Tips from a Future RN
It’s not selfish to think of yourself; it’s called self-care.
Self care is the poetical ramblings and angry doodles that keep you sane through Microbiology
And the insane amount of extra hand washing and Lysol you now use because E.coli seems to beat to it’s own drummer. The invisible mask you wear anyway is finally acceptable to be manifested as the N95 when Viruses & Prions are your new nightmare but also your muse
Self care is jump-roping in your garage or kitchen even though you have 13 assignments due this week in Canvas and toddlers that claim they need right away you every 15 minutes
It is taking that long run right after 1 class before you get to your next class for those weight bearing exercises you learned you will need in AP I.
AP II is Learning how to arm yourself with the knowledge that your body might just betray you, that you can’t stop some genes from expressing but you can learn to respect the systems within you, cooperate and make peace. That your gut is in more control than your brain ever thought.
PSYC 2314 is Knowing your own trigger warnings and releasing yourself from the categories the world has seen fit to put you into. It is appreciation of being defined as a Dandelion
Self care is firmly sticking up for your own self without making your blood pressure rise or theirs.
It is is finally blocking the number of that person who thrives on making snide remarks
So they don’t invade your REM sleep & subconsciously stifle your dreams
Self care is taking ownership of all your faults and imperfections whether born of nature or nurture. Accountability without the self flagellation of shame and dwelling on the past mistakes stored in the hippocampus we take for granted
Self care is taking back your name
And carrying it with pride on your tongue
With all its taste receptors that has in turn
Learned with excitement to adapt to a vegan MIND diet of raw dark leafy greens, antioxidants and omegas without sacrificing flavour, culture and ethics
Self care is forgiveness in degrees
From superficial to deep levels
Lateral to medial
Looking in the mirror in anatomical position
Palms facing the viewer
Fingers free of weapons
knowing that forgiveness does not equal
reconciliation or erase the past
Self care is apologizing not only to the person in the mirror with the new gray hairs and the stretch marks that remained long after the línea nigra disappeared
but to every avatar you have manifested in this lifetime
Including the most insecure prepubescent versions of you at your inner mental core before your developing prefrontal cortex had better cognition
That what you were experiencing was not love but abuse
That fear and anxiety are normal responses to the tribulations they put you through
Self care sounds exhausting
But it allows you the escape
the room to breathe
deep and exhale
Using your intercostals and obliques
Pushing images of past failures
Using your body and your wits
to progress to a better you
Om
Namah
Shivay
Priya Ramesh Desai, 2023 @samaya11
