I am turning another year older this month and feeling incredibly blessed. As I age, I am so thankful for the gift of health. When I was younger, I definitely valued things over experiences. I still prioritize experiences with my friends and family, however, as I make more trips around the sun. I am thinking more seriously about health and wellbeing, not just for myself, but for my friends and family members whom I love dearly.
Each year, I get my annual mammogram. Black women tend to die at greater rates of breast cancer than other racial and ethnic groups due to lack of preventive care and more aggressive forms of breast cancer. I know many people put off getting their annual exam because they fear the discomfort of the process. However, those 5 minutes of discomfort are a small price to pay for a yearlong peace of mind. I know how important mammograms are, having lost my paternal grandmother to breast cancer before I was even born. After each annual mammogram, I treat myself to lunch or a massage to make the day less daunting and more enjoyable.
More recently, I have had quite a few friends have episodes of their stress levels rising to a point where they needed to seek care from a doctor. Due to the stress of life and being Black in America, far too many Black men and women are experiencing high blood pressure, increased risk for stroke, and so many other stress-related diseases and medical events. We must take these warning signs seriously and, as best we can, try to manage stress when possible. It is hard right now — so many people are stressed about their finances, their families, and so much more. However, if we want to continue to celebrate the little things in life, we must take care of ourselves, and one another.
My birthday month is a time to take stock of how I’m living and any items I’d like to change or adapt. It’s also a time to really appreciate all I have accomplished and all that I have become. I think I will follow in the footsteps of my friend Dr. Jason Johnson and celebrate the entire month of July. Dr. Johnson believes in multiple celebrations to remind him of all of the people he loves (and who love him back); the places he’s been, as well as places he’d still like to explore; new foods he’d like to try; and so much more.
To my fellow Cancerians, have a fantastic birthday month. May we all continue to take care of ourselves and one another. May we continue to try new things and savor all of the little gems life holds for us on a daily basis.
Christina Greer, Ph.D., is a professor at Fordham University; author of the books “How to Build a Democracy: From Fannie Lou Hamer and Barbara Jordan to Stacey Abrams” and “Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream”; and co-host of the podcast FAQ-NYC.
