How LT Got Her Groove Back
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#WednesdayWisdom
"I will cultivate joy even in my setbacks. I will learn to continue moving forward." — Sopha Rush
Morning Musings
I was mindlessly scrolling Instagram over the weekend when I saw this poignant post from @urintrovertbestie (shoutout to my Insta-friend Aisha for sharing) and I legit LOL'd:
After a two-week bout of mild-to-moderate depression, I was starting to feel like myself and damn, did it feel good. To be clear, there wasn't one quick fix, but I noticed the clouds started to lift and my mood began improving about a week ago.
It was a Saturday morning and I started it with my usual routine (prayer/devotional...including one about depression that I'd "hid" from my Bible app friends out of shame/embarrassment; meditation on the Expectful app; and journaling).
Then I got on my Peloton bike and did the Aretha Franklin ride. Something about listening to those old-school tunes on a Saturday morning took me right back to my childhood and fond memories of my dad blasting Aretha (also memories of him teaching me how to ride a bike in the first place).
Then I settled in for a live group meditation on the Expectful app that was just everything I needed. Afterward I went down a rabbit hole on Twitter of '90s/'00s boy bands, which led to me dancing to O-Town's "Liquid Dreams" in the bedroom. Yes, I looked ridiculous, but oh, was it fun!
Later that day, I went to the county fair with my mother-in-law (vitamin D really does do a body good) and indulged in my favorite fair foods, such as corn dogs and french fries. Husbae and I ended the day with an impromptu date night to the neighborhood vintage ice cream hop.
To quote Ice Cube, it was a good day. And I made mental note of what seemed to help me:
Get moving. I'm a firm believer that movement is a type of medicine. Whether it's yoga, dancing, or sweating on the bike, moving my body is a healthy way to release anxiety, frustration and fear. After all, Peloton has whole class series dedicated to various moods.
Get outside. I wouldn't exactly have classified myself as a homebody pre-pandemic, but as it stands now days can go by without me ever leaving the house. As a result, I'm unintentionally depriving myself of some much needed sunshine and fresh air, both of which can be instant mood boosters.
Get help. As my mentor-in-my-head (and forthcoming LT in the City Book Club guest) Elayne Fluker often says, "support is sexy." As a Black woman, I know we've been conditioned to work twice as hard to get half as much. But it doesn't have to be that way. We can and should ask for help and seek support when we need it because dammit we deserve it!
If you have any other tips for pulling yourself out of a funk, I'm all ears (and may compile your responses in a future issue). As always, thanks for reading and thank you for lifting me up.
Love,
L'Oreal
Upcoming Events
Sept. 15: LT in the City Fall Book Club. 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! Register today.
Links I Love
1. Simone Biles, Naomi Osaka, and the Revolutionary Power of Black Women’s Rest (Glamour)
2. The Parameters of Peloton Celebrity (Culture Study)
3. Who Actually Gets to Create Black Pop Culture? (Current Affairs)
Now Hiring
Community Engagement Editor for Capital B Atlanta
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Managing Director of College Access for Chicago Scholars Foundation
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Manager of HR & Operations for The American Bar Foundation
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Thank You!
Much love and many thanks to Flavia, Tamara, Karyn, Camesha, Sarah and Ermina.
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