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That nature moves in steady rythms and cycles
is one of the most fundamental realities of the physical world.
Look to the waxing and waning of the moon.
The ebb and flow of the tides.
The alternation of night and day.
For a few of the eternal patterns
by which natures renews itself
and life is sustained.
As human beings, our inbreath and outbreath,
our waking and sleeping
are among the many rythmic alternations
echoing the great cycles around living universe.
At every moment, our cycles interplay
with the vast forces of our planet.
Inseperable, a gentle reminder that life is all connected.
And yet, few normal bodily functions
have been treated quite so disdainfully
as one of the most basic and earthly cycles known to humanity:
***.
Throughout Western history,
the overwhelming message has been
that when you are menstruating, you are dirty,
impure, that you need to hide it.
Historically, menstruating wowen were seen as possessed,
quarantined from work and worship,
too filthy to touch or to have sex with.
These attitudes are still with us today.
Those are told that they need to conceal
any sign that they are menstruating.
They're not to be caught with menstrual products,
not to mention *** as a reason that they don't feel good,
not to talk about it openly,
and to avoid at all cost a visible leak.
"I saw some very disturbing and disgusting images of Xtina."
The marketing of period products propels our shame.
*** is often framed as a disaster
that needs to be managed.
It's a curse from Mother Nature that women must fight,
that it's an obstacle, embarrassing,
and that everyting should be kept feminine and out of sight.
"So you feel cleaner."
Again and again, the message is that there's something unnatural
or offensive about menstrual blood.
This distances the menstrual cycle not only from everyone around
but from the woman herself.
Which is why I think it's time for the tides to turn.
If you know what I'm sayin'.
Regardless of your gender or your age,
it's never too late to become period positive.
Now I don't think being period positive
means you have to love or look forward to your period.
It just means recognizing the process
as a part of life that some bodies do,
that it can be really challenging but it's also pretty cool,
and that we shouldn't shame people
or make them feel like *** about it.
Here are four of my favourite ways to be "period positive":
number 1: throw a menarche party!
Now, this could be for someone in your life
who's younger who just started her period,
or it could be for you and all of your friends that ***.
I had my menarche party with a bunch of women that I love
when I was 21 and it was amazing!
Number 2: take care of yourself when you're on your period.
And all the other times, but especially when you're on your period.
Here's my period survival kit:
I gots me a heating pad, some comfy undies,
Ibuprofen, a good book about period stuff,
and, of course, chocolate.
I've also found that it helps to eat better,
and to exercise when you're on your period
even though it's the last time I wanna be working out.
It really does help.
And just give yourself permission to relax.
The world will still be there when you get back.
Number 3: tune in to your body.
So part of this is paying attention to the sensations
and things that are going on throughout your cycle.
Another part is not to be afraid
to be in contact with yourself during your period.
It's good to know what's up down there,
and it's really not as disgusting as we're always told it is.
Number 4 is to be in the know about all the different types of ways
to manage your period.
People think tampons and pads are the only options.
Uh uh, honey.
There's a bunch.
If you'd like to see the video I made
covering all these different options,
you can click here.
Otherwise, happy ***!
I'll see you next time.