Self-Recovery Is Radical: Intentional Living for Folks at the Margins
Aug 19, 2025
The writings of bell hooks shaped the way I understand rest. bell hooks called it self-recovery—a radical practice of reclaiming our energy in the face of systems that deplete us.
That same ethos lives at The Mending Place. Because while “self-care” has become a buzzword, true recovery—especially for those of us at the margins—requires more than bubble baths and wellness trends. It calls for something deeper: self-recovery.
For many in marginalized communities, the barriers to healing are heavy and ongoing:
Family shame and stigma around mental illness
Limited access to culturally responsive services
Misinformation or silence about mental health in our communities
Compound stress from pandemics, racism, and systemic neglect
These aren’t individual shortcomings. They’re systemic realities. And yet, in the middle of it all, our need for recovery—and the possibility of it—remains.
Self-recovery is the radical act of reclaiming autonomy, space, and well-being in environments not built for our thriving. It’s a choice to live intentionally—beyond mere survival.
✨ Name the Disconnect
Acknowledge how stigma, systems, and societal expectations have shaped your access to care.
✨ Define Healing on Your Terms
Ask: What do rest, boundaries, creativity, and joy look like for me?
✨ Reclaim Space & Power
Choose practices that reflect your values—whether journaling, rest mapping, therapy, or building community.
✨ Commit to Intentional Living
Through small, consistent actions—check-ins with yourself, reclaiming rest, practicing presence—you create transformation.
Self-recovery isn’t just a phrase. It’s a liberation practice—grounded in radical care, presence, and sovereignty.
And it’s not selfish. It’s survival. It’s resistance. It’s a declaration that our lives and well-being matter, even in systems that tell us otherwise.
If you’re ready to step into intentional living and reclaim your energy from systems that drain you, we welcome you at The Mending Place. Together, we can move from surviving to self-recovering.