I have been wanting to read ‘What’s the Point of the Revolution If We Can’t Dance’ since I got my copy at the African Feminist Forum in September. However, it has taken me until today the 6th of December to finish the book (whilst queuing for 6 hours to vote). For me the most interesting thing is that the book began to influence me even before I delved into its pages…At the recent Association of Women in Development (AWID) Forum, I attended a session on ‘What’s the Point of the Revolution If We Can’t Dance’ and afterwards made up my mind to write a list of personal self-care principles which are:
• Have a manicure every 2 weeks
• Have a pedicure every month
• Have a facial every month
• Exercise at least 4 times a week
• Drink at least a litre of water a day
• Read a fantastic book at least once a month
• Have a weekend break every 3 months
• Take a fun holiday at least once a year
• Have a massage once a month
The great thing for me is that although my list may appear very indulgent (and why not?) it actually will not cost me much money. I am fortunate that my favourite Auntie owns a beauty studio so I get to have free manicures, pedicures and facials. All I really need to do is tip the staff that provides the treatments, and from time to time I bring my Auntie a small gift. However I have realized that my self care routine only works when I am actually in my home country Ghana. I am quite fortunate that the organization I work for, the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) has a flexible working policy…I am a night owl so tend to go to bed very late and accordingly rise late so it is a real boon to be able to start work at 9am, 9.30am or 10am. In Ghana that’s a real luxury, many people I know have to fight through hours of traffic to start work at 8am.
By now you are probably thinking I have it good when it comes to self-care, but I have realized a pattern. Whenever I travel for work (and recently that has been up to twice a month) I fall sick. I usually get a cold which in the case of my trip to San Francisco for the ‘Women Raising Millions’ training was somewhere between my 16 hour flight time from Accra – San Francisco. In Uganda, during the entire African Feminist Forum I had a cold and a racking cough, my poor room mate Sophie would wake up in a panic wondering if I was okay and very recently in Dakar I reacted very badly to the dusty conditions and sneezed for three days continuously. So what am I going to do about this? These short term illnesses have given me a clear message. I need to take even better care of myself. I need to start taking some good vitamin and mineral supplements, I need to go to the clinic to run some tests to ensure there is not an underlying reason for these persistent coughs and colds, when I am outside Ghana attending conferences or convenings I need to try as much as possible to emulate some of the healthy eating practices I maintain at home and not indulge in lavish hotel breakfasts or the pastries and biscuits that are sometimes present at conferences and convenings. I also need to ensure that I find ways of taking a break whilst traveling for work…So what do you do to take care of yourself? Let’s share some ideas and strategies. Any recommendations
Nana Sekyiamah
Programme Officer
Fundraising & Communications
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5 comments:
Dear Nana,
I very much appreciate and support the fact that every women need to make personal care as part and parcel of life. It is indeed very good and healthy for every woman because of the numerous gender roles we perform daily with its associated stress. But first and foremost, lets consider the issue of cost and affordability.
You are very lucky to have a relative who owns a personal care shop where you could probably undertake all the enumerated personal care activities by just paying a token fee.
What about those who are not that fortunate to have such relatives?
Although, personal care is good for every single woman, is also very expensive and only well-to-do women can afford.
Poverty is known to be feminized, hence majority of women in Africa live below the poverty line and could therefore not afford personal care.
For me, as a feminist, the most important issue is how personal care could be made affordable to attract almost every woman for the sake of our health and longivity.
Various organizations could also subsidize for staff to undertake personal care in order to maintain a healthy staff.
Rose Buabeng
Dear Rose,
I feel compelled to respond to your response to Nana. I feel that comments like yours are the exact reason that 'What's the point of the Revolution if We Can't Dance?' was written. You write "You are very lucky...What about those who are not fortunate?" It is this very sentiment that makes feminists feel guilty every time we do something nice for ourselves, take a little break from making the world a better place, or even feel a little joy - because there will always be someone less fortunate who doesn't have those luxuries. But do we all have to wait until all women have those luxuries to enjoy our own lives just a tiny bit without guilt? Especially when we spend the other 80 or 90% of the time working for other women to share in those same pleasures? Can't we have enjoyable lives (as long as the pleasures aren't exploiting anyone else) while fighting for all women to have those same choices and luxuries? I believe we can, and I applaud you, Nana, for taking care of yourself!
I love the comments on this blog. Its always great to have feedback.
Rose, I hear what you say about personal care being 'expensive' and something that only well to do women can afford and I also agree that it would be great for organisations to provide a subsidy for staff in order that they can afford personal care. However, I think when it comes to the subject of personal care there are several issues that come to play. I do not think personal care always needs to be expensive. It can be as simple as taking time out everyday to go for a walk, to chat to a friend or just to daydream.
The reality for a lot of activists is the guilt they feel when they 'take a break'. Many activists do not take holidays or have anything resembling work/life balance. These are some of the issues addressed by 'What's the point of the Revolution if We Can't Dance'. Personally, work/life balance is very important to me and is something I take time to prioritise
Dear Nana,
Thanks for summarising the book entitled "What's the point of the Revolution if We Can't Dance". It favours those of us who are yet to read the it.
In addition to all that you enumarated as necessary for personal care, I think good sex also counts.
Thanks very much this lovely and helpfull piece.
Grace
Thanks Grace,
You know what, I really wanted to add 'good sex' or like a friend once said 'mind blowing sex' to the list but i didn't...Why? I think I felt a bit 'shy' which is silly, right?
Thanks for the 'old school' inspiration. The best thing about 'good sex' is that it is free or should be
Nana
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