Valentine's Day

VDAY 2017.

A love letter because... why not...

Dear Loved Ones,

And you ARE LOVED. The year has been long, and it's only February! You might be weary, and that's okay. Your mental and emotional health may have been tested, and you may be in need of a little pep talk, a breath of gratitude, or just some good old fashioned TLC. 

I found this quote placard in an old post from when COM|PASSionate REVOLT was a wider collaborative community project. So much has shifted, changed, and evolved, but the messages that were left here still remain. They're this hodge podge of well worn love letters hidden in our communal queer family attic, and I'm so immensely grateful for every damn word. 

Each blog post was this wholehearted gift from it's contributor, a vulnerable offering of themselves, and commitment to show up and be present. Each project that went swimmingly, the playlists we curated together, the yoga practices where we ended up giving each other high fives in between asanas because there were too many of us for the tiny practice spaces we filled, the tarot spreads that had more truth than we were ready for, and even the groups, events, and series that never quite got off the ground were these immaculate works of art and intention in of themselves-- finished even as they were works in progress. 

So wherever you find yourself on this fourteenth day of February in the year twenty seventeen, take a breath to nurture your whole perfect heart, and know that is so much more than enough. Your life is the narrative of epic tales and heroic homecomings-- even if it's unclear exactly where you are in your plot line. 

One day we're going to pull this old letter out and flatten out the corners. We're going to have to squint to read the words that have gotten lost in the folds of time. We may even struggle to recognize ourselves in the handwriting. Were we the sender or the receiver? Still it won't matter because we're going to know that we are in the presence of greatness. An expression and subject of love is always a thing of greatness.

Thank you for showing up and walking with me. 

Happy VDAY,

Traci 

**I couldn't attach message hearts to this blog post so please accept around an hour of a "Life in Pink." The whole class gets one.** 

COM|PASSionate Events

Hello Darling REVOLUTIONARIES! Made it through another week! Pats on the back seem to be in order. Here is our event round-up and announcements for upcoming fun community loving!!!

{Image Credit: http://bit.ly/1zUgbDL} Quote: Erin Hanson http://thepoeticunderground.com/

EVENTS

Get out, take care of yourself and heal in community!

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Don't forget there's lots of upcoming ways to get involved!

  • The Trans* Asterisk Conference at UC Riverside is quickly approaching! Don't forget to register by 2.6.15  2.13.15 to make sure that you get your conference t-shirt and lunch reserved! TODAY'S THE LAST DAY TO REGISTER AND ENSURE YOU GET A TSHIRT AND LUNCH!!!
  • Worts and Cunning's upcoming Changeling Zine has extended it's submission deadline to the end of February. Share your story!
  • A friend of COM|PASSionate REVOLT, Maryam Rasouli, is offering counseling services for anyone that needs extra support during this difficult time that Muslims are going through via phone/in person/Skype. You can contact Maryam at 657-201-7508 or email her at mrasouli@gmail.com. Read more about Maryam on our Mental Health Resources page here and read her full bio in the post notes at the bottom of the page.
  • Lewis and Clark's Gender Symposium is coming up 3/11-3/15 and we'll be dreaming of Portland. The theme of this 34th annual conference is, Material Conditions: Gender, Sexuality and Capitalism. All lectures, sessions and art shows are FREE and open to the public! Get your deconstruction on REVOLUTIONARIES!**

RECOMMENDATIONS

Feeling like some quiet time at home is what you need? 

----------

*Events are put on by the CR Community/CR Community members. Other events are by friends of the CR Community or of interest to the CR Community. Feeling a little nervous about getting out and involved? Email us and if we can we'll make some introductions so you have a friendly face to say "Hi" to when you get there!

**Most of these events will be local to Southern CA (unless we notice an event that sets us off into road trip dreamland.) If you want to do a COM|PASSionate event round-up for your local area let us know!

***Are you an individual, meet-up or community group that has some COM|PASSionate events of your own? Email us for details on how to submit your event to our calendar!

compassionaterevolt@gmail.com

****More about Maryam****

Maryam is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT#84366.) She received her master’s degree in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from Argosy University, Maryam has worked in various organizations dealing with issues such as trauma, abuse, domestic violence, depression, anxiety, premarital and marital matters in Orange County for the past six years. She has also provided school counseling services for the past three years. Maryam has provided counseling and case management services to diverse communities including immigrants and newly arrived refugees. She has provided counseling services for youth, adults, couples, families, and groups. Maryam also speaks on various topics dealing with psychology and counseling at colleges, high schools, elementary schools, and community events. Maryam is fluent in Farsi and Dari and is conversational in Urdu. Orange County. She received her bachelor's in Sociology with a minor in Biological Sciences from the University of California, Irvine. Additionally, Maryam is a certified Prepare and Enrich Facilitator for premarital counseling, and a member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. You can reach Maryam at 657-201-7508 or email her at mrasouli05@gmail.com

----------

There are photographs in this post that were borrowed lovingly from the internet and do not belong to us. All are linked and credited to the best of our abilities in hopes of attracting more traffic to the photographers and websites who have blessed us with this imagery. The inclusion of a photograph here should not be interpreted as an assertion of the subject's or artist's identity or beliefs. If there is a photo included here that belongs to you and you want it removed, please email compassionaterevolt@gmail.com and it will be removed promptly, no questions asked.