For most of my childhood and adolescence, I was an athlete. It was a large part of my identity growing up and it has formed an important part of who I am today.  I practiced martial arts, did gymnastics, dabbled in basketball and volleyball until I eventually had to commit myself to soccer.

Despite my athletically infused upbringing, I have not considered myself an athlete in many years. I have tried to live a healthy and energizing lifestyle, which for me involves exercise and staying active. But none of the activities I’ve pursued have made me feel like an athlete, until about seven months ago.

Now, whenever I try out a new sport or meet a new coach I tend to keep my expectations low; the words “Never expect, only appreciate” ring in my ear. Entering into fitness classes or athletic scenarios without hands generates an array of responses, most of which are merely unaccommodating. There are worse things than confronting a lack of access or accommodation at the gym or in a coach, but it also does not inspire confidence in me to want to come back. But, what’s life without a little risk.

So on a whim in January 2019, I decided to try out Jiu Jitsu. From the moment my coach opened his mouth and started taking us through the warm-up, I knew this was the start of something. Since that first class, my confidence and excitement for the sport have only grown and stoked in me a competitive fire that has laid latent for far too long.

I think part of the reason I love the sport so much is because it is one of the few athletic endeavors where my not having hands can be a genuine advantage. With most of the sports I have played, my disability has either been ignored entirely or considered something I can “work with” or “adjust for.” But with Jiu Jitsu that has not been my experience. It has in many ways embodied the complexity and nuance of how I experience my disability in daily life. My disability has of course come with increased difficulties and barriers, but it has also opened my mind, made me smarter and better at problem-solving, and instilled in me greater empathy and humility.

In the Jiu Jitsu context, I’ve noticed a parallel.  Is it harder for me to get a hold on my opponents? Sure. Do I find it harder to do certain chokes? Absolutely. BUT, can my opponents do arm bars on me? No.  Is it harder for them to get control of my arms? It would appear so thus far. So, even in this minimalist list, you can start to see how not having hands is BOTH advantageous and disadvantageous.

I also want to add that from day 1, my coach was excited to teach me and enthusiastic about working with me to help me grow as an athlete. That and finding a really uplifting and supportive community have been game changers! If my coach and the other grapplers had been un-enthused about working with “the disabled girl,” I am sure I would not have had the confidence to return to class and would not be continuing with the sport. So, shout out to one hell of a coach and some really great grapplers and friends!!

I look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead and I am so grateful for the people I have connected with through Jiu Jitsu. I can’t wait to continue pursuing the sport and living into the athlete in me.

It has been a while since I last posted on my blog. I have drafted about 20 posts in the last year but the longer I waited the more “significant” I felt the post had to be.  But, I’ve decided to just go for it. Today is the day!

Those who know me well, know that I have a particular fondness for sunsets–they are not only beautiful in an objective sense, but in a subjective, symbolic one as well. Sunsets, as the name implies, means the sun is leaving us for the day.  No matter how much I may want more hours, more moments, more productivity, the sun will set just the same.  The end of the day has come and the night begins- a time to rest and recuperate so we can do it all anew tomorrow.

Sunsets remind me of the beauty that can be found in the endings of things. I said some painful goodbyes in the last year and let go of pieces of myself; but with those goodbyes, I have learned more about who I am and what I cherish.

I was evacuated from Nicaragua over a year ago now and I think back on those days and it is still hard for me to conceptualize what happened. I tell people of my experience and it feels foreign coming out of my mouth. The story has never felt like mine, even when I was living it.  But, 402 days of reflection have brought me to the point where I can start allowing myself to claim pieces of the story, recognize them as my own and process the emotions and effects they have had on me.

Losing my grandpa, getting evacuated from Nicaragua, losing friendships–none of that has been ideal. But life isn’t about living in pure bliss, it is also about understanding how to cope with loss. Call me optimistic, but in the face of too many goodbyes last year, I have chosen to focus on what possibilities now lie ahead and the lessons I have gleaned from experiences past.

