it's actually terrifying how quickly the concept of self care (originally a radical concept rooted in the black panther party's efforts to support other black ppl living through racism) became another tool of self-management which is viewed as both a moral obligation + an individual responsibility. businesses + employers + other institutions now easily wield it as a progressive way to say "if you're upset about xyz, make yourself get over it". "we are going to treat you like shit + you need to learn how to cope with that or else you're doing something wrong"
i have seen job listings where "ability to practice self care" was listed as a requirement for employment. as a case worker, we were repeatedly drilled on "self-care" as a response to unconscionably high case loads, traumatizing experiences, dead end job obligations, + poor living conditions due to subpar pay/high stress. my clients would go to appointments regarding their evictions, food insecurity, active domestic violence situations, etc + receive tips on "self care" without any tangible community, legal, or structural support to follow.
everyone absolutely deserves to care for themselves + it is useful to circulate affirmations + advice on how to do this. this should happen within communities, through a sincere concern/love for one another, as a way of helping everyone live the best life possible while we work towards total liberation. it should not be a replacement for caring for one another!!! it should be one of many ways of caring for one another!!!
i had this thought of a fashion/news editorial that rivaled the anticipation of the wanted posters that came with the news coos named WANTED. sort of a tongue-in-cheek thing to navy-controlled news. this volume with sanji is inspired by al parker's art!
you can find prints of this here!
[ID: Sanji from waist-up in a dark red suit, black shirt, and pink tie - he's holding a black and gold lighter in his right hand, a lit cigarette perched loosely between his lips. His face is in profile, showing a dangling pearl earring in his left ear. His right arm leans against the bottom right corner, as if propping himself up. The flat red of his suit blends with the background - in contrast, his rendered face and hands pop from the composition. END ID.]
i was extremely sleep deprived yesterday when i discovered the dragon survival mod which was LIFE CHANGING when you're on three hours of sleep so of course i made a whole custom forest dragon texture in one day about it.
and. just for fun, some concept art i made for it: