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SELF-CARE INSPIRATION
Five Everyday Activities to Protect Your Physical Health
By LIV You
Does your body ever feel stiff or sore? As we go through the motions of our often sedentary activities, it can be easy to forget that our bodies need tending too. With just a little conscious thought, you can increase your physical well being today.
Incorporate these easy activities into your daily routines to help keep your body healthy:
1. Stand up and stretch. Whether you're home watching TV or at work behind your desk, sitting for long periods can really take its toll, especially on your back. To ensure that you stay healthy and flexible:
2. Avoid spending hours at the computer. Your job may require you to work at a computer all day. However, no matter how busy you are, you can take a moment or two every hour to rest your eyes. Here are some suggestions to ease your eyes:
3. Lift with your legs. As we go through "the motions" on a daily basis, we often overlook the impact small things can have on our physical health. For example: how we lift. Like most of us, you may forget sometimes that lifting with your back can cause damage. Try to remain conscious of this fact to protect your body.
4. Eat frequently. Sometimes you may get caught up with work and other activities, and forget to eat. However, there is absolutely no positive gain from skipping meals, whether intentionally or mistakenly. Eating every 3-4 hours helps keep your digestive system healthy.
5. Get plenty of rest. To function, two of your bodies' most primary needs are food and rest. A good night's sleep will help you be at your best. Rest periods give your systems a chance to regenerate and become ready for the next day's physical challenges.
By LIV You
Does your body ever feel stiff or sore? As we go through the motions of our often sedentary activities, it can be easy to forget that our bodies need tending too. With just a little conscious thought, you can increase your physical well being today.
Incorporate these easy activities into your daily routines to help keep your body healthy:
1. Stand up and stretch. Whether you're home watching TV or at work behind your desk, sitting for long periods can really take its toll, especially on your back. To ensure that you stay healthy and flexible:
- Avoid slouching in the chair or couch if you have to sit for long periods.
- Take a 1-minute break every 30 minutes to walk around and stretch your legs and back muscles.
- Support your back. Perhaps you would be more comfortable in different chair. You may also find that a lumbar cushion or back brace would be helpful.
2. Avoid spending hours at the computer. Your job may require you to work at a computer all day. However, no matter how busy you are, you can take a moment or two every hour to rest your eyes. Here are some suggestions to ease your eyes:
- Use an anti-glare screen to decrease contrast.
- Take frequent breaks and rest your gaze out a window or at far-away object. Relaxing your eyes will help you avoid eyestrain.
- Ensure that you have good lighting; there should be light around your monitor, and even behind it. Avoid using the computer in the dark!
- Minimize the amount of clutter around your monitor. Your eyes have more work to do when there are excess items in your frame of vision.
3. Lift with your legs. As we go through "the motions" on a daily basis, we often overlook the impact small things can have on our physical health. For example: how we lift. Like most of us, you may forget sometimes that lifting with your back can cause damage. Try to remain conscious of this fact to protect your body.
- Bend at the knees, not at the waist to take the pressure off your sensitive back muscles and prevent unnecessary damage.
- Avoid lifting things that are overly heavy. You might feel like you can manage it but you may be putting excess strain on your muscles.
4. Eat frequently. Sometimes you may get caught up with work and other activities, and forget to eat. However, there is absolutely no positive gain from skipping meals, whether intentionally or mistakenly. Eating every 3-4 hours helps keep your digestive system healthy.
5. Get plenty of rest. To function, two of your bodies' most primary needs are food and rest. A good night's sleep will help you be at your best. Rest periods give your systems a chance to regenerate and become ready for the next day's physical challenges.
- Set your bedtime and try to stick to it.
- Take a break from work if you notice your body is showing signs of weariness.
- Relaxation is another form of rest; a little leisure time can effectively help your body to regain lost energy.
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Self-Belief: 7 Tips to Get Your Mind on Your Side
By LIV You
Self-belief isn’t optional. It’s vital. Think of all the things you haven’t accomplished or tried because you didn’t have enough belief in yourself. Self-doubt will always creep in at times. That’s why it’s so important to have an excess of belief in yourself.
Create a reserve of self-belief and you really can accomplish nearly anything you can imagine. What would you do if you believed you could do essentially anything? How would your life be different? How would you feel?
