Reflection of Women’s History Month
This month I watched Berné Browns Netflix Documentary "The Call to Courage" what she said made me blush with embarrassment as she called me out with this quote:
"Choosing our own comfort over hard conversations is the epitome of privilege, and it corrodes trust and moves us away from meaningful and lasting change."
I also listened to the book "The Soul of a Woman" written by 76 year old Chilean American writer and former journalist, Isabel Allende, a self proclaimed feminist since her birth in 1942.
She wrote this book as a bit of a personal memoir laced with many hard truths about the state of women worldwide. Waring I discuss some of this below, take it slow and what you can tolerate.
Like Isabel’s late daughter, I would not consider myself a “feminist”. I identify as woman-centric.
I’m passionate about women's health, women's rights and women's freedom.
But because I’m an empathic person and have always had a strong “fixer” personality. Seeing people in pain or causing any discomfort is something I was not open for.
My job was to “eliminate” pain, not cause pain, just like the hippocratic oath says (and wow, this is NOT a helpful practice and I believe leads to so much burnout in medicine, but that is a share for another day).
I now realize my job, in no way is to create pain, rather create space to explore pain, when specifically pain occurs, where it comes from (using a biopsychosocial approach), listen to it and move through it and with it.
Then to teach self care techniques to reduce the physical pain that was caused by injury, trauma and/or pregnancy/motherhood/menopause that also came with shame, grief, guilt, overwhelm, stress, etc.
Over the last 18 months, I decided to lean into practicing this quote
During my Therapeutic Coach for Women certification, I began to embody this quote.
For I’ve always seen my clients in their wholeness and I now realize, the greatest flex clients can do is to SIT with the somatic discomfort.
Which may be trauma responses, which makes us all want to run, hide under the sheets, cry and pretend shit doesn’t exist.
I realize this is my response because of my own personal trauma.
So feelings of my stomach twisting in knots and feel like I am going to vomit when I hear war crimes of rape and torture to great grandmothers, women and children, does not mean it doesn't happen.
Just because I can feel my pelvic floor tighten and shoot sharp pains when people talk about genital mutilation, doesn't mean it doesn't happen to these girls.
Just because my soul dies every time I hear that baby girls are thrown in dumpsters or drowned like unwanted animals because having a girl is considered less than, doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
I need to own both my privilege and trauma makes me simply want to throw money at these problems, bury my head under the covers, cry, pretend that it goes away and keep my mouth shut not to bring discomfort onto other people.
However, this is not a way to create change.
This silence only breds shame and ignorance.
So here I am, standing stronger in my own story, to share some of these truths that need to be spoken.
Here are 5 take aways from this book:
1. 1 in 3 women worldwide are sexually assaulted (which can be from inappropriate unconsented touch all the way to rape). Which means, if this was you, you are not alone here.
If this happened to you, IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT. It is NOT your fault. It is not your fault.
Every 9 seconds a woman is raped. This fact is based on reported rapes, as you likely know, this is likely underreported. I have known for years and what drives me to do what I do, to help women feel safe in their bodies - but has kept me silent to speaking this due to how uncomfortable it made me, and didn’t want to place to discomfort on others.
2. Genital mutilation still exists. In many societies women are treated as being less valuable then livestock. Midwives will get paid less if the mother delivers a girl vs. a boy. Men sell their female children to be able to feed their family and while some of these families believe their girls are going onto better lives, they are usually sold into becoming sex slaves when they are young children.
3. Misogynistic/Sociopathic men fear being laughed at and rejected by women and therefore need to have power over women so they do not feel this discomfort. While many women fear being killed by men.
4. Egalitarian Civilization: is a society that prioritizes social equality, ensuring all people have equal rights, opportunities, and access to resources, regardless of their background or characteristics. If you do not like the word feminist, change it to whatever you like. What makes sense for you if you care about moving towards a civilization of egalitarianism vs. sustaining patriarchy.
5. Women are the primary spenders on household items, food, healthcare and products for the family, while men are primary spenders on their wants and desires. (and we know that women earn less than men in the same job).
I believe it is important that we, women, continue to raise women up.
We continue to support one another in our own local communities, not only with hugs and listening ears, but also financially. We deserve to support local women, because women support other women. Women also deserve what we desire!
Saying that, here are local women I would invite you to support who will support you in what you desire!!
Anna Marie Arpasi - photography
Kristin Dahlen Jarrell - Moments Made simple event planning
Dr. Sarah Zaheer Shah - Oak Tree Primary Direct Care Physician
Amy Peters - Nutrition and Fitness Coach - Shape of Strength
Hannah Kibelbek - Personal Trainer - ToGetHerFit
SHIFT Yoga & Strength
Jennum O'Hara Acupuncture
Me, Dr. Lisa Massie - Evolving with Motion Physical Therapy and Therapeutic Coaching.
As this month comes to an end.
I invite you to move through this spring supporting local women organizations.
Raise women up.
And SHARE what is just a little uncomfortable when it comes to women’s issues that matter to you.
For all of you incredible women who’ve already invested in your health care by investing in me (and my business).
I’m deeply humbled and appreciate you and continue to celebrate your courage stepping out of a patriarchal health system.
As Isabel ends her book on this quote “In the 21st century, women will change the nature of power, rather than power changing the nature of women”
And in our society - economic power matters right now more than ever if we want to continue to move towards more balanced, Egalitarian society, that values women in ALL societies.
But just like if we want to return to lifting/running or sport after injury we have to start at the LOCAL level, by strengthening the local muscles and supporting the local joint, BEFORE we move into multi joint strengthening movements.
Which means, we need to start with our local community if we want to one day, make worldwide change.
I appreciate you being here, reading and supporting this woman owned business.
Want to connect with me and learn more if I can support you through injury/stress?
