self care

“You Can be Broke and Self-Care” Exhibit Sept 21-26

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"You Can be Broke and Self-Care" Exhibit Sept 21-26
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About

“You Can Be Broke and Self-Care” is The Strange is Beautiful’s photo and interview project featuring 13 people in LA with mind obstacles (that’s what we call mental illnesses) practicing alternative self-care in their home or space. 

Expect to see polaroids, digital prints, 1-4 quotes of each of the 13 people interviewed, 3-5 journal prompts for each one, and self-care community events.

Visit it between September 21 and September 26 at Nous Tous Community Gallery for $5-$30 sliding scale donations (donate only if you’re able). Donations go to The Strange is Beautiful.

Zine Review: “Nurture Your Loneliness Like it is a Small Animal in Need of Being Held” by Lora Mathis

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Zine Review: “Nurture Your Loneliness Like it is a Small Animal in Need of Being Held” by Lora Mathis

My Own Loneliness


Loneliness is something I’ve struggled with for…majority of my life. I think to an extent everyone feels lonely from time to time, but the intensity differs. Mine can get, uhh, bad. Since I was in third grade, my friends have either moved away, decided to not be my friend anymore, developed romantic feelings for me that they couldn’t separate from our friendship, stopped hanging out with me when I stopped playing shows (I used to organize music shows and play them too), didn’t want to deal with my mind obstacles anymore, or I had put too much on them to take care of me. A therapist at the

Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Audre Lorde Health Program

Diary Entry: It’s okay that I don’t talk to my brother, and it’s okay if I choose to later.

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Diary Entry: It's okay that I don't talk to my brother, and it's okay if I choose to later.

Being decisive doesn’t mean being stubborn.

A year ago I made the decision to take a break from my relationship with my brother. I had reached a point where conversations with my brother became mentally and emotionally exhausting for me. Whenever we talked on the phone, I would hang up the phone feeling like I couldn’t be authentically myself. I couldn’t fully trust my brother and I didn’t feel completely supported by him.

After allowing myself some time to think about how I wanted to let him know that I needed space from him, I crafted my email. I let him know that his decision to carry on a relationship with my abuser—another member of our family—while still trying to have a relationship with me was something I could not accept. Having it in the back of my mind that he could tolerate the abuse that was perpetrated against me made it impossible to be my whole self with my brother.

I asked that he respect my decision. I let him know that I did not expect him to “choose sides,” but I needed to listen to myself and make an effort to protect myself. This is what I need right now. However, that may not be permanent. 

Right now I am still reeling in the after effects of sexual abuse. I need the stability of knowing that the people I choose to surround myself with are supportive of me 100%. To me, right now, that does not include people who can tolerate supporting my abuser too. Maybe one day I will feel differently. 

Being decisive doesn’t mean being stubborn—situations change, desires change, and we can become adaptable to these changes. It is empowering to know that I have that choice. Maybe one day I will be able to accept my brother’s decisions that I don’t agree with. My heart can change. 

What is important for me to remember is to check in with myself. Every now and then I want to go back to pretending nothing happened.

Maybe I can call him up tonight and launch into a mundane conversation as if nothing happened, and yes, I’ll feel like shit right after that phone call but we will be a brother and sister again.

5 Roots of Wisdom From a Bonsai Tree

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5 Roots of Wisdom From a Bonsai Tree

For Mental Health Awareness month, we had a few Instagram Live events. One of them was on May 10 with Alex Chavez for “Bonsai as Self-Care.”

Alex Chavez is a multidisciplinary artist who got a job selling bonsai during a time when he was dealing with depression and identity issues, and grew to care and deeply connect with the trees.

Bonsai & I

During the event, I personally learned a lot from Chavez (and also enjoyed petting his dog and watching it swim lol) about bonsai and how it can help my mind obstacles. When he talked about “letting go” and anger, for me, that was especially useful and relatable.

Based on the event, below are five roots of wisdom from a bonsai tree, with specific examples from Chavez’s experience, to guide you in your personal self-care practice <333

5 Roots of Wisdom from a Bonsai Tree

1. Let go of materialistic things, to slow down and ground yourself.