Day 38

Are you carrying the weight of the world on your body?

Black women are famous for shouldering everyone's problems. We are the mothers, the confidantes. And when everyone else has gone to sleep, we are the ones who will wake in the middle of the night to answer a child's cries. We are the ones who personally assume responsibility for running the church, the community center, the after-school programs--even while working a full-time job. Often we respond to problems, our own and everyone else's, with food. We may not do drugs, alcohol, or cigarettes, but we sure can put away a box of cookies when no one's looking. We must learn to distance ourselves from those things we can do nothing about, and learn to lean on others if we need help coping. The myth of the Super Black Woman is no myth--we are indeed strong women. However, we run our spirits and bodies down if we do not, at least once or twice a week, act selfishly.

Today I will put everyone on hold and put myself first.