"Have you ever written anything dirty? Like 'how to take a shit'?"
Ah yes, the beautiful birth of a filthy empire.
Hi, I'm April and I come from the world of education and visual thinking. I use simple drawings, accessible words, and clever design to help folks communicate, reflect, and learn better. Sketchnoting 101 was my first love, and it's what I use when I'm teaching, coaching, and consulting on visual thinking.
But this question about shit really got me thinking.
Generally, these “dirty” words are a dirty secret.
Whether spoken in whispers or shouted in rage, they are,
above all, shrouded in shame.
As someone who struggled with shame from girlhood,
it took a long time to embrace myself as an individual.
As a woman.
As a sexual being.
As a whole, beautifully flawed human.
It took too damn long to break free from the shame
I was raised with. But now that it no longer has its grip on me, I want to take the sting out of the dirty words for others.
To take words that are usually hidden in dark,
shameful corners and bring them to the center stage.
To admire them.
To celebrate them.
To love them.
Pretty Dirty Words has been a truly empowering practice,
and I hope you find joy in it as well.
