Self Care – 7-12-25

My life would be quite different if I’d encountered this basic good-ideas, heart-affirming philosophy and pure practical information earlier in my life. (Actually this author wasn’t even born yet!)

The book is Dr. Lakeysha Hallmon, No One Is Self-Made: Build – Your Village To Flourish In Business And Life, 2025. While the book is written specifically for Black people, as a woman in my/this U.S. society, I feel the author speaks personally to me as I try to make it in this society; do what good I can.

“What is Life for?” by Jon Paul Sydnor, Daily Kos, Mar 16, 2025

“As a blogger there (Daily Kos), I am a progressive like you, only from a Christian perspective. In support of progressivism, I am trying to articulate a progressive Christian political vision. . . . As I argue for progress from a Christian perspective, I am in no way asserting the superiority of faith to atheism, or Christianity to any other worldview. Thank you.”

I fully agree with this blogger who adds, “I am just trying to advance humanity from my own particular perspective. I think that God prefers kind atheists to mean Christians. My hope is that we can all cooperate across worldviews to create a more just, inclusive, and peaceful world.”

Back to Dr. Lakeysha Hallmon, No One Is Self-Made, as, near the end of the book, she writes about her own self-care.

“1 pray. First thing, last thing, and throughout the day. Prayer is my morning OJ. I seek God for all things, major and minor, and I thank God throughout the day, a practice that I have had since I was a child. God is my most sacred relationship, and my time in prayer is when I feel the safest and most loved. It gives me the confidence and clarity to keep taking the steps I am meant to take in my purpose. I see God in my relationships with people and in places as I go about my day and during my many travels—a connected conversation with a kindred spirit, walking down a vibrant city street and musing through a park.

I protect my mornings. It is my most sacred time of the day that I hoard for myself….

I am intentional about what I feed my body. The majority of the foods I eat are unprocessed, sugar-free …, and giving foods, meaning they are as close to their natural form as possible, (organic, mostly plant based, bursting in nutrients) . . .

I move my body, somehow. Exercise saves me, boosting my mood and reconnecting me to my body in a positive relationship. . . .

I let therapy mend my heart. My first experience with therapy was when my mother transitioned after a nearly ten-year battle against lupus and, later diagnosis of breast cancer. . . .

I set hard-and-fast rules around work. This simple practice shifted my entire life. . . .

I cannot emphasize enough that self-care is not just for the self (despite its name), nor is it an end point. We are not meant to find ease and joy only to sit back and bask in them, end of story. It’s not just a box to check. We are becoming—and staying—well so we can be restored and invigorated for our purpose, for our village-made purpose, in unity with other villagers who share the mission,” pp 147-151.

As you can tell, I’m very impressed with the information in this book. Try it; you may like it too!