While you'd be forgiven for thinking the trend of self-care was spawned by Instagram influencers and mental health experts, the concept actually has roots in the social-justice movement. As women—especially women of color—have fought and continue to fight for space and equality, the self-care movement emerged as more than just taking care of yourself, but acknowledging that you both need and deserve it.
For me, self-care has been incredibly liberating. I grew up in a small town where acts of service were valued above all else, and while taking care of other people is phenomenally important, this focus meant that I never learned how to take care of myself and other people. It's strangely easy to learn how to take care of other people without taking care of yourself.
But while I found joy in service, I also found myself kind of miserable. I was spending so much time taking care of other people that not only did I forget how to take care of myself, I felt like I couldn't do so without being selfish. I found my sense of self-worth through external validation, and—as I got older—I grew more and more dissatisfied with myself as an individual.
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