Community Linkage

Every week there are new press releases, articles, information, and videos popping up concerning Paganism, spirituality, health, or disabilities. Community Linkage is a collection of useful information and sometimes entertainment for you. Not just weekly but every weekday. You can stay informed by adding me to one of your social circles on Google+ or follow me on Twitter.

disabilityscoop “Boy With Down Syndrome Hits Modeling Big Time” by Michelle Diament
This little boy is adorable!

Love Yourself As You Are – the Super Secret Blog Project

Ragen Chastain describes herself as a dancer, choreographer, speaker, and fat person. She writes the blog Dances with Fat: Health Comes in All Shapes and Sizes. She recently put together a Love Yourself As You Are – the Super Secret Blog Project

Regan writes that, “Reader Hedda sent me this video (Warning: triggering in every possible way). It seems that the theme for The Biggest Loser Australia is “Love Yourself”. Of course, they mean love yourself after/because you lose weight. I found the video and its message absolutely sickening – I had to do something. I decided to recreate the Biggest Loser video but instead of “love yourself after you lose weight” the theme would be “love yourself as you are”. I put the word out on Facebook that I had a super secret blog project and the responses started pouring in.”

In case you didn’t know, “triggering” warnings on blog or forum posts, in videos, or podcast descriptions, mean the content can cause you to recall incidents of physical or emotional abuse. It is a fact that overweight people (adults and children) face emotional and physical abuse or discrimination.

Since it’s start in the US, I thought the name for Biggest Loser contest was a pun. The producers really think the contestants are losers. Which is why the coaches berate them and risk their health for results they can broadcast. A Dose Of Reality: My Exclusive Interview With Biggest Loser Finalist, Kai Hibbard (Body Love Wellness)

Ragen sent the video submissions to Pagan author Patricia Washburn (pen name Jane Raeburn) who put together the final video recreation. Patricia has an inherited disability called lipedema and she writes about Paganism and disabilities at Vulcan’s Sister.

VIDEO: “Love Yourself As You Are” Description by Regan reads: No matter what you want to do with your body, there is just no reason that you can’t love and appreciate it, as it is, in every moment. Your body will change over time and if you base your ability to love your body, love someone else, or be loved on achieving and maintaining a specific weight, then what happens when time changes the superficial? You are the only person who is in charge of how you feel about yourself, and you can choose to love yourself as you are.

Those are words that everyone needs to hear.

Across the UK cries of “I support Spartacus!” rose up. Thousands of people posted it to Facebook and Twitter.

“Looks as if the government’s been found out lying and misleading the people on the subject of disability allowances,” tweeted Stephen Fry. (The Herald Scottland)

“Responsible Reform” aka “Spartacus” is a report on the Government’s proposed changes to Disability Living Allowance written by sick and disabled people, their friends and carers. You can read the PDF here.