Retail Therapy!

I think that shopping/retail therapy can be a great form of self care. I think so because when you're treating yourself, the focus is on you! Even when you're shopping for people you love, it feels great because your thinking about the people you love and care about and how you can make them happy. For me, making other people happy is a wonderful source of my own happiness. I make sure that I can make myself happy as much as possible. It's been harder during my long summer camp days to find time for me that does not include sleeping and showering. So I was excited to get some time in to buy somethings I needed and wanted too!

This week I decided that it was okay to treat myself. I was responding to my body's requests. I was stressed, tired, my feet hurt from these field trips and I thought that it was time to do a little pampering. I deserve it!

Over the past few days, I bought myself two new pairs of sneakers, a pair of sandals, and I treated myself to a much needed mani and pedi. All of the shoes were on sale so I got a great deal. Here are the results of my spending on me "spree."

The Other Side of Paradise

I recently finished reading "The Other Side of Paradise" by Staceyann Chin. I really enjoyed it. There were parts that made me laugh. There were parts that made me cry and gave me goosebumps. It had all the things I loved. The Other Side of Paradise, a memoir, was honest and left me wanting more. I've always been a big fan of Staceyann Chin. She has a wonderful way with words. You can always feel her passion and energy in her words. This book is no different.

♥ 

Quotes I loved:

"It tickles me to think that from my very first breath, everyone expected me to stop breathing. Against the odds, I surprised everybody. And I must admit that in some of the moments of my life so far, no one has been more taken aback by my own breath than me." (p.13)

"What you don't know is older than you! Sometimes your eyes fail you--sometimes what you see is not what is there." (p.44)

"...a man who only want to bring you down on you back is a man who will want to bring you down in life." (p.51)

"Read everything. The more knowledge you have, the less a man can use you for poppy-show" (p.51)

"Suddenly it dawns on me that, though leaving is hard, this is something I want to do. The choice to go is my decision. For the first time in my life my leaving is something I want to be happening to me. (p.271)

"I go from place to place spouting the gospel of courage and survival. I encourage victims to take hold of destiny and chart it for themselves." (p.274)

I recommend this book for people who:

• enjoy reading memoirs
• enjoy diversity in books
• want to read about queer people of color/women of color
• love Staceyann Chin
• want to read a story that takes place in Jamaica
• love real and honest readings
• want to read about real people and real imperfect families
• enjoy poetry and spoken word
• enjoy reading stories written by black women

Celebrating Me: July 6th

 

I am so proud of myself today. I was very productive. I cleaned my room. Did laundry.  Moisturized my hair and put my mini twists in flexirods (see scarf). Washed my sister's hair. Got my lunch ready for tomorrow. Refilled my metrocard. It was a good day. I did everything I set out to do this weekend. However, I planned to go to be at 10 and as I type this it is 10:04 so that didn't work out but it's okay. My bed isn't going anywhere and in the morning there will be coffee.

My job has transitioned from afterschool to summer camp so now my work day starts at 8. I secretly love mornings. I like sleeping in too but I really don't mind if I have to get up early. I think mornings are wonderful. A lot of times they're quiet. There's coffee and breakfast food!! It's usually cooler in the morning time. I'm a fan of mornings. To make my morning go smoothly, I do as much as I can the night before. I even instagrammed a little video of me making my salad and iced coffee. See it here.

Today, I'm so thankful for my family and all of the time I get to spend with them.

My selfie day today reminds me that my birthday is one month away! It also reminds me that half of the year has already flown by. I'm not sure about you but it feels like this year is going by so quickly! I'm honestly ready for the cold months to come back.

I'm currently reading The Other Side of Paradise by Staceyann Chin. I really love it. I'm almost finished. Finishing books can be so bittersweet sometimes. I'm really enjoying reading this story. With it being summer time, I've been seeing a lot of summer reading lists and my book wishlist is just getting longer and longer. I'm going to be excited to finish this book and then sad that it's over but then excited to start the next book. I'm not entirely sure what I'm going to read next but I have plenty of good titles to choose from.

My productive day has left me tired but feeling accomplished. This heat has me miserable but I'm about to go moisturize with some lavender oil and drink some refreshing ice cold water.

Today, only after a refreshing and exfoliating shower, I felt wonderful and calm in my own skin. I'm happy to be where I am today and I'm excited to see what this month beings. 

Friendly Reminder

Your life and your experiences are always valid.

Don't spend your life comparing yourself to others. While it may seem that someone else is going through a hard time, it does not mean that what you're going through isn't important. If someone is more open about what they're going through, it doesn't make your life and your experiences any less real. If someone isn't really open about what their life and their experiences, it doesn't mean that their what they feel is not real. 

We're all human. It's natural for us all to feel different things and react differently to events in life. Nothing about us is one size fits all. We're different and that's good. That's what makes us all so special. That's also why we all need to have our differences respected and in respecting other people and their differences, we have to respect that we are different and our own differences need to be respected. Be good to you. You're worth it!

We matter. Our lives matter. Look at the person next to you, behind you, in front of you--think of the next person you're going to see. They matter. Their life matters. Their experiences and lives are valid and they deserved your respect. 

You're wonderful. Have a good day.