Feature: Healthline’s Best Blogs 2020

July 24, 2020 by L'Homme Noir in Mental Health, Self Care

We are grateful and honoured to be featured as one Healthline.com’s best blogs of 2020. Healthline’s mandate is geared at the holistic you. How you feel affects every single day of your life, which is why you work so hard to get well and stay well. No matter your journey, we’re here to support, guide, and inspire you. With that being said they featured blogs in this article who are geared exclusively to men and give clear information, practical tips, and advice that encourages readers to become their own health advocates, these are the top resources to inform and inspire.

We are honoured to be featured and will continue to putting in the work to educate and inspire men.

Check out the rest of the article here.

Stay blessed and protect your melanin!

Unmanly or Ungodly?

Kingston, Jamaica

July 10, 2020 by L'Homme Noir in Mental Health, Self Care

Anything I do is manly, because I'm a man and I'm doing it. Simply put!

If we have advanced so much as it relates to gender roles and conformity, I can’t imagine ever imagine how it was 10, 20 or even 30 years ago. Today, everything we seem to do is scrutinised by this man card and it has to stay in tact and unsoiled.

Crying over an emotional situation. Man card punched.
Having tea with my little cousin. Man card punched.
Daddy dance time with the kids. Man card punched.
A "spa day" with a straight razor shave, mani/pedi and towel treatment. Man card punched.
Wearing purple or pink, (the colors of supposed royalty and pussy!). Man card punched.
Having my prostate stimulated. Man card punched.

If you're not insecure, you don't miss out on experiences because of labels!

Don't you dare "not try something" because you're afraid of seeming unmanly. Worrying about how "manly" you appear to the world is actually the least manly thing you can do if we are being frank. Pretty much everything and anything stigmatized as "gay" or "unmanly" is probably going to improve your life (yup, read that again and think about), or at the very least is worth trying.

Investing in a better grooming routine, trying 'feminine' hobbies like dancing, thinking about and considering your feelings, being more open to giving and receiving comfort and affection, being unashamed of liking genuinely GOOD shit like fruity cocktails and bright colours, prostate orgasms - really, toxic masculinity has stripped men of so much and forced a lot of them to live scrunched up, repressed little lives. Learning to let go of that will really help open up your world so much.

I was reading on Twitter the other day a girl saying that if she goes on a date with a guy and he orders a “girly” drink then he’s no longer her date, he’s now one of her girls.

COCKtails have gender now?! Well clearly!

There is sadly a sigma around cocktails being "unmanly" because some guys think all cocktails are sweet and gross-tasting. There are plenty of non-sugary cocktails out there strong enough to turn you the fuck over when I think about it, I don't really like sugary drinks either but love certain cocktails and what does it matter what I consume? How does that affect my manliness or lack thereof?

Issues such as careers and occupations, black men especially suffer because social workers and therapists are mostly female, but at the same time young boys need good male role models, and there should be a demand for male social workers since there are so few of them. So be a God damn social worker if that’s where your heat leads you, make that difference. Look around you, we need it.

Sitting down to pee! Why is this a feminine thing to do again? In the privacy of my own home? Middle of the night? Sit down and keep sleepin', no shame in the game. Don't want to put your book down? No problem, sit and read. To be clear, if I'm not at home I'm standing which is a hygiene issue which we will explore at another time.

The point of all of this is that we are robbing ourselves with this deep misogynistic way of thinking and it is causing issues even within the black community. Closing issues such as wage gap and eradicating the killing of our women begins with throwing away the gender roles and the taught that women or women-likened roles are inferior to those attributed to men. Look into yourself and do exactly what you want to do to better yourself and society, stop labeling shit as feminine because that’s what you were told by your Daddy or your uncle.

No beuno hermano! Let’s do better!

Show Me The Money!

Kingston, Jamaica

July 03, 2020 by L'Homme Noir in Mental Health, Self Care

There are MANNNYYYYY layers to dating someone or multiple people and very often it starts at what exactly you define as dating. In this context we will refer to dating one person with the sole purpose of entering into a monogamous relationship for the long haul. Cool? Cool. As you embark on that, the more time flies by, the more different things begin to matter more. These things aren’t usually things that you can see. They’re really ideas, attitudes, and philosophies that you look for a potential prospect to have.

