Go Lay Down Somewhere!*

This month has been a whirlwind, with lots of ups, downs, and realizations. It started with a 9-day family vacation which definitely set the tone for the rest of the month. The tone is R & R: rest and relaxtion. Last Sunday a fever and body aches took me down. It’s why you didn’t send a newsletter last week. Please know, if a newsletter doesn’t go out it’s because I don’t have anything to say or I just can’t. I used to beat myself up when fell short of my goals. I’ve learned to stop pushing and punishing myself; I’m kinder to myself now. It’s all good. All I could do last week was sleep and watch TV that didn’t require any brain power. During my recovery, what I call my healing “retreat”, I thought about the work of The Nap Ministry: The Nap Ministry examines the liberating power of naps. We believe rest is a form of resistance & reparations. Their NY Times Bestseller REST IS RESISTANCE is available now. Their overarching message is simply this—rest. Rest your body, mind and unyoke from these systems that encourage us to grind ourselves to dust. I often reflect on what my enslaved ancestors would have done with all the time I have available to me. Time to sit and rest when they felt like it. To visit their family and friends anytime they wanted. To sit and daydream. I think about that a lot because many of us, myself included until this year, don’t do those things. We work, work, work, even though we have more PAID time than they could have dreamed of, I once had a co-worker who had weeks of unused vacation and sick time. Our employer had to tell if she didn’t use her time, she was going to lose it. I was not much better, in that season of my life I worked way beyond 40 hours. When I think of it, I could just weep. I was on auto-pilot, eventually working myself into the hospital stay. And for what? All this reflection reminded me it was time to get to the root of my healing, utilizing the system I created to begin to heal myself from the ground up which involves many modalities involving the chakras, nutrition, rituals, and more. Since I believe in speaking things into existence, everything starts with the word. I will say yes to the following:

• Yes to more creating, and making things with my hands.

• Yes to just sitting and resting.

• Yes to more meals and time dinners at home with my family.

• Yes to consistent movement of my body.

• Yes to being kinder to myself and others.

• Yes putting myself first and being self-full.

The first step is recognition. Sometimes when I can’t see it in myself, I see it in the women around me who are pushing themselves like they are machines. I get tired just watching them. It’s a mirror of how I often treat myself; a reminder that there is always time to take and breath and, in the words of a wise Black grandmother, to GO LAY DOWN SOMEWHERE!* *Go lay down is a directive used in AAVE (African American Vernacular English) and it has several meanings: go rest, go lie down, go take a break, go to your room, and come back when you are ready to face the world, rested and ready.

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The Seven Keys The seven keys is a weekly roundup of what I’m noticing, loving or moved me this week

Author, podcaster, and global traveler/influencer Demetria Lucas had a traumatizing experience while traveling last week. Demi is known for her fun and moving posts about her travels that can be found under the hashtag #seesomeworld. She documented the event on her podcast, "Ratchet and Respectable". Her encounter unearthed all the traumatic experiences I’ve had over the years. Some I escaped, some I didn’t. The flood of responses bought home how many women have been assaulted in one way or another. Please, always be mindful and careful with yourselves. This month I stumbled across the TLC series, Sister Wives and it has had me in a chokehold ever since. It’s 17 fascinating seasons of a polygamous family navigating their relationship—one husband, 4 wives, and 18 children—the kids are amazing! I’m always intrigued by the family dynamics and psychology behind situations like this, and Sister Wives does not disappoint. I was a lil shook when I realized the husband’s behavior mirrored that of a former love interest of mine. Yikes! If inclined, check out the first episode I’ve linked above. I used to think only certain people were creative. Nothing could be further from the truth. I realized this week I have a strong desire to make things with my hands. To create something, whether it’s a meal, planting herbs in my garden, painting, or anything else that comes to mind. Respected music producer and Def Jam co-founder Rick Rubin says he “set out to write a book about what to do to make a great work of art,” but The Creative Act: How to Be, is more than that. In this book, Rick insists “creativity has a place in everyone's life” and “art is about your relationship with the world.” Go ahead and pick up the gems Rick puts down. He has a history of providing a safe creative space so artists of all genres can step out of the box and just be. I’m all in! Did you watch the series finale of the FX series Snowfall? If so, thoughts? It’s one of my top ten series of all time, up there with The Wire, Oz, Ozark, The Sopranos, and Boardwalk Empire. The storytelling/writing and acting are impeccable. I love discovering women who are doing magical things in the world. This week I found a fellow homegirl, Brooklynite Mirna Valerio, an athlete. She’s amazing! This article asks: “Is it possible to be fat and fit? Healthy and happy as well as heavy? At 250 pounds, distance runner Mirna Valerio provides an inspiring example.” Doing a time and/or life audit is a beautiful practice to carry throughout the year. Each month, quarter, or season is an excellent opportunity to evaluate, course correct, and enhance whatever you have going. Welcome May with these 7 practices

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Your turn. What did you learn this month? Maybe you unlearned something. Make a list. Remember the lessons. Live them. Share them. If the thoughts above resonate, feel free to share this post with your family and friends.

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I AM…

A Brooklyn Peach. Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, now residing in "a city set in a forest," Atlanta, GA. I love warm chocolate chip cookies, funk music, documentaries, memoirs, and Romans 12:1-2. I love talking pop culture, women in the Bible, homemaking, healthy living, grandmothering, reading, and rituals! The best part is when I get to share how it all blends together for good.

Have a beautiful week! Don't let anyone take your joy, and remember to care for yourself first!

Ki...