If you need a little more faith in yourself, read on:
1. Examine your beliefs. You weren’t born with any limiting beliefs. You learned every single one of them. We all learn to limit ourselves unfairly. Give yourself the credit you deserve.
3. Eliminate self-criticism. As soon as self-doubt starts to invade your thoughts, ask yourself where that inner critic is coming from.
5. Coach yourself. Everyone needs a little support and encouragement. So when you find yourself struggling, consider what you would say to someone that you really believed in if they were feeling the same way you are. When self-doubt starts to creep in, take a few minutes to coach yourself.
6. Think about how you would like to act. Think about how you would think and behave if you were full of self-confidence.
A strong belief in yourself is a sure ticket to reaching great success. Build your self-belief and seemingly impossible tasks can become routine.
By LIV You
Self-belief isn’t optional. It’s vital. Think of all the things you haven’t accomplished or tried because you didn’t have enough belief in yourself. Self-doubt will always creep in at times. That’s why it’s so important to have an excess of belief in yourself.
Create a reserve of self-belief and you really can accomplish nearly anything you can imagine. What would you do if you believed you could do essentially anything? How would your life be different? How would you feel?
If you need a little more faith in yourself, read on:
1. Examine your beliefs. You weren’t born with any limiting beliefs. You learned every single one of them. We all learn to limit ourselves unfairly. Give yourself the credit you deserve.
- Think about the limiting beliefs you already have. Do what you can to discard them. Ask yourself if this limiting belief is really legitimate. Where did it come from? What evidence do you have that it simply isn’t true?
3. Eliminate self-criticism. As soon as self-doubt starts to invade your thoughts, ask yourself where that inner critic is coming from.
- Are you channeling a negative experience from the past?
- Is the source of this criticism credible? It rarely is.
- It can be challenging to quiet your mind, but that doesn’t mean you have to let it drag you down. Focus on positive self-talk.
5. Coach yourself. Everyone needs a little support and encouragement. So when you find yourself struggling, consider what you would say to someone that you really believed in if they were feeling the same way you are. When self-doubt starts to creep in, take a few minutes to coach yourself.
6. Think about how you would like to act. Think about how you would think and behave if you were full of self-confidence.
- You can effectively borrow traits from others, too. Who are some of your heroes? Sometimes it easier to imagine others dealing with a situation than to imagine ourselves. See yourself acting the way your hero would act.
- If you need help, ask a trusted friend or family member. You might be surprised at what you hear.
A strong belief in yourself is a sure ticket to reaching great success. Build your self-belief and seemingly impossible tasks can become routine.
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Getting In Touch With My Natural Roots
By Ciara Wimby
2020 was the most amazing year as it brought me into a closer relationship with my natural roots, my hair. For the first time in my life I tried a variety of hairstyles with my hair in its natural growth pattern. So many different styles that a co-worker of mine took notice and suggested that I take pictures of the daily change of my hairstyles and put together a slideshow to present at one of our team lunches.
The truth of the matter is that I have really loved and enjoyed styling my natural hair. It was sooo much fun for me to be this creative. Externally, it was a way for me to consciously cope with all the uncertainty we as a collective were experiencing with the pandemic, as it was a method I used to ground or become rooted. However, in reflection, internally I was unconsciously connecting with my power, my hair.
Most days of styling my hair, I learned that it has a mind of its own. I may have had an idea of how I wanted to style my hair, but it had its own idea of how it will be manipulated. And I had to learn to work with my hair.
This is a totally different process when working with my straightened hair. Straightened hair is easier to manipulate, form, and mold into the style one invisions. In my mind, as I write this, if my hair can be easily manipulated in its unnatural or altered state and it sits atop my head or brain, how else has my head, brain, or thoughts been manipulated to form and mold into the style of another’s vision for me?
I have to admit, I have always favored my straightened hair over my hair’s natural state of being, until recently. In its natural state, I see it as more of an artistic expression of who I naturally am, my most authentic self. The loose waves turned into tighter waves or curls, as my time away from straightening it with the use of the blow dryer became.
I feel more playful, energetic, and strong due to wearing my natural locs. Strong because I see how resilient my hair is, even with all that I have done to it over the years, through coloring and straightening it. Playful and energetic because my hair likes being larger than life, untamed, and free!
