How To Take Care Of Yourself
The case against self-sufficiency.
Last week I questioned whether self-care is an effective way to look after ourselves amidst our broken healthcare systems (read it first if you haven’t already). While wellness products, meditation apps and online classes have helped the more privileged during the pandemic, others have found meaningful support through mutual aid.
As someone who grew up resentful towards the institutions that failed to adequately support my mom with her disability, I’ve always believed in the informal networks that provide care for those abandoned by the state. When I think back to how we survived, I don’t think of the doctors. I think of the caregiver we hired under-the-table, the Meals on Wheels delivery from my local community shelter, the friend who drove us everywhere—our informal networks of care.