Rebel Nation Blog

I love weddings. Big, fancy, balls out, glittery, sparkly weddings. I used to dream about my wedding as a child. Clearly I would be loved by a wonderful man who was going to sweep me off my feet in a style that would put Snow White and Cinderella to shame…in a carriage, complete with a hoop skirt that would become the envy of all the southern belles. I would have a line of 6 brides maids and 6 groomsmen and the most adorable flower girl and ring bearer that has ever been seen

What we feed on sustains us. Do you feed on anger, sadness, shame, judgment or fear? OR Do you feed on joy, love, bliss, abundance or hope? If you remain hungry for judgment then that energy is what will feed you. If there is forgiveness to be given let us give it. If there is grace to be given let us give it. If there is openness to be had let us be ready for it. If there is a lesson to be learned let us learn it. If there is a sign to be received let us see it. I am

Things many of us who do not support the current administration hear in 2018… You’re too smart to be a liberal. #ThankYou Someone told me I am going to Hell because I’m pro-choice. I laughed at him and reminded him that he doesn’t get to decide. #GodsJob A man told me he could tell I was young by the words I used. I told him I was in my fifties and he told me I wasn’t! #Mansplaining After I said, look at Bernie’s record, a guy says “what, he votes just like Rand Paul” #lol So

The original title of this blog was “Happiness in the time of the Handmaid’s Tale”. I don’t know about you, but waking up to the latest news coming out of Washington D.C. makes me just want to curl up and stay in bed. Clearly this isn’t an option, I am a social justice badass for a living! When I am feeling intensely emotional about all the things that are happening in our Nation…I tap into my happy. Here is a list of the 20 things that are making me happy RIGHT NOW! Petting

Do you engage in moments of radical compassion towards your body and soul? Do you give yourself the space of grace? Do you engage with people in your lives differently in 2018 than you did 1 year, 5 years, 10 years ago? Do you find yourself stepping out, taking risks, being vulnerable? OR Are you stuck in the overwhelm? Are you tired of the buzzy, crazy chatter? Are you sitting deep in the knowledge that you are a person of calling & purpose but you just don’t know what

I just did an AMAZING workshop in Holyoke, MA called Fanning the Flames! It is a Bird Girl Industries special event to help women tap into their passion to make a difference in their OWN communities! What I love about these workshops is that I get to go into places all over the country and talk to women in their own spaces, hear their stories, and give them amazeballs ideas to help them find their voice and speak their own truth. 9 out of 10 times when I am doing a workshop w

Hello, my name is Missy. AKA: Dr. Bird I am a writer. I am a teacher. I am a leader. I was a professional lobbyist for Planned Parenthood in Utah. I love Wonder Woman & Eleanor Roosevelt. I used to be afraid to speak my truth. This is my TRUTH!! My father committed suicide when I was 6. I experienced abuse as a child. Sometimes we had no utilities or food. I was raped my first year of college. I used to kiss girls for beer money while in college. I have been married leg

Yesterday I got this kick ass message from my friend where she said: “This was the anger roiling in me this morning. While the snow came down, the fire in me got hotter. It’s time to let the motherfuckers burn. I love you so much for how you inspire me and so many others. You’re onto something here Missy. Don’t let anyone stop you. Keep going.” I was like BOOM! Damn! Hell YES! Boy did I need that message because I was DISCOURAGED. Thank you divine universe for reminding me

I am deeply committed to working for justice in an authentic and charitable way. This means I am going to fuck shit up a lot in the eyes of other people. If speaking your truth is the most powerful tool we have, why do I feel like lately my truth isn’t good enough? If it is important for women not to support each other and not play mean girls on the playground, why do I feel like I am taking the punches for saying how I feel in an authentic and intentional way? When I was get

When I met Lilly 6 years ago her bravado was so strong that her vulnerability was walled off. Her life was limited by the belief that her cravings could never be satiated. While she dreamed big, she would often surround herself with people who kept her stuck. Lilly took my advice, my love, and my unconditional support to heart. When she posted this on Facebook, it impacted me so deeply that I asked her if I could share it with all of you. May we all be as brave and deeply glo

I have been reflecting back at where I was at this time last year. My sadness was palpable. I was worried about what would happen under the current administration. It is worse than I thought it would be. In today’s Monday Mayhem, I take a look back at my words. 11/19/2016 I am broken, I am on fire. I am shriveled, I am revolutionary. I am devastated, triggered, charred, broken, silenced, shamed, saddened, heartbroken, shocked, disgusted, scared, horrified, traumatized. I am d

Do you ever just wake up in the morning and think holy crap…how did I get here? I do pretty much every day. I haven’t always been Dr. Melissa Bird, PhD but I have always been a rebel girl I grew up in small town Utah, wore spandex skirts that were just a centimeter too short, and stood just off school grounds smoking cigarettes in front of my high school daring the Principal to come out and discipline me. A friend and I wrote the words “fuck you” on the high school lawn using

“As our world reacts to injustice in forms of control, I as a follower of Jesus will react in forms of uncontrollable love.” Yes y’all heard that right, I just threw you a quote about Jesus. I know I know – y’all just spit out your beverages and fell out of your chair. Follow me here if you will. One of the things that has been happening lately is all or nothing thinking. Black & white thinking is my quicksand, it is my trap, and I often fall head first right into it. On Satu

A few months ago I asked four of my dearest friends to, “think of five words that I offer women”. I don’t know why. I think I was feeling particularly insecure about myself and wanted to know that I was still inspiring to other people. I was at a strange point in my life. I had just finished my PhD and was trying to figure out who I am. I am no longer a student, likely I never will be again, which is weird. I no longer have consistent deadlines imposed on me by other people,

“The quality of light by which we scrutinize our lives has direct bearing upon the product which we live, and upon the changes which we hope to bring about through those lives. It is within this light that we form those ideas by which we pursue our magic and make it realized.” -Audre Lorde, Poetry is Not a Luxury For the last 6 weeks I have been pursuing my magic. I have been gathering, gleaning, editing, absorbing, writing, composing, and reclaiming so that the graceful revo

The events in Charlottesville, VA 10 days ago smacked me in the face and left me paralyzed. White supremacy is is NOT OK. It makes me feel gaggy in my throat with anger. It makes me damn mad. I know I am not alone in that feeling. I know that there are more of us than them. I also know that I am not surprised about what happened in Charlottesville. I see my privilege. I am white…I am middle-upper class…I am married…I am educated. People assume that makes me like them when w

All week I have had this scenario running rampant through my brain: You Can’t Handle the Truth I was angry and allowing one woman to have complete control over my emotions for days and days.  Swirling in the knowledge that I know the truth, I am tired of the lying, and if this battle would just end I could get on with my life. Except I am NOT STUCK. Except my life is MOVING FORWARD. Except my gorgeous brilliant world CANNOT BE SHATTERED. This is THE TRUTH: The man I love lo