I want to check in with you, with all of us: How’s your energy? Are you bouncing through the day, boundless and joyful?

Or slugging it… Getting-it-all-done, but feeling depleted, running on fumes. (Maybe more than others know because you put a smile on it.)

I meet a lot of fume-runners.

Wanna know why? Because existing as a woman in this culture is exhausting. Working in and out of the house is exhausting. Doing the emotional labor for our families is exhausting. Fighting to be heard is exhausting. Walking home in the dark with keys between your fingers is exhausting. And if you’re a woman of color, a disabled woman, a transwoman …? Add racism, ableism, and transphobia to the list of things that exhaust your spirits and your body.

If you are taking better care of others than you’re taking of yourself, it’s not because you’re lazy. It’s because you are tired. Sister, you have every reason to be tired.

And, I don’t want that for you or for us. I love the bodies of women. I love us. And I want us to be nurtured and nourished.

The culture needs us alive and fighting, fueled.

Many of you know Kris Carr and that she’s one of my besties. Kris is living and thriving with an incurable cancer, and her friendship has absolutely made me healthier and more vibrant. I’ve learned great recipes from her — I make a mean green smoothie — but, more than that, I’ve learned great habits I lean on. I’ve learned how she makes healthier choices while living a challenging, busy life.

Kris is a New York Times bestselling author and a teacher and she has an online learning program called Crazy Sexy You that opens soon. She’s told me about it and I’ve seen the outline — it’s amazing! I’m not part of her sales team — I just want those of us who could use some help in figuring out how to take care of ourselves more easily to know Kris is available and that I think she’s brilliant. You can get a sense of Kris in this video. It’s the first in a free online workshop series so you can feel out whether she might be a good teacher for you.

May your minds, hearts, and beautiful bodies be well-nourished, sisters. And may you have friends who fuel you.

Love,

Regena Thomashauer, aka “Mama Gena”
The School of Womanly Arts

Regena is a feminist icon, a teacher, a speaker, a mother, a best-selling author, and creatrix and CEO of The School of Womanly Arts.

Women’s work we’re loving

At The School of Womanly Arts, we have a team Google doc everyone adds to when we find something another woman is doing that we think is worth knowing about and celebrating. We thought we’d start sharing with our community. In no particular order:

Maysoon Zayid is a witty Arab-American actor, comic, philanthropist and advocate for disabled people. She shares a bit of her experience living with cerebral palsy in this TEDTalk. (She’s funny.) Watch “I got 99 problems … palsy is just one.”

Janelle Monáe’s Pynk. For the pants — and because not every woman is wearing them. Enjoy the video.

Cafe con Libros Kalima DeSuze opened a feminist bookstore in Brooklyn and prices are lower than full retail value to acknowledge the pay gap for women. “We price for women, we don’t price for capitalism.” <= YES. Here’s a story about Kalima.

Leesa Renee Hall’s Core Beliefs Expressive Writing Prompts (for White People) is really powerful if you’re a white woman wondering about terms like “white fragility” and “spiritual bypassing.” She explains both in a helpful way, then gives a lesson on expressive writing and provides the prompts. It’s safe (it’s just between you and your journal) and enlightening. Try the prompts. (If you appreciate this work, you might also consider supporting Leesa on Patreon.)