Self-Care Book
In any conversation or work about self-care, we must celebrate, lift up and acknowledge Audre Lorde. Her writings on self-care are paramount when discussing the concept today, as they recognize the origins of our contemporary understanding and pay tribute to the profound insight she offered. Audre Lorde, a notable Black American writer, feminist, womanist, librarian, and civil rights activist, viewed self-care as a revolutionary practice deeply embedded in the struggle against oppression. Her perspective on self-care transcended mere personal wellness; it became a tool for survival and resistance within marginalized communities. By centring Lorde's contributions, we honour the intersectional dimensions of self-care and underscore its political significance in navigating systems of power and injustice. Her seminal work, "A Burst of Light," remains an invaluable resource for those seeking to delve deeper into the transformative potential of self-care as a means of liberation and empowerment.
I was commissioned by ArtReach Toronto in 2013 to research, develop and write a self-care guide with the support of a community advisory team. The guide was designed by Michelle Campos Castillo. The guide has been used across North America in youth organizations, by funders and within post-secondary Social Work programs.
This guide was created with much love for youth workers holding down our communities. It was co-created with youth workers through interactive self-care workshops. We heard many ways people were healing alone and with the community. From this came the idea to create a self-care guide with youth workers. With the support of an amazing youth advisory committee, I worked to make this guide relevant and accessible.
Thank you deeply to all the community members who shared their stories, challenges and tools. The guide combines information about trauma and self-care with practices and exercises you can use daily. It’s a living document, something to help in our ongoing journey to self-care and community care. Daily invitations allow you to reflect, pause, journal, dance, and sing while attending to your needs. We hope you use the exercises, reflections and practices to think through intentional self-care. You can do them under the covers, with a loved one or in a crowded subway.
To Reference: Khan, F. (2015). Caring for Yourself is a Radical Act: Self-Care Guide for Youth Working in Community. Toronto, ON: ArtReach Toronto. Retrieved from https://www.artreach.org/selfcare