A major issue that usually comes up is that of finance. To me, if it doesn’t come up as a discussion pretty early when dating in your 20s or early 30s at least (about a year or so into the relationship) then I don’t know if that is particularly a good thing depending heavily on who you are dating.

At an age like 29, finances matter. When you date someone you look to see how someone manages their money and it gives a clear indication of what kind of person that is. It says a lot about someone who can live within their means. Generally it is easier at this age to not live within your means and not think of the implications it will have later on in life such as like a crazy debt burden especially when you plan or already have a family and kids. The thing is that you can create debt of expenditure for things that matter (like an education or medical and living expenses) versus frivolous expenses that could be left alone. Having poor practices as it pertains to managing expenses and “fun” money is not something to be proud of.

I’m well aware that many guys aren’t good with their money. I’ve heard more than enough date horror stories. I think a word we all need to take heed to in life is “no”, say no sometimes. We don’t always have it. As a matter of fact if I say no to attend an event of some sort, there’s an 80% chance that it’s because I’m budgeting.

We live in this connected world where so many events are happening, and you’ve just got to be there! Damn it, it’s going to be a MOVIE! Well that sure is something to consider isn’t it? But there’s always a bigger picture. Saying no sometimes in the name of saving some bread is okay. Saying no means saying yes to a little sacrifice.

“If you ain’t got no money, stay your broke ass home!”

Be the symbol of security and stability. Being decent with your finances is a huge indicator of how secure and stable you can be. When the person you are dating is out with you, they should get that vibe and of course there should be a level of reciprocity but you should always be confident enough even if it is to have that uncomfortable conversation first and ensure you are on the same page.

If ll you can afford is pasta from Domino’s and Netflix on a first date then do that. Dating is sexy when it’s responsible.

How you manage money is very indicative of how responsible you are. When you have a little bit of money to fool with dating can be fun. You have some more options. You can be a bit more spontaneous with the activities. There’s no worry hanging over your heads as to if you all can do something. It’ll only be a question of when. Learn to say no sometimes. In the long run you’ll be happier. You’ll probably draw better prospects to you as well. You see when your shit is together, you truly won’t accept someone who still doesn’t have a clue. Being responsible is sexy!

These are my words and I make no apologies.

Peace!

Book Review: A Plea To Our Sons

Kingston, Jamaica

July 01, 2020 by L'Homme Noir in Mental Health, Self Care

Highly Inspirational, Life-Changing!

I had the opportunity to read Alice Taylor’s new book A Plea to Our Sons, from a Mother who Cares. This book offers advice and pep talks from Alice and from a variety of Black men on how young black men can find their way in an often confusing and hostile world with self-respect and wisdom. This would be a great gift idea to mature well thinking black men especially in the climate we find ourselves in today.

A Plea to Our Sons, from a Mother who Cares is an inspirational book touching everyone’s soul. It provides prominent remedial guidance and encouragement to young black men. It’s a meditative book which gives the reader a positive insight into the life and finding true and pure enlightenment of making life better and more comfortable to make sense of the world around us. It gives the true meaning of self-discovery, self-healing and genuine love for one's self. Alice F. Taylor is an author who understands the life of young black men. The daily struggles they face, many of which are the stumbling blocks to achieving their dreams as many are the time's men of colour are looked down upon, especially in the African-American society. The book impressively guides the reader through spiritual, mental and physical health life lessons. It inspires the young men to make the right choices to continue with their education and abstain from drugs and violence that are so tragically prevalent in our communities. It delivers lessons to young black-men to truly live according to their beliefs and firmly stand their ground and not to become a mere follower of the crowd. It gives the reader a mindset which allows positivity to ooze out from within, learning to be passionate about developing a personal relationship with the Lord and continually seek him to energize them with His power. What we encounter in life is so significant to our future; hence we need the right tools such as this book to tackle the struggles. The novel is expertly written as it contains real-life stories of black heroes and how they have accomplished their dreams. At the end of every chapter, there are questions which help evaluate one’s self and hence getting a means of handling and understanding life effectively. This book is purely what everyone needs to make a change in their life—highly recommended!

