Self-care

Written by Patricia Darwish My daughter Medina, wrote me this poem, her only way to express her feelings during my treatment that gave me the fuel I needed to continue the battle. Making of a Queen She lost it all, when she had it all; the love, the money, the beauty. And now she lays…

Written by Patricia Darwish.   Good morning, ugly.  Yes that’s what I said to myself each morning as I looked in the mirror.  Harsh, right? Well, that was my reality. By my second chemo treatment, my hair started to fall out and there was nothing I could do to stop it. I had bald spots…

Written by Patricia Darwish Dear God, That’s it! I give up! There is only so much one person can handle.  What more can I go through that I need to show you I have faith? I love you. I surrendered to you. Why am I still being tested?  I want answers God. Why aren’t you…

Written by Anonymous.   For 20 years, I had suffered physical and emotional abuse by the hands of my step mother. Its impact is something that I carry with me to this day. She had herself and me, a young and innocent child of seven, convinced that I was the cause of all of her problems….

Written by Patricia Darwish. This is Patricia’s journey. If you missed Part 1, feel free to read it now before continuing. We will continue to provide you with her story every Friday. *** It’s Friday morning and I haven’t slept at all. My alarm goes off.  What? I have to get up and go on…

This is my first Valentine’s Day without a valentine in about 10 years. This may seemed fucked up to the naked eye, but because I’m trying to live my “new-and-improved” life as an Optimistic Sally, I’ve come to terms with my current situation. I’m divorced. Single. I ain’t got no man. Or woman. Except for my friends,…

Written by Patricia Darwish. In sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, through the good and bad I will cherish you. Vows people make when they form a union. Someone dear to me said these words today leaving me to reflect on its true essence. It hit me hard! I began to think,…

Today is only the two-week mark since Donald Trump was sworn into office as the 45th President of the United States of America. Within this time period, he has managed to take 17 executive actions. Now if you do the math with me, thats a lot in just two weeks of power. Let’s finish up the equation though…

It has been a tough few weeks. Since Donald Trump’s inauguration, it has felt as if we’ve been waking up to a daily dose of shocking news. Amid the resulting protests and influx of information, it is important to unplug every now and then, and take care of yourself. Practicing mindfulness is a way to…

This is to all my millennials that find themselves skimming through self-help books. This is for all my peers living a hybrid culture fused with traditional beliefs and new-world oppression. This is, also, for everybody who claims that self care is selfish. To that I say that I, too, don’t know the difference between self care and…

New year, new me? Maybe. Maybe not. I can dig the saying, to an extent. Some people want to do better, be a different person, emerge from a butterfly cocoon at midnight, but a date on a calendar isn’t going to propel you into greatness. It can be a push in the right direction, though….

Disclaimer: I would like to state that in no way do I shame or have right to judge any individual in the sex industry. This article is based off of research I found (primarily focused around the academic journal published in Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society 2008, vol. 34, no. 1 by…

The first time I encountered a traumatizing moment that had to do with my identity was when I was in seventh grade. My hijab was stripped off my head by two male eighth graders and I was speechless. I felt my heart shatter as I ran to the bathroom sobbing. I was humiliated, embarrassed and…

Every time I walk into a Planned Parenthood clinic, I feel a little on edge. I could blame it on the location, and how it’s hidden away out of the public eye. Or on the protesters, who are often standing outside with signs. Or even on the high level of security, which makes me go…