Hey Sis,

April is Stress Awareness Month - a reminder to check in with ourselves. For many Black women, stress isn’t just a seasonal concern. It’s etched into our daily lives often showing up uninvited and unspoken.
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Why Black Women Deserve to Breathe
We are the caretakers and the nurturers. Too often, we carry that weight alone - navigating work, family, community, injustice, and expectations without pause. We are the ones expected to push through, show up, stay strong, and keep smiling no matter what. But all that holding, all that performing, all that enduring…it costs us, and the toll shows up in our bodies.

This month, Porch Tribe invites you to embrace something radical...The Sacred Pause:

-A pause to breathe deeply.
-A pause to rest unapologetically.
-A pause to feel without numbing.
-A pause to say no without explanation.
-A pause to be without doing.

Because the truth is, we weren’t meant to run on empty, and we don’t have to earn rest through exhaustion.

What is Stress Awareness Month and Why Does it Matter
Stress Awareness Month was created to shine a light on how stress affects our lives, and more importantly, what we can do about it. While everyone experiences stress, Black women often face compounded pressures rooted in racism, sexism, generational trauma, and expectations of constant resilience.

When we don’t pause to address stress, it takes root. It settles in our sleep, our moods, and our blood pressure just to name a few. Awareness is the first step to healing. When we name what we feel, we can finally do something about it.

Signs of Stress We Often Ignore
Stress doesn’t always show up as panic, sometimes it looks like:

-Chronic fatigue even after sleep
-Irritability or emotional numbness
-Difficulty concentrating or feeling overwhelmed by small tasks
-Headaches, body tension, or shallow breathing
-Losing interest in things that once brought joy

These signs are not failures. They are signals. Our bodies are wise, and they’re telling us something.

Introducing Soul Strolls from the Porch to the Beach
We’re inviting you to step into healthy habits through Soul Strolls from the Porch to the Beach. These guided wellness walks are about more than movement; they’re about reclaiming our bodies. You don’t need to train or prep, you just need to show up! Stay tuned for more information. 

An Affirmation to Ground You
I am allowed to pause.
Say it out loud. Write it on a sticky note and place it on your mirror. Let it interrupt the cycle of over-functioning.  What would it look like to give yourself permission to rest---today?

Àṣẹ, 

Mickeya L.
Founder, Porch Tribe

Hey Sis,
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Pull up a chair, kick off your shoes, and get comfortable, as you’ve just stepped onto the virtual front porch of Porch Tribe. And whether you got here by word of mouth, divine alignment, or late-night scrolling, I’m so glad you made it.

This isn’t just a blog, it’s a movement.

So welcome. Linger a while and take what you need. The porch light is always on.

Àṣẹ, 
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Mickeya L. 
Founder, Porch Tribe