Weekly Tip: Change Your Sheets
Over the past week I want to say, but really even a little before that, I have been wrestling with the sudden breakout of my face and neck. Not pimples per se, but little heats and areas of swollen/raised skin.
At first, I thought dirty make-up brushes (this deserves a separate post) had to be the culprit. Then when things persisted and then escalated to the point of pain, where I regressed mentally to that girl with awful skin, I kind of pulled into myself.
My second diagnosis in as many days, it must be an allergic reaction. Not being a person who usually has pills on hand, I was ready to head to the pharmacy and gather up some help in the form of Benadryll. But I delayed—I hate, yes hate taking pills with a passion. Not really the pills I think, but the insanity of having a vocal ‘ah’ moment after I swallow, as if all is suddenly right with the world. Still in pain, but trusting that pill as I have trusted no other. This is my issue, but you see the dilemma.
My third and final assessment was stress. I have been putting in the hours. The 8 to 5, and then the 6 to whenever my eyes refused to stay open any longer. You see the other issue? I do. One thing at a time though.
Monday night was a boiling point. I was just sick and tired of all of it. The lack of balance in my life, the obvious lack of balance revealing itself on my face was pushing me to the edge and so I ate, shut down everything and lay in bed looking for all the world like I was about to expire. The ensuing conversation:
“I hate to see you like this, what’s wrong?“
“I don’t know.“
“We always know.” (bugger stole that from me)
“I’m just tired and I think I feel slightly depressed.“
“Is it the site? Your face?“
“Yes, yes…”
A healthy pause
“I want to pray. Will you pray with me?“
“Sure.“
“You go.“
“No you.“
“I don’t want to cry.“
“So cry.”
Not quite sure how long we were on out knees, but it felt like forever. When I got up I felt lighter. This is always the case and yet how soon I forget, how good it is to let go in that way. I looked at the bed and I said, I have to change my pillowcase and the sheets.
And that’s what I did. Even while I was doing it I never really thought about it, I just knew I had to do it. With a renewed purpose and burdens lifted, it dawned on me that this was the problem—had been the problem all along. It made me consider that sometimes the answer is a simple matter of going back to basics—those things you know to be true.
Prayer for one. But also, this clear memory of my childhood years, and even into my young adulthood where changing my sheets was something that occurred very often. We’re talking, at the very least weekly. I remember scoffing when I heard Oprah say one time that she changed her (or had them changed) every two days.
To each his own. Do what works. But I already know what fresh linens/sheets do for me. They help my sleep patterns, my overall mood, my breathing and ensure an overall feeling of wellness, in a space I definitely want defined as a haven.
Now, understand also that I am a natural. My regimen has everything to do with a stimulating/moisturizing mix of oil and herbs (thanks to TheMopTopMaven) that has made me and my hair happy. At the same time when you change something in one area of your life, considerations need to be made in others.
So with the hair I live, I don’t need any interaction between the working oils in my hair and my face. So, I’m mindful of that.
Fundamentally, the issue is not what I use on my face or hair, the issue is being aware that my particular hair/facial care regimen demands that I pay extra special attention to my sleeping area and keeping it fresh and clean.
I don’t know about anyone else, but changing my sheets more frequently will have to be my new reality.
As a direct result of the change already made, for the past two days, I’ve awoken with no renewed points of inflammation and much calmer skin. Hopefully within the next couple of days I will be back to normal—for my skin.
So, here’s to taking it back to the basics and some commonsense.
New Dasheen installment: My Weekly Tip http://dasheenmagazine.com/weekly-tip-change-your-sheets/ http://fb.me/Iw7YxmQi
This is so true. Childhood memories of having to change the sheets every week as well as taking down the curtains and the screens to wash them every other week. Another thing that helps to keep everything clean is changing bath towels, hand towels and wash cloths frequently. Some people has been doing these things all along. Some, like me, are learning that this is mandatory to remaining healthy. A tip from my big sister, Lea: Wash your pillows. Between washes, I use Febreze.
Leria girl you ain’ never tell a lie! It’s so easy to forget the basic things that worked when we were growing up lol I wonder if is just laziness. Ah well, Tell Lea I said thanks for the tip too. Febreze is actaully one of my #1 household products!