What is Self-Care supposed to look like for the next four years?
I was sitting on my bed, quite tipsy from cheap wine I purchased earlier that evening when the projected results of the 2016 Presidential Election flashed across my laptop screen. My boyfriend and I morbidly joked about Tr*mp winning, he believed it more than I did, but I genuinely thought Hillary had this election in the bag. My mind was fuzzy because it was so late in the evening, and the wine was making me sleepy, but when I saw the results my heart sank. I have to admit that I was a little shocked at myself for being shocked. I knew America was racist, but damn ya’ll. As many of you know, I’ve been trying to live on the straight and narrow vegetarian life, but the next day after the election results, I ate a Baltimore Chicken Box and licked my fingers when I was done.
When I first learned of self care, I took it as activities you do to cut out the noise, and have Rachael-time. Rachael-time meant binge watching a tv show on Netflix, eating junk food, spending excessive amounts of money that I don’t have on makeup and clothes, etc. While this was helpful, overtime, I’ve began practicing self care that would reap long term benefits. I have learned that self care does not have to be void of mindless activities, however, I should also be doing something that will benefit me holistically in the long run.
Engaging in any area of social justice sucks the life out of you until you look like that really old fish in that episode of SpongeBob when he was trying to sell her chocolate. Whether you are organizing in your community, invited to speak on panels, writing, or educating — if you’re not careful you will burn out and it could lead to apathy, pessimism, and even depression. This work never stops, neither should our self care.
While binge watching tv shows on Netflix is pleasure, on uh ‘hunnit, we have to make sure we taking care of ourselves for the long haul. Knowing whether or not Derek dies on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ is not going to ward off the ongoing sorrow I feel for Black people in America. So I’ve decided to not entirely neglect those activities, but also see a therapist (who is a Black woman), read a book by a Black woman (I’m reading tons of Octavia Butler and I’m getting my life), meditate, journal, turn off my news notifications on my iPhone because I cringe every time they mention anything about the White House.
I can’t tell you how to navigate your self-care. I love buying MAC lipstick to pick myself up (never underestimate the power of a poppin’ lip), but I understand that our self-care needs to be able to withstand the next wave of whatever is to come under Tr*mp’s administration.
Take care of yourselves, family. Do what works for you, but do it with intention, purpose and love.
We’re all in this together.
