SET IN STONE
the purpose of this book is to be present for the women who feel like they can’t be
ex·tant /’ekst nt,ek’stant/ adjective 1. in existence; still existing; surviving; not destroyed or lost 2. Archaic. standing out; protruding
ex·tant /’ekst nt,ek’stant/ adjective 1. in existence; still existing; surviving; not destroyed or lost 2. Archaic. standing out; protruding
don’t take up space. be as small as you can: be skinny, be short, be petite. don’t make noise. be as quiet as you can: step lightly, don’t curse, don’t give your opinion.
don’t take up space. be as small as you can: be skinny, be short, be petite. don’t make noise. be as quiet as you can: step lightly, don’t curse, don’t give your opinion.
the smaller you are, the more desireable you are. the less space you take up, the more you will be wanted.
the smaller you are, the more desireable you are. the less space you take up, the more you will be wanted.
mat·ter /’mad r/ noun anything that has mass and takes up space
mat·ter /’mad r/ noun anything that has mass and takes up space
I’M I’M I’M I’M I’M I’M I’M I’M I’M
M AT T E R M AT T E R M AT T E R M AT T E R M AT T E R M AT T E R M AT T E R M AT T E R M AT T E R
I I I I I I I I I
M AT T E R M AT T E R M AT T E R M AT T E R M AT T E R M AT T E R M AT T E R M AT T E R M AT T E R
DO NOT OVER LOOK ME
I I I I I I I I I
EXIST EXIST EXIST EXIST EXIST EXIST EXIST EXIST EXIST
“If you’re feeling small today I dare you to sit up straighter, look someone who scares you directly in the eye, take up room at the dinner table, make yourself bigger, when ‘sorry’ laps at the back of your tongue, tries to pick up after you, remind yourself that your existence doesn’t demand an apology, that you are allowed to make a mess and take up space. Do not be afraid to expand. Every single goddamn minute. Expand, expand, expand.”
THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT HAVING SOFT PETAL SKIN AND STILL SHOWING SHARP TEETH
I AM A PRODUCT OF THE UNIVERSE
Andromeda a constellation named after a character from Greek mythology. This princess was chained naked to a rock for a sea monster to gobble, thanks to her rather stupid mother’s boasting of her beauty. The hero Perseus, on his way home from other heroic deeds, saw her in distress, and did the traditional hero’s rescue-and-marry-damsel manoeuvre. The name is said to mean “to think as a man” in Greek, interpreted as meaning to be as intelligent or brave as a man.
Carina a constellation of the southern hemisphere; its name is Latin for “keel”, and it represents part of the ship, the Argo, sailed by Jason and the Argonauts in Greek legend. The Bibbulum people of south-western Australia saw Canopus as their ancestor Waa Wahn, the trickster crow. The Maoris called it Atutahi, or “Stand Alone”, because of its brightness.
Lyra a small constellation whose name is Greek for “lyre�. It is associated with the myth of Orpheus, a legendary musician, poet and prophet who is best known for his descent into the Underworld in search of his wife, Eurydice. According to some accounts, he died being ripped apart by savage Bacchantes, the female worshippers of the god Dionysus; the Muses gave him a proper burial, and he was finally reunited with his beloved. The Muses took his lyre to heaven and placed it amongst the stars in his honour.
I AM NOT A WASTE OF SPACE
con·crete /’kän,krēt,kän’krēt/ adjective existing in a material or physical form; real or solid; not abstract.
growing up, i always felt the need to be smaller. i was conscious of everything: how big my thighs were, how tall i was, even how big my hair was. everything seemed big. and all the girls around me were small. skinny, short, with straight hair. i did everything i could to make my self seem smaller. i sat with my legs pulled up to my body. light steps. hunched over. smaller smaller smaller. don’t be heard, or seen. barely exist. the less you exist, the more likely people will keep you around.
now, i refuse to not exist. i will be seen. i will be heard. leaving my hair curly and big. being fine with and proud of the parts of me that were bigger. walking intentionally heavier. spreading out. sitting on the floor or table, instead of confined in a chair. laughing as loud as i want to. having my opinions and making sure they are heard. not letting anyone belittle me to a singular definition, to a singular state. i will take up space. i will exist.