who ~doa'tn, ..... i).. IOti1f ,!~slo!l1s_~.th.,1 nT9n';up:I D>OO'lC

helps to dc Lnk water. (I like cold water) when you get out of
the shower to get accli~ted. Dive unde~ the cove~s and
people can be able to do ...

in theory and In "ndiCt!.

1~ d.......

0C:her qlM!S6o_ 11-'-:

- - --
iJ,.,$., ~o ....hM Very
should 1 include aD my imbalanced
r...,; de1i'"lii"" .....,.,..,...
polltkal
get WARM!Don't plan on getting out fat" a while. ....,b about the health sysIorD in ha-e? Will that belp folk 11t a1so TIIiIIed inoumenlbk!

q ...... tio_ for me abo'" "" ........clas.s pri\'llege. I was ab'" to taIut .. lot of ti off f...... having
°THECOVERSl! I got a new quilt that is an ocean of awe s oee , any rapon.,ibiliti.". outsido .. f taIdRg care of MyMlf and Ieamlng how to do th "pending
It is HUGEand REALLY PUFFY. g Leepdng bags are also great (You Ii.....
with my dog. being olfooql.., Invaled In radlcal prGject!o, and working wh£n 1 felt roo. k,.
~y get teased if you are living s~ewhe~e and sleep in a making the reIeY.....,., of lIio zine ~ .......ble. "-,,-, I don't wanl to hide befHnd
s Lee'p-i.rig bag. People who sometimes don't see it I S benefits
and de ee it uncivilised. F-that. Get war. I
speaklnw onI!, of ~q ...... ti_-. I'.... been trying hIU'd not to C'O'IIIIIan ~ voice. In this

It s a good zlne, ...,.11-' my mlI>d ...... g it.. 1 was holding; -my ...... 1tI Uilth printing 1hb linll far aD ......
way of gatting sustained heat. Read and watch TV undec the reilSO"". for thae ~ ho._ no _ .............. The YoiaI of thls zin ..... lot ....... )
covers. Knit there. Study theu_ You will be heppy . COIIlfident and ....... than I ... about~. I decided recently thai !baa fears could only ~(
be II<fdreued If I (II"InId iI. and that it wouJd bot m .... UHfuI printed than odtting on <IlY
°Cuddling: it's good. Body heat wOtks well. Make sure that comput ... ThIIIt being Nld, pleasoloonta.et In-. If \IOU ""- &III' Ihfng you want to say OT
you are cuddling consensually or don't cuddle a t t, all. ~ uggesIiooul ~I em--=--" and _ in thO. a-. and '-' .... to it.-

~-~
~ rv-
/\./ /\./ '\../--.
'"'-./ r-'
°Spic.y food!!!
wave. tingle.
EATit! Sounds silly. but you know what waC.
and flush you get when you eat spicy foods? (
I ...... to.n mono in It. ~-.I
ow:>dd~--the -ni of .. 0 .... ...,.1 r~;.~_-:....,~.'
diffrl ~~ and ~_!_""""'a- t"'of of my IIf
... iOlliii bloo.:I!'lo ~ _'
That's legit! It'll fitt'you up! Fro. the brain outwa(Qs. I've .,p ~-tliitl'llI"~io poa rIiYIhm ..... _re to taIut u.... of -'f. TlM_
also heal1J.you can put cayeenne pepper 'dn youe shoes and socks conundrums and ccom"'" r-u. are. tbu.. bur I '-' like 1 aln _ tbsm more~. I )
(weita!) and it'll waM you up. I don't do laundl"Y llIUchso ....anted to poU; -my hud .. /roalI tha~"'" I _II .. just _ that peop&o. k-... who ...
I haven't tried it. ..n_<.• &o·'Ihoii c...
°Tea and soup- Get wapP'lftO!l'f'
the inside out. Food will get
youC sys te e going and he,.!t UP_YOUL body. and the war'llIthwill • I
.peakinA.

...............

~.,l,
l.pelI1I moStly ~BI

-_ ~

en ....,I-~
......... 00.. "'....
worked

yP
f and ...... worbd
¥ ~t-I'"l"
'""lrO......Ilc ...d.
F" ~
1Clsf- I
stay fora while until
~Run around the block-swear by
",-calories
it.
kick in.
It sucks. It hJ.pS. Suit ~ Iibenl,*,. '-ling"""'''''' ..... ng. and continuing Tais-. -H-

up. get going. Get wa{~ ~ ) :r:: .;... 'f ~f-

'Sorr~~ i"~J. -fv ~ _.\.z:.., of' '<j M <ri'T::. _ •
~~-=-:::O"'===":':~
 f.3 "
°CltohesClothexs-Keep your head W8Ca, the back of your neck.
street Medic RIIsou:ree8: A lot of these skilla can be applied in
between action in commun:iti.e" of al1 kinda. Goinq to a street wl""tsts. slicks 'on in the house. Dt"esse6and tucked-in shifts
IIIBdictra:ininq and workinq a8 a street medic <:an be really rad help connect youf" trunk to the (est of your body and ID!-kea
qet peop1-" thinkinq about haal.th, and people also axperience a seal to keep wind out (And keep you.. butt crack f ..OfmI ahovfng)
of incredilll.y di.:ff.icu.lt things wortinq as "treat medics. Many
these orqani~ation!l also do other health and wellne!ls-related
Hoods e re good so are those knee-length jackets (good f or"
thinqs, so check 'em out and. be surprised! running awav).

National. Street:He<tic Lists:

action_~cal@yahoOqrOUps.com
y;ahoo .com.
Low-traffic list, sign up at ~ .~t? 4J{ {;J.. "i!:?
Street :He<tic.ild- "This .ild is a collal:lorativooly ..u.ted
inf'ormation resource foeusecl on madicaJ. isS\lRs, tr.atJllent protocols,
ethical standards, and historica.1. information of use to street
meclicsu http://medic.wikia_com/wiki/Main Page .
~ SMi le!- Sl\.~ +-hi.- C!..=lCJ.. ~'rs-
<.U ~

htt ;//medic.wikia.com/.iki/List of street medic

a.(SO a..M..a...,:;'\~. F"ooox<"/Vf\ ref
f"l"-T\
~
Me-!f lt-f'\.o
b-",o~
-F Su.L!..k So
o I-..-->
*One final note about showers: and baths: Water can be ~
dece'iving. It can puLl, heat out of you "evet though you feel
wal-II. This is ;..- ~~tience tells (Ie. I don't know if MrJs.,
Science is right, but So....
etilks showecs can wake lIIe feel coLdef

As with e vetything, if it vorks , do it. _ R'::~_ context llndl_

"Push up. sit ups. - J.o ~, ~:+ u...JGN!'-- tI'
~;e,votions, not science. Espedolly not Mr'. ScLence. Thj
guy is sure a sl!t:loth talker, but is kinda .a jerk.

