‘Why Self-care is Activism at its finest’

Do we need reminders that we are not treated as equals?

Our everyday experiences, the data, including the recently published Ethnicity Pay Gap. All evidence of our status and the treatment we receive.

And why? All because of ridiculous predicaments, like the colour of our skin, our language, our class, our gender, our background and even our nationality.

Do we need reminders of how hard it can be to access opportunities and resources? No, we don't.

But what we do need are reminders to look after ourselves - to choose ‘us’, to choose ‘you’, to choose ‘me’ above everything.

And yet, we don’t do that enough. We don’t put ourselves in high esteem or see ourselves as equals to other people. This is why we don’t put ourselves forward to that job opportunity. We THINK we don’t have the skills or the relevant experience. There are times when we THINK we don’t deserve a break after working overtime. We even feel GUILTY when we take a moment to breathe. And most importantly, we don’t ASK FOR HELP when we need to.

When it comes to ourselves – our radical selves, let's give ourselves the compassion and kindness we give to a friend or loved one.

It is time to break the cycle of the perpetuating colonised mind.

Let's start seeing self-care, self-worth, self-kindness, self-compassion as an act of activism. It is time to see yourself as equal, and it starts here and now.

(by Moonlie, edited by Des Samuel)