About today’s guesstie…
Nidhi is a writer, mother, and disability advocate. A neck injury and hypermobility syndrome led to disabling chronic pain, and she spent years working on a better relationship with her body. She draws on her experiences in her writing and advocacy. She writes on themes of intersectionality, our shared humanity, and the body in her flash-fiction newsletter, One Little Story.
Your favorite wellness ritual? I love winding down at the end of the day after my preschooler has gone to bed. I’m usually in more pain at the end of the day and love to unwind by taking a warm shower, and then stretching. I’ll sometimes use an ice pack on my neck before I take a warm shower so that I get the benefits of both ice and heat for my sore muscles. I finish my unwinding routine by writing in my journal about one memorable moment of the day, however small, one thing that I’m grateful for, and one way in which I took care of myself. I’ll sometimes throw in a cup of decaffeinated chai while I write (see recipe below!).
What’s a project you’re working on? I’m working on transitioning my website of flash fiction, One Little Story, to a Substack newsletter. My stories are centered around nuanced perspectives and magnified moments that allow for an exploration of our shared humanity. And at Diversability, we’re working on our 2022 D-30 Impact List. Nominate a disabled leader here. Nominations close June 5th.
What does accessible/affordable wellness mean to you? Listening to your body and supporting it in whatever way you can, with products and hacks that work for you. With chronic pain, it took years for me to find a balance between pushing myself and listening to my body and accepting any limitations it might have. I finally realized it didn’t have to be either-or, but could be both. For example, I can only engage in exercise that’s gentle on my joints, so Pilates and aqua-based exercises have been my go-to even though I’ve always yearned to run. For me it also means pacing myself, as I have a limited number of spoons each day.