Three Blessings – Peace Be Still Inspirations aim to inspire learning and practice for healthy, creative and joyful living through postings on yoga, meditation and other wellness modalities. We, especially, hope the African Diaspora finds this a giving, peaceful space.

New month, new moon, new energy. Monday is a new moon and I’m looking forward to it. My friend, @yeyefini, says it will “bring us intense energy.” I certainly hope so because July was kind of a bummer; just too much negative shit going on. As I reflect on last month’s melancholy, I recognize it was the pain I felt for folks out on the streets trying to uphold and raise up what we’re supposed to stand for even with an onslaught of injustice, meanness, and chaos.

Thank goodness for my garden. It’s my yoga off the mat and nurtures my mind, body and spirit. The August 1 Table & Plate Project Delta podcast highlights my July garden meditations, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYlqm9ROyr8&t=13s. The act of growing and harvesting your own food is uplifting and a form of resistance.

I’m, also, starting August off with a focus on taking care of yourself. This Sunday morning began with going to the MS River and riding my bike along the levee. The peace and quiet down by the river minus the occasional speed boat feeds my soul.

Hopefully the references below will help guide or reinforce you on a path towards self care.

Several Black women speak on how they are taking care of themselves right now. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/how-black-women-are-taking-care-of-themselves-right-now/ar-BB15ggEJ

Brea Baker shares 5 ways Black women can take care of themselves right now. https://parade.com/1050167/breabaker/self-care-for-black-women-activists/

Eleven Black people share big and small ways they’re caring for themselves. https://www.self.com/story/black-self-care-tips

Africa Jackson asked Black healers to share the self-care tips every Black woman needs to know. https://hellogiggles.com/lifestyle/self-care-tips-black-women-healers/

Learn about 25 science-based ways to take better care of yourself. https://greatist.com/happiness/ways-to-practice-self-care

To take care of others, start by taking care of yourself. https://hbr.org/2020/04/to-take-care-of-others-start-by-taking-care-of-yourself

Read about what it means to really take care of yourself. https://tinybuddha.com/blog/what-it-means-to-really-take-care-of-yourself/

Here’s 20 quotes to inspire self-care. https://www.habitsforwellbeing.com/20-quotes-to-inspire-self-care/