Dear College of Education Community,
This week marks the start of Black History Month, a time to appreciate and celebrate our Black community. It also is a time to renew our commitment to equity work, focusing on deeper understanding and action addressing anti-black racism. Equity work involves emotional and physical investment and energy, and while incredibly fulfilling, can also be emotionally taxing and lead to burnout. Therefore, it is important to engage in regular self-care so we can continue to carry out this work. The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture offers an inspiring online program called Talking About Race. One of the series of conversations addresses self-care by asserting, “Our ongoing commitment to actively think about and take action against racism, combined with a sense of urgency and deep caring, adds pressure and stress to our daily lives. The emotional impact of this work is real, therefore it is vital that we all practice ‘self-care’ to benefit our overall health and quality of life.” This article discusses a number of self-care activities, but in particular, considers mindfulness. “People who practice self-care benefit themselves and society by decreasing stress which in turn lowers barriers of communication. By being mindful, looking inward and recognizing any negativity we may have internalized, we can develop compassion and patience for ourselves and others. Being mindful allows us to work toward a more equitable society effectively.”
To find out more, please read the article at
https://nmaahc.si.edu/learn/talking-about-race/topics/self-care
For a list of many self-care options, please see our COE self-care website for resources for faculty, staff, students, and the community at:
https://www.csun.edu/eisner-education/self-care
May we celebrate Black History Month mindfully!
Warmly,
Shari