I Imagine this email finding you like this....
a notification goes off on your divice bing bing
You look down at your phone and you realize the notification is from me. I imagine you looking down at your phone like
I know right?! "Here she go after a year of leaving us on read. She has some bald headed nerve." To that I say my friends yes... yes I do.
I won't lie to you I didn't intend to go ghost on y'all, I just got to work minding my bald headed business and kinda faded into the bushes like Homer Simpson. This might be a 7 minute read or so, so bare with me then I'll fade away after you've gotten caught up.
If you are new here WELCOME, I'm Jin I am a certified Yoga Instructor and Limited Licesnced Professional Counselor. In this blog, my focus is always on self-care as it pertains to your whole being. That's mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I share things that have worked for me, things that others have shared with me that have worked for them, and things we've learned as a way to help those who may want or need it.
Now that we got that out of the way let's talk about it. Chile last time I talked to you I think I was making my way downtown when I found out that you can adopt and donate plants at some Monroe Mi library locationsn which blew my hair back because auntie Jin loves plants and libraries/book stories. Before you ask yes, nephew/niece Auntie Jin does live with dylexia however, that hasn't stopped me from reading, writing or loving literature. I feel it gives some form of Matilda vibes; heavy on the execptional commonalities.
I left the link below if you want to catch up. Umm humm I'll be right here when you come back.
If you were like "now Jinave' you know I don't be reading for real what made you think I was going to click a link to catch up on a blog from about a year ago? Girl get to the point.. where you been and why is you here?
Cause I've taken a whole year off from bothering you and I wanted to share some stuff I learned while I was out and about in the world around me.
I like I was saying I was
Walking fast when I came arcoss a yoga studio. I was looking for a space to practce life skills like how to interact with people from different back grounds, political views, mental and emotional capacities while being in community with people who were meeting themselves for the first time exactly as they were, where they were. I also wanted it to be within walking distance because my vehical was a pair of roller skates.
When I got to the building I was a little nervous because it had been awhile since I practiced yoga in a prodomitely white space. For those how don't know I identify as an American Black Woman with curves, stunning facial features that I sheild behind prespriction glasses, who found the courage along my travels to practice yoga publically in community with others that don't always look like me. *Transparency* I didn't give you that discription of myself to brag or boast. I often forget that color of my skin or the sharpness of my curves plays apart in how I'm precieved when I walk into certain spaces until I show up and I'm eventually reminded. Here is a picture for reference.
When I walked into Monroe Yoga I was welcomed warmly by Bri, and Jodie who practiced along side me. I felt safe and comfortable so I decided to go back. The next time I went I met Delinda. Delinda and I chitted and chatted for a bit and I shared "I'm a yoga teacher but I've taken time off from offering to the community because I need myself right now." Delinda looked at me and said "Do you have a good support system?"
Y'all I looked at her like this thinking who sent this woman to be all up in my bald headed business?
After I caught my breath I remembered I was standing in her business and she was simply minding her business by making sure I was well. I responded "I do however, they don't live close and I'm finding IRL human interactions and quality time to help me stay grounded." She told me to lean into the community at the studio so I did without hesitation. Taking classes, attending workshops, asking questions, offering support, and showing up as myself. Delinda asked me to come onto the team as a teacher and share my knowledge with our community but I asked her to wait for me to catch my balance and my regrow my teaching feet. Skip forward 6 short months I now offer 2 classes a week to our Monroe Yoga community. You can flow with me on Tuesday's at 5:30pm EST and Friday's 5:30am EST here is the link to sign up for classes.
If you made it this far down into the blog and you are thinking "Okay that's all cute but what's really good?"
Yes, I am really good actaully. I'm not gonna hold you though- I hadn't been sewing or crocheting much because I'd gotten back into that loop where I would hyper focus on work and neglect regular self-care rituals. You know that very toxic pattern where you are out of alignment mentally and physically but you like to drink ice coffee, warm non-dariy lattes, eat pastsries, buy books you will probably won't read but will come across someone who will to trade it to in exchange for yarn or other fiber materal. Oh, you don't know what I'm talking about? It's just me in here?
Okay, well one Saturday morning I was minding my bald headed business in my office when my stomach said
I walked out the the front desk and there was a menu for A Fresh Start Coffee house. I was intreged by the name. "A Fresh Start? That's what I need right about now. Let me go see what they talking about" Y'all I walked in and it was like a breath of fresh air to me. The atomosphare was cozy and the staff was patient and kind. I ordered the drink of the day which was the Raspberry Rose Late with Oatmilk and a waffle sandwhich. I Robbie told me that they make the waffle batter from scratch and that it would be about a 10 minute wait on my food. I said that was fine and proceeded to look around the coffee house. I learned that Fresh Start CoffeeHouse is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping formerly incarcerated individuals and addiction survivors with meaningful employment. They desire to support the rebuilding of lives with each employee through discovery of their personal purposes, gifts and callings. Their vision is to empower those who come to them to participate fully in the economic and social life of their community. Thier mission is to provide a bridge to hope, restoration and dignity for discounted, marginalized members of the Monroe community who are ready to redirect their lives and become contributing members of society.
Me as I stood in this hidden gem in the middle of nowhere.
Not only did they have food, cafe, aumbaunce, a mission and vision that aligned with my spirit baby they have live music, art shows, and a little boutique all right there in the coffee house.
Me falling in love with this place
Just look at how cute it us yall.
They are only open Wednesday-Saturday and this Saturday 10/19/24 is the last Saturday the Pine Grove Boutique located inside of the coffee house will be open. Sue said that she will be having a nice sale going on so come see her from 9:30a-12:30pm this Saturday.
Let me leave you with this senentiment- Last year around this time I told myself I wanted to explore my neighbor hood to see what resources were avalible for people to use and things to get invovled in offline that don't cost a million five dollars. This was one of the ways I practiced self-care. When I met myself at the coffee house this year I saw how far I'd come in my healing journey and decided to pause, and assess where I was and how I gotten there. Making the chose to feed myself led me to feed my community information about a couple of cute little places in the middle of nowhere that I happen to find myself minding my bald headed business. Maybe we will see each other while you are out in the school of life, maybe I'll see you in the studio, maybe you'll see me in a coffee house. Where ever we are I just pray that we are well.
Until next, be easy.
Love Auntie Jin.
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