Jan 15, 2026
now more than ever, we need to support each other. is your body asking you for support?
i don’t think i need to tell any of you about how horrifying things are right now.
when we read the news, scroll on social media, or walk outside, we’re surrounded by ideas, sights, and sounds that are familiar and unsurprising to some of us, and brand new and shocking to others. regardless of which one of those descriptions best fits you, it’s terrifying.
it’s easy to feel discouraged, burnt out, or hopeless. i’ve heard some folks saying they are “powerless to change things” so they simply have to “protect their peace.” some say that they’re “empaths” so they “just have to scroll past the news” because it makes them too sad to look at it. i’ve seen some wellness professionals encouraging these kinds of behaviors, calling them “boundaries.”
i believe that all of these people are well intentioned. yes, we’re tired. it’s true, we’re burnt out. absolutely, we’re collectively sick of watching global trauma play out on our phone screens, or our streets, while being asked to carry on, working, numbing, and then working again, as if nothing unusual is happening at all.
and yet… when we turn away from the world in the name of “boundaries,” we risk abandoning the people who are most targeted by the state – our neighbors, our communities, and, ironically, ourselves. avoiding what hurts doesn’t make it disappear. it prevents us from sitting with the grief and discomfort that we must reckon with in order to respond, resist, and care without collapsing.
our willingness to look away and allow things to continue as they are has real, tangible impacts. caring is not the problem. being unsupported while we care is.
it’s our collective duty to increase our capacity and show up in the ways we can. showing up won’t look the same for everyone, and that’s okay. for you, maybe it’s attending a protest. or maybe it’s calling representatives. or maybe it’s supporting and caring for a vulnerable family or community member. or maybe it’s sharing art or music that helps you process all of the things that are happening. all of these (and more) are crucial ways we can show up. but we can only do so if we ensure that we have the capacity to.
our capacity to handle distress is rooted in our nervous system. when our nervous systems are overwhelmed and feel threatened, even the most well-intentioned people can shut down, disconnect, or go numb.
if witnessing the things happening in the world have caused you to:
~ hold chronic tension in your body
~ feel like you’re carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders, perhaps literally
~ notice reduced capacity or deep burnout
~ experience digestive issues, insomnia, inflammation, or anxiety
~ feel ungrounded, dissociated, or disconnected from your body
your body may be asking you for support.
support isn’t about escaping reality, toxic positivity, or trying to “regulate” our stress away so we can tolerate more harm. it’s about resourcing the body. grounding into our experience so we can stay present, connected, and sustainably engaged without burning ourselves out. when the body is adequately supported, we don’t have to make the choice between caring and surviving.
if you’re feeling the heaviness lately, i invite you to tune in to your body and resource yourself in the ways you need. listen to what your body is asking for. receiving support is not indulgent: it’s necessary.
one way we can resource ourselves is through bodywork. bodywork is inherently political because so many of our bodies have been politicized. black and brown bodies. queer bodies. disabled and neurodivergent bodies. the very systems that oppress us keep services like massage therapy inaccessible to the people who need it most.
to help make this particular form of support more accessible, i’m offering therapeutic massage at 50% off ($60 an hour) for organizers, activists, and folks engaged in care work or community support. this offering is a way to honor the taxing and vital labor of care, resistance, and showing up, and of resourcing the bodies that carry it.
this fight belongs to all of us. if you’re feeling tired, if you have reduced capacity and need support to help yourself show up, i’m here to help.
if you’re a new client, schedule a free phone consultation so i can get to know more about what you’re dealing with. i’m excited to answer any questions you have about how my work can support you. if we’ve worked together before, just reply to this email or send me a text at 215-360-3435 to get something booked.
if you know anyone who is working hard to support their community right now, and who might be in need of some support for themselves, please forward this email to them and let them know.
i hope to hear from you soon.
with care,
~ jude