Listen, if I’m being 1000% transparent—AMERICA is real ghetto right now. The system is glitching real bad, both loudly and quietly. And recently, a wise woman asked me if I was going to say anything to Black women about everything going down in this political climate.

And honestly? I told her I didn’t know what to say—because I’m struggling too.

But then I sat with it. I thought it through. And I realized…I HAVE been saying something. It just didn’t fully hit me that scaling up my business has been preparation for the uncertainty of these times. That I had already looked ahead and built something Black women would need in this moment. I just wasn’t shouting it from the rooftops. It’s been more of a quiet rumble.

My message—that joy is a necessity for Black women—was already here before the chaos started.

At the end of last year, I made a decision—one that changed everything. I decided that in 2025, every high-achieving, over-functioning Black woman I work with will experience joy. Not “might.” Not “hopefully.” Will. I even restructured my entire business, closing the portal to new therapy clients just so I could focus on this God-given goal.

Y’all. I literally changed my income to stand firm in this belief. That’s how much this matters.

Because I’m tired of us being sick and tired. Literally. So, I made an executive decision—one that didn’t need a committee vote. I started being more vocal, revamped my Instagram, and built programs and services that prioritize Black women’s well-being. I created a safe safe for us.

But here’s the problem: Black women, we stay so busy, we don’t always recognize the answer when it’s right in front of us.

So let me be clear: I have been preparing us for a time such as this.

So listen up. This is how you nuture your peace in this political storm. And understand, I’ve been saying this message the whole time. And I will keep saying it—louder and louder—until it cuts through all the noise, all the chaos, and all the distractions.

The Political Power of Rest and Joy

The world hasn’t exactly made ease and joy feel like options for Black women. We’re expected to be resilient, strong, and always “on” for everyone else—while the political climate keeps reminding us that we’re supposed to just deal with whatever comes our way.

But let’s be clear: joy is not a luxury. A soft life is not indulgence. Prioritizing our well-being is not up for debate.

We weren’t put on this earth just to survive struggle after struggle. And yet, society still tries to make our rest look like laziness, our softness look like weakness, and our boundaries look like selfishness.

But choosing joy (not delusion)  in this climate? That’s a radical act of resistance.

When we prioritize ease, peace, and laughter, we reject the systems that profit off our exhaustion.

Joy isn’t just a cute concept—it’s a health strategy. Black women are disproportionately affected by chronic stress, high blood pressure, and anxiety. That’s not by accident—that’s the weight of generational expectations and systemic pressures.

But here’s the thing: we are not machines. We do not exist to pour endlessly into jobs, movements, and relationships that drain us. Our well-being matters. And it’s time we act like it.

Softness is Strength

And part of protecting our well-being? Letting go of the weight we were never meant to carry.

Who told us we had to be strong all the time? Because let’s be real—that whole “strong Black woman” trope is nothing but a setup for burnout.

Strength doesn’t mean carrying more than we should. Real strength is setting boundaries, walking away from what drains us, and choosing joy—even when the world tells us we haven’t earned it.

A “soft life” doesn’t mean being passive—it means living with intention. It means saying no without guilt, prioritizing rest, and creating a life where our well-being is non-negotiable. It means refusing to prove our worth through struggle.

Black Women, Reclaim Your Time

Your time is yours.
Your peace is yours.
Your joy is yours.

And in this political climate, you better believe that choosing yourself is an act of revolution.

So here’s the challenge:

✅ Schedule joy into your life the same way you schedule work.
✅ Give yourself permission to rest—without feeling the need to “earn it.”
✅ Release the guilt around saying no to things that don’t serve you.
✅ Find a community that celebrates your joy, not just your struggle.

Black women NEED to live full, soft, joyful lives—no matter what the world says.

And guess what? We’re done waiting for permission.

#CAPEOFFLIVEON

Sharell D. Cannady, CEO of Docked Ships

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At Dock Ships, we see "a future where African American women achieve social health & enjoy maximum wellness." 

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