Back in July I self-mutilated to avoid going to a woke struggle session and remained bedridden for a month. Woke struggle sessions have increased in number and intensity since then, and I realized that self-mutilation is not the way. I have now come up with an alternative approach.
Stickers.
I make sticker collages in my notebook. An hour of peeling and pasting stickers, and I feel like I’m in a bubble that emits streams of light. I come into the woke seminars with a glow of a person in the midst of a religious experience.
This is what people call meditation, and it’s powerful stuff, indeed. Of course, stickers work for me and will have no effect on other people. The trick is to come up with your own calming experience.
Clarissa's Blog 
Have you tried doing something like that during your woke struggle sessions (stickers, crochet or knitting?) I have seen people bringing crochet or knitting to meetings and I think it is genius since they can still appear as paying attention (and even participate in the conversation), but it can occupy you enough so that you can tune things out.
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It works during the meetings for sure but the self-mutilation happened before the meeting. It’s the prospect of having to go that toppled me in a very physical way.
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That makes sense! What is the punishment for simply not showing up to these struggle sessions?
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As department Chair, I’m contractually obligated, unfortunately. I signed the contract, so I’m stuck.
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😦
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lovely stickers. I used to collect them when I was a kid. Where do you find them? – amanda
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This is my favorite series called Ephemera from Peter Pauper Press. Expensive but definitely cheaper than embracing the life in a wheelchair, which was my only real alternative.
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gorgeous! One thing I find relaxing is using images from cards or wrapping paper to make bookmarks or gift tags – Amanda
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