Doing It For Myself

I've been participating in this effort called DIFO, Doing It For Ourselves, since the first focus groups. It's a federally funded health program for lesbian and bisexual women over 40 who are at risk for weight-related illnesses.

It's not a weight-loss program, but a holistic approach to mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health through peer-led group discussions. Every session involves gentle movements, sharing of some information from research about lesbian and bi women, consideration of how homophobia and fat phobia mess with our self-image and adversely impact our health, and suggestions of techniques we can use to find areas we want to work on and to maximize our chances of continuing with any good habits we manage to form.

I went to a lot of meetings that tried out some of the materials to be incorporated into the program. I also volunteered to be filmed while learning the program of stretching and strengthening that's included in our online materials. On top of which, a still picture from the session is on the group's poster. Look ma! I'm the poster dyke for DIFO!

The actual program began a few months ago, and next week is my last session of the formal series. I haven't made any profound changes to my eating habits, but I have started going to dance classes. At two to four hours a week, this begins to resemble aerobic exercise. And it's a whole lot of fun, too.

I'm also trying to get into a tai chi class. I tried one at the LGBT center a few months ago, but it wasn't my cup of tea. Last week I tried the class at the 30th Street Senior Center. I made it through about 25 minutes before my feet started hurting too much. But I made an appointment with my podiatrist and plan to go back to the class and see if I can last a few minutes more each time.

For me, the secret to getting out and doing something is having someone to do it with. I can drag myself to some places alone, but would much rather have a friend for company and motivation.

The grant also supports a number of community-building events that take place at the LGBT Center. The last such event, a party, included an open mike segment at which I made my debut as a stand-up comic, with a mini-act lasting less than 90 seconds. I figure one has to start somewhere.

Another change I attribute to being involved with DIFO is my engagement in more home decluttering. I pared down all my possessions three and a half years ago, before moving down a floor in my building in preparation for retirement. Now, after three years of retirement, my books and papers, and pretty much everything else, was starting to get away from me - multiplying in the corners when I wasn't looking, and forming piles on every horizontal surface.

I'm dating again, and hoping to become just a bit more hospitable than my usual hermitlike self, so I'd like not to be ashamed to invite someone into my home. With a little nudge from my involvement in DIFO, I invited my space organizer back for a second round of decluttering.

We've been at it for about four sessions. We started with clothes and musical instruments, and swept through my food cupboard in the kitchen. Then I sorted through all my recorder music and every book in the place. I unloaded some eight carton boxes full of books alone. Now I have spaces in my library wall of built-in bookcases for my recorders and my tote bags full of recorder music.

My living room and the papers will be last - I've been working my way up to the areas I find hardest to tackle. Then, look out world, I might just invite you in for a cup of tea.