SfJI!ltething I've wanted to say for- a while: Yes, being

hatless and mflinching in the cold is really punk.
If you can walk into a head wind without turning
your head you can probably stPhsh capLt.el.Lee and ar'e
such a nihilist:: you can walk away fl'bll senyehf.ng . Not
buying shit (like jackets and hats) and leaving the
heat off is earth-saving and 6woney saving, but please ,
don't start: suff efdug so haed that you turn into punk-
j esus-cs t Lgeate and stan being holiet'-than-thou
about the cold. Don't judge youl"'friends foC"wanting to
feel wal1lll Shut youc crap • Wait a _nute fo€' your
buddy to find he~ his hat. Or
It's cool. We still
think you afe a badass, even if you are nice. Actually.
especially if you ale nLce,
 .':;\lrv !+UG-S'" check-in Lu;+L L60u.S"f,eLP
\
~\
~
-<f

<r...
One more thing about clothes and being warm-keep 'em dry!! water
absorbs a lot of the heat, and the material doesn't have the air pockets it
uses to help you stay warm! Water + clothes + youe warm Fail!! If you
can afford it or otherwise have access to it and feel comfortable with it,
non-eotton materials keep people a lot warmer, and insulate better
f (
c[)

:Resources for tlose af'fected by

<fl when wet than cotton. vegan-ish synthetic materials (like fleece or
to support:

E;.. polyester or polypro or synthetic fill and that other fancy stuff), wool, CL Phi Y s Pissed-''''' Ilty"s PIssed believes In supportin.csurvillOr5 ofsellual anOlult and
domestk violence In a Wi'( thilt provides options and allows the survlvorto make their own

I -.G~ ~he~~7~~i~ib~~~~:~
::du~dOn%np~;~~~~~~~~
~?s~o~~ ~: ~~dS ~:~::b~~~~
not when it's wet, 50 fooey.) Also cottons with a weave-like material, 0
decisions...• " Checl: cut their distro
down.load, inc:J.udiag the zines J.isted below) :
http:// .... phiJ.J.yq>iSSed.net/tazonoay/term/3
(8V'IIrytltlng aVaiJ.llble ~or ~r....

, cotton blended with something else, seem to work well. ,tf~ Support! by Cindy Crabb (author ot Doris):
peop1e can boosuppg.rti..va to victi.lns o~ 1!I1lJ<USJ. assault,
a book/cine about
with

I,(~~
personal submissi~ all<! stcries.

S"lo ;nc~AJd..te W~
HOwto support a "ri.c:t.i..Il o~ se:n>a1 a..sault: This is s tltlrd-person
pamphJ.et o~ pointar-s. lIOt sugar-coated. st al.l. This pamphJ.et <::an boo
J.ess trigqering ~or survivors boocause it' _ not written :in lItory
~w~ If"", rcs{"'" form.
AJ.so check out ~ Do:r:-ill di._tro (abovs) and .><plore J.ocal resourc-.s.

- -- j? 3_. ~"i(~l~.;
":-5- ;71.f~()., "=>- .•
Herbal-ism resources, support and nourish divers.,inc1usiv.,
RadH.rb.org' "WorkirLgto ItlI throuQt/out the northeast...."

'. and rec.i.procaJ. heaJ.tncarll networ

"
'l'h8y lulve a yaarJ.y._t up. "Fa.I:ma ...... herbs and CQJIllIIUnity BeaJ.th
......
- Farma......· Pravidance, RI. -.. 'the

.
..... -.. • .. l.k do a ton o~ lItuff that <::an
d Education C.... tar'rlltos .... o -

/~
./"
~ /
elveS massages, •
:iJ.ed doom hera. Go to their
http:// __ . Fa.rtllaCY~Al:r:-b~ .coa.
H b center in M<lntpeolier, V'I'-
website.

~_non-pro~it
or . ty wi-th heal thc:axe resources
""'-" eople give eeros r shoulders or to providing our c:lElIIUfU- .. ..
Nature. We of~er fae a.nd lIb.dinq-sca.le ...
e-eften when P in t\"leirhands0 using on,
l'nic http://-...VTherbcenter.org .' cal. My J.ocal. one
te on self-massag soreness end up 0 a lot further by vee can use ~~ h~ comurs offn- services at a sJ.~d.inq s e.
~n:Ostress, teflSio~~~n~ake your rna~Sf~~t;OUr skin SO::;;~)l.es mUSc.\es, does (Thanks!

elsewhere. 'Younds WI\\not have t king oil) or ba\~ t\ nes that relax
our ha n a COO mercIa 0 sage
because 'J willdo, eve some com m sterS mas .

1 an oil (reallY 3,n,YOils" listed befo,re- albas oil, merry Hea~ towel, or mut y
"sme Y d rbam• dorw youma
like t\1e . tiger balm, ba g~so add a heatlf'~ ~~off the body parts uttlng a
muscles. You cana . the welg . that areaby p
stic.kS.Icy H~~ stretching or taki~~\P' or supportIng urse1f,especially the Thich Nhat Banh' KiJ;"acl.. o~ Mind1'ul.lness: This book d.oean't just
taJ.k about lIitting Uildi. tat:.ion, but tlul iJIportane:e o~ ai-ndt'ul:u..ss
assage WI . g down c.an . else under yo d If you can, in dai1y li~ •. Braathel Tou Are AJ..ive. '-.:. a. Fr_ Where you ArlI.
~e wo~ingon. ~Y~ket, or somet~\ng eels like it's supporteiv·e your body Brad Warner: Rardalrs !Zen: Punk Rock, :IIlOnlltar IDOVillS, and the
pillow, b\ank~, ~y Adiust it unt~1It fand gOIngslowly ~~: change. \ying truth about reaJ.ityl Sit Down and Sh.ut UPt"certinably punk
(what8ver that _SUI),
gapS in 'laura ~t beforehand h~~sage and ada~t :~e massage be more Anything by PtuD.a Chodro:l\Razor Wire Dharma: A buddhht Li.~.:in
c.hi\\lngout, the effects of the hi\e afterwards he ~ff and see what 't Prison, Ca1vin MallZle (a p8r$onaJ. account). Awake in the WiJ.d,
~ (Meditatioc end. H:Lnd:fuln.lIl1in wiJ.d, open, or natural.
time to fee . g for a little W try your own s 'd shoulders-won spaces)
down or relaXIn.....ith theSe things~da\\y your han~s a,nrn some love ... ·
ihat wa hile yOUa
works.
effective. d tense W
P\a~~~~Y~o~u~r~b~O~d~Y-~e~S~P~~r~e~try~,n:g:t~o~g~,~ve~e;~::::::1
. doutan
get tire ~
~-:...---:; .............
 a
-..ef
•
Witch .. s, Midwives and Nur1l8e, a Hilltory o~ WOJIIQn
aea.lers by
BarbaEa Ehrenreich and Dierdre £nq~ish, Pamphlet the history
on ot
th .. relationships between patriarchy, COrporate llnd stats power,
religion, lind hea.J.th and hea.linq, IIIOstly concenb:ating on European
and Euro-Ameri~ history. Has an illuminating histori.cal and
cultural. analylli8 of ho'll'we are asked to relate to our bodi ..".
B1.." the tront and back door oft 0:1: my mind.
SubmiSSion Hold this bmld he1ps ..... sea in the dark.
A SCanner Darkly II just lIa... the lIlOVi.. but it rocks) by Ph11.1ip 11..
Dick. Regeneration by Pat Barker. fA novel. aboI.>t .. lDilit&ry
psychiatri.st and his pati...,tll.) Thea. book. bring a 10t into
qu ... Uon, :lncludinq thlI qous and _ana of medical lind psyc:hiatric
tr"lltmllnt.

