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So here is the good news, 2016 is finally over. But thinking just because 2017 is a different number and that everything is going to be rosy is dangerous thinking. To me that is the same thinking akin to simply being in a new place will change your life. Yeah the setting will be new, but unless YOU are different you will develop the same old patterns. In all honestly from this point of view 2017 looks like for those of the inclusive bent like MUCH more work, and fraught with much more danger!

The point of all this is we need to have a frank talk about Self-Care. If you don’t do it now, you need to start, like started in Nov. 2016 start. We are a bit behind in what it will take to be a happy healthy mentally stable person, so there is no time like the present to get going! My mother told me that is your situation is bad, that is good because that means there is plenty of work to do. And this is going to be the case for us, lovers of diversity. Never will our skillset for inclusive action, diversity appreciation, and civil dialog be me in more demand. But lest we get burnt out in the first month, we need to talk about, be frank about the need to rest/regroup, we will be spent by mid-February a mere few weeks post-inauguration.

To liken it to in 7 Habits language we need to take time to keep our saws sharp. The story goes that a person was killing themself trying to cut down a tree with a rusty dull saw blade. When asked by a passing stranger why doesn’t not 10-15 mins to sharpen the saw to make his task easier, the person exclaimed, “Can’t you see I’m already behind, I don’t have time to sharpen the saw”. All too often we fail to account for how much more effective a better version of us would be. How much better would we be if we took time to workout 5X a week, by taking a quiet walk in nature, or got centered with some mindfulness practice. We all wish for the reprieve of a “good day” – when what we should wish for is the strength to make a bad day easier – permanently! We need to take care of ourselves, first and foremost. For without an us, we can produce no work!

There are three areas I’d like to suggest Self-Care: Mental, Physical, and Spiritual. All three need to be included and accounted for in your Self-Care plan. To do otherwise is to craft a stool for rest with less than three legs of support.

Mental Self Care Suggestions:

Reading for education, Reading for escapism, Binge watch positive content, take a nap, Go for a walk in nature, Puzzles, Create a bed time ritual, Organize your living space, Listen to TED talks, Say “No” unless it’s a HELL YES, practice mindful self-compassion, Pet puppies/kitties, Just ponder some thoughts, Indulge in your favorite whatever, From time to time Treat yourself, Be kind with your inner self, Be kind to who you used to be, and be expectant and excited in who you are becoming.

Physical Self Care Suggestions:

Exercise, Lift Weights, Focus on better if not more sleep, Breathing exercise, Cardio, Give yourself a Mani-Pedi, Wash your face, Yoga Practice, Meditation, Clean house, Declutter and donate to causes, Aromatherapy, positive physical touch, Eat Clean (takes a few weeks), Get some sunlight, touch nature (negative ions are great for grounding), Take deep cleansing breaths, wake up