Rebe Hana

I’m chronically offline but Tumblr doesn’t count = I’m California sober.

Changing and growing is natural. You are not defined by your past self— it's okay that you made mistakes. You will continue to make mistakes. But you will also keep growing as a person and learning from those mistakes and becoming a more knowledgeable version of yourself every day.

Instead of going "but have you tried-" every time you meet a disabled person, assume competence. Assume that we've already done our research. Assume that we are knowledgeable about our condition(s). Assume that we are doing everything we can to manage our disabilities well.

something my mum always taught us was to look for the resources we're entitled to, and use them. public land? know your access rights and responsibilities, go there and exercise them. libraries? go there and talk to librarians and read community notice boards, find out what other people are doing around you, ask questions, use the printers. public records offices? go in there, learn what they hold and what you can access, look at old maps, get your full birth certificate copied, check out the census from your neighbourhood a hundred years ago. are you entitled to social support? find out, take it, use it. does the local art college have facilities open to the public? go in, look around, check out their exhibit on ancient looms or whatever, shop in their campus art supply store. it applies online too, there is so much shit in the world that belongs to the public commons that you can access and use if you just take a minute to wonder what might exist!!!

today was my mum's birthday, and I showed her that thousands of people were liking and sharing her advice. she was very moved and pleased, and wanted to add that you shouldn't just feel entitled to be in these spaces. you should feel at home. no matter who you are or what you're going through in any phase of life, public spaces and services belong to you.

one day you'll wake up and think, "life is okay". it'll happen gradually. you'll start to notice flowers blooming in a new light. your evening shower will be a sweet refuge. your morning coffee will warm your soul. things will seem bright and beautiful, and you'll wonder how you ever wanted to leave such lovely things behind