Fun A Oay. This i. an owent in Pit.tsburgh where every day ror the
snowy and cold IIlQnth ot February rolka do IIOlDE1thinq tun toward:ll:
art project.
then at the and then. is lln art showabout
http://tunadaypgh.bloqspot.cam!

Mental. HeaJ.th Resourc ...

ttl.. Freedom C... ter- "F,.,edom Center Is a support and activism community ron by and
for people labeled with severe 'menul disorders.' We all for compassion, human rights, self-
determination, and holistic optJons .....~
http://wwv.freedom-center.org/

th. icarus project and the lunacy distro: wabsite and autonOlllOus
groupS about manta1 illn.ss. Website has rtlUly qood &J:tict ..s
about thed9bacte of thoo mental. il1ness system while still rmuininq
really positiv. ~ ~ ')0<" ~ ...>Q<""'- ~ ~
about booing- he.altby. A lot of diversity in the kind of _terial on
it. Many articles on it 8rR science and res.arcll-basad. Anyone can
post thinqs on it, and th.re is a dis<:>asion board. Th.. lunacy
distro carries ",ines.
http://theicarusproject.net/
Th .. Doris "'ina distro: Got alI th. doris stuff
eupport-roclt.in' thinqe at:
http:// .... dorisdorisdoris.cca/zin.c:at.htm1
DZr Anti~Depres.ion Guide comic-zin._guide by Dori.
Recipe. for Dis8.llter (Th.. Mental aealth section) by Cru..thInc:
This is • totally ac:cassibl. plae:tiO to start, and al.so to reviei e .
It has a lot of <;Ioed8U<;JVestiona, and is ...ritten from a t.ets11y
supporti'WI persp.c:tive, inctuding the us. of aedic:ation if need
boo. It al.so has very qood s:ugqestions for friotnds and ~support
n
tea.auo of those around • person in crisis. I al.so like piekin<;l up
this book and openinq it a rllndom paqe and beinq Ii.,., ~hey, this
random project is possible and h.aa been done!" it .-akes me a little •
closer to deinq =_Uve shit and halps break up depression. Also "-
check out the shOPlifting
eection. eu"" ya kno ....
C . tive 8ehe:vioral Thera and Dia1a<::tiea1 Behavioral Thera
skills-oriented treat::m&nts that come from the PSycll.i.atric ayst_.
This website baa fr_ skill paq ..e
resources: htt ://www.dbts ..lfhel
 Ob!!, $" t Ift!TIe4~ _rd f.,r "_ A~e ~il'~ !p-tW.~e--·W....••
·W....•. W.... !j.....

~ftl. t W3S ~ill!! te> I>e I-!th;~.1 ~,.r no",ill!!hrk te> ·1l~!jll...Jd 1 n~?l' it ltal'peM
a I..t "...~ rratur.tU!jall4 nsit!j "k-II t n~ ahut ,"!!:se~,all4 nil see ....he. 1 a"" an4 see
als.. a ~it a~..ut llh!!r+r..t\.. b!f_ People ~e,.r te!hll~ J"!t rl,ill~ ~. 2.1141wJollw!te>
*
rl,,.,w 2. llTeneh rl,e?!!. t S"es5 "'!:I ,...illt is r+r..t..lItil I f-l h~11..\t ~eIf, eftfI a
liftfe, tr!jin~ '" hoke C'an.F t+r..tpenc>1I dr.esllrt .-nil!! last [..ns at an, llld t''"ntlt rl,e
..nl!j one whof-ls r+r..tfar!:... t'~rea"!! ~ftII exrenftl.dll~ _~ 'lI1I4_~ late!!! tb.t all
file lo~ ..tilers lta~ f.,r,... isn't w .. rth sen" if !!.... d..II't !o~ !!.....s<df. It. lot ..f self-nre
ft.r "'e i5jOl6l" dealill! wirll~rf, wiftI elC/'~j"s Itlve2.lIdnre ft.r ,"!!self, 'Ind
ex endll

YOU
I, You are resourceEul llIld s. Dr! heaJ.th Hc:Geyver. G~ve~t UP!
Go! '101 Gol McGeryver aJ.1I0qets by w~th ha.1p vary often.- .
•

