There is a particular kind of exhaustion that does not show up on any medical chart. It lives in the body, in the shoulders you carry a little too high, in the sleep that never fully restores you, in the hypervigilance you have practiced so long it just feels like being awake. For many Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, that exhaustion is inherited, compounded, and ongoing.
Black History Month often invites reflection on where we come from and what has been carried forward. For you, this time may bring pride, heaviness, curiosity, or a mix of emotions that are not always easy to name. It can also be a moment to think about how history, culture, and lived experience shape the way you care for yourself today. Self-care that honors the Black experience acknowledges that your emotional and mental well-being are influenced by more than personal circu