A Self-Care Routine When You Need Peace
everyday, I find myself searching for peace.
Like so many people across the world, I’ve continually witnessed Black people get murdered, and it has been one of the most traumatizing aspects of my life.
I am infuriated. I am heartbroken, and I am horrified.
It’s 2020 and Black people are still receiving treatment that is both disgusting and inhumane. To make matters worse, we still face the disproportionate threat of COVID on our community and if you’re Black and a woman, you face patriarchy and misogyny too.
All day long we’re fighting, and of course some more than others, to secure justice for all of the people that we know could have easily been any one of us.
“Sign this petition!”
“Say her name!”
“Lock them up!”
“Remember to vote!”
“Don’t forget your mask!”
“Reopen such and such’s case!”
“Has so and so released a statement yet?!”
I am mfkn tied. My spirit and my mind are just…tired. Ain’t no way God put us here just to be fighting for basic human rights, but that’s what we have to do.
& I don’t know what constitutes a normal blood pressure or even what my “normal” looks like, but I can tell you it’s been shot to hell, and this week, I came to the conclusion that in order for me to keep going, I needed to take a break.
So I reimagined self-care and tried an effective yet simple routine.
Bubble Bath
I love the smell of Eucalyptus, but it also just has so many great benefits. when combined with spearmint, one of these benefits include aromatherapy, promoting relaxation for the body and the mind.
It feels so good to sit in a warm bath tub of water with bubbles surrounding me and a wet, heated rag laid on my chest for additional comfort. Water has been known to have a calming and positive effect on the mind, but it’s the bubbles that add a much needed layer for me to sit back, inhale deeply and just release.
A Candle to Set the Mood
“September Six” by Alexandra Winbush (Black-owned/woman-owned)
To be honest, I’ve never thought much about the significance of candles. I just know I like to have them in my home, I like the smell of the scents and whenever I want to set the atmosphere, this is partly how I’m going to do it.
I looked into it and it turns out that candles symbolize light in the darkness. I even read that white candles, which is what I have here, are for casting out negative energy and i feel all of this with my new routine. When my bath is run and ready for me, I put a spark in this candle, turn off the lights and usher in space for better energy.
Soundtrack of My Night
“The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” by Lauryn Hill
Siri play music to my ears
“The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” is my favorite album in the world, so I’m bias, but making this the soundtrack of my night has surely soothed my soul. It’s just so raw, so spiritual, so humbling and so relevant.
It’s also just so relatable, and when I sing along I feel like I’m speaking the words that are usually on my heart. I never keep up with the amount of time I spend in the moment, but I know I don’t get up until it’s through. <3