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#WednesdayWisdom
"The key to any transition is having a foundation of self-compassion in place." — Dr. Krystal Lewis
Morning Musings
I'm baaack. We're settled-ish in Ohio and now it's back to business. Change has historically been hard for me and typically marked by an ocean of tears:
I cried when my parents dropped me off at daycare
I cried when my family dropped me off at college
I cried somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean on my flight from New Jersey to Spain to study abroad
I cried on the flight from Baltimore to Chicago eight years ago
And the only reason I didn't cry on Lake Shore Drive while leaving Chicago last week is because my sister was with me in the car while Jeff drove the U-haul. But I've definitely shed a tear or two (or ten) since then.
One of the ways I'm trying to rewrite my narrative when it comes to change is extending myself grace and compassion. This time, I'm doing that by:
Allowing myself to feel all the feels when I feel them instead of suppressing them or avoiding them like I usually do. If you need help identifying your feelings, I highly recommend this story I did for Elemental.
Relying on my community for strength and support. I have some of the best friends in the world. From daily "how are you feeling?" texts to sending funny memes and TikToks.
Keeping up with my morning routine, which includes prayer/devotional, meditation/journaling and movement. My mental/emotional, spiritual and physical workouts.
My Enneagram 3 twin Taylor Morrison, founder of Inner Workout, is the queen of self-care and constantly reminds me it's about more than spa days and bubble baths (although those are really nice, don't get me wrong!).
Self-care is a skill, and one that we have to learn to practice consistently. Yes, even on the hard days (especially on the hard days?). As Taylor mentioned in our conversation for Reebok, “[Inner Workout] is a multidimensional way of looking at yourself and it was a game-changer for me,” she says. “I learned that self-care was about listening to your body and responding in the most loving way possible."
What does your body need? And when was the last time you were quiet and still enough to hear it?
Love,
L'Oreal
ICYMI
Lots to share this week, so let's get to it!
I got to interview one my favorite writers and Twitter friends Nneka M. Okona about her debut book, Self-Care for Grief. Check out our conversation in Shondaland.
Black Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) Mental Health Month may be over, but we're prioritizing mental health every day over here. Same with these orgs I profiled in my first for Anser, Tia Mowry's supplement blog.
I chatted with Emily Kennedy of The EMpower Podcast about quitting your day job and you can get all deets here.
And last, but certainly not least, in my latest for Bustle I interviewed Lilly Marcelin, founder of The Resilient Sisterhood Project, about the importance of Black women's reproductive health.
Upcoming Events
Sept. 15: LT in the City Fall Book Club. Save the date for our next book club meeting. We'll be reading Elayne Fluker's Get Over "I Got It" and we'll be joined by the author herself! Get a head start by checking out our convo in ZORA. Registration coming soon!
Links I Love: Olympic Edition
1. Simone Biles’s Critics Don’t Understand This Generation of Athletes (The Atlantic)
2. Sunisa Lee Didn’t Owe the U.S. Gold. Her Victory is a Gift, Especially to Her Hmong Community. (The Washington Post)
3. Cheerleading Could Have a Place at the Olympics. It’s ‘Huge’ For a Sport That’s Long Been Stereotyped. (The Lily)
My Latest Obsession
Raise your hand if you're guilty of stress-scrolling, or as journalist Karen K. Ho calls it, doomscrolling? When I saw fellow freelancer Jenni Gritters tweet about using social media as a coping mechanism for stress and realizing it makes her stress worse, I felt personally attacked because same.
Thankfully, there's Instead, a 50 card deck that offers you prompts, activities, and affirmations as an alternative to scrolling. Yes, please!
Want your own deck (or maybe a journal or pen set)? Use the code LTINTHECITY to save 10% on your order. Or hop on over to Instagram for your chance to win an Inner Workout bundle!
Now Hiring
Grants & Development Contractor for Women Unite!
L.A./West Coast Experiences Reporter for The Los Angeles Times
Editor, Digital Media - Content for The Recording Academy
Communications Director for If/When/How: Lawyering for Reproductive Justice
Digital Producer for The 19th
Senior Content Producer - Video for Twitter
Communications Associate for Grantmakers for Girls of Color
Associate Podcast Producer for YR Media
Thank You!
Thank you to Emily, Morgan and Keida for last week's coffee (definitely came in handy with the move!).
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