Larger than life, untamed, and free is who I naturally am. Even at times in my life when I have tried to fit in, play it safe, or be small to blend in. This ten month process has helped me see that hair plays one of the most important roles in identifying who we naturally are.
By Ciara Wimby
2020 was the most amazing year as it brought me into a closer relationship with my natural roots, my hair. For the first time in my life I tried a variety of hairstyles with my hair in its natural growth pattern. So many different styles that a co-worker of mine took notice and suggested that I take pictures of the daily change of my hairstyles and put together a slideshow to present at one of our team lunches.
The truth of the matter is that I have really loved and enjoyed styling my natural hair. It was sooo much fun for me to be this creative. Externally, it was a way for me to consciously cope with all the uncertainty we as a collective were experiencing with the pandemic, as it was a method I used to ground or become rooted. However, in reflection, internally I was unconsciously connecting with my power, my hair.
Most days of styling my hair, I learned that it has a mind of its own. I may have had an idea of how I wanted to style my hair, but it had its own idea of how it will be manipulated. And I had to learn to work with my hair.
This is a totally different process when working with my straightened hair. Straightened hair is easier to manipulate, form, and mold into the style one invisions. In my mind, as I write this, if my hair can be easily manipulated in its unnatural or altered state and it sits atop my head or brain, how else has my head, brain, or thoughts been manipulated to form and mold into the style of another’s vision for me?
I have to admit, I have always favored my straightened hair over my hair’s natural state of being, until recently. In its natural state, I see it as more of an artistic expression of who I naturally am, my most authentic self. The loose waves turned into tighter waves or curls, as my time away from straightening it with the use of the blow dryer became.
I feel more playful, energetic, and strong due to wearing my natural locs. Strong because I see how resilient my hair is, even with all that I have done to it over the years, through coloring and straightening it. Playful and energetic because my hair likes being larger than life, untamed, and free!
Larger than life, untamed, and free is who I naturally am. Even at times in my life when I have tried to fit in, play it safe, or be small to blend in. This ten month process has helped me see that hair plays one of the most important roles in identifying who we naturally are.
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Big Dream Life, Small Scale Reality
By Ciara Wimby
When we are small and little, we wish we could be big. We have so many dreams and desires of who we want to be and the life we want to live. And as children, we tend to rely on our imaginations as a way to connect to our big dreams.
When we get older, we still wish to have the life we desire, if we aren’t already living it. And even if we are living the life we want to live, our human nature always wants more. Unfortunately, when we have yet to achieve any of our dreams we sometimes can become frustrated.
Instead of being frustrated or even waiting to get to live out your big dream life, why not live the life you desire within a small scale reality. So what is small scale reality? Well it’s an opportunity to play in real time the life you want to live.
As children, if they have a desire to be a doctor when they grow up they will use props around the house or request toys to use to demonstrate being a doctor in their current small scale reality. While they have not been to school and received the training of a doctor, they behave in a manner that makes them look, feel, and behave as one. This behavior allows them to connect mentally and physically with their desire. Thus playing it out in real-time, even though it is a future goal.
When you choose to apply small scale reality demonstrations in our adult lives, it too can help us connect in real-time to the goals we wish to manifest into our lives today. There goes the need to wish, pray, and hope that our big dream reality will come to fruition. All we need to do is get us some props that reflect the goal we want to live out in the future, so we can begin connecting with the future mentally and physically in the present time.
What would you like to manifest? And what props would help you connect to your goals?
By Ciara Wimby
When we are small and little, we wish we could be big. We have so many dreams and desires of who we want to be and the life we want to live. And as children, we tend to rely on our imaginations as a way to connect to our big dreams.
When we get older, we still wish to have the life we desire, if we aren’t already living it. And even if we are living the life we want to live, our human nature always wants more. Unfortunately, when we have yet to achieve any of our dreams we sometimes can become frustrated.
Instead of being frustrated or even waiting to get to live out your big dream life, why not live the life you desire within a small scale reality. So what is small scale reality? Well it’s an opportunity to play in real time the life you want to live.
As children, if they have a desire to be a doctor when they grow up they will use props around the house or request toys to use to demonstrate being a doctor in their current small scale reality. While they have not been to school and received the training of a doctor, they behave in a manner that makes them look, feel, and behave as one. This behavior allows them to connect mentally and physically with their desire. Thus playing it out in real-time, even though it is a future goal.
