Sometimes, all it takes to turn your day around is to put in the effort. This can mean many things to many people, but for my mom, it always starts with tending to herself—whether that’s sleeping in, eating a good meal or spending twenty minutes putting on lotion. As a child, I never understood some of her lengthy rituals; like when she sat combing her hair in front of a mirror long after it was detangled, or delicately lined her lips until the crisp line at her cupid’s bow was just right. Now, I realize these were efforts toward peace and composure before the start of her day—a kind of grounding exercise, if you will.
In adulthood, I’ve come to find my own meditative moments during what might otherwise look like a tedious “effort” to some. When I put on makeup in the morning, it’s a quiet and creative time to myself that I don’t take for granted. On wash days, I soak up the two-plus hours it takes to cleanse, style, and dry my curly hair without any guilt or FOMO from the time spent. It’s always worth the effort, as long as you make it for yourself.