Do No Harm But Take No Shit

My mantra for life is simple: Do no harm, but take no shit. 

This mantra is rooted in my work as a Wellness Curator, most specifically as a yoga teacher. The first yama in yoga philosophy is ahimsa, or non-harming. It's from this foundational principle that everything else flows. And it's ahimsa that guided me to participate in the No Kings protest on October 18, 2025. 

I’ve been disappointed / angry with the government for a while. I could see so much harm at the macro level that it was hurting me at the micro level. Since 2016, the frustrations over injustice, lack of equity and false / misleading narratives, not to mention outright misogyny, xenophobia and racism have been building. Harm seems to be everywhere, and with each headline I'm rolling my eyes, holding my breath and praying for the foolishness to stop. 

I have been discussing my frustrations with friends and a lot in therapy too. After one particularly teary session where I told my therapist Lori that I felt powerless under the growing authoritarian regime, she suggested that I go to a protest. I've had friends, folks who are loving, fun and awesome humans, share their protest stories so I was interested in checking it out. These folks weren't  "radicals" but the normal people with jobs, families and hobbies who are also not going to take any shit (or do any harm).

Along with my interest in the protests, I was also a bit nervous. Who were these protesters that seemed to know exactly what to say at the right time and held a better understanding of the political system? Was it safe to be there? I'm just one little yoga teacher, does it even matter that I show up on one Saturday morning? In my bones, I knew it was time to stop taking the shit and show up for a protest. 

I went to the No Kings protest in Towson with two friends. Before getting out of the car, I took a deep breath and set my intention: Be a conduit for love and compassion. Be the change you want to see. 

Do no harm but take no shit is ahimsa in action. This mantra is about showing up and being present, both for myself and for the community. By being at the protest, I was living the value of ahimsa, I was showing up for love. 

We joined millions of others across the country that day: people of all ages, colors, and genders, carrying hilarious signs, wearing wild outfits, and radiating love for the community. I was amazed with the diversity of humans that showed up. The chanting, speakers and overall vibe was one of love and progress. I left feeling more hopeful than I had felt in months (years?) That other folks were in this with me, that the community cared about reducing harm (as well as not taking any shit), it was so healing. 

I showed up to the No Kings protest because it’s my right to do so, it's literally the most American thing we can do. Remember the Boston Tea Party that you learned about in High School history class? That's a protest that we deem as "American" but the country wasn't even officially free at the time. And now, it feels like our freedom is being ripped away again. And so we protest, we speak up about injustice because it's our American right. 

Showing up at No Kings was also my privilege. I could be there because I had the time, money, and emotional availability to show up. I know not everyone has this privilege. Some people were working, caregiving, or just too overwhelmed. So I stood there for them, too.

The speakers were powerful, the chants were electric, and the energy was alive. It reminded me of one of my favorite healing places: a live music show. At concerts, its all about the energy of the collective, the group, team, tribe, the community. The protest felt like that: a jam session for justice.

I’ll keep going to No Kings protests for the same reason I keep going to see live music: community. Because isolation is what those in power want...to keep us separated so to disperse our collective power. Humans aren’t meant to do life alone. We're meant to be in community, to lift each other up rather than punching down. Community is the medicine and I'm here for it. 

How will you show up? Physically, emotionally, financially? Helping where you can with what you have. We need everyone, all the gifts and talents to come together as a community. We need to do no harm, but take no shit.