When you choose to apply small scale reality demonstrations in our adult lives, it too can help us connect in real-time to the goals we wish to manifest into our lives today. There goes the need to wish, pray, and hope that our big dream reality will come to fruition. All we need to do is get us some props that reflect the goal we want to live out in the future, so we can begin connecting with the future mentally and physically in the present time.
What would you like to manifest? And what props would help you connect to your goals?
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I Am Everything
By Ciara Wimby
Listening to meditation music on my Spotify account, I came across this group, Beautiful Chorus. The harmony of their voices is so soothing and relaxing. Because I liked what I heard, I researched more songs by them.
I heard this song and it just touched me to my soul. Such very simple lyrics, but so powerful. I want to share with you this song, I provided the short lyrics below, in hopes that you know that you are everything you want to be and need. As a suggestion, use it as a daily mantra.
“I Am Everything”, Wheels of Light by Beautiful Chorus
I am everything I want to be
I have everything I need
Watch below as the participants in our weekly Self-Care for Women event practice a 5-minute mediation.
By Ciara Wimby
Listening to meditation music on my Spotify account, I came across this group, Beautiful Chorus. The harmony of their voices is so soothing and relaxing. Because I liked what I heard, I researched more songs by them.
I heard this song and it just touched me to my soul. Such very simple lyrics, but so powerful. I want to share with you this song, I provided the short lyrics below, in hopes that you know that you are everything you want to be and need. As a suggestion, use it as a daily mantra.
“I Am Everything”, Wheels of Light by Beautiful Chorus
I am everything I want to be
I have everything I need
Watch below as the participants in our weekly Self-Care for Women event practice a 5-minute mediation.
Not only is it here for you to listen to, I have added it to LIV You’s YouTube account under the Self Playlist. If you are not already a subscriber to the the LIV You Nonprofit YouTube channel, please take a moment to do so. We thank you very much!
May you continue to know how powerful and wonderful you are, namaste! And please let us know if you have enjoyed this song.
May you continue to know how powerful and wonderful you are, namaste! And please let us know if you have enjoyed this song.
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The Long Mile
By Ciara Wimby
As part of my most current self-care practice, I walk for 30-minutes after work, twice a week. On one particular day, while I had been looking forward to my after work walk, as the time neared I began to dread it. You see, this particular day was extremely energy draining for me. A lot of new activities had entered my week professionally and personally. And by the weeks end, I was just done!
Therefore, I decided after work, I would just relax. However, as I was transitioning from my work clothes to my pjs, I realized that I still had a desire to walk. And I didn’t just have a desire to walk, but I had a real need! I needed my walk to help me transition from my mind's work space to my mind’s non work space. Just like I had with transitioning from work clothes to pjs.
But I still didn’t want to go outside to walk. Outside just seemed too long and daunting. I felt very overwhelmed with just the idea of putting on my walking clothes, putting on my walking shoes, and walking the parking lot of my complex.
Then a lightbulb moment happened! I could stay inside and walk around my home, instead of walking the long mile outside. I felt this would be a great opportunity to transition from work to relaxation, while allowing me to do this in the comfort of my pjs and home.
I have to admit, at first it felt silly walking around my home. But after a few go-arounds, I began feeling calm and relaxed. My walk lasted roughly 20 minutes, which would equate to a mile or so for me.
I felt rejuvenated after my walk and very grateful I had once again listened to my internal voice nudging me forward. By no means did this walk look as I had expected at the beginning of my day, one in which I was outside. But being inside on this walk served an even higher purpose than I thought it would. I got all the benefits of walking outside, but with the benefits of changing perspectives to get a goal accomplished.
By Ciara Wimby
As part of my most current self-care practice, I walk for 30-minutes after work, twice a week. On one particular day, while I had been looking forward to my after work walk, as the time neared I began to dread it. You see, this particular day was extremely energy draining for me. A lot of new activities had entered my week professionally and personally. And by the weeks end, I was just done!
Therefore, I decided after work, I would just relax. However, as I was transitioning from my work clothes to my pjs, I realized that I still had a desire to walk. And I didn’t just have a desire to walk, but I had a real need! I needed my walk to help me transition from my mind's work space to my mind’s non work space. Just like I had with transitioning from work clothes to pjs.