Alice Taylor is a former registered nurse who worked both as a civilian and served in the United States Army Nurse Corp for 28 years. She retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. During Desert Storm, she served as the Chief Medical Officer of the Troop Medical Clinic at Camp Robinson in North Little Rock, Arkansas. Alice completed her nursing education at St. Vincent's School of Nursing in 1969. She is a co-founder of Zero To Ten Publishing Company with her husband, Johnny L. Taylor, author of "Growing Up in the South: Lessons Learned" and "The 10 Theory: Lessons Learned."Alice and Johnny reside in Little Rock and are the parents of Dr. Amber R. Smith and Zina Taylor. Alice enjoys listening to Jazz music, cooking, fishing, and gardening. She is a youth leader at Mosaic Central Church in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Buy now, click here.

The Case of the Ex: Upgrade or Downgrade?

Kingston, Jamaica

June 26, 2020 by L'Homme Noir in Mental Health, Self Care

“So you bought me a car, he can buy that too
I can take care of myself and I can find someone to do it too, baby
You actin' like you upgradin' me, I upgraded you
You and me Fashion Week at Paris, I put you on to that new
But you took advantage of me, took advantage of you, took advantage
I cannot understand it, I cannot understand it.”

Is there ever really a such thing as an upgrade or downgrade in dating and if there is what is the criteria for an upgrade?

Of course when you break up with an ex, most of us don’t want to see them move on with someone more attractive, more accomplished or with more money - that’s considered an upgrade. You stalk an ex’s social media in anticipation inevitably of when they move on and find someone else, better. We’d all like to believe that “they’ll never find any one better than me?”

If we’re so fixated on what our exes are doing outside of us, we might as well get back together right? Obviously, the past isn’t in the past if we’re worried about an ex’s new this or new that.

“In a perfect world, as we move from relationship to relationship there should be some level of upgrading as we learn from our past mistakes and have a better understanding of what we want in our partner. Upgrading not in disrespectful way to your ex but rather upgrading in your emotional state. However, sometimes we do not take sufficient time for ourselves to heal and have a moment of introspection to truly understand ourselves before moving forward. This doesn’t happen for most of us and we focus on upgrading in the sense of ‘having a better looking’ new partner or rushing in something to prove a point.” J.M.

Then you could say there is no such thing as an upgrade or downgrade, there are only different experiences. Someone might just have other things to offer that an ex didn’t possess. Good people are just good people, and you may have found a more suitable match, which doesn’t make an ex worse or of lesser value. One objective with every relationship should be to inherently upgrade yourself and your decision making. Each experience should be a lesson, a lesson in learning to love better. You should have the ability to be a better version of you, to be capable of not making the same mistakes you did in the past and to bring wealth to a new relationship.

“I don’t really believe that there’s such a thing as an upgrade or a downgrade in the context most of us think. Most of us think if you date someone that’s not as attractive as your previous ex then you’ve downgraded. You date someone with more money; you’ve upgraded. What I do believe is an upgrade or downgrade in the things you’re willing to allow somebody to do/treat you .” K.H.

The talk about upgrading or downgrading is also tricky, because you can get back with an ex and upgrade/downgrade. What if your ex had other experiences in-between your last foray or learned from the mistakes you guys made in the past? Would it be an upgrade if they were able to love you better the next time, the way you always deserved, the way you wanted them to love you all along?

I think you can upgrade or downgrade. But an upgrade is dependent upon the success or potential success of the new relationship. Attractiveness, money or superficial things can contribute to this but more important factors are kindness, wisdom, love, communication, commitment, care, etc. It’s not the things that you can see that make the next relationship an upgrade, but pillars of the emotional and spiritual connection are the deciding factors. Your ability to pick a better match for you is moreso an upgrade in who you now are as a person, than an indictment on who your ex was - you’ve upgraded yourself.

What’s your opinion can you upgrade or downgrade? If you can what’s the criteria? Has a rekindled relationship with an ex been an upgrade or downgrade for you? Are we too concerned with what our exes think to find true love?

Chris Varkpeh, CEO Avanti. Body Positivity Advocate/Lifestyle Changer/Inspirer

Five Books Every Black Young and Wildly Ambitious Man Should Read

Kingston, Jamaica

June 19, 2020 by L'Homme Noir in Mental Health, Self Care

If there is one thing the great men of history have in common it’s this: books. They read, a lot. I know it’s my first post and it something as boring as reading right? Reading is something I was forced into doing and something I forced myself to love as I grew up. The result of this practice I have grown to appreciate today are great.

