3 Meaningful Ways to Practice Self-Care as an Introvert

Sami Haroon

Sami Haroon

· 2 min read
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Sitting on a patio overlooking English Bay, I am eating dinner and talking with a woman I have met only hours earlier. A memorable evening for both of us, it will see us share some of the most difficult and personal memories we have. Details will be different, but the trajectory similar, in both our cases centered around death. Not one, not a few, but hundreds of deaths. For each of us.

Okay, one, don’t worry, we’re getting to the sunsets! And two, please be assured that despite what it sounds like, I do have appropriate boundaries. Because what I have just described is the life of an HIV researcher. In town for an annual research and treatment conference, it was three days of the latest science, prevention, and support findings. And meeting people like Leena, who, like myself, is a qualitative researcher, working exclusively with women who have contracted HIV from rape or abuse. While my field is HIV, PTSD, and stigma, we do share the same approach, which uses a narrative model of inquiry. Meaning, our data is the individual and community story of HIV. If you’re interested in reading more about what I do, check out the piece below.

Not surprisingly, we had a lot to talk about and found we had many things in common. Like, for example, sunrises and sunsets. For both of us, seeing them is inexplicably tied up in remembering loss from HIV. Something else she said really hit me. Originally from San Francisco, Leena talked about how HIV had literally torn her city apart. But then, oddly enough it became the shared history that helped it mend.

Last night as I watched the sunset you see above and below, I thought again of what Leena had told me about San Francisco, inspiring me to write the poem that follows below the next image.

Sami Haroon

About Sami Haroon

Sami is a Leader and Software Engineering Manager with a passion for sharing technical knowledge, productivity hacks, and lifestyle tips with the online community. With a keen eye for clean code and design, Sami leverages his expertise in software engineering and management to create valuable digital content that helps others achieve personal and professional growth. As a fan of personal improvement and lifelong learning, he is dedicated to sharing insights and best practices to help others succeed in their endeavors. Follow him for the latest insights and strategies for improving your technical skills and enhancing your overall quality of life.

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