But I still didn’t want to go outside to walk. Outside just seemed too long and daunting. I felt very overwhelmed with just the idea of putting on my walking clothes, putting on my walking shoes, and walking the parking lot of my complex.
Then a lightbulb moment happened! I could stay inside and walk around my home, instead of walking the long mile outside. I felt this would be a great opportunity to transition from work to relaxation, while allowing me to do this in the comfort of my pjs and home.
I have to admit, at first it felt silly walking around my home. But after a few go-arounds, I began feeling calm and relaxed. My walk lasted roughly 20 minutes, which would equate to a mile or so for me.
I felt rejuvenated after my walk and very grateful I had once again listened to my internal voice nudging me forward. By no means did this walk look as I had expected at the beginning of my day, one in which I was outside. But being inside on this walk served an even higher purpose than I thought it would. I got all the benefits of walking outside, but with the benefits of changing perspectives to get a goal accomplished.
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CEO of Your Life
By Ciara Wimby
I use to cry about going to work. I hated my job. It was very analytical and required a predominate logical mindset. I’m 60% creative and 40% logical. I was living out of balance. During my afterwork hours I wrote a book and self published it, which maintain me a bit.
My personal health challenges and the health of my mom changed me. I needed more happiness in my life. I would move on from my accountant life to become a career coach. I loved it!
I found myself moving into the nonprofit world through career coaching. I liked nonprofit, but didn’t love it! However, I realized I was a person of service.
I engaged more. I was on boards. I managed a nonprofit. And I still didn’t love it until I created my own nonprofit, having a focus and mission that guided me. It allowed me to be some analytical, but mostly creative. I loved it!
Although I found my sweet spot with LIV You, it was not financially rewarding. I continued to work my day job, a project manager at that point. But I enjoyed it!
I was finding a better balance in my life! I kept creating within LIV You. And I kept my financially rewarding day job. Now making more more money and learning new skills sets simultaneously, I’m loving it!
Today, I’m still creating in LIV You without the financial reward. I have yet another rewarding role that aligns me with the creative endeavors, yet be analytical simultaneously, and it is financially rewarding. I’ve found my sweetest spot yet!
Your sweet spot is out there. It may take time to find your niche and your groove. It’s the process of learning about who you are.
We do not have a cookie cutter, one size fits all life! It is stars, rainbows, and unicorns. Or dragons, dandelions, and starfish for another.
I encourage you to explore! If your 9 to 5 doesn’t fit in line with your passion, but it does keep you financially whole, stick with it. Create in the after 5pm hours. Allow time for your purpose and passion to align and create a balance with your financial reward.
Yes it’s work! But aren’t you worth the investment?
By Ciara Wimby
I use to cry about going to work. I hated my job. It was very analytical and required a predominate logical mindset. I’m 60% creative and 40% logical. I was living out of balance. During my afterwork hours I wrote a book and self published it, which maintain me a bit.
My personal health challenges and the health of my mom changed me. I needed more happiness in my life. I would move on from my accountant life to become a career coach. I loved it!
I found myself moving into the nonprofit world through career coaching. I liked nonprofit, but didn’t love it! However, I realized I was a person of service.
I engaged more. I was on boards. I managed a nonprofit. And I still didn’t love it until I created my own nonprofit, having a focus and mission that guided me. It allowed me to be some analytical, but mostly creative. I loved it!
Although I found my sweet spot with LIV You, it was not financially rewarding. I continued to work my day job, a project manager at that point. But I enjoyed it!
I was finding a better balance in my life! I kept creating within LIV You. And I kept my financially rewarding day job. Now making more more money and learning new skills sets simultaneously, I’m loving it!
Today, I’m still creating in LIV You without the financial reward. I have yet another rewarding role that aligns me with the creative endeavors, yet be analytical simultaneously, and it is financially rewarding. I’ve found my sweetest spot yet!
Your sweet spot is out there. It may take time to find your niche and your groove. It’s the process of learning about who you are.
We do not have a cookie cutter, one size fits all life! It is stars, rainbows, and unicorns. Or dragons, dandelions, and starfish for another.