"1-lta~~self-arn-J..,..itte-Df-shrt-II_nl!-lol'ell_"'I!-n..~_IIeYer-"";If-a"d_
• rl,at'srishte>frl,~~:ti~hffl,ill!!f'>4 ..is t-. lein ~self or .I'mr.·
1lIi5 ..~ SfttT!S ItI!Jiral,~tfinl,rl,e -.st nfioll'll ~ef t ltave, 'I"d ~reo:tf ~
etideue. t f,oil at fitr,!JS 11..~ no 40, whiellaren't rnU!! ~ "'1It"~eTInourased~
I'-~Ie te> J>egin wirll.
'I'" eIIeDuragetlt-. d.. 1 de.II't ,"II!j ~~e ..r 'lIl'l'redah-, so ~
llIe rl,illg51'", g .... 4 .~~J
are dead "'tis.
Sa.a notell on heal.th resource.: P~e•• e note-<>ut of respect Eor t h..rt r-I'le.
these orqanirations, book. and ~~terature, spaces, llIld oth8r
r.aouroe. ~~sted here, and their abi~~ty to lIa~f-da.crib9 their t ftt, ""!!, noN.._, JI~ "" .. -h .~ile wild B~ din.l'/'ftr, o:J~ get' lost or
work, and out of respect for your exper~enca .~th these resources,
I t:r~ed to aini..aire the ~n1'O:r1lllltion
~t thalli here._ exp~ore them
cl.all~edf.,....m-, all4 1tSC>~ II!tri~Olf'ioll~M .. ""ressi..
n.
di.r.etl.yl There are soma thoug'hts (I CQUldn't res~IIt...) , but heed
1 a", lonef!!alld "'isdl.. lTlJ TltI..n.e likes to !>e '1",,,"4 r.is~M01.r-"Je.
them onJ.y if you'd like.... rlIen-rs "" va!! ..ut t.en.csr th-t's wll.. 1 ..",_
~~
~.o, there's a ~ot of radica1-~eanino health ~oupa out there,
worked in to the corrv.mtionaJ. systaa. A ~ot of qood and ~i.bers.tory
medical. care and educ.tion ~a q~van in • dia=ate llLlLnner
to prQV~da
protaction for both the cl~antll and. thei.r process, and the
continuing- of those a.rvicell. Evlm though r JU..da up this ~ist, the
cara 9iven at conventional haaJ.th lIervicas and "red"' spacell can be 1 nll't teU an!!onehow1 f-l ~enOlSe
pzwtty t~uid. !teep your eyes open for trustworthy ~oc.~ qroupS, and
whisper them on to friends. It baing- ~oud about who thosa groups N 1'flll!'l\d"I' hc.spitatlZdi....""I~rill!
are and what they do ill what they want, do it. De1'end Our haalinq 2) ~!lfriends aIId ..tilers wi~!IOt wallt to ~ke ~"' of _, rl,e!j'fl ~e ro:,..Jsd "r sn.mf
"paces.
or o\'e'r-~..,del\ed. alld rlle ""~ t\t~ Jo pllt i!lto !!Ie Iftb tI..r t4lat !p-,Plns""Ie
Also, ~ubmi~a ~oup Or raaource you _joy ~ I' ~~probably update
c) t'll ~ wea.kand t b- b n,....~~ 'Ire a rlfl.lled~, all!!W2.!:I.
thia .~ne ~th it.... Being whtlre I _ this ~i"t ~s pretty b~ased
towardJJ • ~ot ot east coaat reaourcaa.

J
Th~ a~ _I\~wa~s t ~,,~ ~$,,1f so",.. Ii"", ""til t _!Jio:lll~ (~n~, ri!!ht!) stop ~ (!]v~
rll11\!Q,,!!1\,15 wa~.
1) 'io",d'j"'O'$ t f-l nap~ il\ s~ ..f ~s ..1f. 2..;"!! -at rll.. fa"", !istef,i,,!! to> ",\lSi.:.
s...i,,!! "'!:I do!! PaM.. napf'!!. I"",i,,!! afn...r "r """edi,,!! wit\, 1-"1,, 1\'\O,j,,!!part ,."1,,fJ
",,,d opp~ situali ..1\S wit\, !!Mlre, ~""",r,""d ki,,!! 5I>hd, -a"d riI..s.. """"""mItIS a"d
1-pl .. w~.. nave ft...!!lrt to n:-o:rnt" ~l'ir tlfO'S lilt.. ~"l~ free 01\0'$ill spite ..f
"'pressi,,", -allda..mel~ alld "nti"....usl~resistil\!! ""l'lhdl'l killg ~"lddClWfl,t t:CIJd wait
cO c:)
hRacing"
»: cdZ) V CD
with cars when you are on train and vice ce rsa . And ~,
W hen trains corne out 0:£ tunnels at night. Pretty muq. all things
ft.r rlios" ",..""",ts of'O"'ll'l."ot d""l'llll!J fl,,,,,, ~O'o:lItlS.. ~ nIl ~elr~I"''', or ~etter l'ld",
train (with some exceptions)
t t:CIJd seek ~ .."t ",,,d d..,...l.." thst no_ ,....er I" ~ OWl\ttfe.
2) 1 'miss 1-"1,,. 1 feel hk if t died 1-"1,, ... Jd !\'Iiss_, 'That .......Id surk -
"'"'''!!~ fl,"l:! II'IigM-~" ~ ..ff wTf\,0..r_. Th~ ..ftero. tell "'" :1.$ "'ut~. Almost falling off my bike and it swinging around so it feels
3) w'h.. p,0\ffS.nat !\'Ii!!htharp"'" totllClrnw. i1al'lh- 11\a ~e1Ir." .Oll't ·IIeed" ;IIdushial
like I'm being caught.
t:t>1l,,/'!l" (w" deRllitell'l ,,~rditU, i1"!:I~" 1-"1,, might wak ..p to rilillg!. ""'l'l~" 1 ...iIT.

People they give good hugs.

"'1"l'lk "'l'l tIICI'"alld dad will- h- ,jsited ~ a"geli.: n.~r spirln "lIa .ill !Iuid" fl,,,,,, ~
!\CIt ~urt a,,~tIICI"" i1~~" 1'1I set -a o:sUfr.,,,, ~ old PS!jt'nt1tr1st 1'", had a"d riI"l:! II
SIll "1' m s.. 1Tl'j t kept !:I""le.ekd "r f.,r $0 I..II!!1'", In,,,ell -alot "IId "0. 1'", illdfi,,!! Farms
,-d,..l!l.. tlS self-o:s .... 11\~ ',."tietlts'·, trQ!:I~"~ florist I.. st ~isdi.:k-rilill!!1" -a"
~m."afy Mlilao:ddeTit.., hetter ~d" is re'lIlll'lre'lIl!~.....,,1I~s..~ ~oTld h"h~al\d rs
'''!oods
.0rfoiTl!!wit\, fl,os.. t'to dta,,!!O'their ~$,j ..n a"d h-hefs tc.wards resperti"g r-rl ..'s fn.dies,
ml"tfs arId hn.rts.
Plants and animals, the ones in the city fight the power by
surviving,

f:IGG1ING! !
floe sure fire way to see that you are headed for
disasteris that people who are laughing seem evil all the time.
It could also be a sign that you are in a bar, Tension in the

body is also relieved by giggling and tickling.Get silly. I'm

probably doing a terrible job cheering you up, Just give it a
shot. The world is a pretty sad and aggro place, it it's just
plain oppressive and boring.,. but when the time comes, giggles
are there, let 'em out. It's okay. Mean mugs are good things (
to hide behind, but it:' s good to giggle and shake it up a bit.

