Less is Liberation

Buy this book!

It’s a short hardcover with specific actionable tactics to use to achieve and live in freedom from dropping dead from ill health. That said ill health which is the result of grinding our bodies and brains through a pepper mill of exhausting overwork performed to measure our success in society.

I bought the new book above that was just published this fall. Christine Platt gives readers a method to overcoming what she calls the “overwhelm.” The busywork we burden ourselves with by doing too much in a performance to prove our worth to others.

I bought this book because I was so impressed with her first book that I checked out of the library The Afrominimalist’s Guide to Living with Less. Though nearly each chapter contains a Love Note to Black Women I read the love notes even though I’m White.

While reading the first two chapters of the guide radical insight streamed into my head in my own words. Platt’s book was the springboard for wanting to share these ideas in a blog entry.

Nowhere in Less is Liberation does Platt acknowledge this exact truth: Wellness is Justice. Liberating yourself from grind culture is Justice. Less is Liberation because doing less is Justice.

The definition of justice is “right action.” For persons who have experienced illness, trauma, or injustice, engaging in a true wellness practice is yes a form of self-initiated “restorative justice.”

We as “Individuals who live with __________________ “(whatever our hardship is) can act to heal ourselves from overwhelm. Some of us will require pills to heal; others won’t

The definition of restorative justice is:

“A process in which all the stakeholders affected by an injustice have the opportunity to discuss the consequences of the injustice and what might be done to put them right.”

We cannot “outsource” our healing to a so-called expert peddling one-solution-fits-all schemes like the latest diet or techno gizmo.

As ever I trusted Christine Platt because her book was a memoir-with-manifesto based on her lived experience. An Integrative Health Coach told Platt that the author was unwell.

Becoming well by becoming the person we choose to be is the right action to take to liberate ourselves from any kind of “overwhelm.”

Becoming this original one-and-only self is a form of justice in a society where women and others who are not White men are told to do what we’re told. (I hear the lyrics to the Rage Against the Machine song coming into my head now about doing what they tell you.)

It’s imperative that we get ourselves to the point where we KO the fear and shame that others impose on us for not conforming to their expectations of who we should be.

Before each of us gets to where we become ill not just unwell is the ideal time to read Less is Liberation. By no means am I a people pleaser like Platt was. Nor do I think Normal is a town worth living in if we have to repress our individuality to get others to like and accept us.

However I bought this book as preemptive proactive guide to halting overwhelm before it actually comes roaring into my life full-on or even at all.

Twenty-five years ago I saw the writing on the wall when I was denied a promotion at an office job. Realizing I couldn’t get ahead when a supervisor controlled my fate I hit the road right then. Found a job where I could do what I wanted to do: help people by giving them information they could use to better themselves.

Sounds like what I’m writing in my blogs doesn’t it?

The fact is other people of all colors stripes dots and persuasions are judging you and me and trying to make us feel guilty for acting true to ourselves. They would be out of business if they had no one to blame for being a racist or had no one to dominate and submit to them from a pulpit of any kind.

These high horses haven’t even met you and me and gotten to know who we truly are before they shame us for our perceived sins.

I wouldn’t wait to read Less is Liberation. Sentences beg to be highlighted in yellow. I attached mini colored tabs to pages where key advice was given.

This book is worth its weight in gold–and it’s a yellow book to boot.

We owe it to ourselves to Be Well. Even living with illness we can fashion our own version of wellness.

Simply More

Buy the book! I contest that even if you’re not a person who has been told you’re “too much” you could be a person that others frown on simply for taking up space.

Either way Cynthia Erivo in her just-published manifesto gives readers permission for us to be the fullest iteration of our ourselves.

Despite with and because of the fear we might have this is exactly why each of us should not cater to cowards. Kick the shame that others try to impose on us too.

I recommend installing Simply More on a device like an iPad. It’s worth reading again and again in moments of self-doubt. At the times when we are tempted to internalize the shame.

The administration of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts/RADA discriminated against Cynthia Erivo while she studied there in England. Then the actor wins an Emmy Tony and Grammy. RADA courts her as their Vice President which she is today.

Cynthia Erivo’s story is exactly the lantern to shine for all of us to walk down our path to freedom from fear and shame. The actor illuminates all the colors of everyone’s self-worth.

Sadly I don’t think the hate and judgment will ever go away. They’re the evergreen expressions of cowards who are too insecure in their own inferiority complex to give others applause.

Take the stage I tell you. Be too much. Be yourself. Shine brightly like a ball of fire or have a quiet sparkle either way.

2026 is arriving soon. The time to pump up the volume on praising each other for our badass beauty.

Today more than ever we need more brave lamp lighters casting a glow in the darkness.

Harper’s Bazaar Art Issue 2025

The image is a photo of Harper's Bazaar Art issue theme.

Today Art is censored. Literature is Art. Living our lives is an artistic expression of ourselves in motion. We can be alive and animated or gorgeous and grieving.

