For years, creating a website seemed outside of my budget. The cost of securing a site and hiring a content developer was financially overwhelming. My small Teaching Assistant stipend was barely enough to cover rent and groceries — a website was out of the question. Or so I thought. Website…

Long after I arrived home from my second Vipassana Meditation course, I found myself craving the sound of gongs. During the meditation retreat, the gong was used to signal the beginning of an activity. The ringing called meditators to vegetarian meals which were cooked by volunteers who knew of the…

Self-care has been dismissed as selfish, or worse, a capitalistic trend, by some who believe that community care is the only route to health. Others use self-care as a reason to post solo yoga selfies on their social media accounts. And while each camp may be on to something, I…

My therapist often reminds me during our sessions about my commitment to care and joy in my life. “What are you doing that brings you joy?” …

I saw her sitting in the room during a morning break at a conference. Beautiful, with big hair framing her face. I was drawn to this woman. I had, before then, never been instantly drawn to anyone, especially a woman. She was sitting at the table with two other women…

Mental Health Awareness Month, celebrated in May since 1949, has ended, but that doesn’t mean your self-care and wellness should. With the COVD-19 pandemic and continued racist violence against Black people, our health needs even more attention, compassion and care. Since I am feeling less than courageous to venture outside…

Take three deep breaths. Inhale. Exhale. Repeat. Stay hydrated. Take a nap. Take a bath. Write a poem. Light a candle. Listen to music. Masturbate. Affirm yourself. (Here’s one from me to you: You are love. You are enough. And I am grateful that you are here). Ask for help. Cry. Feel all of your feelings. Sing. Cook and eat a good meal. Build an altar. Go for a walk in nature. Put your feet in the earth.

If 2020 came to wreck shit, then music was created to save us. Which is why I am still swooning over Jill Scott’s and Erykah Badu’s love fest from May 9th. …

For many Americans, the mandate to shelter in place will end soon. But the anxiety from COVID-19 may linger in the air longer than the virus itself. During the last 55 days or so, our country has seen an increase in xenophobic violence and racist protest to prematurely re-open U.S…