The Invisible Black Woman

Hey, y’all. This one is gonna be pretty short and sweet. So, here goes….

Let’s talk about listening to your body. Right now, at 7 PM on a weekend night, mine said, “Girl, go sat down somewhere.” Actually, it was more like, “go lie your behind down and step away from the screen.” Today, Imma actually listen.

It’s been a whirlwind lately, and trust me, there’s a lot of good happening. But even the best moments can’t thrive if we’ re running on fumes. So here I am, giving myself permission to turn in as early as it is, without guilt or a to-do list haunting me from the corner. Why? Because exhaustion doesn’t negotiate. It doesn’t wait for the “perfect time” to hit, and it doesn’t care about your grind, your deadlines, or the 17 tabs open in your brain. When it shows up, you have two choices: keep pushing until you crash or do the radical thing—rest.

And can we talk about how hard it is for some of us to actually rest? It’s like there’s this referee in the back of your mind throwing a flag every time you dare to close your eyes or shut the laptop early. But let me remind you—your worth is not measured by how much you do or how busy you stay. Rest isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s the power move that keeps you from falling apart when everything around you feels like it’s spinning. And more to the point, what’s the point of walking away from the toxic job keeping you from resting only to keep that same bad habit somewhere else?

I also want to acknowledge something else tonight. Many days ago—today makes 77, to be exact, if you’re keeping track at home—I made a commitment to post here daily, and I take that seriously. It’s important to me to show up and honor that promise to you and to myself, even if today’s entry is a little shorter, a little quieter. This is me showing up in the spirit of authenticity, because sometimes, just showing up is enough.

So tonight, I’m modeling what I preach. I’m turning the volume down on the world, shutting down my iPad, and putting my phone to sleep. The grind will be there tomorrow, but for tonight, it’s all about quieting the noise and choosing me.

Please, take care of yourselves, and be kind to your body because it’s the only one you’ve got.

Until next time, I wish you nothing but sunshine, rainbows, and unicorns, which are no less fictitious than the restorative, renewing rest you deserve.