4 things about being tired

i've had the weekend off writing. i am very, very tired.

Friday Feminism - an introduction

in the month of july i undertook a bit of a personal musical exploration mission. i only listened to female artists in july- you can read about why i did this here. it was an interesting exercise, and i was pleased to come out the other end of it with a slightly different awareness of female music, and a healthy appreciation of female-created music. in the last post, which you can read here, i went so far as to make a promise that i'd keep up with doing feminist things, being a feminist... the idea being that a feminist act does not need to be a bra-burning statement. in fact, sometimes it's the smaller, more easily do-able acts that make up a bigger movement, or have a more widespread impact. as far as i see things, it's all about collective action, and that's something i'd like to inspire.

i'm going to call it Friday Feminism, and i'm hoping to make it a regular occurance. i'm hoping to make it a thing that happens on Friday, for the simple fact that Friday starts with F the same way Feminist does (other F words include Fun, Female, Farts, Face, Fact, Foolish... and many many more).

what i'd like is to explore my way through not only my ideas of how to be a feminist, but other people's ideas too- i'd like to prove that a lot of you are feminists in one way or another, but that there is a rich scope, and there's not a list of 'must-do' things to check off before you can call yourself a feminist.

i think the term has a bit of a bad rap at the moment, and that's just silly. i think that idea comes from a lack of knowledge, or bad press (and who might be putting that bad press out there is another story...) and so i'm here to give some good press and hopefully you all can play along, spread the word, and get your feminist hats/pants/faces on. i thought it might be funny to give out homework, too. a tiny piece of feminist homework. because i'd really love to start getting more blog feedback in the comments section, you can play along there if you'd like.

some weeks may be heavier than others, depending on the various factors of life that come across my path in any given week (a way of saying: maybe sometimes i'll be doing an assignment/going for a bushwalk/reading a book instead).

anyone and everyone is welcome. it's not just a girl thing. the point is to get you thinking, or to start a conversation, and for me to reflect upon practicing my feminism in a space that i've created. arguments are welcome, but please note that i'd prefer them to be coherent and respectful, that i may not agree with you even after you've stated your case, and that if you surprise me with them at a party, i reserve the right to walk away.

Let's maybe break this pie chart into pieces. Much like we might with an actual pie.

4 things: today-appropriate someecards

i like the someecards thing a lot. they often make me giggle. even when they're bad, they're also a little bit good inside.

#30daychallenge Day 30: highs and lows of this month

this month has been one of those months where everything happens. there's been a bit of a run of bad things this week, but i'd prefer to keep them to myself- the people who need to know have my list.

i've been mentally preparing for this post the last few days, but today it doesn't seem right to write another bullet-pointed expose into my life. i've been thinking a lot of my online life vs. my real time life, and how well someone who is connected to me online actually knows me.

i've been thinking about this in part because my ex observed to me in an email on the weekend that it looks like things are going really well for me. they are, in the grand scheme, but it really drives the fact home to me that my Facebook life (and even my blog life) are really not representative of a whole life. you can't read between the lines and know everything about me from these things. the real life friends have sat down with me over coffee, wine, beer, breakfast and talked to me. asked me questions. listened to my wandering rantings.

 it makes me wonder though, just what place angst has on the internet. i certainly don't go out of my way to read it, and try not to write it anymore than necessary; angst balanced out with humour is probably the most acceptable form, i think. tavi gevinson (yep, her) talked in her opera house appearance about how negative emotions are glorified as a creative force, and how she struggled with creating anything at all when she was having some personal battles. i think she's right, in the face of all my processes. it's harder to write the sort of thing a person might like to read when your heart is very very heavy.

how to be a writer, and explore the scope of humanity, without putting you all off with ALL of the feelings?

how to be an online presence, a Facebook bookfacer, and be honest? it's weird. it's very weird.

i have enjoyed putting myself through this 30 day challenge, for everywhere i go it seems the advice for writers from other more successful writers is to write every day. so write i have, and have been rewarded with your interest. thanks for reading, for dropping by, for your comments. that's certainly been one of the highs of this month.

big love to all.