Why love will be our revolution

Love will be our revolution because in a world

where we are taught that there are inferior and superior groups of people

based on made-up categories,

where there is a default body and every other body is less than,

where marginalized bodies are being judged, shamed,

punished for being different than the default body,

in a world where there is so much hate against our bodies,

radically loving ourselves, our bodies,

and consequentially loving and celebrating other bodies as well,

will be our revolution.

To understand there is no inferior or superior,

but only a beautiful wide spectrum of different bodies, is revolutionary.

To deeply, truly love our body, our self,

in a world where we were taught to hate our bodies,

to focus on adjusting, correcting, "flaws",

just to get closer to the default,

in hopes to then be loved, be accepted -

In a world like this,

ruled by lack of compassion, empathy,

in a world full of hate,

that is rooted in fear, misplaced anger,

unprocessed hurt and trauma,

love will be our revolution.

The revolution starts the moment I carry that radical self-love into community.

It starts the moment I meet you with the same love,

care, compassion, and patience

that I carry for myself.

The revolution starts the moment we hold space for our differences,

knowing that there is no default body,

and understanding that being human in itself carries contradictions,

but also the potential to create magic, when we allow ourselves and others

to live authentically and honor us in our beautifully imperfect humanness.

In a world where we were told we are not good enough,

the act of loving ourselves through the good, the bad, the messy,

the act of loving our bodies in every shape and form,

will be our revolution.

And knowing that we are actually more than enough, and have always been,

will be our revolution.

*this poem was inspired by following books: "Rest is resistance" by Tricia P. Hersey and "the Body is not an apology" by Sonya Renee Taylor