Pride Means Self-Care

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​So it’s Pride Season, in the midst of one of the most tumultuous years the US has seen in a while. Pride is a wonderful time for celebration (and protest!) but it can bring up a lot of buried feelings of rejection and isolation, highlighting the painful disparities that continue.
 
There’s some crazy stuff happening, and not just in politics. People are being fat-shamed. Powerful women are not being taken seriously. Trans people are getting mugged and worse. Some folks are up in arms about adding a black and a brown stripe to the iconic rainbow flag. Racism is on the rise. My friends with disabilities report an increase in verbal or physical attacks against them. And many people are hurting, not just for themselves, but for their friends and families, their community, their country, and the planet. If you feel overwhelmed, you’re certainly not alone.

What’s the solution? Obviously showing support, sticking up for each other, and activism and social justice. But beyond that, just as important, is self-care. What can you do for yourself on a daily basis? Here are some suggestions:

• Ask for help.
• Take more walks.
• Spend 4 hours a week in nature (even a city park!).
• Get off the computer and spend time with friends.
• Challenge yourself with a group activity, maybe something new: yoga, dance, games, crafts.
• Get creative: draw, write, cook, sing, play.
• Start a journal – write every day.
• Call a friend from away.
• Lower your drug and alcohol intake – even just temporarily.
• Drink more water – dehydration affects your mood and your physical well-being.
• Challenge yourself to eat at least 4 healthy home-cooked meals a week.
• Take a nice long bath.
• Go dancing.
• Stretch every day. Gentle simple stretches remind you of your body.
• Masturbate.
• Ask for hugs from friends.
• Rub your body. Massage your feet, your shoulders, your arms and legs.
• Get backrubs.
• Get a massage or several.
• Put down the computer and read a good book instead.
• Tell yourself you’re doing just fine.
• Hug yourself.
• Love yourself.