On Movement; Being Present & Gratitude

I can't believe we are completely done with the first quarter of the year. Last month was extremely busy for me as a women's rights activist and gender and development professional the month of march regrettably always has me moving around much more than I'd like to, to the point where I usually get depleted; but it is the order of the day.  I started my month with completing my spring semester with my graduate  students ; attended the board meeting for the African Women's Development Fund USA which was held during the commission on the status of women; and co hosted our 3rd annual Afriwomen Hangout event, an intergenerational feminist gathering of African Diaspora and continental women. Those gatherings in addition to my work trip to Egypt Cairo left me completely drained and tired. I returned back to the U.S. thinking of how to better ground myself after such a busy month as I continue into the second quarter. Here are three things I am practicing this next quarter

1. Being more present in the moment and enjoying quiet time

This is such a cliche statement but it's so true. I can count the amount of times my husband tells me to switch off mentally from work; or from social media. More and more I understand the importance of setting things to the side and just tuning into the moment. Social media and my work being partially remote sometimes has me always on. I am making more intentional effort to switch off at a certain time and just focus on being in the moment and cherishing the little things. Being in Cairo leading a workshop on selfcare for female entrepreneurs, I found myself immersing myself much more in the moment and it felt so good! It felt good to just be in the desert and ride a camel, or drink mint tea at a tea parlor after midnight in one of Cairo's oldest neighborhoods. I want to replicate these moments more.  I also aim to spend more time in quiet this quarter with little to no distractions. Wish me luck :). 

2. Saying No and cutting back on commitments and not taking anything I didn't put on my annual plan The concept of saying no is not just about saying no but it also about being confident in your No. A lot of times when people don't have clear boundaries they struggle or can be resentful when you say you can't take on a project or give a discount for a class you are offering etc. I am learning that saying No is also an opportunity to have a conversation in hopefully sharing a way of creating boundaries in the various relationship spheres I find myself in. 

3. Listening to my body and spirit more
Sometime we push our bodies so much and by the time we realize it it catches up to us. After a month of constantly being on the go, I was knocked down with a really bad cold. I am realizing that I need to be more proactive with wellness as it relates to my body. I plan to take walks at the end of each day and get back to a better eating and breathing regiment. Because if our bodies aren't right, our work can come to a complete stand still.  Paying attention to my spirit means spending more time in prayer.