Deep Breaths This week’s reflection was written by our Policy and Action Fellow, Trinity Williams. We are grateful for her unique voice to guide us in this moment. –Rev. Moya Harris During my time as a student organizer, I often saw myself as someone who encouraged others to prioritize their self-care. I’d ask daily: “Have you eaten?”, “How much did you sleep?”, “Are you keeping up with your assignments?” – all while going to bed past midnight most nights, missing meals throughout the day, and overwhelming myself with responsibilities related to my academics. How did this happen? I clearly understood the importance of self-care enough to hold others accountable, but why not myself? One day, I finished facilitating an event and was talking with a fellow organizer while I cleaned up the meeting space. After sharing how unbearably overwhelmed I felt, she said something to me that I will never forget. She shared a metaphor comparing movement work to a harmonious choir. Like any choir, no voice can sustain itself completely on its own; throughout the song, each member must catch their breath. However, these gaps created by breathing are never heard by the masses, because all the voices continue even as individuals pause. To me, the most important aspect of this metaphor is the symbiotic relationship between community and self-care. In moments of persisting and resisting through the constant stream of unprecedented events, it’s essential to find moments to breathe. Remember that the communities you’ve built or find yourself in will cover you. What strikes me most about this metaphor is the concept of breathing. Breathing is self-sustaining. It revitalizes you. The breath tells your body that you are still alive. I learned quickly that when overwhelmed, we often feel as though we are running out of breath. Therefore, we should never feel guilty for taking small moments to center ourselves, take deep breaths, and remind ourselves that we are alive. No matter where you may fall within the Social Change Ecosystem, may this metaphor be a constant reminder that you gain nothing from working yourself beyond a functioning capacity. I pray we all take our moments to breathe among the divine chorus we harmonize within. I pray against the concept of hyper-individualism that may paralyze us. We are meant to rely on others just as we rely on forces beyond ourselves. Trinity Williams, Policy and Action Assistant, Sojourners | 
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