Black History Month: Jump-Starting Lifelong Habits

A friend of mine drew a parallel between Black History Month and the 30 Days of Yoga that she does each January. She says:

That 30-day practice each year is not intended to be a one-time event, but rather a 30-day period in which I reconnect to my purpose and develop a set of habits that I carry with me throughout the year. Depending on the year, it has given me a jumpstart (reminding me how much harder it is to get started again when I leave yoga to the side and only come back on occasion) or a refresh (bringing increased intention or new exploration). 

When I practice regularly, my breath becomes steadier and fuller, bringing me more life when I focus on it as an integral part of my daily life. Our ABAR [anti-bias, anti-racist] work should be like that. Not just something that occurs during a professional development session or when a major news event happens. One of the messages I am reminded of in my yoga journey each January is the importance of showing up even if I don’t feel prepared mentally or physically to practice. A small move done with intention and purpose matters a lot. 

We are each on our own journey and must take personal responsibility for where we are and learning and growing from that place. So, in addition to the specific activities of Black History Month…I invite you to join me in reflecting on:

How can we use this 28 day period of Black History Month to jumpstart or enrich an ongoing practice of learning, reflection and action in each of our lives? 

I love this framing so much and look forward to reflecting on what it will look like for me to take this message to heart.