it starts with self Archives

On self-love + self-care: resources + goodies

Our year of celebration continues and this month, our theme is self-love.

Afri-love was founded on the principle of self-love. The idea being that when we love ourselves – as we are – we can then create positive transformation, for ourselves, for our communities and for the world at large.

This was my wish for myself and my fellow Africans, given the too-common thinking we’re surrounded by, that anything from outside is better and more desirable.

While these are big mindsets to shift, I believe it all starts with us on an individual level. It all starts with the self.

Self-love vs self-care

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Reconnect with your creative self

Over the past 9 months or so, I’ve been reconnecting with something that I used to do – making art! Not for work but, just for fun – just for me. It’s been the best thing I decided to do.

My friend, Stacy Moore – a chartered psychologist – came up with a wonderful idea. She used to love making art too and has been longing to experience again, the joy which she used to derive from it. In her words:

“It seems ludicrous to me that there are activities we put a lot of time and energy into when we were young, developed talents and a love for them, and then let them all go in preference for “a proper job”.

So she’s decided to do something about it and I’m so glad to be on board.

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Return to the Mothership

Blog beginnings

When I started this blog, I had a hypothesis behind it but, as the years went by, I continued to write about the things that interested me, without consciously checking them against those founding ideas. What I did realise is that there were some emerging themes: creativity, enterprise and wellness.

Now, I can finally articulate what underpins these potentially disparate things – sustainable living.

Sustainability begins with me

In this context, it’s sustainable living on a very personal level – how can we, as creative people, respond to this calling while earning a heathy income and taking care of ourselves, so that we may continue to create (and live). All these three things are interdependent.

Those who’ve been reading the blog for a while might be bored by now of my insistence that it all starts with self. I truly believe we can’t effectively help others until we’ve helped ourselves. However, what I’ve been thinking about a lot lately, is sustainable living on a larger scale.

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This is not where I wanted to be: a reminder to stop running and be true

I came across a video clip of Oprah sharing why she admires Lady Gaga and to sum it up – watching someone who is unabashedly being who they are inspires you to also be your true self.

And that’s why I am so grateful to all the fabulous folks who have shared their stories, passion and inspiration in the Afri-love interview series. Reading about how others have followed their dreams, overcome barriers and put themselves first – above other people’s expectations of them – reminds me of the value in following my own dreams.

It is way TOO easy to veer off the course of doing what’s in your heart. It is way too easy to find yourself being carried away by the needs of other people (and convincing yourself that they are now your needs too). Even if you know where you’re going, you might not end up where you’re headed. Knowing is a crucial first step but what I’m learning is that constantly reminding yourself is just as important!

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