This doesn’t mean I want to leave it all behind and never look back. Rather, I want to take pieces with me and, insofar as I am able, stay connected.  I want to take all the love and kindness my grandpa put into the world and try to manifest that in my life.  I want to stay in solidarity with Nicaragua–spreading awareness about the unrest that persists until Nicaragua is free of the Ortega-Murillo regime and becomes a true democracy with freedom of expression and liberty for all.  And of my friendships, I want to learn from my past relationships and foster my friendships now that are loving and life-giving.

In starting a new chapter, it doesn’t mean the old chapters never happened or that they don’t have implications on the arc of my life moving forward; for me, starting a new chapter is about taking the knowledge from the past, and choosing to live in the present and plan for a brighter future.

If you know me, you know that I thoroughly enjoy the show “Drunk History.” It never ceases to make me smile and I was so excited to see a segment touch on the history of disability rights.  It inspired me to post about new legislation in the states: HR 620.  This law would significantly weaken the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which protects the rights of people with disabilities.  H.R. 620 would create significant barriers for people with disabilities to claim their rights under Title III of the ADA and, as a result, would impede on their ability to engage in daily life activities and interact in greater society.  I believe the law had noble intentions, but as HR 620 is currently written it puts people with disabilities at risk in favor of protecting businesses.

I encourage everyone to read up on HR 620 and, if you feel so called, to sign this petition: https://www.change.org/p/dara-baldwin-unfortunately-ada-education-reform-act-of-2017-h-r-620-bill-passed-on-2-15-2018-225-192-get-ready-for-senate-work-stay-tuned

I wanted to take the opportunity to express my support of the students, nation-wide, who chose to walk out today to demand new gun laws in our country (USA).  To everyone who participated in the walkout and who are fighting for more comprehensive gun control policies, know that you have so many people who are behind you.  Something has to be done about gun violence. Yes, it is a complex issue but we have to stop pushing it aside and pretending these are isolated incidents.  Gun violence is an epidemic in our country, and words aren’t enough, policy has to change.  Thank you to everyone who has taken action to push for that change! Keep up the fight.

#whatif  #neveragain  #enough  #guncontrol  #endgunviolence  #notonemore  #guncontrolnow

I shared this a while back on Facebook and I wanted to share it here as well:

“In starting the process of learning Krav Maga, I was nervous. As a disabled woman entering into this practice for the first time I had many questions rushing through my mind about accessibility, inclusion, adaptation, etc. I didn’t know what to expect. Now almost three months later I have acquired techniques of all kinds with which to defend myself and the more I’ve practiced the more self-assured and comfortable I have become not only in those techniques but in myself. Bodily integrity is a critical right for every person, of every ability level, and self defense is one way to preserve that right if it is not being respected. I am so grateful for the skills I have learned and the community I have found in practicing Krav Maga. I feel more confident and secure in my body than I ever have and that is a huge gift. Thank you, KMS (Krav Maga Seattle), for continuing to teach me how to defend myself, for making this video and for demonstrating the importance of accessibility in self-defense education.  

#disabledandproud#kms #kravmagaseattle #kravmaga #selfdefense #seattle”

I have had the privilege to work with some amazing people in my role as President of Students for Disability Justice at Seattle University.  This year we chose to incorporate a video to accompany our Disabled and Proud Photo campaign, a photo project aimed at reclaiming the word “disabled” and building a community of people with disabilities and their allies.  The goal of the video is to provide new perspectives on disability and demonstrate the varying ways one’s disability can be experienced.

Here is the youtube link to check out the video!

I was on YouTube today and stumbled upon my video from my freshman year of high school.  Here is the link: Sense of Balance: Anna Pickett

I am traveling abroad over the next 7-8 months.  I leave in late June for Nicaragua, return for a few weeks in August, then I am off to Spain until January.  The goal of these months is to learn Spanish more fully and engage with different cultures.  In my advocacy, I hope to be able to connect with as many communities as possible and language is a key step in that process.  I am so excited and I feel so lucky to have the opportunity to travel over these next few months.  See my Time Abroad page to follow more specifically what I am up to.