The birthday test

I had a birthday recently. One of the big ones. So it was of utmost importance to see if I could still execute a slut drop.

I can.

Even in heels.

A mug of spiked cider first probably helped though???

How are y’all? I know the holidays aren’t hitting the way they usually do. I feel that. I hadn’t even had the energy to hang up my MissleToad and I am all about a dumb dad joke. It’s ok to slow down. Do less. Notice more. Eat, drink, and read delicious things. Maybe even fuck around and take care of yourself like you would someone you love?

Crazy talk, I know. But also…might as well? The whole beating yourself up thing hasn’t worked for shit, right? Maybe loving yourself gets you where you are trying to go? Or at least helps you realize where you are isn’t as bad as it seems?

I dunno, bestie. Seems worth a try.

I’m currently doing battle with long covid, and the only way through it is by giving myself a lot more grace than I have been.

I’ve spent over two years just trying to keep my body functional, I got really mad about it and decided to fight back. I dug into my course notes from my clincial nutrition postdoc and created a protocol designed to attack a lingering upregulated virus. I’ve designed them before for clients with other kinds of bioburdens (bacterial infections, stealth pathogens) and been successful so why not try to resolve this? I mean, I’m a yoga and dance teacher who hasn’t taught yoga or dance in over two years. And that sucks.

But weed and feed protocols also suck. I just finished my second round of the “weed” cycle, meaning hitting the virus hard with all my herbal woo-woo powers and living with the pain, exhaustion, nausea, and fevers that come with it. Because sometimes getting better means facing the pain head on rather than avoiding it.

Maybe a metaphor there or something, eh?

I slept 16 hours earlier in the week. Thank fuck I was able to. Other things didn’t get done because of it and I had to remind myself that doing the best I can is 100% effort. What 100% looks like is different day to day right?

And this is worth the effort.

I’m worth the effort.

If it doesn’t work, at least I valued myself enough to TRY.

And if it does work, I can engage more fully in my life again. Maybe teaching yoga and dance at the community center around the corner that has been patiently waiting to put me back on schedule.

What would you do for yourself if you valued yourself enough to try? How about if I say that **I** value you that much and hope you try? And that you give yourself grace in the process? And probably some nachos, too?

What would you do for someone you loved?

What if that person is actually you?

Too cheesey and earnest? Sorrynotsorry! Indigenous auntie motivation convo aside…Baby Nephew and his younger brother Tiniest Nephew organized the books and workbooks yesterday for me and Baby Nephew set up another holiday sale in the Etsy store. He added a a couple choose-your-own combo BOGO deal listings.

And since he only ships once a week, he made a gift card printable for if your books aren’t going to make it in time to give as a present. You can order late as hell and we will still take the blame.

The updated parenting book I co-authored with Bonnie Scott is now listed. And I think the decks that have been lingering in the publishing ether may be on their way in soon, as well. And since The Nephews are mature humans (unlike your favorite indigenous auntie), they’ll get listed as soon as we have them in hand.

That’s it. Take care of you. Like actual care. We all need to be our best and most healed selves for 2025. Slut drops optional.

—Auntie