Ask. As a prof, I’d give it. It’s not like I’m going to grade the papers right at midnight when I usually have the due date/time.

This doesn’t change the fact that I have to hustle & catch up if I want to make tenure. The pressure is real. The stakes are high. I’m sharing this because not every academic is able-bodied. And our realities matter, whether or not they fit the mold of “productivity.”

I need to remind myself and others that this isn’t failure. It’s a reminder that traditional metrics don’t capture the full scope of academic work, especially for disabled scholars & mothers. We deserve systems that recognize our realities…not make us feel less than.

Balancing research, teaching, service, & life, while navigating chronic pain, flare-ups, fatigue, & caregiving demands isn't a lack of productivity. It’s labor. It’s resilience. It’s persistence under pressure most don’t see. I know I’m not the only academic w/ struggles but this one is mine.

I do it for consistency. Nonetheless, White folks should see themselves as racialized as opposed to raceless/racially invisible. The capital W makes explicit that Whiteness is part of racial dynamics but I’ve also seen lower case w as a way to decenter Whiteness. www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

Amazing! Kiddo is on break this week too & I’ve done nothing haha. I received a rejection from a journal today but it had fantastic comments from the reviewers to move forward. It’s a loss and win all in one.

Anyways, there’s definitely more that can be said but I’ll stop here for now since my brain is fogging up. If you made it to the end, I appreciate you. I’m just a person adding my thoughts to a broader conversation on aging in the U.S.

Was aging ever great though? Aging’s a privilege, but it’s often a complex and challenging journey, especially when the systems around us don't always support people as they grow older. It’s not always “great,” but it can still be meaningful, with the right resources and support.

…efforts to cut healthcare access, tax breaks for the wealthy, and threats to social safety nets hurt many populations across the U.S. Aging is a reality for us all, and it’s time we demand better from our government. MAGA=Making Aging Great Again.

Nationally, we must demand policy changes that prioritize healthcare for all, raise the standard of living for our aging population, and ensure that social safety nets are not just available, but robust enough to provide true support. Under the Trump administration…

In our communities, we can create support networks, pushing for accessible services, better housing, and promoting intergenerational connections. The recent wildfires in L.A. have shown us just how important these support networks can be. Forever grateful for mutual aid.

…by checking in, advocating for their needs, and demanding better resources in our local spaces. I have a personal story here related to mi papi’s rehabilitation & EOL care. I’ll have to share that later.