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Nov 04, 2020

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#WednesdayWisdom

"I am preparing for my joy and blessings. I am doing more than waiting. I am making necessary moves to receive my abundance." — Alexandra Elle

Morning Musings

Yesterday I woke up at 4 a.m. thanks to a heady combination of cramps and anxiety. Thanks a lot, 2020. At about 5 a.m., I accepted my fate and climbed out of bed. Weeks ago, I'd registered for A Day of Refuge, a virtual retreat hosted by one of my favorite yoga teachers, Octavia Raheem.

The opening meditation was scheduled for 6:30 a.m. I thought I would sleep in and catch up to the group at the 11 a.m. sound bath session, but apparently my body had different plans.

While I waited for the retreat to begin, I did my own mini-retreat of sorts, aka my morning routine. I prayed, read my devotionals, journaled and listened to this meditation by author Alexandra Elle about re-centering during times of uncertainty. Immediately, I felt some of my anxiety begin to ease.

By the time Octavia's meditation rolled around, I was feeling calm and centered -- a feeling I aimed to keep throughout the day. I'd already been debating taking Election Day off when my company announced it would be an optional holiday (you best believe I opted in).

I also made the executive decision to delete all social media and news apps (you won't believe how many times I tried to check Twitter and Instagram out of pure muscle memory) and kept my phone on Do Not Disturb. I'd learned the hard way after 2016 and was determined not to kill my own vibe. More on that here.

At the closing restorative yoga/yoga nidra session, Octavia invited us to turn our cameras off and vibe out to music for a few minutes. There I was, literally dancing like nobody was watching and feeling every bit like a carefree Black girl in 2020. I was proud of myself, for prioritizing self-care on a day that had every potential to steal my joy.

And I reminded myself that no matter who's in office, I can always come back to this. Back to the mat. Back to that peace and that carefree joy.

Where is your happy place? Hit "reply" and let me know. And remember, as Kendrick Lamar said, we gon' be alright.

Love,
L'Oreal

ICYMI

I don't know about you, but I spent a LOT of time crying four years ago. In my latest for Elemental, I explored the science behind a good tear fest.

I also had the privilege of being a guest editor for Permission to Write, a community for writers of color, and I wrote all about how to write a nonfiction book proposal.

P.s. If you're a Black or Brown writer looking for an accountability/support group for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), sign up for the GroupMe here.

Happenings

Nov. 6-8: Well-Read Black Girl Fest. This year's festival theme is Black Political Power: Past & Present featuring your favorite poets and journalists to frontline activists and everyone in between. (Free)

Nov. 14: Self-Care for Black Women. I'm excited to moderate this important and timely discussion with Level: The Series. (Free)

Dec. 2: Trust Your Dopeness: Seven Steps to Combat Impostor Syndrome. I'm partnering with Ama La Vida Coaching for this interactive workshop. (Free)

Dec. 5: . My friend Vanessa Flowers of Flower Girls Meet is closing out the year with a feel-good experience. (Free)

Links I Love

1. Centering Your Wellbeing in an Election (Free Root Operation)

2. “I’ve Decided To Give Myself Permission To Focus On My Joy”: How Beyoncé Tackled 2020 (British Vogue)

3. How America Invented the White Woman Who Just Loves Fall (Jezebel)

My Latest Obsession

I mean, the sweatshirt *speaks* for itself (see what I did there?). Get yours here. (Spoiler: the plum one is sold out, but it also comes in blue!)

Now Hiring

Senior Editor for Yoga Journal
Communications Director for the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights
Digital Storyteller + Content Strategy Consultant for Umoja Student Development Corporation
Director of Development for the Chicago Humanities Festival
Personal Finance Storytelling Fellow for Business Insider
Press Officer for Ford Foundation
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Specialist for Planned Parenthood of Illinois
Manager of People and Organizational Culture for The Transgender Law Center

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