I encourage you to explore! If your 9 to 5 doesn’t fit in line with your passion, but it does keep you financially whole, stick with it. Create in the after 5pm hours. Allow time for your purpose and passion to align and create a balance with your financial reward.
Yes it’s work! But aren’t you worth the investment?
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(Video) Honoring Your Commitments
By Ciara Wimby
There are times in my life when a person or two made a commitment to me to complete a project, do me a favor, or honor an agreement that didn’t happen. In the past when this occurs, I would be mad and angry. I would judge them because they were unable to honor their commitment to me. “What was wrong with them that caused them the inability to do what they say they are going to do?”, this was my thought.
By Ciara Wimby
There are times in my life when a person or two made a commitment to me to complete a project, do me a favor, or honor an agreement that didn’t happen. In the past when this occurs, I would be mad and angry. I would judge them because they were unable to honor their commitment to me. “What was wrong with them that caused them the inability to do what they say they are going to do?”, this was my thought.
Along my self-development journey, I came to realize my error. It was not about what was wrong with them. Instead, it was what was wrong with me?
Meeeeeee! In my metaphysical studies I aligned deeply with the lesson, I Meet No One But Me, by Rev. Ike. That very simple statement changed my life forever.
Today, when people don’t honor a commitment they made to me, I no longer judge them. I am of the belief system that a person not honoring their commitment to me is not about me from their perspective. But it is about me from my perspective. I do a scan over my life to see where I may not be honoring my commitments. Because, I meet no one but me!
Everyone we meet is simply a reflection of who we are in some past, present, or future self. As I strongly believe this, I continue to observe people with a perspective of where in my life am I doing well. Or where I can continually improve.
I have developed myself to become a person to honor my commitments. Not the commitments I make to others. But the commitments I make to myself.
I too fall short of honoring my commitments. This knowledge has made me more compassionate to myself, as well as to others. I commit to the only commitment I can make which is to keep growing and developing in this process we call life.
Meeeeeee! In my metaphysical studies I aligned deeply with the lesson, I Meet No One But Me, by Rev. Ike. That very simple statement changed my life forever.
Today, when people don’t honor a commitment they made to me, I no longer judge them. I am of the belief system that a person not honoring their commitment to me is not about me from their perspective. But it is about me from my perspective. I do a scan over my life to see where I may not be honoring my commitments. Because, I meet no one but me!
Everyone we meet is simply a reflection of who we are in some past, present, or future self. As I strongly believe this, I continue to observe people with a perspective of where in my life am I doing well. Or where I can continually improve.
I have developed myself to become a person to honor my commitments. Not the commitments I make to others. But the commitments I make to myself.
I too fall short of honoring my commitments. This knowledge has made me more compassionate to myself, as well as to others. I commit to the only commitment I can make which is to keep growing and developing in this process we call life.
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(Video) Being Black with Anxiety
By Cicely Beckam
You call me strong as if I were given a choice to be anything else. Smile as though it is a compliment and get angry when I look at you and not comment. You took everything from me, beat me, raped me and left me for dead. And when I didn’t die, you began to experiment on me because you couldn’t phantom how I could survive the torture that you put me through. Enslaved me, impregnated me, all while withholding basic humanity from me. Did things to me that were sure to drive any person insane.
By Cicely Beckam
You call me strong as if I were given a choice to be anything else. Smile as though it is a compliment and get angry when I look at you and not comment. You took everything from me, beat me, raped me and left me for dead. And when I didn’t die, you began to experiment on me because you couldn’t phantom how I could survive the torture that you put me through. Enslaved me, impregnated me, all while withholding basic humanity from me. Did things to me that were sure to drive any person insane.
Yet, I survived, and this seemed to drive you insane. I birth generations that I made sure they would thrive. Engulfed them with love and taught them how to survive. I clung on to my spiritual practices to keep me going and passed them down as law, so my children, children’s children would understand who they are. I spoke life unto my babies, because I knew that you wanted nothing but death of them.
So, excuse me if I get a little jumpy when you’re around. Anxious behaviors look different when you’re brown. Your presence is a trigger for me. It causes my voice box to tremble so when I speak, it comes out as low growl, that soon turns into a loud sound laced with anger, hurt, fear and passion. And you mistake this for aggression when instead it is my protection.
