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I Tried Coloring As A Form of Self-Care & It Changed The Way I Prioritize Myself
We know that self-care routines are an integral part of maintaining our mental health. We know that pouring into ourselves brings fulfillment and meaning into our lives. But how often do we introduce new activities into our self-care repertoire? I’ll be the first to admit that my go-to self-care activities were starting to feel a little stale at the beginning of the year and weren’t making much of an impact in my life.
Thankfully, Oludara Adeeyo’s latest book, Mind, Body, & Soul: A Self-Care Coloring Book for Black Women, came on my radar at the perfect time.
Oludara Adeeyo is a Los Angeles-based mental health therapist and author who encourages others, specifically Black women, to prioritize self-care. In an interview with Non-Profit Quarterly, Adeeyo states, “A lot of Black women don’t know how to make time for themselves because they don’t feel like they can make time for themselves. I just hope my coloring book makes Black women feel like they can make time for themselves.”
I identified with the premise of the book immediately since I’ve struggled with prioritizing myself in the past. What was inside the book piqued my interest the most. It features 35 pages of affirmations and beautiful illustrations that depict Black women in all of their glory.
So, over the course of a few weeks, I committed to the coloring journey, and here’s what I focused on:
Courtesy of Michelle Emdin
I embraced the power of play.
I hadn’t felt this much joy purchasing a pack of colored pencils and markers since I was in elementary school, and you know what? I LOVED the anticipation of coloring. It’s an activity often associated with children, but adults benefit from low-stress and fun activities, too.
I prioritized “me time."
I found it fitting that the first affirmation in the book was “I deserve to experience Black girl joy,” with an image of a woman vibing to music while walking outdoors. It’s often too easy for me to put off activities that bring me joy for the sake of others and my daily responsibilities. I was intentional about carving out parts of my day to focus on coloring.
I meditated on the affirmations.
I found that repeating some of the affirmations helped me focus on my task and gave my self-confidence a boost. For instance, the statement “I no longer talk bad about myself” led me to focus on a list of positive attributes about myself while I colored.
I used the finished pages as a timestamp, of sorts.
I was surprised by how rewarding it was to review the pages I’d completed. I’d look at a page and instantly remember what room I was in, the ambiance, and the state of my mental health when I colored each page. Having a memory associated with the pages made the book that much more precious.
Courtesy of Michelle Emdin
The Results
My life didn't change drastically after a few weeks of coloring. However, I noticed that it became easier to sit still long enough to focus on one task. As someone who loves to habit stack, focusing only on coloring took a bit of practice but became easier over time. Another positive result was that I worked on my motor and cognitive skills. I used muscles in my hand that is often ignored when I use electronic devices while choosing colors and coloring techniques gave my brain a workout. Lastly, I felt calmer after coloring.
Coloring relaxes the amygdala, the area of the brain that processes fear. And while I might’ve started some sessions feeling worrisome or stressed, I left the page feeling lighter and more in tune with my inner child, who enjoyed creating for the sake of creating.
I’m not the best artist by any means, but creating a masterpiece isn’t really the point. Some pages were created with calm and measured strokes, while others were etched with anxious scribbles. In the end, all of the pages I’d completed were a reflection of my dedication to care for myself.
So, if your self-care routine needs a change of pace, I’d encourage you to give coloring a try! Pick up your favorite crayons or markers and join countless other women who are making time for themselves– you won’t regret it!
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This article is sponsored by Hulu.
UnPrisonedhas returned for its highly anticipated second season, delving deeper into the complex dynamics of the Alexander family.
The series premiere comes a year after its debut season garnered rave reviews from fans and critics and earned record-breaking ratings for Hulu's Onyx Collective brand. UnPrisoned's success can be attributed to its raw, relatable themes and comedic appeal.
Inspired by creator Tracy McMillan's life, the show follows Paige (Kerry Washington), a therapist and single mother whose life takes an unexpected turn when her father, Edwin (Delroy Lindo) --who was released from prison-- moves in with her and her teenage son, Finn (Faly Rakotohavana).
Throughout UnPrisoned's first season, viewers witnessed how Edwin's incarceration deeply affected Paige's life and relationships. In the series, Paige unpacks her trauma through interactions with her inner child and her online followers. Meanwhile, Edwin is overcoming specific struggles with his own past that led to his life of crime, including a dysfunctional upbringing and his mother's arrest. As the Alexanders attempt to reconcile, new challenges arise.