Theodore Roosevelt (ugh, a “white” I know, not too much of a bad one though) carried a dozen books with him on his perilous exploration of the River of Doubt (I love travelling thus my inclusion) and Lincoln (another one) read everything he could get his hands on. Napoleon (I swear I’m getting to my point without lightening the space too much) had a library of some 3,500 books with him at St. Helena, and before that had a traveling library he took on campaigns. We can appreciate where I am going with this of course, these powerful men owed a lot of their knowledge and references to books they would have consulted on their journeys. Barack Obama (at last, right?) said “Reading is the gateway skill that makes all other learning possible, from complex word problems and the meaning of our history to scientific discovery and technological proficiency.”

A little closer to home? Dr. Joe White speaks about the psychological interventions used to liberate black males. He postulates that these interventions cannot be based on principles of domination and control (after all that’s what we have spent centuries enduring and fighting, it should make sense right?). The importance of emotional expression, mind-body-spirit holism, the interconnectedness of all living things and the importance of confronting messages of dehumanization in their comprehensive psychological theory of African descent individuals.

Hard Times – Charles Dickens

Even though there are different forms of utilitarianism, Dickens writes through the character of Mr. Gradgrind a staunch example. This is not Dickens’ most famous work, it has the most to teach us though in my opinion. It takes us to a time when economic hardship and ingrained old world prejudices keep people from exploring their potential. Dickens’ presentation of it makes it clear exactly who the victim of Utilitarianism is and it’s hard not to have even a small bit of personal re-evaluation by the end.

Empire State of Mind: How Jay-Z Went from Street Corner to Corner Office - Zack O’Malley Greenburg

The kind of biography that doubles as a business book actually – with a great balance between the two. It shows how as a young man in Brooklyn, Jay applied hustling techniques to the music business and eventually built his empire. A true hustler, he never did only one thing — from music to fashion to sports, Jay dominated each field, always operating on the same principles. As he puts it, “I’m not a businessman, I’m a business, man!”, thought provoking and inspiring which will stick with you.

The Autobiography of Malcolm X: As Told to Alex Haley by Malcolm X.

The Autobiography of Malcolm X was written for young black boys, boys who needed hope – a hope to carry on. This read emulates a man who is born into adversity and pain, struggles with criminality, does prison time, teaches himself to read through the dictionary, finds religion, and then becomes an activist for Civil Rights before being gunned down by his former supporters when he tempers the hate and anger that had long defined parts of his message. Booker T. Washington’s memoir Up from Slavery and Frederick Douglass’s epic narrative are both incredibly moving and inspiring as well.

The Will to Change: Men Masculinity and Love
Bell Hooks at her usual ground-breaking best! Micro level cruelty is on trial often in this book as hooks discusses how current systems of domination prevent males from experiencing and expressing love. The shutting down of vulnerable emotions prevents men from expressing love and also prevents others from getting to know us. And make no mistake, men cannot experience love if we refuse to share our most vulnerable selves. To be clear, all genders have embraced patriarchal dominance and thereby this system of volatility and control is perpetuated across the gender continuum. hooks explains why traditional masculinity is the enemy of the Black family and Black male mental health; all the while offering a blue print for rejecting patriarchy and embracing a form of manhood which challenges sexism, strengthens emotional connections and facilitates loving relationships.

The Autobiography of an Ex-Coloured Man

James Weldon Johnson was a lawyer, educator, social reformer, songwriter, and critic. However, when he became a poet and novelist that is where he found his nitch.

The point is: Successful people read. A lot. And what about us young, wildly ambitious black men who want to follow in their footsteps? We have that hunger, that drive, and desire. The question is: What should we read? What will help us on the path laid out for us — and all that it entails? Make notes and apply them to your lives.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash — Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Oh Sh*t! I’m gonna be 30!

Kingston, Jamaica

June 12, 2020 by L'Homme Noir in Motives & Thoughts, Mental Health

Growing up, I always thought well damn I can’t wait to be an adult and well shit my 20s would definitely be my favourite decade. One of my favourite TV shows of all time was “A Different World” - hands down one of the best television shows ever – period, full stop, end of sentence. Agreed? Agreed. Even though the ground-breaking show went off the air 23 years ago, its relevance and messages remain important today. One of the big issues was the transition from adolescence to adulthood and some of the lessons learnt along the way.