The whole kit of our emotions deserves to be expressed. Everyone is an Artist in our own way. Our mind is the medium for our thoughts. Our body is the medium for illustrating our physical nature out on the street.

Even an accountant who crunches numbers is creative when they come up with ways to save a client money or maximize their profits.

Ever since December 2019 I’ve identified as an Artist. Feel free I would tell everyone to follow your heart and make whatever kind of art rocks your world as a creator.

And this is the rub: We are all creators. Even though some of us through their negative words and beliefs are destroyers.

I want to be on the side of affirming the dignity of Life of everyone living on Earth.

In this season should you celebrate a holiday I hope you find cheer and comfort in whatever the theme of your holiday is.

Make Art I tell you all of my followers. Everything and anything can be a work of Art when we expand our notion of what is an artistic endeavor.

Walking down the street in winter holding a cardboard cup of hot chocolate. As you go home from a Starbucks you dipped into after you got out of the train.

Even in the movement down the street I say you are being artistic holding the cup. Like walking down a runway.

Let’s celebrate Art this month along with Harper’s Bazaar.

It’s time to valorize making Art instead of what appears to be going on: The destruction of dignity and compassion for those of us who DV8 by censoring Artists who champion these subjects in their work.

The definition of normal is “average or ordinary or of or conforming to a standard or type.”

It’s too late in history to keep things opaque about the value of every human being no matter their color creed or orientation.

We need to bring to light everywhere Art is created the soul of our humanity. Not allow our creativity to be crushed by the forces that be.

And hey I’ll end here with this: Why can’t an Artist portray ordinary people like the woman and man in the painting titled if I remember American Gothic?

What if it was seen as ordinary that a person could love who they want to love or have a body that they love despite others hating or fearing that body or expression of love?

Love wins. That’s the message I want to spread as I celebrate Christmas in a spiritual way not religious way.

Making Art is an expression of Love. We cannot be deterred from making Art today when everything matters.

And sometimes speaking out through our Art is as simple and effective as walking down that street and taking up space holding the cup of hot chocolate in our hands.

Simply More

I’ve posted in here about Cynthia Erivo before. She’s the face on the cover of this month’s Harper’s Bazaar Performance issue.

To wit the the actor and vocalist had this to say at a GLAAD Media Award speech: “What I wrote about was [that] those of us who are in the light, who are walking around with our lanterns shining bright, should just change the direction of the lanterns and shine it back on people who don’t know where their path is yet.”

I quote this in the hopes you’ll go out and buy a copy of the magazine.

I’m set to check out of the library Cynthia Erivo’s new forthcoming book Simply More. You could likely get the guide from the library too.

Asking ourselves: “Where is my path? What is the way forward?” can be a scary proposition. Often we don’t fear failure half as much as we fear getting what we want.

The expression is: “Be careful what you wish for it might come true.”

What has come true for me is that I achieved a goal I had long hoped for.

Having the courage to risk acting to Make It Happen–whatever the It is you want–should be a common occurrence. Too often we put off doing this because we’re scared of the outcome or what others will think or worse we think it’s not the right time to try.

Today is always the right time. I encourage followers to reach for the brass ring always. Life can be a carousel moving ever faster and faster. Too often going around and around in the same circle we’re stuck in.

Breaking out of the rut you’re in is called for. You haven’t truly lived until you’ve been terrified to do something and do it anyway. Your friends should be your cheerleaders.

Cynthia Erivo is like a role model for me. Her story can be empowering for countless other nameless faces going about our days not famous like her.

Erivo is right that those of us in the position to do so should shine a light on others. My goal while I’m here on earth is to share stories and teach others to be well.

On the cover of Harper’s Bazaar is this Cynthia Erivo quote: “I feel so fully myself right now.”

My hope is that I can give followers a shot of confidence to say: “This is who I am. I’m not going to hide in the shadows. I’m going to shine my light whether others like it or not.”

Be that lantern I would tell you. Be bold and brave on the path you’re on so that others can blaze their own trail coming up.

The Wilderness

Though I checked this book out of the library I’m going to buy a copy. As since I’m an author I want to use the novel as a reference for how exactly Flournoy aced craft to plot the narrative and how it unfolded.

The Wilderness was published in 2025. The novel was longlisted for the National Book Award. Flournoy should win this literary prize.

The 5 characters in the book are individuals who are more real than in real life in ways.

The Black American women’s lives take place in the novel from their 20s through 40s. I would rather read a book like this than some kind of “Boys of Summer” beach read at this time in my life.

I recommend buying this book to read or installing it on your Kindle or iPad. It’s one of the greats of literature.

Left of the Dialogue: Opting for Optimism

This is a blog entry I’m titling Left of the Dialogue: Opting for Optimism. I’ll every so often possibly post a Left of the Dialogue entry with a subtitle re: the topic.

With 20 years as a Mental Health Advocate my goal is to empower followers, readers, and audience members to choose hope over helplessness. The hope is that we’re here to support each other as we evolve and grow and to work out whatever our purpose for being here is.

