Joy Is a Form of Allyship Not Betrayal (DAY 10)

DAY 10

MORE HUMAN MOMENTS FOR THE MOST WONDERFUL (AND COMPLICATED!) TIME OF THE YEAR!

12 TINY REBELLIONS TO COUNTER HOLIDAY CHAOS

Ever caught yourself enjoying a moment, only to immediately feel guilty for it? If you’re parenting or advocating for an LGBTQ+ child in a world that feels heavy, joy can feel almost… irresponsible.

On Day 10 of our holiday capsule series, Heather Hester names the guilt many parents and allies feel around feeling good and gently reframes joy as a vital, courageous act. This isn’t toxic positivity. It’s emotional resilience rooted in real life.

In this 5-minute reflection, you’ll learn:

1. Why joy triggers guilt during busy or stressful seasons
2. How to reframe joy as nourishment instead of indulgence
3. A 30-second soft smile ritual that reawakens warmth, ease, and presence right when you need it most

Strategy: Joy is not betrayal. It’s nourishment. Let yourself feel it.

Ritual: The Soft Smile – Relax your jaw, soften your face, let a quiet smile rise. Hold it. Let it restore you.

Bonus Journal Prompt: Where did joy find me today? Write it down. Let it count.

Hi, I’m Heather Hester, and I’m so glad you’re here!

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At the heart of my work is a deep commitment to compassion, authenticity, and transformative allyship, especially for those navigating the complexities of parenting LGBTQ+ kids. Through this podcast, speaking, my writing, and the spaces I create, I help people unlearn bias, embrace their full humanity, and foster courageous, compassionate connection.

If you’re in the thick of parenting, allyship, or pioneering a way to lead with love and kindness, I’m here with true, messy, and heart-warming stories, real tools, and grounding support to help you move from fear to fierce, informed action.

Whether you’re listening in, working with me directly, or quietly taking it all in, I see you. And I’m so glad you’re part of this journey.

More Human. More Kind. formerly Just Breathe: Parenting Your LGBTQ Teen is a safe and supportive podcast and space where a mom and mental health advocate offers guidance on parenting with empathy, inclusion, and open-minded allyship, fostering growth, healing, and empowerment within the LGBTQ community—including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals—while addressing grief, boundaries, education, diversity, human rights, gender identity, sexual orientation, social justice, and the power of human kindness through a lens of ally support and community engagement.