Hey, Reader.

Last spring, when people would ask me how I was, I heard myself uttering the same phrase time and again and it struck me as strange because it's not one I'd say was a normal part of my everyday lexicon.

That phrase was, "I'm white knuckling my way through."

It felt weird to keep using it but it also felt like a spot on as a way to describe how I'd been feeling.

Between repeated episodes of the car needing repairs, a really horrid (and still ongoing) eczema flare up, and a seemingly endless second semester, I was basically holding on for dear life, just trying to make it through the end of the school year when I could (hopefully) find a bit of space to breathe.

Does that feel familiar to you at all, Reader?

Now that I'm on the other side, it's tempting to look back, shrug, and say, "I don't know how, but I made it." Or even attribute it to some character trait like "being a survivor." But neither of these are really true.

The truth is: skills got me through.

Skills I've spent many years cultivating in response to the reduction in capacity and ability I've experienced since becoming a parent and sliding down the slippery slope of disability.

These skills don't cure my overwhelm. They weren't a magic wand I could wave to increase my capacity or multiply other limited resources.

But they gave me something to hold onto, a survival strategy that I could use until all the life stuff that I couldn't control calmed down.

And you can learn those skills too.

So let's get together and practice some skills because we can't always avoid having low capacity and lack of resources, but we can prepare and practice for when those times arrive.

Introducing the Liberation Skills: For When Things Feel Overwhelming Co-Doing Workshop!

Based in the Mini Course of the same name, I'll be facilitating a live run-through while providing guidance and support for you as you complete the 6 practical activities in the course.

Join me on either Saturday, August 24 OR Saturday, September 7

The cost is $97 or 2 payments of $48.50

Click the button below to learn more about the Workshop and save your spot!

Hopefully I'll see you there and there will be fewer white knuckles in the world this fall!

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In love, liberation, and solidarity,

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Speaking of doing less of something, I had a lovely conversation with Sophia Apostol of the Fat Joy Podcast where we discussed how a cool book about subtracting things got me thinking about rejecting Diet Culture. (But then again, what doesn't get me thinking about rejecting Diet Culture?)

​You can listen to the episode here or wherever you get your podcasts.

​www.fatjoy.life/episodes/tiana-dodson​

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Sent with big fat love from a messy desk and a neurodivergent mind.

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