Community Cares

“Imagine your friend is building a house and they ask you to help but you’ve never built a house before. So it’d probably be a good idea for you to put on some protective gear and listen to the person in charge otherwise someone’s going to get seriously hurt. It’s the exact same idea when it comes to being an ally.” Franchesca Ramsey. 

In what ways have you been an effective ally? Have there been times that you’ve intended to help without listening first? How can you equip yourself to become an ally? 

Wow, there is a lot going on in our country right now. The corona virus, unemployment, shelter at home, re-opening the economy, wearing masks, the death of unarmed African Americans at the hands of the police, a White woman asserting her White privilege to call the police, protests in major cities across the county, and Presidential tweets.  It is a lot. And for many it feels like too much.  One stressor after another with no time to recover in between. The pain associated with being victimized directly or indirectly by racism is real.  Racism is unpredictable, uncontrollable, cumulative, chronic and exhausting.  Racial battle fatigue is the term coined by William A. Smith from the University of Utah to describe the psychological and physical stress responses of African Americans coping with hostile environments. Racial battle fatigue is characterized by physical symptoms such as tension headaches, backaches, elevated heart rate, upset stomach, fatigue, ulcers, loss of appetite, and elevated blood pressure. Psychological symptoms include constant anxiety, worry, irritability, frustration, insomnia, disturbing dreams, intrusive thoughts, loss of self-confidence, difficulty concentrating, hypervigilance, emotional or social withdrawal, anger, anger suppression, resentment, denial, keeping quiet, or minimizing. You might be experiencing some of these symptoms.  It helps to talk about how you are feeling and what you are thinking.  It is ok to not be ok with what is going on around us. 

As President Obama said in a statement on 5/29/2020 “it can’t be normal” Racism is not normal; although we have lived with it for 400 years. African American people should not be getting killed by the police. Let’s face racism head on, let’s not pretend that it is ok and normal. We have to talk about racism and white supremacy so that we can eradicate them. Silence means that you agree with racism and makes you complicit. Speak up, speak out. We all must do better, must do more if we intend for race relations to improve.  What do you have to say? What can you do?

There are several resources for anti-racist action. Here is one:
https://www.whowhatwear.com/how-to-combat-racism

Smith, W. A., Allen, W. r., & Danley, L. L. (2007). “Assume the position …you fit the description”: Psychosocial experiences and Racial Battle Fatigue among African American male college students. American Behavioral Scientist, 51(4), 551-578.

“If you spend too much time thinking about a thing you’ll never get it done” Bruce Lee. How do you make sense of this quote?

The beginning of this summer feels bittersweet. We may be used to having structure during the year with work and school and may have been looking forward to the summer. Now our plans have probably changed. What is something you can do to maintain some structure and receive some joy throughout your days during this time?

What do you like about yourself? What is the first thing that comes to mind? What are three things that come to mind when you think about what you like about who you are?

The thought of the day is what you think about yourself. Now let’s think about how you came to identify those qualities. Are they physical or personality based? Are they centered around things you have done or relationships with others? Was it easy to come up with the list or a challenge? Do you feel that your list was kind to yourself or more critical? Is it possible that you are not giving yourself credit for the good in yourself? What we say to ourselves about who we are is a big determinant in the quality of our life outcomes. It either stifles or allows us to flourish. Worried? Don’t be! The list isn’t written in stone. It’s your mental list. If you find yourself wanting more out of the list you created, it’s your responsibility to add to it or change it. Try adding something to the list today and practice it. It can be something small just for today and just for you. Like yourself a little more. Craft the list of liking like a love story to yourself, a promise. A list that accepts, challenges, and changes but always a list that is kind to yourself. So again, what do you like about yourself?

Usually, work can be tough to begin. When we are overwhelmed and have anxiety, the goal is daunting. Sometimes we forget how to take things in small steps and enjoy the process. There is something to be said about enjoying the process. The process of working towards achieving a goal can be just as inspiring as the finished product. The process is what we need to think about more often. If we want, we can achieve goals within the process or take small steps that measure our growth during an activity. By not rushing the process and taking mindful reflection, we can engage more with our work. Look back at your growth in the process. Leave your tension and thoughts, and just be with what’s in front of you. The process is all there needs to be. It is the act of becoming. The process is how we grow. We come into ourselves by engaging and being present, so be mindful and enjoy the process.

If there is a time for sleep it is in the middle of a pandemic. A restful and consistent night of sleep is vital to maintain mental and physical health by preserving your immune system. The thought for today is staying consistent with sleeping. Setting a scheduled time to work, relax, and rest is critical when our routine is broken. Time is something that is easy to lose track of if you are currently unemployed or transitioning, so it is crucial that we mark the days and the hours with purpose. That we bring meaning to the hours that we spend and are intentional about working and resting. Normal is taking a break from our routine but life didn’t stop and your health will continue to tick like a clock. You must be consistent; you need consistent sleep. Take time to rest but don’t overdo it. Find your sweet spot. Stay with it.

“And those who were seen dancing, were thought to be crazy, by those who could not hear the music.” ― Friedrich Nietzsche. What does this quote mean to you and how can we apply this quote to our lives during quarantine?  

“We compare other people’s best to our own worst.” Social media can be a place for connection, and it can also be a place for dangerous comparison. The thought of the day is about how we often post on social media when we are connecting with others and trying new things. This is especially important to remember during a time that often feels stressful and disheartening. We don’t publically share when we are feeling unmotivated, tired, and upset. Remember this if you feel yourself comparing yourself to how other people seem to be doing.

You did it! We’re used to having certain cues that let us know the semester is over whether that’s conversations with professors and friends, cleaning out our dorms or offices, or going to “end of semester” events. This is a different way of ending that we’re not familiar with. The thought of the day is to try to do something for your self to send that same message. Pick something you enjoy doing (something relaxing, fun, comforting, etc.) to help give yourself those experiences of closure and reflection.