Skills to share

I got myself a Skillshare subscription.

The urge to learn new things is strong. With the pandemic making me feel intense levels of stagnation and loneliness, I had to do something structured. Skillshare has the kind of structure I need. Sure, youtube is free but i need that bullet pointed lesson plan and sequential format to focus.

So far, I like what I've seen. I've been hitting the self care channels hard. As a white middle aged woman, I think this is a right of passage. I worked at enough Hallmark franchises and stocked enough LIVE LAUGH LOVE horseshit to know that this where I was heading.

All jokes aside, it really has been valuable. It's not LIVE LAUGH LOVE. It's learning how to do those things for yourself before you start painting it on cheap ceramic mugs.

When I was in Sunday School, they taught us how to memorize and recite a prayer.

We didn't know what the hell this prayer meant, but we were apparently good children when we recited this prayer. We never knew if God hears this prayer or what the prayer meant or that God loves the tedium of mindless ritual...

It was the same with the Pledge of Allegiance. We were taught the words but had no idea what it all meant. How do you pledge or pray with no meaning behind it? That's what an old plank repurposed into a colonialized slogan about self esteem is. It's just words with no meaning made to give the illusion of feeling good about yourself. And we are so desperate to feel good...to feel like we are worth it...to feel like we are valid...that we fall for it if we have the money in-hand to buy it. I'm not saying that everyone who buys a water bottle or shirt or bumper sticker with "Keep Moving Forward" on it are missing the point or not truly giving themselves self care. I am saying that th words are hallow if you don't really know what FORWARD is for you.

These self care classes give meaning. It's not all bubble baths, retail therapy, and wine. It's about internal care. Mental care. Emotional care. Mindful care. It couples nicely with therapy. It makes me think and plan. It's structured but there's no "one true way" to do this. I appreciate that.

I'm looking forward to delving into the art classes. I might even take the classes that I feel don't apply to me...like iPhone Photography. I don't have an iPhone but I bet I can get some useful information regarding digital photography out of it!

Skillshare has also helped me develop new habits and news ways to focus. My goals are different and I feel like I'm prospering in something.

I lost so much in the last 2 years - my community, my "job", my identity, some friends, some family, and professional opportunities. Skillshare is helping me gain something back.

This is not a paid endorsement by any stretch. If you are interested in signing up with Skillshare, you can use this link: https://skl.sh/3kpDpgJ <3