When ‘Just Do It’ Goals Begin with Just Getting Dressed
Today when I was looking for something to wear, through my mountains of clothes piles (and having these mountains are not really a norm for me—Thank you Rona), I decided on this Nike outfit.
The first thing I wanted to do was to slap the ‘Just Do It’ Nike slogan and it’s mama right smack dab in the face! I was like, “No Mr. JDI Slogan—YOU just do it!”
But since I could find all of the pieces, I decided to wear the ensemble of legging pants, tank and crop top. (There’s a matching long-sleeve top too somewhere in those mountains!)
I thought about how hard life has been in general in 2020 and how much harder it is now for so many folks.
It’s certainly not always easy, to “just do it” when folks are marginalized, sick, poor, dealing with mental illness, grieving, in broken relationships, etc. And especially not when dealing with pandemics and white supremacy, the ultimate pandemic.
As a black woman, all of my life, I’ve had to press through the heaviness of racism (while whiteness denied that racism even existed). Of being a woman in a patriarchal world. Of being fat in a world obsessed with thinness, a construct of white supremacy. Of being a woman in the church, with so many oppressive rules. Of having PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and surviving just about every type of abuse—physical, sexual and emotional, more times than I can count. All of that while ALWAYS working two or three jobs, taking care of my family and serving my community.
Despite all that, I began to think about, what is it today that I could set an intention to just do? (And yes, that thought was met with some sarcasm.)
My first thought was, that I am going to just be, however I be. While grateful to just be alive another day. Thanking Creator for this amazing blessing as I write this blog.
Then, tapping into my deep exhaustion and sadness, I knew not to aim too high for any goals right now. Hence, my Just Do It goal is to get dressed two or three days this week and I’m already at Day-2.
Week before last, I got dressed one day. Last week, two days, and only because one of those days was Father’s Day and my baby daddy (x3) and I put on our African colors and went to see Bishop & Mother Irving (our spiritual parents), to get food and visit Nanny (Slim’s Aunt) through the glass window of her nursing home. And I guess, wearing pajamas wouldn’t have worked for all of that.
The second day I got dressed last week was Monday, the spin of from Sunday, oftentimes including some of Sunday’s clothes. I mustered up the energy to get dressed and even painted my nails orange that day (wearing a mask 😷 due to being scent sensitive).
After that, it was a wrap! I wore dressed up pajamas... (you know... adding accessories, a scarf, a shawl or a hat) all week.
I have other goals like finishing up the edit of the proof of my Who’s Watchin’ Me? Season One book (which you can preorder a copy today and will be available this summer), working on my Black Fury poetry collection book, and my Abundant Fatness coloring book, riding my bike two or three days and perhaps at some point—tackling those mountains of clothes by hanging up three to five items a day.
For those of you struggling with depression, grief, chronic pain, chronic illnesses, lack (of money, food or resources), low motivation or anything that has you stagnant, I see you and I’m here with you. I’m also praying for you.
While some are training for marathons, starting or ending a relationship, planning to travel a hopefully post-pandemic world some day, my Just Do It goal for this week is to just get dressed as many days as I can.
What’s your goal or intention for today or this week?
(Please type them into the comments below if you are willing to share.)