To this end I’ve changed my mind yet again. There will be no political screeds in this blog. I’ve deleted the last remaining posts about what has been going on in this sphere.

The NYC MetroCard transit fare card shown above is 15 years old. On the front is the magnetic swipe. On the reverse side that you see the MTA printed the word Optimism by an Artist.

In the face of what’s going on I choose not to let the world’s craziness invade this blog anymore. I’m confident that optimism is possible when like I’ve written before one person reaches out to help another person.

Everyone living on earth is likely in recovery from some kind of challenge.

My intuition tells me that it will take eight years for things to get better. The way forward as I see it is to write blog entries that utilize my sense of humor and wordplay to educate, empower, and entertain followers.

I think this blog should be amusing and give joy most of all.

Opting for optimism is called for more than ever.

Avanti!

Driven by Design

I recommend watching the 3-part Netflix documentary Victoria Beckham. Those of us who are driven will likely relate to the fashion designer’s ethic. The former Posh Spice was driven by design to create her own clothing line.

Victoria is an Aries if that is of interest to anyone. Her self-reinvention is a case study in designing a life for yourself linked to your passion.

Beckham was derided as another celebrity-turned-fashion designer like Jessica Simpson. Hey I used to have a tan Jessica Simpson bucket bag. I bought the pocketbook for its style not namesake.

The Victoria Beckham story was empowering. Of course who can afford her clothes but that’s another story.

She’s known for her smoky eye. A former WAG (wife and girlfriend) Victoria is the other half of soccer star David Beckham. She won an Entrepreneur of the Year award.

Instead of being jealous of other women or cutting them down it’s time to revel in each other’s beauty. To see each other as we want to be seen not as the enemy or oppressor.

Bootstraps are beautiful on everyone. And for those of us who could use a lift I say extend a hand.

Not everyone is driven. That’s OK too. It can still be empowering to watch this Netflix series.

MicroJoys

The above book is inspirational and motivational. The guide does not attack the reader or present a political ideology. So refreshing in today’s climate where the media darlings are given book contracts and column space online to spew negative feelings.

I recommend installing this book on a Kindle or iPad to re-read when you need a shot of positivity while going through a tough time.

It’s a breezy read even though the author recounts two dire events in her life. We cannot discount the hell and heartache that goes on for others. Yet we can lift each other up instead of cutting each other down.

Isn’t it wonderful to know that the little things we do to feel good can have a big impact? No need to book a costly vacation to Cozumel or another beach to boost our mood. Joy can be found in the everyday acts and ordinary things we surround ourselves with.

Magnificent!

No New Things Book

You can check this book out of the library. I recommend this 30-Day Guide because it’s simple to use. Though it might not be easy it will likely be rewarding to complete the Challenge.

Ashlee Piper starts off the book with a history of the dawn of the marketing and advertising era to sell products. Like cigarettes that languished in sales. Until a clever advertisement in the 1920s to women calling cigarettes “Torches of Freedom.” Women marching in the streets would stop and light up the cigarettes called “Torches of Freedom.”

No kidding.

One issue I take with No New Things (it is likely accurate though) is that some people tally up that they saved $6,000 per month on purchases they didn’t make. How could someone have that kind of cash to drop on products to begin with?

Oh–the second issue I have is Piper’s reliance on thrifting and buying secondhand clothing. Most people are okay with wearing items that other people wore. Some of us prefer new.

All in all I recommend this book to anyone seeking to restore peace of mind to how we feel about ourselves. Piper alludes to how Influencers peddle products. How we could feel unworthy and less than so buy what’s being sold in an effort to feel better.

It’s really possible to stop impulse shopping. I call curating a wardrobe “collecting” items not shopping for them. I recommend giving thoughtful consideration to your style via the Three Word Method or a dive into Project 333.

September is here soon. Going back to school or getting into the groove at work again doesn’t have to require buying a truckload of new outfits.

What I’m interested in and think everyone should copy from No New Things is to have fun doing things with friends that don’t involve trips to shopping malls to buy stuff. Why not take a walk on a boardwalk if you live near a beach? Take a walk in a local park like Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. While there go to the Japanese Tea Garden.

By the way I think the end of summer is the ideal time to do spring cleaning. My credo is the “one thing in – one thing out” ethic.

The true Torch of Freedom today is the ability to Just Say No to endless retail therapy that doesn’t really make us feel better.

Tee-D Off

This is an old tee shirt I bought from Nike before reading about the scandal an Olympic runner on the elite Nike track team wrote about in her memoir The Longest Race.

The way I protest is by wearing message tee shirts in the summer–and in the spring and fall over long sleeve tee shirts. A kicky way to speak out walking down the street.

It helps to have a sense of humor when you’re down for the count.

Like I’m fond of saying every one of us is a winner. Regardless of whether you win or lose you’re a champion simply because you’ve gotten in the ring to fight.