As a woman who has supported hundreds of other women, minorities, and members of the LGBTQ+ community through their health challenges, and as an auntie of 8 nieces with a mixed race, mixed faith family, the last week has been heart wrenching for me. For all of you who are feeling the gravity of this and facing an uncertain future, please know that you are seen and loved, and that I am standing with you! Read on for support, resources, and ways to take action.

Many of us have been ingrained that our value is determined by our looks, our body, our weight, and other arbitrary "merits" that actually have nothing to do with our real value as human beings. This poem helped me transmute some rage about our obsession with a beauty standard that is harming us. Thank you, Jen, for allowing me to share your words.