CD{b t.~
~ }
 Also, you know that game, "the game" where you play it with your buds and ~
if you think about "the game" you lose? I like to pretend I'm playing the
game, but with stuff that I don't like to think about and know I shouldn't ..... _"'
If I think about that thing, I tell myself Simply that I lost the game and i1e. 1
I'm not so hard on myself cuz it's just the game. There's a practical 1'", ob,y.
application for everything, even goofy games that have no paint. 1 1'", s<>~i".!I.
1 1."', i,,~,1.1l'el!o"'e :a"d~~le.

Okay, I'm not apologizing for being a hipi right now! All you haters, hate off!

ere's a thing I wrote about meditation. Don't worry, most of the time I
don't feel like this during meditation, but I thoU9ht I'd throw it in here: I
uess there is a moment, terrifying and beautiful and sought constantly, but
nly kept away from by my own mind, which is thoughtlessness, which is a
omplete lack of communication but reality, which is a kind of void, where
" tlthere is nothing but what is and no signifier, no mediator, maybe not even a
connection, a faith that the connection will return that is derived only from
a disattachment from this end and the fact that there is no promise, that I
could be alone forever, and a complete swimming in that pain, an embrace of
it, a both in it, the loneliness, the endlessly Sinking note, that howl, that
desperation, that last call, the one that will not be answered, and just to let
it fall, so tkat it won't end in bitterness, in being dosed and capped like a
can, just falling and 0 long feeling and air. Emptiness. My heart rate going
down, lying still the whole time, slowly becoming only air ... and noise. And an
enduring faith in love and nothing else, even when the thing that has
resurrected you has not been love, but has been a machine, rejecting that
too, until help arrives .....

Corny poetry really keeps me going

 (
Other meditation practices that aren't entirely based on mindfullness ...
Other fun ways to play wi1"hyour head, your awareness ....

Sometimes people really need to 'check cut". This also con be a sort of
meditation. If you Cdl1 !:jet a flash or a dear picture of a mountain you may
have hiked up, or the WlC'( the moon looked and the l"Qinfelt, or the art you
want to make, or the sl'low last night, or a color or shape, or just let your
mind wonder. there's real power in being able to experience that instead of
that class you don't like,or that conversation with that cop you might not
want to have, or any erher situation you might find yourself in. Sometimes
'magination helps us se-vve, or at least initiate survival. This gives me a
inute to remind me wl-1or am and helps me feel alright, and lets me
isengage from things 50 that they don't ect me os bod, I find that this
works best when r cne.lse half-focused on what's going on around me.

, Grounding is the process of returning to one's body, or some.thing that's ,

I stable. The verbalized meanings of grounding aren't as important as being
able to know when it'snC1ppeningand how to lead yourself throU9h it. Here's
' some techniques, but if you get on the internet and search it you'll get
more, and in greater de"tail, and also with more ·Woo--

Body scan-lyif19 on yOIJ'back if you can, slowly move your awareness

throughout your body,starting anywhere you'd like, maybe your toes, Feel
the WID{ the tips of your toes feel, any sensations inside and at the surface,
their temperature. air moving on them, pulses in them, toke your awareness
up through your ankles, your calves, knees, thighs, hips, butt, stomach,
trunk, and all the wfroIthrough your whole body. You may feel yourself
skipping over a part of your body, there may be a reason why you want to
skip over it, After a body scan, your body might feel super empty. It can
be really relaxing, but is SCClry for some people. You can visualize water,
Self-I..~ is also $<I-dli"!l t\lat g-s ~"d f'llIgiM.. Idoh,!!I, 101~..~~ fils ft.r "'" has sand, light, or earth l1llI\oIlng
through your body or just feel how strong you
r
~ th.. krt- ""~ te> ~gt\,"' it. 1'", ~ 11 ,..lrot"..., wb 1 lll ~i"g""d Inf1\I"!lflo er-e.
I..~ ~s eIf .." 10 d~rer '~, .." II l~ t\M "-"..ws that t 10'" ~elO..nfJ, stno"!J, "~M",
""d tht t \It.~a ""in' ~t is .,..rt\I ~nr1"g, rlIat ~ a~ plll~ ift5idto _ 110 oTle"" Nome: things around yvrJ that you can smell, taste, feel, hear, or see. Try
S~ or b~to> see, but th~1.1"'!' th~. 1t hks ~..",¥'....see , ~, 1IlIi~"'~. and describe them.lJtree root visualization-Visualize/feel yourself as a
1","" of rile, .. rod n ~ S/'l'"' iro ~.
)
tll'ld loft ~ A1h, ~ srlf-l ..~ nd s,Jf- tree, whose branches I'e{Ic'"upwards and the warm sun hits them, feel how
solid your trunk is, and 'then the roots gripping into the soil, with the dirt
a~,,",~ i.s,,'t..n..1liTl!l "'!fSelf an
""ti".... • but it's I\Clt-=dTti,,:r ~,

