this week I am here with my good friend nick to transcend the conversation on queer identity more than I ever have in this space before. we are diving deep into how fluid & complex queer identity can be. nick is gracious & vulnerable enough to share with me some of the experiences he has had as a parent & an individual navigating his own gender, and how those experiences have impacted himself, his family dynamic, and many of the other connections he's had in his life. we're hashing out family acceptance, social acceptance, and even the inner-community hate that many queer people experience. regardless of how someone identifies, one of the biggest points we stress is this- it is okay to try on or throw away as many "labels" as you want or need, until you find a size that fits YOU best. it doesn't make a difference how long it takes, and how anyone else perceives you in doing that doesn't matter either, as long as it fits the person you are. in the midst of yet another wave of legislative violence against queer & trans communities, these conversations are so important, and I am so grateful I know so many beautiful, queer lights who are willing to have them with me. trans people will always exist. always take up space, should not make themselves small for anyone. queer voices need to be amplified yesterday, now, & forever, because no queer person walks free until we all do. 

this week i am showing up despite, here to chat with you about some of the less pretty parts of healing, trauma recovery, & learning to understand (and have empathy for) the beast that lives rent-free inside your brain. it is easy to fall victim to some of the false or flippant narratives that social media spreads about mental health or what "decorated" healing looks like, so i am here to remind you that you are seen, heard, and felt, even if your mental health looks, smells, & acts like a real monster at times. check in with yourself, truly, and know that you are safe to admit that maybe you are not okay, because you are surely not the only one. i love you so much. really.  

xx natalie rose

happy valentine's day my loves ♡♡♡  

this week i am flying solo & we are getting real personal about the deepest & most complicated love story there will ever be-- the one we write with ourselves. i'm stepping out my comfort zone a bit to share with you some of the moments where i've betrayed myself & my own core beliefs for the approval of others & how i've learned the hard way that this is the greatest disservice one can to to themselves & the things they stand for.   

join me this v-day as we commit to acts of pure love for the self & pure intolerance for anyone who gets in the way of that.   

i love you!!   

xo natalie rose