Hard and E-sy
by Erlene Grise-Owens, EdD, LCSW, MSW, MRE, lead co-editor of The A-to-Z Self-Care Handbook for Social Workers and Other Helping Professionals
Oppressive structures need dismantling.
Community care is a must.
Justice-making requires much.
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Magical “leaders” are not going to dismantle oppression.
Community is not an amorphous “we.”
Justice starts with me.
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I am a leader.
I am community.
Just-us begins with me.
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When I’m depleted, the community suffers.
When I’m defeated, the oppressor wins.
When I’m deflated, just-us diminishes.
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Without self-care, I self-less-ly dis-appear.
I become dis-connected, dis-couraged, dis-combobulated, dis-empowered, dis-functional.
Lack of self-care fosters dis-ease (“e”s).
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Self-care is whole-ly Essential.
It ensures that I show up with Empathy, Energy, Equanimity, Empowerment, Efficacy.
Self-Care is hard…and it’s “E”sy.
Peace, Love, & Self-Care, Erlene
Dr. Erlene Grise-Owens, EdD, LCSW, MSW, MRE, is a Partner in The Wellness Group, ETC. This LLC provides evaluation, training, and consultation for organizational wellness and practitioner well-being. Dr. Grise-Owens is lead editor of The A-to-Z Self-Care Handbook for Social Workers and Other Helping Professionals. As a former faculty member and graduate program director, she and a small (but mighty!) group of colleagues implemented an initiative to promote self-care as part of the social work education curriculum. Previously, she served in clinical and administrative roles. She has experience with navigating toxicity and dysfunction, up-close and personal! Likewise, as an educator, she saw students enter the field and quickly burn out. As a dedicated social worker, she believes the well-being of practitioners is a matter of social justice and human rights. Thus, she is on a mission to promote self-care and wellness!