As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.

MAYA ANGELOU

Hey, You! Owning your strength and taking responsibility for your health can power your purpose. Eating a plant-based diet, exercising, limiting toxins, and giving yourself a safe-space is paramount in a sustainable lifestyle towards longevity. As a WOC, especially Black women, we focus so much of our energy on protecting the people closest to us and creating an environment for others to flourish – Forgetting we need the same. Many times that leave us mentally and physically exhausted. My blog is here to tell you it’s okay to put yourself first and not to settle for what the “norm” is (eating high-fat foods, limiting carbs, always “grinding,” capitalism, misogyny, etc.) Prioritizing how we treat ourselves will give us the strength we need to be our best selves and show-up for the people and causes we care most about.

Sometimes I joke about when WOC get bored – we go and get more education. So, I am requesting a call to action: We take that same energy for collecting knowledge and use it to know what we put in and on our bodies, who we let into our space, and where we put our monies.

One lesson I have taken from 2020 is, if you don’t stand soundly in your beliefs, others will push for their agenda on your behalf. LOCKALCORDO believes it is every individual’s responsibility to be mindful of how certain foods, lifestyles, and practices affect them. The top diseases that strike our demographic most, like heart disease, strokes, and Type I diabetes, can be prevented or even reversed through exercise, diet, and meditation. As a Black woman, I know I have been dismissed for my medical concerns or given a Rx with a slew of side effects. To add insult to injury, the healthcare professional failing to take my unique situation into account and telling me about my grave risks. I have literally almost died because of it. Being an informed, active participant of my health and mental wellness makes me feel STRONG & BEAUTIFUL. How about you?

• SHANYKA LOCKALCORDO, MBA, CERTIFIED NUTRITION & WELLNESS CONSULTANT