Speaking out is an act of self-care
My new morning self-care routine | 5 min read
This is my new morning self-care routine.
After daycare drop-off, I call my members of Congress.
It takes 5 minutes.
In the last month, my anxiety has been through the roof. After Renee Good was killed and the growing ICE activity in Minnesota, I’ve felt:
- Anxious – that I could be racially profiled for being Asian, despite being a U.S. citizen.
- Heartbroken – hearing immigrant women avoiding prenatal visits because they’re too scared to leave their homes.
- Furious – when people of color are wrongfully detained, and families are left with years of trauma.
- Worried – that I’ll be targeted for speaking out against injustice.
- Terrified – that my kids could witness violence against one of their teachers of color.
So I started calling.
Anger isn’t a weakness. It’s a signal that a boundary has been crossed, and what we care about most needs protection.
Channeling that into a quick call has been unexpectedly therapeutic:
🌟 Feeling all the emotions (fear, grief, and rage)
🌟 Processing my lived experience
🌟 Moving from hopelessness to a sense of purpose
🌟 Focusing on what I can control: demanding better from our elected officials
It instantly converts my anxiety into action.
We don’t have to agree on politics. But we can agree that everyone – regardless of race or skin color – deserves safety and dignity in their own community.
This week still matters. Congress is deciding ICE funding and guardrails.
Speaking out is an act of self-care and community care. And for those of us who have the privilege to call, it’s our duty to speak out for those who can’t.
📣 If you’re fed up, take 5 minutes today:
- Call your Senators (202-224-3121) or use the 5 Calls app
- Tell them why this matters to you
- Share this with 3 people you know
Learn more about what I’m fighting for here.