As I climb toward 30, life just seems to keep getting better. Partly due to me making a concerted effort to “not sweat the small stuff” especially those I cannot change and partly due to me finally accepting the fact that I am doing relatively well in life and just being proud of myself after being entirely too hard, finally! Either way, here are some of the lessons I learnt in my 20s:

1. Build strong friendships. Learn to compartmentalize your friends and to build strong relationships with the people that matter in your life. This should go without saying, but it's important to understand that some people are only good for a season and some people are only good for an occasion. But when you find a friend that is really important to you, make sure to treat them accordingly. It goes without say that you will lose people along the way and that’s completely healthy too – romantic breakups suck but friendship breakups? Shiiiid, that’s next level. Remember, it’s okay for songs to end, relationships to end, good movies to end.. everything isn’t meant to last forever and remember the end does not mean failure – there are always good memories and lessons learnt. Also, learn boundaries – even in family situations.

2. Embrace “I don’t know”. You don’t have to know all the answers to everything, nor do you have to pretend to. Accept that you're ignorant of a great many things, most things in fact. At this point, you've spent 90% of your life as a controlled, dependent child. You know very little. Most people think they have a premium on brains, that they see clearly and understand thoroughly. We don't. I don't know a lot of what I don't know. But I know how, whom and when to ask. This includes having mentors and reading at your fingertips.

3. Start a part time business. They say if you work less than 60 hours a week, you're weak. The aim of the game in your twenties is to find the thin balance between enjoying yourself and making money while at it (without racking up debt). Learn to be someone who can out work anyone programmed to only 40 hours a week, this way you will be able to put your mind to something (not someone) you love on the side. Always save the side hustle money and try to save at least 5% of your regular paycheck, don’t forget to enjoy that shit, you worked for it. The aim is to get financially free but also happy.

4. Don’t be afraid to shoot for the stars. I know too many people who are scared to pursue the “big” jobs. On a daily basis, I see people working low end jobs that require them to have as much or more knowledge than the person above them at the same company. But they never try to go for the “big” job. They’ll say things like, “I don’t want the extra stress” or “they don’t want to hire a young person for that position” or “they already have all the positions filled, I have to wait for something to come available”

**Fuck that**

Look for that job that you think is beyond your reach… then go and get it. When it starts to feel easy to you… rinse and repeat. If there are other places that have openings for what you want to do… then maybe that’s where you need to be. Otherwise you may be waiting for the rest of your life. And if you don’t want to deal with the stresses that come with a job… then you’re working in the wrong field. As a young black person, you may have to work harder… so do it. We can and should talk about fairness… but we can’t allow ourselves to be hindered by it. In fact… let those additional obstacles be a motivator for you. Better that than to let them deter you from fulfilling your dreams.

5. Get healthy! I started working out in my final year of my 20s and let me tell you that each day I wonder why the hell I didn’t start this a few years ago. The fact is that you’re getting older as the clock ticks and the body is not forgiving so you need to develop healthy lifestyles to stretch the time you have on this Earth. Making the money is fine but are you going to live to enjoy it? Try simple goals per month to ease into it. Workout for thirty minutes twice a week? Add one less spoon of sugar to your tea? Fast food only once a week? Make it a lifestyle and start now! Your body is your temple. Take care of it with the same fervour that you take care of your mind.

6. Try to be a motivator and mentor to others. Don’t let this consume you to the point where it becomes a hindrance… but there are many benefits to helping others that have to be experienced to fully understand.

7. Don’t get caught up in materialism. Find out what things and “stuff” will really make you happy and focus on them. Buying stuff to impress someone else is a no no.

8. Look for stability. You can’t achieve any of this if you live a chaotic lifestyle.

9. Experiment with your identity, your interests, your sexuality, your living areas, your friends, ethnicities. We don’t need negro photocopies. We need diversity within the culture. There is no monolithic Black culture, identity or hegemony to abide by. White Privilege, is lack of static, culture glomming together. They simply don’t believe they are one thing. They believe and try out being many things. Hellloooo? Freedom is lack of self-imposed stultification.

10. Think critically about everything. Learn to see as many alternatives as possible in events, people narratives. Note how all leaders are demonized. Therefore, that means most must fall into the middle. Never think you're smarter than anyone, in person or on TV or in the Oval office. They were smart enough to get there. Learn why and how and what tactics and skills you can gain. You don't have to agree to learn from someone. In fact, study those you disagree with most.

