Breathing Through October: Choosing Ourselves Without Apology

Every season brings change, but for Black Women, the weight of the world rarely lightens. We continue to navigate oppressive systems that not only challenge our well-being but often erode it. Our labor is exploited, our brilliance is overlooked, and our mental health is too easily dismissed. These realities are not new, but the cost of carrying them is heavy.

And still we rise.

October invites us to pause and take stock of what we’re holding. This year alone, more than 300,000 Black Women have lost jobs; our unemployment rate rising higher than any other demographic. And when we dare to speak truth to these injustices, too often our voices are silenced. According to The Highland Project’s recent poll, 45% of Black Women voters say their mental health has declined this year, naming the state of our country and the cost of living as leading causes. Together, these realities remind us why caring for ourselves is not a luxury. It is resistance. It is survival. It is our birthright.

As Audre Lorde reminds us, “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”

At Exhale, we honor self-care as an act of power, not privilege. We believe that when we care for ourselves, and for one another, we are practicing a radical form of resistance. When we slow down, tend to our breath, rest our bodies, and honor our emotions, we refuse to let oppressive systems dictate our worth. Each moment of care is a declaration: my well-being matters, my life matters, my joy matters, I matter.

Exhale is more than an app - it is a movement. A safe space created for us, by us. A place where Black Women’s voices, healing, and experiences are centered. Every meditation, affirmation, and breathwork practice is designed to remind you: you are not alone, and you are worthy of care right now.

A Call to Action

This October, I invite you to join us. Download Exhale. Share it with a sister, a friend, a colleague. Let’s grow this community rooted in breath, joy, and liberation. Because when Black Women prioritize our mental health and well-being, we don’t just transform our own lives; we shift the world for generations to come.

Take a breath. Take up space. Take care without apology.