Wednesday Health & Wellness

Practicing Self Care

When You Practice Self Care, You Become The Best Version of Yourself

There was a time in my life when I didn’t fully understand self care.

I could say I wish I knew sooner…

but I also believe everything happens in divine timing—right on time.

When I moved to Las Vegas by myself in 2017…

then lived through COVID while working in a rehab hospital…

and made the decision to return home to Seattle…

That’s when everything shifted.

I knew I had experienced trauma.

And I knew I needed to heal.

Self care became my focus.

Not in a trendy way…

but in a survival way.

Juicing and smoothies.

Herbs and holistic healing.

Time in the pool—freedom, peace, movement.

That’s where my journey began.

And truthfully… Vegas was never a place I was meant to endure long term.

The desert can take from you quietly… and you don’t even realize it until you step away.

The moment I loaded up Poopsie…

hit the California border…

and drove onto I-5 North…

I felt it.

A weight lifted.

I returned home June 1, 2023.

And I didn’t rush back into people.

I didn’t jump on the phone.

I just… settled.

I had already secured a job before leaving Vegas—which was a blessing.

A few months later, I became injured.

Winter was coming…

and my hip arthritis came in strong.

That’s when I had to go deeper.

I started researching holistic ways to manage pain.

And I built something that still holds me today:

Prayer

Meditation

Breathwork

Gentle movement

Morning and night.

And it helped.

I also started mental health counseling—

working through trauma from Vegas and the pain in my body.

I made a decision.

To step away from who I had been for years…

and fully step into who I am now.

Lady Flava.

Even through pain, I kept working.

And when my insurance kicked in, I added:

Medical care Physical therapy

But healing… that takes time.

Eventually, I had to face something real:

I am disabled.

Between radiculopathy and bilateral hip arthritis… walking can be a struggle.

That took time to accept.

But I also found something powerful:

Writing is my self care.

It helps me process life.

It helps me release.

It helps me make sense of everything I experience.

Now I write daily:

7am – Daily Intention

9am – Personal Story

11am – Health & Wellness

2:30pm – A Topic to Think About

And I’m intentional in how I start my day.

My mornings look like this:

Prayer

Meditation

Breathwork

Gentle movement (bed, chair, or standing)

Setting my intention for the day

Working from home

That is self care for me.

My doctors support it.

My job supports it.

And I spend my days in my tower…

watching the sky change…

the weather move…

my birds and squirrels show up.

That’s peace.

I listen to smooth jazz or jazz pop while I work.

That’s self care.

On my lunch break, I lie flat on my back—

giving my spine time to reset.

Simple things matter:

32 oz of hot water every morning

One cup of coffee

Moving throughout the day

These are not small things.

These are intentional acts of self care.

I’ve also learned to appreciate something deeply:

Alone time.

Right now, I enjoy my own company.

I don’t feel the need to be around people as I continue to heal—

mind, body, and spirit.

Everyone has something they need to heal from.

Some people push it down.

Ignore it.

Keep going because they’re “high functioning.”

But that doesn’t mean it’s not there.

Take a moment.

Be honest with yourself.

When was the last time you sat in silence?

Alone… without noise… without distraction?

That might be the greatest gift you can give yourself.

I encourage you to create a self care routine.

It doesn’t have to be big.

It just has to be yours.

And it’s never too late to start.

Self Care Basics (Simple Reminders)

Support your physical, mental, and emotional health daily

Set boundaries and protect your energy

Rest, move, and nourish your body

Practice mindfulness and reflection

Stay connected—or take space when needed

Create routines that ground you

Why Self Care Matters

Self care is not selfish.

It reduces stress.

Builds resilience.

Improves your health.

And allows you to show up fully—not just for others… but for yourself.

Lady Flava 🌻