What do self-love and self-care mean to you? Self-love and self-care are essential practices that can mean different things to different people. It can be as simple as lighting a candle, taking a relaxing bath, going to the spa, or spending time with friends.
Audre Lorde, a Black feminist and activist popularized the concept of self-love in the late 80s while undergoing chemotherapy. For her, self-care was about indulging oneself and preserving one's physical and mental health. It was also about building community, caring for one another, and avoiding 'over-extending' yourself.
"Crucial. Physically. Psychically. Caring for myself is not self-indulgence. It is self-preservation, an act of political warfare."- Audre Lorde.
In the last couple of years, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected communities differently. Some have lost loved ones, while others have suffered long-term disabilities or 'long COVID.' At Betances Health Center, we've been doing our best to support our community by providing masks, rapid tests, and past Saturday vaccinations. But unfortunately, we realize many patients, particularly older adults, are more susceptible to viruses like COVID-19.
We understand that some people may hesitate to get vaccinated, especially given the history of medical injustices against marginalized communities.
At Betances Health Center, we acknowledge this mistrust. Nevertheless, we want to do our part in addressing the harm the medical field has perpetuated against marginalized communities, particularly Black and Brown people, women, and people with disabilities.
That's why we're hosting a community event on March 24 at 10 am at our Bushwick site.
Our family physician, Dr. Dogan, will be there to talk about the benefits and potential side effects of COVID-19 vaccines and boosters. You can protect those you love through community immunity. The idea is that when a community is vaccinated, germs are more difficult to spread; thus, people get less sick. We'll also discuss other forms of self-love, such as:
Getting immunized to keep yourself and your loved ones protected
Attending community events with proper COVID-19 precautions
Keep a list of doctors you must visit for any follow-up, vaccines, or bloodwork.
Eating well-balanced meals, including vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, poultry, and dairy.
Taking at least five minutes to practice breathing and stretching.
Create a self-care routine with activities you enjoy, such as reading, dancing, or painting.
Spend time with loved ones and build community by organizing a potluck, sports event,or game night.
Whether you're healthy or have ongoing conditions, self-love, and self-care are crucial for your physical and psychological well-being. In addition, we want our communities to prosper and live their most healthy and prosperous lives.
Please register and join us on March 24 at 10 am in our Bushwick location to learn how to care for yourself and your community.
Click this link to register to join us. https://www.eventbrite.com/myevent?eid=558876644087
RESOURCES: Alp LGBTQ+. (2017). Breaking Isolation: Self-Care and Community Care Tools for Our People https://alp.org/breaking-isolation-self-care-and-community-care-tools-our-people
U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources(2022). Immunization: Protection for All Ages. https://www.hhs.gov/immunization/basics/work/protection/index.html
Kelley, K. (2019, December 19). Why acknowledging and celebrating the black feminist origins of self-care is essential. Mental Health Today. https://www.mentalhealthtoday.co.uk/blog/awareness/why-acknowledging-and-celebrating-the-black-feminist-origins-of-self-care-is-essential