I feel like I take care of myself by prioritizing my happiness. Eating well and eating what I like, working out by doing exercises I enjoy, slow mornings, taking my time to get ready, doing my skin care and shower routine, taking things one step at a step at a pace that feels right, spending time and talking with the people I love, trying, watching, and listening to new things; these are all things I do almost everyday and they make me happy. I feel like I used to prioritize doing things that would please others rather than ones that pleased me because I cared about what people thought and I wanted those around me to be happy. I felt I should be doing these other things and I thought it was selfish to put myself first. But, honestly, when you do what makes you happy and you’re in a positive state of mind, if the people around you actually care about you, then they will be happy too. So, I think that’s kind of how taking care of yourself goes into taking care of others. If I’m not okay with myself, then I can’t actually be okay and show up for others. I wouldn’t be able to be there for my loved ones if I didn’t ultimately feel happy; I wouldn’t have the energy. Being someone else, being sad, being unfulfilled, that’s draining. So, I think the best way to take care of yourself, and start to be able to take care of others, is letting yourself be you and doing what you need to do to feel happy.
With my inner circle, as in my close friends and family, I feel I show them I care through quality time. I feel like that’s my “love language.” I love face timing, catching up, spending time and talking nonsense with my loved ones. You need to go to the grocery store? I’ll go with you, why not. You ask for my help? I love you, why would I not help you if I can? I show I care by being there for people and by spending time with them. And I guess that goes into community; I feel like it’s important to be there for people when they need help. If I can help you, and I have the ability to do so, why would I not help you?
I don’t like when people are close minded and they’re like “what does that have to do with me?” or “why would I do that?” Because it’s like, we all have something to do with each other. You’re connected to your neighbor, you’re connected to your coworker, and you’re connected to someone on the other side of the world. For example, the sand in the Sahara affects the birds all the way in Chile, two places seemingly so far away yet so connected. Humans are the same, what happens on the other side of the world affects us, and what happens here affects the rest of the world too. Which goes into “the world,” we all just need to work together and help each other in order to make the world a better place.
Now that I am going abroad, I feel like that understanding of the fact that our actions have impacts on people even if we can’t immediately see it is an important understanding. For example, I might think I’m just visiting a famous movie scene location, but in reality, I might not know it but I could be disturbing people that live in the area. I might think I’m just observing street art, but maybe I’m obstructing traffic or I’m making the artist uncomfortable. I feel I’m going into my summer experience and research with awareness that I’m going to be observing people and attempting to interview them, and that they might not be comfortable with it. Or if they are comfortable, then it is up to me to accurately convey what they tell me. I want to make sure not to disrupt the community I am entering and that my research is meaningful, respectful, and hopefully has a positive impact even if I’m not able to see it.
I haven’t started my summer experience yet, but this is me and my mom last December in New York, which is the last place I travelled to, so I thought it was fitting with the talk of our impact when we visit other places. – Fabianna Silva
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