El auto cuidado personal, en estos momentos, es una de las cosas más importantes. Ya que estamos viviendo unos momentos críticos en los cuales podemos olvidar cuidarnos a nosotros mismos, pensando en la situación que estamos viviendo.

Now this might be a bold statement to make, but I would argue that everyone in some part in their life has practiced self-care. While at first glance, I did not know how to define the term, I saw that I often take time for myself to work on aspects of my personal life. It is important to take time out of the day to turn away from all the responsibilities that we must bear and allow ourselves a moment to have some downtime. I usually practice self-care after completing the bulk of my assignments or finishing some tasks from work. I typically de-stress by turning on my Xbox One console. I am usually playing something like Batman Arkham City, which is one of my favourite games due. I love all things related to DC Comics and especially when they relate to the world’s greatest detective.

Hello Mayor,

I am a citizen of the nation's capital. I am writing you this letter to ask you to defund the police. Many states are beginning to defund the police and I hope D.C. will be next. Over the past few years, police brutality has been a rising issue in America. It is not fair to people who look like you and me to pay taxes creating the salaries of the police, and, in return, have police attack them. They are trained to protect and serve. When police are around, I do not feel protected; I feel fear.

The self-care methods I use are different than everyone else’s. To keep myself in the right state of mind, I do what makes me happy. For example, I like to put on face masks and dance on Tik-Tok. I like to do face masks because it gives a cooling effect and it’s relaxing. Dancing is also a part of my self-care methods because dancing is something that I can focus on. It takes my mind off of everything because it’s very time consuming. My self-care practices take place at different times of the day. I tend to do my face masks at night because it also helps clear my face of sweat and all the oils. I normally dance during the day because, since we are in quarantine, there’s nothing better to do. These things are important to me because they help me get moving during the day and it keeps me positive. I believe that self-care is important because it keeps me positive. If I don’t do it, I’d probably be very negative. I practice my self-care about once or twice a week because it’s time consuming.

#StandWithUs
This message is intended for the police department at 3101 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55408. Every white person is not racist and brutal, no. If I can understand that, why can’t racists take the stereotypes away from my people? A single story is dangerous & menacing. I use that choice of words because not a single story is incomplete . #Saytheirnames is a powerful movement. I feel it's more powerful than it’s been in years. I personally believe that not every white police officer is not bad, but if I encounter police, I would be scared out of my mind.

This week, my self-care practice was working out with my family and playing basketball. I also wrote out my feelings when I became too stressed out. It helps me vent and calm down. My workouts include 20 push ups, 30 sit ups, running in place, full sprint for 10 seconds, and, after two 30-second planks, getting water. I like that my self-care helps not only my mind, but also my body. It’s important because it's productive and keeps my mind clear. I love doing self-care treatments because it helps you find things about yourself that you wouldn’t know if you hadn't done the treatment.

POV: Your Rich Aunt is Here
by Ayah

Why, hello there, Cinnamon Roll. It’s me, your rich aunt.

Apparently you are feeling sad and you are not tending to yourself. Apparently, you forgot that you are a houseplant with more complicated feelings. Apparently people telling you to just stop worrying doesn’t actually fix your problems.

The self-care I practiced this week was doing my own hair. There isn’t really much I can do to my hair because it is short, but I put braids in it because I was tired of looking like the first phase of quarantine. With my natural hair, it's usually just a wet, moose and go process. Never really took much time to do. I barely do anything for myself because there is always a problem when I want to treat and make myself feel good. Self-care is important because it'll build your personal self esteem. I never really practice it because I'm always worried about other things that only bring me down.

To me...

Freedom is one’s ability to be free and to be self-sufficient.

Freedom is one’s ability to do whatever they feel is right.

Freedom means the lack of chains, the lack of a burden, the lack of oppression.

Freedom has no dictatorship over one's life.

The way that I get free is by creatively expressing myself through writing. The freedom that I am speaking of is in a mental sense, rather than physical. Writing is how I clear my mind, and free myself of any stress. Freedom means being able to do what you please, without any restraints of any sorts. Freedom feels like standing alone in an open field of everything your heart desires. I believe that I am free--somewhat. With certain restrictions I am free to go where I want and do things that I want. In all actuality, no one is 100% free unless they are of higher power. Those of the lower class/ middle are only allowed to do but so much. The moment that I feel free of this reality is when I am journaling. In order to be completely free in this society you need power.

Freedom is not having to say that my Black Life matters.

Yea, no shit my Life matters.

Why is it necessary to say and spread an awareness that says my Homosapien life matters?

That is fucking insane

And I feel like I am the only person who’s acknowledging this

It is insane that I’ve been reduced to a fucking color.

It is insane that I don’t know how to speak my own language.

It is insane that I don't carry my own name.

It is insane that I don’t know where I come from

It is insane that I don’t know my pre-colonial history

Dear Diary,

So many things are going on in this world, and at the end of the day, the question is are we really free? To me, freedom is happiness and a form of expression. Freedom feels like a massage after a long day. A moment in a life when I feel free is when I'm in the comfort of my own home. I am able to do whatever without people judging or looking at me the wrong way. That should be the same as when we go into the outside world.

Freedom to me means independence and confidence within myself. Freedom feels like home, it feels like love and support from all around you. I feel like I have freedom, but then I don't when it comes to my parents because I'm always being sheltered like I'm a little kid. Moments I will be able to feel free are when I'm able to do things on my own. I would need peace and stability.