3 Things I'm Thankful For (in My Health Activism)!

Here are 3 things that I'm thankful for:

1. Others’ ability to write when they are still “in it.” Back story - I took several writing classes in college most of which were workshop-style and non-fiction or “Personal Essay.” (Think: David Sedaris or Joan Didion for some famous examples.) Now, when workshopping someone’s work, it was clear when someone was writing about something they were still “going through” something that was still too close to their heart, something that they were still so wrapped in that they couldn’t quite think clearly and, thus, their writing and their storytelling suffered. See, there was a reason why so many of the best Personal Essay writers are all at least in their thirties or older - they had that invaluable distance from their material that only comes with time. Time to breathe and analyze and move beyond the weight of their incredibly heavy emotions that are often re-lived through writing. Now, at the same time - the best personal essayists are the ones who also found a way to accurately capture a voice that speaks directly to the subject matter. They are able to seamlessly daisy (move in and out like the petals of a daisy, always coming back to the “center” or the heart of the narrative) between their voice then in the moment and their voice now reflecting. This balance is so difficult to master and one that takes a lot of grace.

So, something I love about reading the writing of Health Activists is that they have mastered the uncanny, near-impossible balance of being able to write about their experiences with health conditions that they are still very much in the midst of. This isn’t always the case, perhaps, but once in a while you will come across an incredible blog post that echos that perfect past and present marriage - where you can truly feel the impact of the experience of their health condition (or diagnosis or treatment) while still, as a reader, receiving the moral of the story: perseverance, being dedicated to a greater cause, an ability to move beyond the self and into helping others. It’s rare and awesome.

That’s a long-winded way of saying: I am thankful for those who work hard to write about their experiences no matter how painful or frustrating. Especially those who have really fallen into stride with their writing and writing voice and found the ability to speak to a diverse audience of readers no matter their condition or the topic.

2. The Twitter! None of us can be in two places, doing two things at once. Or can we? I love Twitter because even if you are buried in a project you’re working on, disconnected from “the now” - you can check Twitter and quickly get back in touch with what’s going on. Whether you’re reading someone’s tweets that you know well or just someone that you admire from afar - being up-to-date with their projects and thoughts can really keep you going. I am thankful for Twitter and everyone I’ve connected with on there. They range from informative to hilarious and everything in between and often both! Special plug for Hootsuite because it helps me manage all of my different columns and keeps what would otherwise be a very disorganized Amanda semi-organized!

3. Health Activists’ DFW spirit. DFW (a phrase I often abbreviate even IRL (in real life)) stands for “down for whatever” and represents a sometimes spontaneous, sometimes adventurous, always open-minded spirit that is not only awesome but also infectious. So many Health Activists here have a real DFW spirit and are willing to go there and try new things despite the multitude of challenges involved. Whether it’s jumping into Health Activism for the first time, blogging about something that is intensely personal (like your health!), or getting out there and dedicating yourself in-person to awareness efforts. I love hearing about your adventures and tenacity to get what you and others in your communities deserve. And how you go about getting your voices heard, that funding accumulating, awareness spreading, or just support going. It makes me want to be more DFW too.

This post is my November entry in the Health Activist Blog Carnival. If you're interested in participating too, you can read all about here: http://blog.wegohealth.com/2010/11/new-health-activist-blog-carniva...