Christine Gabrièlle

I’m just going to get into the parts that stood out for me.

Here we go…

---

What is Pleasure Activism?

“Pleasure is a feeling of happy satisfaction and enjoyment.” (p.13)

“Activism consists of efforts to promote, impede, or direct social, political, economic, or environmental reform or stasis with the desire to make improvements in society.” (p.13)

“Pleasure activism is the work we do to reclaim our whole, happy, and satisfiable selves from the impacts, delusions, and limitations of oppression and/or supremacy… [it] asserts that we all need and deserve pleasure and that our social structures must reflect this… Pleasure activists* believe that by tapping into the potential goodness in each of us we can generate justice and liberation, growing a healing abundance where we have been socialized to believe on scarcity exists.” (p.13)

*my emphasis

I really appreciate the definitions adrienne gave because a lot of times when people mention “pleasure” it’s related to sex and that’s not the case here. It gives the reader a foundation for what the pieces are standing on.

Every piece may not resonate with each reader, but the underlying concepts can be understood.

Pleasure Principles (p.14)

• What you pay attention to grows
• We become what we practice
• Yes is the way
• When I am happy it is good for the world
• The deepest pleasure comes from riding the line between commitment and detachment
• Make justice and liberation feel good
• Your no makes the way for your yes
• Moderation is key

I love this list! Each list item has an accompanied explanation in the book, but the list stands on its own as well. I also really like that adrienne defines the core of what she goes into in this book—whether directly or through the carefully curated pieces included within.

The pleasure principles that stand out the most to me are what you pay attention to grows, when I am happy it is good for the world, and your no makes the way for your yes. Especially that last one!

I can have such a difficult time saying “no” to people; especially people I care about or want to make a good impression on. Sometimes, saying “yes” to something I don’t really want to do can complicate my ability to pursue something I genuinely desire. But a carefully considered “no” can really make space for a more expansive “yes!”

And I love that!

Stick around as we get deeper into this book.

🖤