Equal Parts Joy

“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” Audre Lorde. 

“And I must say tonight that a riot is the language of the unheard. And what is it America has failed to hear? ... It has failed to hear that the promises of freedom and justice have not been met. And it has failed to hear that large segments of white society are more concerned about tranquility and the status quo than about justice and humanity.” Martin Luther King Jr. 

Today, I'm #ChasingJoy by embracing life's simple pleasures. From feeling the sun on my face, to the deep satisfaction of finding a comfy cotton sundress on Target.com for $15, I'm taking the time to enjoy the simple things in life. 

I started wearing my fit bit about 2 weeks ago, and I noticed that my resting heart rate is high. Like, really high. Like, middle of a spin class high. Then I realized, I am literally holding my breath - out of fear, out of anxiety, out of stress. So today, I'm #ChasingJoy by taking a deep breath. Care to join me?

Over the past few years, I've come to embrace my hair in it's natural state. And while I'm not ashamed of my gray headband, I miss the joy of expressing my personality through different hair colors. From deep burgundy to bright auburn, I love to try on different personas through my hair. So today, I'm #ChasingJoy by finding a happy medium - experimenting with color depositing conditioners. 

My favorite so far are the colors from Overtone. Check them out (not a sponsor, just a product that I love!)

This week, I found myself falling into old habits. When I start a new job, or am really passionate about a project, I tend to throw my self-care out the window. Late nights, crappy food, inconsistent exercise, and sleep deprivation add up to a cranky, puffy, stressed out me. So today, I'm Chasing Joy by getting back to basics to ensure that I don't enter this new chapter with the same bad habits that have robbed me of my joy in the past. 

More often than not, after I reach a personal goal or career milestone, I'm on to the next one like Jay-Z and Swizz Beatz. So today, I'm #ChasingJoy by taking a pause to celebrate my wins - both big and small. 

You don't have to be Olivia Pope or Leroy Jethro Gibbs to trust your gut. You have the innate wisdom to know what's right for you. 

Today, I'm channeling Dolly Parton in Steel Magnolias, and embracing some good old fashioned pampering. And if you've never seen Steel Magnolias, do yourself a favor and stream it today. I do believe that it may be one of the most perfect movies ever made. You can thank me later. 

In this episode, we discuss the power of intention and chasing your dreams.