Naomi Osaka is Human First & Self-Care Matters

Naomi Osaka was fined $15,000 essentially for setting boundaries to preserve her mental well-being. If she broke a bone or lost her voice, would she be treated the same? My guess is no, it would not be the same, but that doesn’t make it right. 

There is an unspoken rule or belief in society that demands that women and people of color to suck it up and do their ‘job’  no matter what. You should be agreeable, strong, there for others who expect you to be, and of course, be thankful to have a “good job” or a “good life.” But when your mental wellness is in jeopardy is it really a good job or a good life? 

Naomi Osaka is challenging another unspoken belief. Self-care is great as long as it doesn’t inconvenience or cost financial loss to those who depend on your gifts. It’s time for us to unite and stand up against this BS! Self-care is not for when it’s convenient to others. It’s is important no matter what is going on and it’s personal. 

Athletes like Naomi Osaka, Serena Williams, and LeBron James feel like superheroes. They have these amazing gifts, but we need to remember they are human first and have the right to put their self-care first. 

Journal Prompts

• When do you feel uncomfortable, drained, or out of alignment?
• What would it mean to me to have boundaries that support me?
• What do I need to think, do, feel, or believe in order to set and stick to boundaries that serve me?
• What boundaries do I have that isn’t working for me? How can I change those boundaries so they start to support me instead?

Photo credit: Kate Tann