I Thought Self-Care Was Just Bubble Baths—Until I Learned to Say ‘No’

Essence Magazine:

Diane ADAM / Getty Images By Larry Stansbury ·Updated September 19, 2025 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…

For most of my twenties, I believed self-care was about eucalyptus candles, a curated skincare shelf, Sunday face masks, and oat milk matcha lattes that offered a sense of calm. I convinced myself these rituals were enough, that they were proof I was caring for myself. But the truth is, while I

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