Why We Wrote Sisters’ Journey to Holistic Healing

Some projects stay with you for years before you’re ready to share them with the world.

Sisters’ Journey to Holistic Healing is one of those projects.

By February 2023, Dr. Tonya and I had already created an Instagram page for this book. The writing likely began before then. Neither of us needs to go digging through old files to know this much: this book has been years in the making.

Now, with our November 11 release approaching, seeing it come together feels especially meaningful.

At the heart of it is a belief we’ve carried throughout the process: women deserve space to care for themselves as whole people.

Making Room for Ourselves

For many women, especially Black women, being the dependable one becomes second nature.

We show up for our families, our friends, our work, and our communities. We carry responsibilities people can see and others they may never know about. Somewhere in the middle of all that showing up, our own needs can get pushed further down the list.

We tell ourselves we’ll rest when things settle down. We’ll check in with ourselves when there’s more time. We’ll ask for support after we’ve handled just one more thing.

But our well-being deserves attention in the middle of our lives, too.

That truth is part of why my sister, Dr. Tonya U. Johnson, and I wrote Sisters’ Journey to Holistic Healing. We wanted to create room for women to pause, reflect on what they’re carrying, and consider what they need.

Healing Can Look Different in Every Season

The word healing can bring up a picture of a clear destination: every hurt resolved, every question answered, everything finally feeling whole.

Our experiences can be much less orderly.

Sometimes healing looks like recognizing that you’re tired and allowing yourself to rest. Sometimes it looks like setting a boundary, asking for support, or acknowledging a feeling you’ve been trying to push aside.

For those of us living with chronic illness, caring for ourselves also means honoring the reality of our bodies. Symptoms may still be present. Our capacity may change. We may need to adjust plans we were excited about.

There can still be meaning in finding more compassion for ourselves, receiving appropriate care, and building lives that make room for our needs.

You don’t have to measure your journey against somebody else’s timeline.

Caring for the Whole Woman

When we talk about holistic healing, we’re talking about considering the whole person.

Our bodies, thoughts, emotions, relationships, and spiritual lives all have a place in that conversation. We bring our experiences, responsibilities, beliefs, and hopes with us wherever we go. It makes sense to consider those parts of ourselves when we think about care.

For one woman, support might include medical care, rest, prayer, and people who help her feel seen. For another, it might include counseling, reflection, accessible movement, or learning to say no without offering a lengthy explanation.

There isn’t one perfect combination for everybody. What supports you may also change over time.

Our hope is that this book encourages you to explore your well-being with curiosity and compassion, while making space for the support that fits your life.

The Gift of Sisterhood

Creating this book together has given us an opportunity to bring our voices and perspectives to a shared purpose.

There is something meaningful about being able to tell another woman, “This is where I am,” and knowing she will listen without asking you to make it prettier or easier to understand.

Sisterhood can look like encouragement and honest conversation. It can look like somebody checking on you when you’ve gone quiet or sitting beside you when there are no perfect words.

It also gives us a chance to learn from one another. We each bring our own experiences, wisdom, and questions. We don’t have to be in the same place to offer each other care.

That spirit of connection is part of what we want to share through Sisters’ Journey to Holistic Healing.

A Book You Can Take Personally

We included opportunities for reflection because we wanted readers to have space to consider their own lives.

As you read, we hope you’ll pause with the questions that speak to you. You might recognize something you need, find words for something you’ve been feeling, or notice a part of yourself that deserves more attention.

You don’t have to answer every question perfectly. You don’t have to rush through the pages. You can return to a reflection when you have more energy or when your circumstances change.

Begin where you are.

Maybe that means giving yourself ten quiet minutes. Maybe it means admitting that something has been heavy. Maybe it means celebrating how far you’ve come, even while you’re still finding your way.

Those moments deserve room, too.

Years in the Making, Almost Ready to Share

After carrying this project for years, Dr. Tonya and I are preparing to release Sisters’ Journey to Holistic Healing on November 11, 2026.

As two women veterans, sharing it on Veterans Day feels especially meaningful.

We’re grateful to be approaching this moment together, and we’re looking forward to placing this book in the hands of women who connect with its message.

Our hope is that you find encouragement in its pages and room to hear your own voice. That you feel welcome to reflect, to take your time, and to consider what caring for yourself can look like in this season.

What is one small way you can make space for yourself this week?

With love,
Bina Banks 💜