My heart is racing, sweat pouring and my natural instinct is preparing me for war. Then you tell me to breathe and ask why I am so uptight, as though you forgot what happened just last night. No, I’m not angry, I’m pissed that you so casually tried to dismiss years of oppression and inhumane treatment. Taking our men and saying its for good reason, criminalizing us and demoralizing us.
Yet, we still walk with our heads held high and smile through the pain, while bulldozing through every hurdle you place in our way. It’s because we know the truth, we were born equipped for this life and never will you be able to dim our light. Please don’t confuse my anxiety with aggression because it looks different from yours. What you have to know is that our journey is different and yours don’t compare. Respect my boundaries and don’t antagonize me and then play victim when you can’t control me.
Being black with anxiety looks different, take time to consider that before you judge us.
So, excuse me if I get a little jumpy when you’re around. Anxious behaviors look different when you’re brown. Your presence is a trigger for me. It causes my voice box to tremble so when I speak, it comes out as low growl, that soon turns into a loud sound laced with anger, hurt, fear and passion. And you mistake this for aggression when instead it is my protection.
My heart is racing, sweat pouring and my natural instinct is preparing me for war. Then you tell me to breathe and ask why I am so uptight, as though you forgot what happened just last night. No, I’m not angry, I’m pissed that you so casually tried to dismiss years of oppression and inhumane treatment. Taking our men and saying its for good reason, criminalizing us and demoralizing us.
Yet, we still walk with our heads held high and smile through the pain, while bulldozing through every hurdle you place in our way. It’s because we know the truth, we were born equipped for this life and never will you be able to dim our light. Please don’t confuse my anxiety with aggression because it looks different from yours. What you have to know is that our journey is different and yours don’t compare. Respect my boundaries and don’t antagonize me and then play victim when you can’t control me.
Being black with anxiety looks different, take time to consider that before you judge us.
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(Video) Yoga in Bed is Dreamy
By Ciara Wimby
In the early morning hours around 3:00am, 3:11am to be exact, my alarm goes off. I have it set to the time my birth certificate says I arrived in this world. And since every night I drift off into the dream world, I figure it would be nice to daily arrive in this world as I originally did.
By Ciara Wimby
In the early morning hours around 3:00am, 3:11am to be exact, my alarm goes off. I have it set to the time my birth certificate says I arrived in this world. And since every night I drift off into the dream world, I figure it would be nice to daily arrive in this world as I originally did.
While I lay in bed reflecting on the dream space I just left and attempting to tie in the meaning of them, I also began asking myself why in the world am I up so early. Then as I focus more into this world’s reality, I remember. It’s yoga time!
Even being a passionate lover of yoga, I often don’t have the desire to hop out of my warm cozy bed to begin an early A.M. practice. So, what is a yogini to do? Bed yoga of course!
All snuggled under my cover, I do a simple twist to one side. I don’t count or time it. I am just there until my body feels ready to move on to the other side. And when it’s ready, I turn to the other side and lay there once again until my body is ready to move into another pose.
While I’m in one pose, I generally ask my body, “What pose would you like to go into next?” My body will reply and then I move into that pose. And I generally comply.
After about an hour of this, my body is ready to hop out the bed and do some other yoga poses. I find this to be the best way for me to connect with the needs and wants of my body. The body let’s me know what areas I need to focus on while being able to stay comfortable in bed until it is really ready to get up and greet the day. This is why yoga in bed is the yummiest to me!
Even being a passionate lover of yoga, I often don’t have the desire to hop out of my warm cozy bed to begin an early A.M. practice. So, what is a yogini to do? Bed yoga of course!
All snuggled under my cover, I do a simple twist to one side. I don’t count or time it. I am just there until my body feels ready to move on to the other side. And when it’s ready, I turn to the other side and lay there once again until my body is ready to move into another pose.
While I’m in one pose, I generally ask my body, “What pose would you like to go into next?” My body will reply and then I move into that pose. And I generally comply.
After about an hour of this, my body is ready to hop out the bed and do some other yoga poses. I find this to be the best way for me to connect with the needs and wants of my body. The body let’s me know what areas I need to focus on while being able to stay comfortable in bed until it is really ready to get up and greet the day. This is why yoga in bed is the yummiest to me!
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