There’s no denying that many, if not all, of us are at our breaking point. We’re over two years into a pandemic, feeling the heat of the environmental crisis, and our Black and Brown communities are experiencing injustice and loss from every direction. Add in other marginalized aspects of our lives such as disabilities, including mental illness, being queer and/or trans, being a trauma survivor, and living in poverty and underserved communities, and matters can start to feel hopeless. 

Many times our go-to healing method is self-care and while self-care can play a huge role in our own recovery from overwhelming injustices, self-care is oftentimes done in isolation. That solo journaling session, individual therapy, meditation, solo jog, or art session can do wonders, but there’s one overlooked component of healing and that’s healing together as a community.

We’re social creatures at our core. Being in community and sharing our experiences with each other allows us to strengthen ourselves together. Here are some suggestions for healing together:

The path toward justice isn’t one that can be accomplished alone. Healing together and standing up together can strengthen our efforts. For more information, check out the links below.

Brené Brown on Empathy vs Sympathy – YouTube

Community Healing is the Systemic Change People of Color Need – Children’s Health Fund: Access to Healthcare for Children Living in Underserved Communities (childrenshealthfund.org)

Collective Care and Activism. Everyone involved in any type of… | by Habon Abdulle | Medium