Books, Business & Relaxation
In contemplating what to write about this week I stumbled upon a website called the “National Day Calendar.” The calendar provides a reason to celebrate each day, week and month. As we are ending August and beginning September there are a few that I’d like to point out because they are key to your mental health and well-being. I also believe that these national days and observances can be celebrated any and every day because they are important to our lives, especially as we are adjusting to the “new normal” of life in what appeared to be a declining but now back on the incline pandemic situation. Sidebar - Do what you need to do to keep yourself and your family safe! Wear masks, social distance, wash your hands, all the things we did for months we should continue doing now.
August marked National Black Business Month. You’ve been following me for a while, you know that I am an avid supporter of Black Business all year long. September is National Self-Care Month. Why would I link these two things together? One of the most relaxing things that you can do to care for yourself, is to dive into a good book. Reading is a great stress reliever and can improve your mood just as well as a Netflix binge, (I think both have their place in the self-care arena!). How does that tie into National Black Business Month? Authoring is a business. Marketing, promoting and selling books does not just magically happen. Let’s do our collective part in supporting our Black authors! Here are a few of my favorites!
Cocoa Butter & Hair Grease: A Self-Love Journey through Hair and Skin - Yes this is mine. Yes, I'm promoting myself!! But beyond that, this workbook can become part of your weekly self-care time as you learn and reflect on the story of your hair but you also spend time learning about you. Also on my site you’ll find t-shirts, mugs, posters, and other items to show off the beauty of your hair.
Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America - One of the key pieces to my dissertation, I love this book and reference it often! Hair Story takes a chronological look at the culture and politics behind the state of Black hair in a historical and anecdotal way that ties the personal to the political and the popular.
Legend Born - After her mother dies in an accident, 16-year-old Bree Matthews wants nothing to do with her family memories or childhood home. A residential program for bright high schoolers at UNC-Chapel Hill seems like the perfect escape - until Bree witnesses a magical attack on her very first night on campus.
The Poison Heart - Briseis has a gift: she can grow plants from tiny seeds to rich blooms with a single touch. Deciding to leave Brooklyn for the summer, Bri’s and her family head to the estate that has been willed to Bri in rural New York. Surrounded by plants and flowers, Bri hopes to learn to control her gift in her new home with a specific set of instructions, an old-school apothecary, and a walled garden filled with the deadliest botanicals in the world that can only be those who share Bri’s unique family lineage. Determined to uncover all that she can about her new inheritance, she harnesses her gift to protect herself and her family against a centuries old curse and the deadliest plant on Earth.
Daughters of Nri - A gruesome war results in the old gods' departure from earth. The only remnants of their existence lie in two girls. Twins, separated at birth. Goddesses who grow up believing that they are human. Daughters of Nri explores their epic journey of self-discovery as they embark on a path back to one another.
Set Boundaries Find Peace - Healthy boundaries. We all know we should have them - in order to achieve work/life balance, cope with toxic people, and enjoy rewarding relationships with partners, friends, and family. But what do "healthy boundaries" really mean - and how can we successfully express our needs, say "no", and be assertive without offending others? In a relatable and inclusive tone, Set Boundaries, Find Peace presents simple-yet-powerful ways to establish healthy boundaries in all aspects of life. Rooted in the latest research and best practices used in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), these techniques help us identify and express our needs clearly and without apology - and unravel a root problem behind codependency, power struggles, anxiety, depression, burnout, and more.
This list is not exhaustive. I’d love to hear what you think of them in the comments. Also if you’d like to share some recommendations, drop those as well.
In keeping with our theme of supporting Black Business and being intentional about our Self-Care, check out my kit, The CBHG Basics, for other recommendations of hair and skin care products, movies, and more. Black Businesses are open year-round and your self-care should be a daily event, not just by calendar celebration. As August ends and September begins let’s make it a point to be more intentional about both on a consistent basis.
