Hi friends! It’s so nice to meet you. I’m Alexis, co-founder of Kursiv Organics. February 2021, can you believe it? What a wild year it’s been. A year ago, Olivia and I were testing samples, pouring over color swatches, and putting the wheels in motion to make our dream of bringing accessible, genuine CBD to folks like you a reality. We had no idea what was in store both personally, professionally, and globally. We are so humbled for your ongoing support.Olivia and I started Kursiv with a genuine desire to create and share an authentic tool for self-care. I have long had an interest in health and wellness, but I’ll be honest, it took me a long time to really understand what the term “self-care” meant for me. When I heard the term, I thought of jade rollers and face masks. I didn’t know that self-care could mean something more.
The pandemic and the ways in which it fundamentally shifted life created a heightened level of stress for me. With so much uncertainty about the health and safety of my friends and family, I felt out of control. I ended most days in tears, and my usual coping methods (see: wine) weren’t cutting it.
Despite my sparse self-care toolbox, I knew taking a dropper of Kursiv and a walk around the neighborhood lake felt good. So I started taking both. A lot. The simple act of moving my body and getting curious about the physical sensations in my body began to reveal the old wounds I was still carrying around. I knew I was ready to heal them.
While still very much on my self-care journey, I am proud of the renewed sense of self I have today. It wouldn’t have been possible without these 5 essentials of my self-care toolkit:
Therapy and a Recovery Group
Sharing with someone I trust has allowed me to release the burden of old traumas I had been carrying around. Not sure if therapy is in your budget? Many therapy clinics operate as nonprofits and offer services on a sliding scale, and recovery groups around the world are free and widely accessible via In the Rooms.
Social Media
I know, the internet is not usually a calming place. But I’ve found so many amazing resources on social media like @the.holistic.psycologist @yung_pueblo and @allbodieshealth who have broadened my knowledge of healing and body-positivity.Meditation and Exercise
I always knew meditation exercise was good for me, but now I’m learning how to use breathwork and movement to heal emotional pains in my body. I practice ashtanga yoga twice a week, a moving meditation focused on breath. You can learn more about ashtanga yoga here from Twin Cities-based teacher Kristen Mansch.
Journaling
Putting pen to paper helps me gather my thoughts and release them to the universe. When I write something down, I no longer have to carry it around. Currently, I am practicing gratitude journaling. The University of California Berkeley has a great article about how to start a gratitude journal. I always feel better when I’m conscious of what I’m grateful for.
