create/craft: i like to watercolour, knit, write poems, or do linoblock prints. don’t worry about the outcome..the process is the whole fun of it.

read something that uplifts you: i’m currently reading braiding sweetgrass by robin wall kimmerer and it’s a beautiful testament to indigenous knowledge and culture all the while being educational and socially motivating.

watch non-triggering content (as much as possible): i read synopsis of movies, shows, and mute certain accounts on IG when i’m feeling stressed or anxious. it’s totally ok to want to filter things out for a while. i really enjoy learning about how people make things or rewatch old favourites like ghibli movies or family-friendly shows. make sure you’re also able to include yourself in the content. as a black woman, i try to watch QTDBIPOC+ positive content as much as i can.

learn something new: i really want to get better at braiding!!!

if you have the energy...take care of your things and clean: even if it’s just a small part of a room, sometimes spending time with your favourite objects makes you appreciate them and curb the need to want to spend more money or crave something new.

listen to your body: take naps, baths, stretch, but don’t feel like you have to do these things unless your body really craves it. actually listening to your sleep and hunger cues. being gentle and compassionate with yourself is self care.

reach out to community virtually: reach out if you feel lonely. even if it’s for a few seconds it helps to feel like you’re not totally alone in a situation. if nobody is available, i also like to watch twitch streamers as seeing someone in real time is really soothing to me in tough times. and there is no shame in finding community online.

hope this helps.

going close to closing

didnt give me peace

the coffee was good, the vibe wasnt

my voice burried under customer requests

i sighed

my cigarette half lit up

because i cant even smoke right

i walked and felt the new yet familiar numbness

and realized i would never see you again

the pain was half self afflicted

but i wanted to do you a favour

be free

so that i too, can love freely

but for now it seems

there can only be the lonely coffees

the lonely cigarettes

the lonely bike rides

but i know you will come

the love i havent met

as i’ll step on my last cigarette bud