I fall into this trap and think the absence of one emotion means the presence of another. I think you do this, too. Small ways this has played out: I’m not stuffed so I’ll eat one more serving. I’m not angry so I guess I’m happy. I’m not greatly annoyed so what you did is fine. Continue reading “5 EMOTIONAL MISCONCEPTIONS WE’RE MAKING”
Author Archives: oliviameeks
LET LOVE LEAD
In a pedagogy class in grad school, I shared an experience where I was left humiliated in front of my dance class. I was 14 when it happened. After I recounted the actions of my former dance teacher, my professor looked at me and said, “Well, you’ve learned a great lesson and you’ll never doContinue reading “LET LOVE LEAD”
ALL THE WAYS
When we say the phrase “coming out” we think of the emotional one: the one where we sit down parents, the one where we leave a church, or the one with tears of solidarity or disappointment. That’s not the one I’m talking about. I’m talking about all the other smaller, more nuanced ones. I wasContinue reading “ALL THE WAYS”
WHAT I WANT HER TO KNOW
Dear Liv at 18, You are about to begin an unbelievable journey. I say unbelievable because you may not trust all of what I have to say. But, I’ve been there. I’m the only voice you need right now. When you come out to your friends, you will find joy. The ones that don’t meetContinue reading “WHAT I WANT HER TO KNOW”
THOSE FIRST WORDS
I started my coming out journey ten years ago at the age of 18. It started with friends and extended family members, then moved to immediate family, and still unfolds in new friend circles and work environments. Queer-identifying people are always coming out, and it seems it will never stop. There are so many instancesContinue reading “THOSE FIRST WORDS”
IT TAKES TIME
I’ve shared a lot about how coming out is a joyful journey, one that has been in the works for me for ten years now. Truthfully, the beginning was not joyful. There were moments of beauty but they were wrapped in a painful pair of years. If someone had told me when I was 20,Continue reading “IT TAKES TIME”
ALLOW YOUR HANDS TO PRAY
When I was in yoga teacher training, they suggested that we never cue Anjali Mudra as “hands at prayer.” They explained that many people have baggage with the term prayer so it’s better to just use the Sanskrit or say “hands at heart center.” Three years ago when I was in that training, I wasContinue reading “ALLOW YOUR HANDS TO PRAY”
WHEN I ASKED FOR HELP
I’ve been going to hot yoga four to five times a week the past two months. It hasn’t been easy to get in that routine. It’s been exhausting and hard. Like so many, when Covid came to the US, my exercise routine crumbled. My yoga studio closed for some time and even once they opened,Continue reading “WHEN I ASKED FOR HELP”
COMING OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA
I’ve been sharing coming out stories on Instagram recently. I’ve uploaded four videos sharing different experiences around coming out: to my sister, to a jewelry store clerk, to my middle-school students, and to the Church. They have been beautifully received. Here are some of the highlights: A friend who works in youth ministry is becomingContinue reading “COMING OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA”
MIRROR IMAGE
Some teachers from my school formed a virtual book club for the summer and we met last night to discuss Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. If you’re into gothic literature, you will love this one. It’s fresh but draws from so many classic sources like Jane Eyre, a few Poe stories, and the classic shortContinue reading “MIRROR IMAGE”
Olivia Meeks 