A Midweek Drink

Kingston, Jamaica

May 06, 2020 by L'Homme Noir in Mental Health, Motives & Thoughts

We deserve something nice and strong, don’t act like I’m lying - let’s treat ourselves. One of the things I want to take up when this COVID thing is over is mixology, I plan to go take some classes and become one of the best mixologist you’ll ever meet (in my mind of course) plus it’s just something I’ve always wanted to do as a hobby so why not? Grab your glasses and mix with me, it’ll only take five minutes.

PREP TIME: 5 minutes

TOTAL TIME: 5 minutes

Serving: 1 (Spritzer)

Ingredients

· 6 oz vodka (3 oz equals 1 full shot)

· 1/2 tbsp sugar

· 1 medium lime

· 1/4 cup pomegranate juice*

· 4 oz lemon lime drink (4 oz equals ~ 1/2 cup)

· 3-4 ice cubes

· 3 drops of bitters

· 3 tsp pomegranate seeds

Instructions

1. Mix vodka and sugar, in the serving glass, stirring well until the sugar is mostly dissolved.

2. Add pomegranate juice and squeeze in half your lime. Then add lemon lime soda and stir.

3. Drop in ice cubes and sprinkle with pomegranate seeds, garnish with a lime slices and serve.

The past few weeks have been some of the most challenging ones in a while largely due to this raging epidemic. COVID-19 has changed the way we go about our daily lives for outgoing folks and homebodies alike. I was just in Trinidad in February jumping up and down in Port of Spain to the sweet sounds of soca having the time of my life. I left there and went to St. Lucia for a few days to wind down before heading home (I’ll tell you guys about that later) – now I’m locked in at home with an island wide curfew in hopes of trying to “flatten the curve” which is another task in and of itself the struggle of dealing with different minded people.

Instead of trying to approach the situation negatively, I tried looking at it as an opportunity to do some introspection and come up with novel ideas aimed at self-improvement and sharing that journey with you guys thus this blog. I also found this exercise (would be cool to kinda journal them) that I want you guys to try with me, it was a Instagram stories series by Chad Lambert IG: @chadcalm (a trained clinical psychologist) and I found it to be a really smart way to use time positively to “FACE COVID”:

F - Focus On What's In Your Control

To reduce anxiety around the uncertainty, focus on the elements that you can control. Start small, focus on controlling your body by moving your muscles, stretching and paying attention to how your body feels as you release the tension, as well as your breathing throughout. You can also take charge of how you spend your day whether it's video-calling or online games with friends or rediscovering old hobbies, ensure to include ways that will replenish your energy levels.

A - Acknowledging Thoughts and Feelings

Document these through journaling, creating a song/poem, drawing or painting, recording and playing back to yourself. After acknowledging, you can challenge some of the negative thoughts by introducing different perspectives.

C - Coming Into Your Body

Shifting your focus to the different sensations your body can experience using grounding exercises. The 5,4,3,2,1 exercise allows you to pay attention to each sense (Observe 5 things your are seeing, 4 things you're hearing, 3 things that you're feeling/touching, etc)

E - Engage In What You're Doing

Being mindful (in the here and now) allows you a break from incessant thoughts concerning the past and future. Eating mindfully can give you this break as you take the time to savour your meal, focusing on nothing else but the flavours each bite brings.

C - Commit to Action

We may be unable to do many of the activities we typically would at this time. However committing to at least one task a day will increase your focus of control and improve your internal motivation.

O - Open up

Ask yourself, am I truly being open and honest with myself? How have I been managing this pandemic? Try not to go into judgmental or problem solving mode (I could have, I should have). Allow yourself to just express freely, either to yourself or with a trusted source.

V - Values

Becoming more attuned to your values by describing them in relation to the various domains in your life (family, friendship, intimate relationship, career, education, health, spirituality) e.g. to be a caring friend (friendship). Rate (1-10) each domain according to its importance as well as how successful you have been in living in accordance with the respective values.

I - Identify Resources

Have a list of reliable resources on hand when your own tank is low. Whether it's for emotional or informational support, being able to identify your go to sources can bring a sense of relief.

D - Disinfect and Maintain Social Distance

We all know of the various ways to keep ourselves safe. Encourage yourself and others to continuing practicing them and remember, social distance does not equate to social disconnection. Stay connected to your loved ones from a distance.

You guys can choose one or two per day to do – write them down so you can check back on your progress and so you won’t forget.

Let’s do a cheers to a newness that will be birth from this “setback”, and thanks in advance for the celebration we will have when this is all over.