A major realization for me this year in relation to One Little Word –
Action – it in turn related to the opposite
of my word: INACTION. I’m still working through all the potential and
possibilities, but an early discovery and adjustment to my schedule toward this
is meditation. Initially, I was trying to tick off this box, this meditation “to
do” in the evenings, thinking that it would be a great way to end my day. But I
was getting overwhelmed with all my Daily Practices piling up at the end of the
night.
So when I shifted this practice to my lunch hour, my sole thought was
to accomplish it without having it stacked among other practices. But holy shit
has this small scheduling change ever made a huge difference to my overall day!
Just taking 10 minutes for myself in my car allows me to regroup and start my
afternoon with a fresh and clear mind.
Some days I can tell that I really
needed it – that time I shouted at the app for example – and I may not be 100%
focused for those session, but they still have a huge impact on my mental
energy.
About the app
I use Headspace, which is a free app…for the first 10 sessions. Which, to be honest, is a great start and you can get a lot out of those 10 freebies. I’ve been doing them pretty consistently for a few months, and I am still enjoying the free sessions. All I need is a guide, a reminder, and I am not looking to more into more complicated or specific meditation just yet. If you’re looking for an app to help you get started, I would definitely recommend this one. Cute cartoons, soothing, slightly accented voice…it’s
nice and I feel like 10 minutes is totally doable for most people. The app is free
to start, and very easy to use, so it is fairly accessible as well.
I am thinking about “Action” & “Inaction” in terms of self-care
right now, incorporating each into each other, and thanks in part to my current
volunteer training sessions, I have been thinking about accessibility as it relates to self-care, and what messages we get
from society around self-care. Audre Lorde was a writer, feminist, womanist and
civil rights activist, and she has a great quote about self-care that is stuck
in my head: “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and
that is an act of political warfare.”
She was speaking specifically to her role as a black woman, and while I
don’t want to separate that aspect of her work and writing, I also think this
quote can apply to other marginalized identities and poor folks. When
privileged people seek self-care, it appears in a magazine with a glitzy
headline or in Mom’s groups on Facebook with a lot of emphatic head-nodding and
encouragement. And when a poor or marginalized person does it, they’re
considered lazy or selfish, spending money on something they “can’t afford”, a
luxury item.
Self-care is not a luxury item.
We also put a lot of emphasis on the idea that self-care should cost
money. Whether we’re talking about yoga classes, spa days, shopping sprees, or
whatever other “buy this and feel better” message we are inundated with in our
daily lives. In reality, all that is needed for self-care is a thing you love
to do, which can be as simple as a snuggle with your dog, a quiet moment in
your car before you head to your next shift, going for a walk with your friend
or partner.
We don’t do a good job teaching people how to engage in self-care, but
we are a capitalist society so we are really good at telling people to buy
things and putting a monetary value on everything. And as an extension of that,
putting a status marker on it.
Taking time for ourselves – especially as women, especially in a
society that (over)values productivity and work, especially in a society that
tells us that as women our role is to serve and care for others – is a radical
act, because it is not valued unless it is done within approved societal
parameters. That is, unless you buy something, or reinforce your role as worker
or as caregiver.
And yes, I realize that I am snarking on capitalism over here, at the
same time as I am recommending an app BUT why not use the tools of our oppression
to break those chains?!
Okay. That got a little heavy at the end there. Many people have
explored this topic more eloquently and in more depth than I have here. I have
posted links to some of those articles below. Please feel free to add more in
the Comments! I am also on the lookout for more info on the intersection
between self-care, politics, feminism and oppression!
xo
Caring About Self-Care
Self Care as "An Act of Political Warfare" (exploring a quote from activist Audre Lorde)
The Politics of Self Care
For Black Women, Self-Care is a Radical Act
No comments:
Post a Comment
While I don't individually reply to each comment, I want to say "Thanks for commenting!" If you have a specific question about a post, please send me an email!