(my current stream of conciousness)
I had another post lined up for today but considering all of our current events I just couldn’t bring myself to publish it.
I’m tired… I’m weary…
There’s so much chaotic energy in the air, that I’m struggling to stay grounded. I find myself floating off into either powerlessness and despair, or complete rosy sunshine because I’m ignoring what is actually going on in the world. Never actually taking the time to take in what is going on and heal and protect myself.
I’m tired… I’m weary…
In the middle of a pandemic (yes, there is still a virus killing people every day), my people are fighting for justice, freedoms, and liberties after the murder of George Floyd. After hearing about his murder, I was immediately reminded of the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Sean Reed… all of which has happened and gained exposure in the last 3 months.
I’m tired… I’m weary…
A lot of people don’t understand what it is to live in a society that forces you to be aware of your human form almost every day of your life. They don’t know what racism feels like, to live in, around, and under, because they don’t have to. Most of us don’t walk around worried everyday about whether we will be killed by police, but we absolutely are aware of our blackness and how others may feel/think/treat us because of our blackness.
Being aware of your blackness is making sure that you wear your hair a certain way to an interview to have a fighting chance at getting the job, regardless of how impressive your resume is (knowing damn well we’ll be wearing a curly fro on our first day.)
Being aware of your blackness is knowing which cities and towns you can and can’t stop in while taking a road trip to visit your grandpa in Mississippi… in 2020.
Being aware of your blackness is using your “white voice” when you want to get something done, or want to be taken seriously.
Did I mention there is still a pandemic going on?
All around the world, people are still working from home with children bouncing off of their heads and trying to make sure that the don’t fall too far behind in their schoolwork, if your lucky. If you’re not lucky, you’re not working at all, or you’re having to go to work without the protective equipment that you need to feel comfortable doing your job. The entire world is in a state of heightened chaos, emotions, and stress. We are all experiencing a world that we have never experienced, and can’t wait until it goes away. We all need to take a moment.
I’m going to take a moment…
Below are 4 things that I am absolutely going to be prioritizing in this new world.
4 Ways I am Protecting My Peace
1.Prioritizing My Safety
While protecting our peace sometimes means that we distance ourselves from some of today’s crazy current events, it doesn’t mean that we act like nothing is going on. The coronavirus is still a concern for lots of us, especially here in the US where a lot of our states are opening back up. But a lot of people are so eager to get on with their lives, or protest for their rights, or just have fun after months of doom and gloom that a lot of people are not safely returning the world. I’m going to make sure that I am still wearing my mask, washing my hands, and social distancing.
The reusable masks that I bought for myself and my family are linked here. Inside of them, if we are going somewhere I’m particularly worried about I line them with a filter linked here and here
2.Disconnecting
There is a fine line between staying informed and being consumed. I’ll admit, with all of what’s going on these days with things changing literally ever hour, I often tend to get consumed. I’m finding that I’m having to tell myself that it’s okay to not watch the news, or read every damn article about what’s going on in the world. I deserve a moment to exhale… then I’ll do just that.
3.Silencing My Thoughts
Sometimes… I just need a moment. I just need a good *inhale*… *exhale* and nothing more. I just need my phone, and the TV, and my brain to SHUT UP FOR A SECOND! So after disconnecting from today’s movie turned real-life scenerios, I take a moment to just be still. I try to do this first thing in the morning (when my home is actually quite) by just taking a moment for prayer, gratitude journaling, and/or meditation. If I don’t get to it first thing in the morning, I try to make sure that I do it at night but with even more relaxing elements like a bath, candles and incense, etc. Quiet time is what everyone absolutely needs right now when there is so much noise
4.Watching/Doing Things That Make Me Happy/Smile/Laugh
After everything else is all said and done, I make sure to consume something that makes me feel good inside! It’s so easy to do do do, go go go, and never take time to do something that makes you happy instead of what gets your blood boiling. Think of something that will absolutely make you laugh and smile, and DO IT at least once a day. For me, I KNOW that Working Moms on Netflix is going to crack.me.up. So when I feel those blues approaching, I turn it on. Something else that I knew would undoubtedly make me smile like a chesire cat was watching the Space X rocket launch. It immediately took me back to when I was a child and dreamed of becoming an astronaut. I never became an astronaut, but I still absolutely LOVE anything astronomy related, including astrophysics. That space launch was exactly what I needed to escape, and talk about something (anything!) else with my partner.
Conclusion
Protecting your energy, your peace, is a necessity. In all that is going on it’s okay to not be okay. But it’s also okay to do whatever you need to do to make sure that you are showing up as your whole self.
What are you doing to protect your peace?
