Tag: COVID

Self-Care Pearls

A survey of employees in the region of Delhi, India found that cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, anxiety, and sleep disorders are increasingly the norm in the population of 30–40-year-olds. The health of this age group in the U.S. also is remarkable for chronic issues, especially obesity, depression, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure; in 2023, 6 in 10 young adults and 8 in 10 midlife adults reported 1 or more chronic conditions.  A steady rise in prevalence of early health concerns over the past 20 years in the U.S. is a canary in the coal mine for what may lie ahead for these individuals as they age.

While we have just “finished” World Health Organization’s Self-Care Month (June 24 – July 24), support for self-care needs continual daily recognition if we want to change the trajectory of overall world-wide wellness. This was the intention of the International Self-Care Foundation in naming July 24th for special emphasis: the date was selected for the 24/7 nature of self-care. Yes, how one sleeps is one critical support in wellness (including productive, longer, and happier lives).

The Global Self-Care Federation based in Geneva, Switzerland, suggests that the self-care focus ought to be on resilience. Recalling lessons you learned from COVID-19 might apply here. Perhaps you discovered resilience in new dimensions. COVID was a world-wide epidemic. We learned from many countries how to create community-building in new ways. When everyone makes a commitment in support of global self-care, everyone will be better off. The skyrocketing costs of health care are not sustainable. But the real reason for supporting better wellness globally is about the quality of life for everyone.

International Self-Care Day 2026 (observed 7-24) lists their theme as “Self-Care Puts Your Health in Your Hands: Test. Track. Thrive.” Here is a simple way to show compassion and self-care for yourself: pick 1 thing for your resilient attention – your sleep routine, your diet, your emotional status, your exercise – and track it for 7 days. Notice what needs support. Resolve to work on one wellness promise.

Peggy Swarbrick, occupational therapist and researcher, defines wellness as “a conscious, deliberate process that requires being aware of and making choices for a more satisfying lifestyle.” She identifies 8 interconnected dimensions of wellness: emotional, physical, intellectual, environmental, social, spiritual, financial, and occupational. From setting aside time for a meditation practice to developing a new hobby (perhaps finding a pen pal for snail mail), you will chart your own course.

Indian yoga guru B.K.S. Iyengar uses the musical word, “harmony” in defining health: “Health is a state of complete harmony of the body, mind, and spirit.” I call the resiliency process to achieve this complete harmony “rewiring.” Do not leave your rewiring actions up to chance! Consciously rewire your personality and ability skill set to evolve as you make day-to-day choices with self-care in mind.

Pearls of Peace (PoP) Quiz

518. What does your self-care promise look like?

519. How will you gain more wellness this week?

Black Herstory

Shirley Raines, social media creator and founder of the non-profit Beauty 2 The Streetz, died last week at age 58. Better known as Ms. Shirley to many who experienced homelessness in Los Angeles and Nevada, she had a 5 million TikTok-follower tribe. Ms. Shirley made a difference in people’s lives. She offered hygiene kits and beauty products to those on Skid Row, LA. When she posted pictures on TikTok of her offers to color people’s hair and do makeup, hair stylists and barbers as well as makeup companies donated their services and products. At one time Ms. Shirley cooked 400 meals a week in her apartment for Skid Row occupants. When the pandemic reached LA, she turned her soul soldier efforts to combat COVID with vaccinations for unhoused people.

Ms. Shirley was named CNN’s Hero of the Year in 2021. A defining part of her story involves mothering 6 children. One son died just days before his 3rd birthday from an accidental overdose from a relative’s prescription medications, a shattering experience that Ms. Shirley recalled in becoming “a very broken woman.” During the CNN award event, she put a positive spin on her grieving: “It’s important you know that broken people are still very much useful…I am a mother without a son, and there are a lot of people in the street that are without a mother. And I feel like it’s a fair exchange—I’m here for them.”

A 2025 survey reports that nearly 72,000 individuals were homeless (on any given evening) in Los Angeles County. Clearly, it takes more than one person to address the critical needs of so many, but Ms. Shirley was a tireless organizer of services for countless folks. She engaged people on the streets by offering them a turn at working with her as she provided free haircuts or handed out supplies and food.

February is Black History month in the U.S. and Canada. Gaining momentum, this honoring of achievements of persons of African descent is now celebrated in Ireland and the UK every October. This year is a particularly poignant time to honor both Black histories and Black herstories. Patriarchal norms focus most attention on men’s history. White patriarchal norms led to an executive order in 2025 demanding that the Smithsonian remove or modify exhibits that “divide Americans based on race” or “inappropriately disparage” U.S. history. One removal was Harriet Tubman’s hymnal, a worn-out time capsule of hymns sung as signals for slaves via Underground Railroad escapes.

For inspiration in trying times, arm yourself with these quotes from wise author, poet, memoirist and civil rights activist Maya Angelou:

“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”

“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”

Pearls of Peace (PoP) Quiz

458. Is there a movement that you feel passionate about in 2026?

469. How might you honor Black History/Herstory this month?