You're Not Everyone's Everything

Sip of the Week: Aquabah dropped a truth bomb that shifted my entire perspective: "I might not be able to show up for everybody. And that's something that I had to learn how to be okay with because it freed me from feeling like I don't have enough time for me." As women, especially women of color, we're often expected to be the "cleanup people" - fixing everyone else's problems while our own needs go unmet. Aquabah's wisdom about balancing when to show up at 100% rather than trying to give everything to everyone is revolutionary. Her quote from Audre Lorde - that self-care is "an act of political warfare" - reminds us that choosing ourselves isn't selfish, it's survival and it benefits everyone around us. We are not meant to be everything to everyone- Listen Now!

Let it Brew: This episode explores how to maintain your Summer of Self momentum when life gets demanding and everyone needs something from you. Aquabah shares her journey of creating sustainable boundaries that allow her to thrive in multiple roles. The conversation addresses the unique pressures faced by women of color who are often expected to fix everyone else's problems while sacrificing their own needs. Through honest discussions about marriage, parenting, career demands, and doctoral studies, we learn that showing up 100% for everyone leaves nothing for yourself - and that's not sustainable or healthy for anyone.

Post-Tea Pursuits: CREATE YOUR NON-NEGOTIABLE SELF-CARE SYSTEM this week

Following Aquabah's approach to sustainable habits, commit to one week of intentional self-care integration:

• Identify one self-care activity that makes you feel like "you" and schedule it as non-negotiable time (like Aquabah's boxing and personal training)
• Practice saying "I might not be able to show up for this" when requests conflict with your priorities
• Have a "gut check" conversation with one important person in your life - ask "what's working, what's not?" in your dynamic
• Create an accountability system for your self-care (calendar reminders, accountability partner, tracking system)

WRITE DOWN how it feels to prioritize yourself without guilt this week. Notice that when you take care of yourself first, you actually have more to give others. Remember: people who love you won't prioritize your self-care for you - that's your job!