I
~~.' ~-< ...T1..... . ------- ~ ~ around you, and taking in all that solidness and strength.VToke a breath in
r""" its M""1or1'!Qfj and look at your feet an<l feel them on the ground .• B~the "into" on area
of your body that might be tense. As you feel yourself breathe in.leel
:~~~~~~:::~~.,. )"""9 rlrat t ell" tn~nlI 10". abort. WId !..",..". that part of your bodyrela.x and open, and the breath rnovmg t~,,,Glve
~~ fttc.St! rlta!l!". lbo, that t d..,,'t h", .,...~"
~ ..wi"!l. ~ to IS~· "r or get a massage.
l~mtflll_1 t "'*~be wtn..
alld ~ wisd..", 1o"d I..ft i,,~ '" the ef>",,,,,,,,iries
i11>5t i?n,...rh"t1~ ~t it is fix", in rlle SeN" tht it is sl~ ril~.lindtht it "PI Also, friends can guid~eac" other through visualizations and meditations.
~~~~. J ~ .1
 Look for ways to do meditation that work for you, and don't be afraid to
change your method. Often meditation involves relaxation or constant W
attention and can be practiced while Sitting and focusing on one's breathing,
eating, singing, bike riding or running (yuml. knitting, observing nature,
walking, listening to music, visualization, massage, crossword puzzles,
cooking, farming and gardening, chopping and peeling. I'm pretty drawn to
movin' my body, things like bike riding, running, wrestling, w"atever puts me
Po'-Vd
--'=------
I was really good at writin~. I can still be good at it. It
in that fig"t or flight mode shuts down my thoughts fast. All of a sudden I
am focusing on not getting hit by a car and don't have time to t"ink the &C
r- really grounding. It can fcJ! ,however, be a way to
same repetitive garbage I've been stuck in. Taking a break, too, can help. confirm" my most sucky mental states. I freaked out when I final
Sometimes folks find a well-needed shift in how they meditate by resting
or liVingfor a little while. ly tried to write again and I felt myself digging a deeper ~ole
for myself.the pain would grow. I sat there analysing and gather
~ t:,Jk. I think you should be mindful all the time. ing "evidence" for my shitty mind state instead of f~guring any
This can. howtvr,lnake is easier to meditate because life is always
"appening and there's constant opportunity to be present with it. Taking thing out or getting to a less painful state. Writing can be ca-
moments to expuience the present during my day is helpful. even if I'm not thartic for people. It was for me for a long time. It was a way,-
practicing meditation formally. :n many ways it's a way to gauge whether
for me to protect my feelings. They were sa fe, there • unfortunat
or not an QCtiVityis healthy for PTI£. If I can't be focused on it. if I need to
be disconnected from something to do it, it mig"t be CGUSingpain or at the ly I have to be more intentional about writing these days. like
very least just not be wort" my time.
talking, I have to be careful and intentional. ~ot wanting to
Don't feel guilty about not meditating. This is CU'lOthermental constnJet give up the privacy and solidness of journaling (writing goes

l that will weigh you down. Even if you practice for a little while and start to
experience it, it's like opening a door to a world t"at is always the-e when
' you reee it. It is very eecessibte. N.-feVc.f'lAc~-'::' """'~ ~oder
"-
anywhere and doesQ~~Y
made up .Ji~ • it still
on your f rien d's wor,k schedules)
doesn't work all the time and
, I

Meditation is so expuientia([fs often why teachers stuff can still hec~e worse if I write it up, but here it is.
say so little about it and when they do it's almost annoyingly "utnorous, It's a hi~ tool I'm sti~l learning how to use.
poetic, or less direJ The scariest and most comforting and empowering
t"ing about it is that you gotta just try it. It's good to hove someone to be
there with you, too, though. Books are great tools, but haVinga friend or hea sage.
1) State the th Lng : TIlis is the di ar-r t ~ant and rave
teacher to look you in the £ye and say "sttek with it, I've been there, it
really helps· c-eeres Q trust in the process that is liberating as long as
about how good or bad l1fe is. ~ow that neighbor's ;ook
they ore teaching you independencefl'. Meetup groups, health food stores, thr~w off your morning, how you wish that jerk in your class
meditation and yoga schools and retreat centers (including monosteries), would get over himsel£, tell the story, throw your perception
colleges, hip chlrches wHl often offer classes or group meditation. Often,

Y -------
meditation clUlters hove work dchonges so you can stay fOf' free if you do out there louder than anyone cares to hear, and feel feel feel.
some work there. Or find someone to come to a local radical space to teach Put in your morbid ~taphors you learned to make when you were
it.
a teenage loner. Rip that jerk apart. Lay out your soul.
fl'Be on the lookout for those who might p-eettee power-over you during Say everything you need to and then some.
your meditation practice or while.you are trying to find 0 teacher. Many
people can really hurt someone's sense of trust if they take advantage (even 2)Rea,1 it: this is like you listening to yourself. Take a
in srncdlways) of people. seeking meditation training, especially while" deep breath and read it. You may be surprised, you may feel re
q & wlneroblc . Don't let them co-opt your
relieved that you can be a friend to yourself. You may want

l . on your fridge or send it to that jerk as a death

to post Lt; _ .....
 :::(1
threat. At this point I get to feel what I •m feeling.
\ Meditation has helped me not be eaten by the society monster. Maybe it's
given me some internal spac-e.maybe because I've learned 0 bit more about
it all in. how to get past my thought.s I' m able to act, and action has strengthened
my trust in liberation becuse I now see that the world I want can be
3) This can be easily connected to the2nd stage): Ask your ex~rienced. It's not that letting my thoughts go doesn't mean I don't
self a question about it. I like to think what I can learn
from an experience or what I might say to someone if they
.I believe in anything, or that I can't act, it's just that not letting my thoughts
have so much power over me has given me the space to experience and to
I act from that experience, which rocks, Also, meditation lets me experience
were
h going. through the same thing . U'"lOW can you grow from what 1 and embrace the groundles.sne5s that I've felt letting go of familiar and
oppressive situations andlAindsets. That feeling of vertigo that can be so )
•
is ap~enlng to you? qow can you make it productive, positi
. ve or Just
. plain different? 90w does it fit· i.rrtopower struc• } terrifying and sometimesrnakes me jump back to the edge, that fuling of
silence when I've abondone<lpain and the things "the man- has ingrained in
so many. Being present wit" w"'at~ver strange evolutions occur helps me fly I
~
i:
tures 1n the rest of society? Go for it.
4) Answer the question: This is the scary part , the liberating
1, through that ~t oot of hellwe loves the nig7 and the darkness.

s part, the sticky part. The part

• where you have to be your dad
or whatever breaking the news to yourself that life isn't
easy or fair, but it's great and there's things we can do
and stuff we can't. Now would be a better time to call up
your friends for advice and an open ear (now that you've
been so .sweet to yourse If an rl done all that listening 'and
comfortlng stuff for yourself) and thelr . own experlences
.
Meditation or ot least "beIng in the moment" has realty helped me deal with
o lot of anxiety and issues related ta trouma and abuse. I experience .I
PTSD-like things (like flasJ,backs, disassociating, re-living old expe.rienc
and feelings, or acting out of response to other situations), practicing being
in the moment has really helped me see the difference between the past
and the present and helptToestay present enough to keep experiencing their
