The Lotus, the Pearl and the Light - The Pearl’s Price: Escape to the Source - A comic strip from the Akua Project by Rakia Ari - 12.04.2025

Based on Story by Rakia Ari

Imagery by Gemini

 

Sunday's Mental Health Check-In - November 30, 2025

Teeth Do Not See Poverty: A Sunday Reflection

Happy Sunday! I hope you are taking a gentle moment for yourself today.

I was scrolling through some thoughts for our weekly mental health check-in when I stumbled across a Maasai proverb that stopped me in my tracks. It’s short, a little unusual at first glance, but incredibly profound:

"Teeth do not see poverty."

Originating from the Maasai people of Kenya and Tanzania, this phrase is a powerful reminder about the nature of joy and human dignity.

What does it mean?

Literally, it means that when you smile, your teeth look the same whether you are rich or poor. Your teeth don't know your bank account balance. They don't know if you're having a rough week, if you're struggling with anxiety, or if you feel like you're barely keeping it together.

Metaphorically, it’s a reminder that a smile is a universal sign of hope that doesn't depend on your material wealth or current circumstances.

Why this matters for our mental health

In the world of mental health, we often talk about "resilience," but sometimes that word feels heavy—like we have to be tough armor all the time. This proverb offers a softer version of resilience.

It suggests that joy isn't something we have to "earn" by having everything in our lives perfect. It’s not a reward for fixing all our problems. Joy—and the smile that comes with it—is something that belongs to us simply because we are human.

It’s not about "faking it." This isn't about toxic positivity. It’s not about grinning through the pain and pretending everything is fine when it isn't. It’s about realizing that even in the midst of "poverty"—whether that be financial lack, emotional exhaustion, or a depressive episode—the capacity for a moment of lightness still exists.

Your Sunday Check-In

So, for this Sunday's check-in, I want to challenge you to think about this proverb.

When we are going through hard times, we sometimes feel guilty for laughing or smiling. We feel like we should be in "survival mode" 24/7. But the Maasai wisdom tells us that our smile is separate from our struggle. It is a rebel act to find a moment of joy when things are hard.

Try this today:

• Find a "Glimmer": Look for one tiny thing that makes you want to show your teeth. A funny meme, a dog walking down the street, the taste of your coffee.

• Release the Guilt: If you find yourself laughing today, don't police it. Let it happen. Your teeth do not see the struggle; they only see the joy.

Remember, your circumstances might be heavy right now, but your ability to smile remains yours. It’s a piece of you that the hard times can't touch.

Wishing you a peaceful week ahead.

 

The Lotus, the Pearl and the Light - A comic strip from the Akua Project by Rakia Ari - 11.27.25

Story by Rakia Ari

Imagery Via Gemini AI

 

Sunday Mental Health Check In - November 23, 2025

Stop Paying with Your Sanity

Happy Sunday, everyone.

I was scrolling through my feed this morning, getting ready for the week, when I stumbled across a quote by Keri Hilson that stopped me mid-swipe. You might have seen it floating around, but I think it deserves more than just a double-tap. It deserves a deep breath and a moment of real silence.

She said: "You don't owe anyone years of your life in exchange for the decline of your mental and emotional health."

Read that again.

We live in a culture that loves to romanticize "sticking it out." We give gold medals for suffering in silence. We pride ourselves on loyalty—loyalty to jobs that drain us, relationships that diminish us, and friendships that have long since expired. We look at the calendar and think, "Well, I've already put five years into this. I can't just walk away now."

But here is the hard truth that Keri’s quote brings to the surface: Time is not a currency you should use to buy your own unhappiness.

The "Sunk Cost" Trap

There is this heavy feeling of debt we carry, isn't there? We feel we owe people our presence because of shared history.

• "We've been friends since high school."

• "This company gave me my first shot."

• "My partner and I have been through so much together."

History is valuable, yes. But history is not a suicide pact for your spirit. Just because you have spent a long time making a mistake doesn't mean you have to spend the rest of your life making it.

Recognizing the Price Tag

Everything has a cost. Usually, we think in terms of money or time. But what if we started pricing things in terms of our mental health?

If a job pays you a six-figure salary but requires you to live in a state of constant, high-cortisol panic, that job is too expensive.

If a relationship offers you security but requires you to walk on eggshells every single day to avoid an explosion, that relationship is too expensive.

If a friendship offers you nostalgia but leaves you feeling drained and unworthy after every coffee date, that friendship is too expensive.

You Are Not Being Selfish; You Are Being Smart

Walking away often feels like a betrayal. We worry we are being selfish or flaky. But preserving your mental and emotional health isn't an act of betrayal against someone else; it is an act of rescue for yourself.

You are the only person who has to live inside your head 24/7. You are the custodian of your own peace. If the environment you are in is toxic, you cannot heal. You cannot grow. You are just surviving. And you don't owe anyone your survival mode.

The Check-In

So, for this Sunday Mental Health Check-In, I want you to ask yourself the uncomfortable question:

What am I currently paying for with my peace of mind?

Is there a situation where you are trading your emotional stability for someone else's comfort? Are you staying somewhere solely because you feel like you "owe" them your time?

Let this be your permission slip. You don't owe them. You owe yourself a chance to be happy. You owe yourself a future that looks brighter than your past.

Take care of your heart this week. It’s the only one you’ve got.

— Your Sunday Reset