Tag Archives: culture

JustRachel

I don’t believe in cancel culture

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So I know it’s been a while and I need to do better but somethings been on my mind so I figured – hey let’s blog it out.

So in the past couple years our society has adopted a interesting culture where we ostracize or condemn or “cancel” people who have made seemingly unforgivable mistakes.

These situations include but are not limited to inappropriate comments or use of certain language on the internet and women (“Karen’s”) unjustly calling the cops on black citizens.

Now before I give my quick take I want to introduce this by saying that I am all for accountability and owning up to your actions but (and now into my quick take) cancel culture isn’t really about accountability – it’s about shaming people to submission. And the fact that people can essentially lose their livelihood and all that comes with it, the fact that these people could there after receive death threats – doesn’t sit well with me.

Look I’m not saying that people can’t have their opinions. I’m not saying that the woman who called the cops on the black man watching birds in Central Park shouldn’t have lost her job – but what I guess is am saying is that there needs to be some sort of system for reform and atonement (a way to apologize for ones actions) that will allow them to return to the workforce and their life having learned a very valuable lesson.

I guess what I’m saying is that I don’t believe in cancel culture because it doesn’t act to educate as much as it blindly punishes. I guess what I’m saying is that there has to be a better way to hold people accountable while showing them the smallest amount of compassion they seemingly couldn’t have given to the person or thought or whatever that lead them to getting canceled.

JustRachel

cult or culture – a crossfit story

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So I joined CrossFit… and before you click away, before you assume my neck quadrupled in size, that I grew three heads, and that I now eat nails for lunch and throw cars for breakfast, let me take a moment to explain what I mean.

A little over a month ago I hit a pretty deep low after a close friend of mine lost someone very close to her. And with no where else to put my energy, my frustration, my pain, I just started hurting.

See what they don’t tell you when you enter the “real world” is that grief and depression and low days… they aren’t excuses, they aren’t ways to get out of work even when you can barely get out of bed. Because, unlike the flu – depression doesn’t come with sniffles and coughs and feverish nights. And while I am fortunate enough to work in a place that would understand – that isn’t a privilege I want or plan on taking advantage of. (and I am not the only one)

Shortly after I started climbing back out of this low, I was given the opportunity to take my lunches to go to the gym – the benefits since then have not only helped me physically and mentally, but emotionally as well.

Anyone who knows me, knows I love my job… BUT… there is not enough love that I would be willing to give up on being the best version of myself. Truth is, I don’t always love coming to work. Truth is, being an adult is hard and it isn’t because of a lack of work ethic or the bills or the privilege I have and have learned – it’s because I have never and will never be the kind of person that can sit, at a computer, for 8 plus hours a day. I just can’t do it.

Before I realized it Crossfit became my escape – and like all the other times in my life that the gym has saved me, this gym brought me back to a place where I could feel like myself again.

Then I got sucked in.

My work started to suffer a bit.

And before I knew it – I had to wake up and re arrange my priorities.

In the past two weeks I have been to the Crossfit gym 3 times? Maybe less. And while I feel myself slipping away again, I don’t really know if I can trust myself to go all in again.

So here’s where I set the record straight —

Crossfit isn’t a cult, it’s a culture. It is a way for the people I see every time I go to the gym to find the same kind of peace that I do. It is a way for us to push ourselves harder than we would if we worked alone and as an athlete – that is something that gives me a lot of comfort.

Do I plan on growing three more necks, no. But, when the time is right, and when I can reclaim that sense of balance in my life – I intend to go back and stay back in it.

The moral of the story – don’t judge a gym by the biceps that workout in it, and don’t assume that everyone in the gym is there to get swol.

Truth is, we all have a story – and we don’t have to join a cult to speak our truth. We just need a culture that fits us, our goals and supports us for who we are.

Relationships

Dear Teenagers, ‘Adults’ and Americans

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This post contains content relating to sexual assault – the contents of this post are not graphic but may trigger some readers due to its stance. If you or someone you know has been affected or impacted by sexual assault call the National Assult Help Line at 1-800-656-4673 or go to Womenshealth.gov for help.

An aside: this post was inspired by multiple conversations I have seen on social media today. It features content that is heated and inspired by events that this writer has both seen and experienced.

That being said, if you see a friend who is struggling or in need, reach out. Talk to them and help them in any way you can.

As a young female, some of my writings blame males for events I have encountered but the fact of the matter is that men are not entirely to blame. While reported assaults suggest that more females are assaulted than males – there is also a population of males who are affected. As much as we want to genderize this issue – It is also important to recognize that we as people, as a society, and as human beings need to make a move to change the status quo and take claims of assault seriously.

The current administration in the United States is not doing a good job when it comes to protecting our young women – there should be a shrinking number of girls who say #metoo but instead, it continues to grow. If you or someone else is in need call the National Assult Help Line at 1-800-656-4673 or go to Womenshealth.gov

and know that you are not alone.

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