own power in my life, orgr"'ound (Ifter getting disconnected. I've olso
J experienced a lot better awareness over my anxiety, triggered states, and
mindsets, which has helpe.c:lme from getting deeper into bad places. That

\
being said being present while experiencing triggers or flashbacks is
5)okay. that tI • nowhere near on easy task, and probably shouldn't be done in isolation or
par s o.ver but feel free to check in with yourself
in smaller wa ys. '.J~rlte about little things that pertain t :A without other processirg, reflection and awareness, and support. Working
( with PTSD involves 0 blllCh of different things, not one thing alone.
eachother .Dea 1·109 wit.
h the smaller stuff ad· 0 •
h n a ay to day or
Al~ m~n is enti~IY, entirety por~able. Str(me of the internet, my
our to hour basis helps when the wa 11s cornecrashing downand I knitting, friends, radicol :zines, and plunk me in the psych ward, a greyhound
to keep them from doing so. bus, or tea with interrog(ltors I will be able to meditate. I find this to be
the most reassuring skin I have.

I can create mindstates that are brutal t

naked h . , ex reme, so real and
t at they are al so not rea1 anymore. When I talk about
them they grow. The threaten to eat me sometl·mes.
b Words are
sym
h ols society gives us to relate to people (or just to order
t em around), and relate to a commonal·t
1 y. ~ey can help your There are some key tn. ~s to remember- about meditation. It can sum like
mind make sense of itself or it can let your mind take over. the scar~est, most poin"tlessthing you've ever done. It can be realty
frustrating, and even feel self-punishing.
~ords are essentially sounds our brains makes that it believe~
There ore ways to wcrk thro~h.~t"h'e·5C. ~ _
,

But, hell, kiss that person you have: a crush on (ask first xx) or break that
piece of glass or chew that person out or raise yOtJl" fist! or work on that
bike or pick those weeds or get on that bus ond go to work (okay, maybe
that part you might went to be daydreaming) but be there when you do it! they are still incredibly important. I try not to deny mys
Action, also. can be an awesome thing to be there for. to feel yourself
If them after trying really hard to cut them back.
becoming or being reel, being connected. Living in the moment or
intentionally doesn't mean we hove to fight our impulses or pcssrees. or be Other ways writing can be good can be:
passive. It's just being there with all of it...

Meditation and being present allows me to experience Q big world outside of !) Try writing dow positive things, like describing your
myself. of my shit. my thoughts thot keep going whether or not they are bedroom in cool ways or lists of thing that get you going.
connected to the. rest of my life. Coexisting with my thoughts, the birds
keep flying back end forth. my breath keeps coming, the train I'm on 2) Write-your dreams dovn
moves, th£ world goes on. There is something healing in things continuing #) Writenmr wishes and fantasies and goals down
despite my ruptures and how much I want to just stay in those breaking
$) A structured journal (like one with questions already in
points and attempt to undo them. or stay cozy in the cracks. Meditation it or a workbook or something) can be good. I've got a wish
allows me to awaken to a world beyond me, under me, aroond me, inside me,
that is maybe not doing better or worse, but is doing and is my horne. Being book with pretty ~ges where things are separated into stuff
able to listen both to internal thoughts and the world cround you can help j like wishes for your family, love. career6!tc";,.Et;sounds co
make those thoughts easier, can make everything feel safer. Stopping to
observe the world con make small breaks in thoughts and help me. see the
roy and it is but it also is helpful.
macrocosm of what rm experiencing and feeling. 5)Write about your day : stuff that happened from start to
finish. Helps your mind orient itself in terms of the presen1
Traveling and exploring rocks hard. Even if it's just a new route home, a
staircase you may never hove walked down, there's something about a new G) Fiction. baby! Make it up. ~eally. you can really live
place. new faces and smells, that con bring sorne.one.into the moment. It when you aren't real, I've found I've gotten really amazing
shocks you there.
perspectives from writing about my experiences (or made up
There is also a process. which can be seen by a phrase "try to not try". on~) in ways that are fiction or embellished.
m£ditation often involves listening to gaps in thinking and the effect it is
having, and allowing the breath (or knitting. or whateve) to surface, not
necessarily fighting one's thoughts to hold on to the moment. It can take a

~--
light kind of focus, not always a forceful one. Sometimes I just try to let

-
go, of my thoughts, of whatever might be goil1~rOf1, and ease in.
 Meditation and Presence
Hey you all, I've edited and edited and reworked this article. I'm worried
it' 5 all masked religious dribb le. Do what you will with it. make sure it' 5
what you want or need.

Meditation is an incredibly stabilizing thing for me. Meditation is basically

the practice of doing anything with focus or presence on the moment. with
mindfulness. It makes obt of stuff better. This practice seems simple,
and so easy. Ifs Q lot harder than that. I get a million thoughts trying just
to stay in the moment. "AmI (I good personr 'whet am I gonna eat for
dinner?" r go over stor-es and conversations in my head. I also get 0 million
urges. "Pick yer nose, eat junk food, go back to sleep. beat that dude up."
If I'm on my game, these Things arise ond I bring my experience back to my
breath, my body, the floor-or whatever I'm looking at, what's e-eund me,
whatever the people I'm listening to are saying, sounds around me, anything
that's part of my expe-ence in that moment. Throughout the day I try to
remind myself to be present. even while I'm thinking about thirgs. Certain
things that are absolutet( brizilliant toke place because of this.

Sometimes I need to balance wonting to react to everything around me with

a certain caution and deliberation, and being in the moment allows me to do
that. I can have a mom£lrtjust to observe: before I figure out what to do,
if anything. Sometimes th is world asks us to react constantly, or it
completely keeps our hands tied. Being able to enjoy and see value in
·watching" can be reallyunpowering and beautiful. and give space to others.
Being present can also nileill' a person to maintain their ability to make
decisions and oct in reai¥ hectic and trying situations, and to reduce the
fallout from those sttuetieas. It can also really help people listen better
and make listening a more positive experience.

The some goes for bei~oble to be present with fee-lings. Fe-dings can
drive me to do some prtt1y awesome and some pretty destructive or
foolhardy things. Sornrti~ I get a feeling that I just wont or need to
experience, to let pass Il1oroughme, to just have without needing anyone to
hear it or deal with the- opinion about it. Tears surfacing slowly or
laughter or smiles or alqef passing through me, there's a certain beauty
about be-ingable to exper-ience that without needing to change anything, or

,
J quell it.

~-- .. •
Anoc'ier thing I lilce is going into restaurants to use the bath
Many have taken ba<k sex, fashion, work. art. communication.
, destruetion,whynOlathletics?!! -1_ ~

room when the management says I'm not suppose~ to an~ I pretenf.
I'm on a rogue mission to covertly steal everyone's wallets
\do them tcnowfng , j'1St making them disappear then pullout
t~e chain in the link, the ace in the house of cards that is
the small enclave pocket of capitalism and the hrief scene that
is everyone watching, Laugh-i ng as they hleed to death,
