Читать книгу Reclaiming My Time - Jeanette Ferrell - Страница 2

If you ask the average person their thoughts about self-care, many will say it’s something that they haven’t even thought about. What’s even more surprising is that our society teaches us that self- care is selfish, overly indulgent and arrogant. This belief intensifies when it comes to women taking out time for themselves. Women are expected to be the nurtures, problem solvers, mothers, wives and God in human form to everyone and everything but themselves. How dare we steal a moment for ourselves after living and working under mundane conditions, lower pay wages, and heightened distress all while staring down the barrel of potential perils of violent conditions, harassment, disobedient/difficult children, and an inattentive/unappreciative spouse. As a woman standing at the crossroads of intersectionality of being an African-American woman, who’s a single mother that happens to identify as lesbian and as more spiritual than religious, I can recall several occurrences of my life that have threatened my personal dignity, character and minimized my confidence. Change came when I realized that all of these things depleted me emotionally, physically, mentally, and sometimes financially. I accepted that the time had come in my life to seek balance and put myself first.

If you’ve ever flown on a plane, just as you’re all snuggled in your seat with your belt fastened; the flight attendant prepares the cabin for take-off and begin to provide instructions on how to survive should optimal flying conditions change. Of those instructions the most important thing she says isn’t how to activate your flotation device. It’s, “…should there be a change in cabin pressure an oxygen mask will deploy, place the mask securely on yourself before assisting other passengers.” Who knew that the most critical component in a secure and vividly lived life, would come from a flight attendant? Once you begin to put yourself first, and care for yourself properly, it’s as if the universe opens up and showers your life with reflections of that love and care. Here love and care are used synonymously. Here you will find practical notions, considerations, and to-do’s that guide you…women standing at blurring ‘intersectionalities’….to self-care.