This new season promises to further explore their unconventional family dynamic. Here are several compelling reasons why season two of UnPrisoned should be on everyone's watchlist.
The Alexander Family Life Is Still In Shambles
UnPrisoned's second season resumes where the series left off, with Paige grappling with the fallout from her troubled therapy practice and Edwin navigating life independently after moving out. Meanwhile, Finn faces his own challenges. The teenager is battling anxiety and seeking information about his father—a topic Paige avoids discussing.
The Alexander Family Are Attending Therapy To Resolve Their Underlying Issues
Amid the chaos in their lives, the Alexander family decides to mend their bond by confronting their past traumas. They seek professional help and attend therapy sessions with a “family radical healing coach,” played by John Stamos, a new cast member. This collective effort aims to unravel the complexities of their shared history and strengthen their relationships.
The process of unraveling each character's internal conflicts and their potential impact on future relationships may clash with Paige's textbook therapy approach. While Paige is used to being in the therapist's seat in both career and family, this forces her into the unfamiliar role of a patient during therapy sessions. This shift would compel her to look in the mirror and try a radically different approach.
The Alexander Family Learned A Big Lesson During A Therapy Session
In therapy, the Alexanders are tasked with addressing their individual traumas to salvage their remaining relationships. One of the family therapist’s eccentric suggestions was an exercise involving a family wrestling match. During this session, Paige faces tough questions about her refusal to share information about Finn's father.
While it's unclear whether this scene is reality or fantasy, the image of the family duking it out in the ring certainly makes for hilarious yet compelling television.
Paige Tries Dating Again Following Failed Relationships
Amid her life's chaos, Paige decides to step back into the dating field. However, her many attempts have left her with mixed results. The dating apps have turned out to be a fail, and an outing with her ex Mal (Marque Richardson), who is also her father's parole officer, doesn’t go quite as expected after he brings an unexpected guest – his new girlfriend.
The situation takes an awkward turn when Mal's new partner learns why the former couple split, partly due to Paige's self-sabotage.
UnPrisoned Is A Perfect Balance Of Comedy And Drama
As a dramedy, UnPrisoned takes a comedic approach to its heavy subjects. The show takes us on a ride with Paige's dating misadventures and navigating a friendship with her ex.
Other lighthearted moments include Edwin's attempts at CPR based on online videos and, of course, the antics of the Alexander family's unconventional new healing coach.
The second season of UnPrisoned is now available on Hulu.
UnPrisoned | Season 2 Trailer | Hulu
Feature image courtesy
‘ACross Generations With Tiffany Cross’ Have A Candid Conversation About Diversity In Media
Being the only Black person at your job can often make you feel isolated. There’s no one to relate to or who even understands your background. This is a conversation that many Black people have among each other and a topic that was covered in the latest episode of ACross Generations with Tiffany Cross.
Host Tiffany sat down with media professionals Michele McGhee and Sidney Madden to discuss everything from diversity in media to their own journeys in the industry. Tiffany, who has worked at many media platforms such as BET, revealed that during her time at CNN, she felt isolated and dismissed by her coworkers.
“Not only isolated in what you looked like but isolated in your lived experience and have people summarily dismiss your humanity on a daily basis,” she said.
Michele agreed; however, she took a different approach toward the dismissiveness she experienced while working at CNN.
“I would sit there, and I’d be like, oh my God, I’m the only one, and really it made me connect to my faith because I said God wants me to be the only one because He wants me to have this voice. He wants me to have this moment, and He wants me to go on this journey because if you’re with someone else, I can’t stretch and grow you the way I need you to be.”
She continued, “So now, as a 58-year-old woman, I never ask God, why am I alone.”
Michele is now the co-founder and CEO of Expectant Media, a company that elevates Black-owned media and creators.
Sidney is a writer and host of NPR’s podcast Louder Than A Riot. When she began working at NPR, she was one of three Black people and the only Black woman in the music department.
She recalled a moment when she pitched a story about Cardi B’s buying power before she became mainstream and how well it did on the site. The story reminded her of the value she brings to the table.
She said, “It was a point of validation for me because I’m like, ‘Oh, actually, I can learn all this stuff you’re talking about, but there’s some things you’re never gonna know. And I’m truly gonna be the expert in that I can assert in this place that you can never take away from me, and that’s the voice.”
Watch the full episode of ACross Generations with Tiffany Cross below.
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Feature image by ACross Generations with Tiffany Cross/ YouTube