illusion broken and they'll realize they have flesh and bones
~nd hands I'll escape unnoticed to the next place.
rye a hero or liberator, people will just be happy.
notice the ~ifference but won't attribute it to anything,
espect sl.Ivme. I'd move secretly to a hiding
.~
;w~reness over our til>diesIS a beautifuL and ennrery connective thing,
one that can help us experience our bodies as ours. Autonomy
becomes something tIla~happens at the ,Iev,elof pulsin9 muscles and
heart beats and movement. Riskswe take With our bodies work out
okav and we feel sate after being threatened. When someone feels
the ground below them and suddenly realizes they've gone way
farther than they used to be able to running, an amazing sense of
the connection and accomplishment happens. Suddenly the impossible is
real and we feel amazed by our bodies and the ability of them to grow
or change. A ccmmsment to that can give us relief from some
I won't elements of our livesthat really hold us back, like addictions or bad
relationships. Hikingin a real mountain or around a lake reminds many
They'll of us why we are fighting for land, for diversity, and that those places
are strong, but easilythreatened, and don' t exist only as movie sets or
advertising. When the hum of their bike tires on the pavement reminds
you that you really CAN fly and that school bus is a passing animal,
magic transformation happens and suddenly the city isn' t as
degraded and objective or robbed of its mystery. When we wrestle
with our friends we find ourselves giggling and discovering new ways
our body can move, or unearth triggering things safely with people
who respect and loveus. When we discover new muscles because they
ache after a day of farm work. When we experience a new nonverbal
communication dUringsoccer, and the ability to suddenly change or
.. ~ defy the rules (if that' s the w@yyou play!) Our way to get to work or
,

school can be enrichflg and not just a commute. the bridge we walk
over becomes not merely an extension of capitalist "proqress" , but
brin~ it back to show everyone .... with a slope that is kirld of pleasing to run up. Our surroundings
become intoxicatingiy aesthetic and we are able to participate in them,
~ to feel them. Whenwefind ourselves disappearing away from our
problems and worries and just focusing on our bodies moving, the

- / plants and pavement and grafitti and neighbors passing by, when that
all just happens, space is created. Maybe we use that time to think
about stuff we can't in our homes, around our lovers Of friends or
family or work places. When we tum off our internal garbage for a
minute, or find ittumed off, or that the garbage is still burning but
somehow we are moving, through it past it and able to survive In spite
of it, we may find set love and an experience of resistance, to saying no .
to the paralysis and se-If-directed anger this world can create. Those
internal spaces are accessible to us, our own in places where otherwise
.. we have little other means of escape or self--definition. When we are
simultaneously enjoying ourselves, challenging ourselves. feeling
, ourselves, feeling oU'surroundings, and taking care of our bodies and

...
.' :;.
.......
'.
r...
- ..
:~
~ »
/'
/
~ min7,

.. _~
newWcrldope,", .

2\£.
 ->C--' L-"-"'-'
Shaking it up! Things get old. Changing things, even for a day, or
trying something new-finding a new challenge or discovering a new
ll!'
strength.-Trying a new trick.dance move, or pose, sprinting if you
usually jog, going down adifferent road, going up a scarY"hill.doing
what you usually do but at night.-Stepping it up or re-try things you
have done a thousand times but re-experiencing them as if you are a
beginner.

I word to describe getting down with our bodies. Some possibilities for
things to make exercise go smoother-··.

Take care ~~"ourself before and ~fter- paying attention to your body
and wh~t It ~eeds or what helps I~feel good--Hydrating before and
after-Listening to how much .you ve slep~ and eaten. This also really
help.s some stay.on top ofeatln.9 and sleepmg.--Warming up and
~'

(
I Getting a buddy if need be-some people exercise to be alone, but some
find that being with others can be good for motivation and that
communication can mean somethinq totally different when you work
out. Having a hiking buddy-g iving time with people in a quiet way-
coohng down with gentle walkmg.-Stretching. having someone to go to a <lass with can help out with the experiences
of alienation and "isms" that haunt some spaces.
Be safe! Okay, sorry to be an overbearing pest here. actually···. I' M
NOTSOR~Y! Wear .yo~r helmetJ!!-lf you go out at night, wearing lights ~
or reflective material, If you really need to be the cool kid, drawing on

* them with sharpie or add punk patches.f ve got a lot of sobering

stories about people who are no longer with us or can' t really be
there the way they used to be due to head injuries, or can' t move

\• around the same way or have chronic pain due to accidents. I really
•
cars, but please be smooth, pick your battles, and wear a helmet.
,
0,00' t.torc~ it!*.*·11' s good to challenge yourself but also don' t
dlscredl~ ~aklng It easy,This can cut down on the feelings of
~c:mpetltlon and self·f1agellation that can arise during exercise, and

\ Be there-In the capitalist machine where connection to ourselves and

our communication are robbed from us, and allowed only in the diluted
It s a lot m~re sustainable to train this way.: -Letting yourself take
bre~ks walking for distances when you run-riding in a lower gear--
letting yourself do the-yoga pose that won' t drain you-taking long
• and illusory form of commerce, it' s empowering to feel this all come
warm up or cool dowl1Iperiods-beinq able to acknowledge your limits.
together. It' s fun t~ be in your ~ody! -~olding yourself differently

I
•
when you do something and seeing how It feels. Do things loosen up?
Do you go faster or stronqerf-seelnq how long you can pay attention
to the same m~vement again and again.-listening to music when you
go out and seeing how your pace changes.-Listening to your Take a safety or first aidcourse (this is the medic in me talking, but if s
surroundings and spacing out.e-Seelnq how your body feels, the feeling great, really!) and you mayfeelltke you can take risks more realistically

..
¥- of your breath, the muscles in your legs.~Paying attention to where and lcvlnqly. You may have the ability to push yourself farther,
• you keep your line of site, and see if things change when you look up or knowing the consequences of injuries, dehydration. etc. and how to
at the ground.-Paying attention to all these things at once and feeling treat them, for yourself and those around you. It' s really been
them happen. awesome for me in defea"tingfear Ihave of the world and feeling safe
(Woo). First aid rocks!

i
Getting stuff done, making stuff happen, or getting paid: Gardening
and farming!- houseworj(..f.heavy lifting of all types---getting a job
I doing delivery, messaging, heavy and light construction, dog-walking, *"When 1first started running Ipushed myself for forty five minutes
moving, landscaping--being mindful of your body while you are at non-stop, lungs burning but I would bum out after. a day or.two. I.
• work, and taking breaks while at work to do something with your body started to let myself take\Yalking breaks after looking at this runnmg
to take care of yourself and connect-dancing-eommutin!l. on j, bL~9.~ website (I know, nerdy) and I can run now every day, for ~uch l~nger
\ or by foot.-taking street art, grafitti, or sticker walks "'IiIJ ~...,.~ dl Alot of professional athletes actually tram easier until they
tstances. h h "I" htl
are rea y go •11out • al'd they take weeks were t ey train 19 Y
'- ~. . -1i- _Qt. ~ d to
even after they feel stro er.

-- 7r +pl~.I\;" ~ !