When the world feels chaotic and absurdist and a bit like that over-the-top melee scene in Everything Everywhere All At Once, it’s helpful to remember that it’s all just a set up for Ke Huy Quan’s monologue:
“When I choose to see the good side of things, I’m not being naive. It is strategic and necessary. It’s how I’ve learned how to survive…this is how I fight.”
The disgust and overwhelm… it’s reasonable, but also by design. It’s harder for people to stand up for each other when they’re burned out, and people who benefit from injustice know that. Here are some tips to not get played:
Focus on your area of impact and go deep. It’s so much better than chasing the latest outrage around in circles. For things that feel a little more out of reach, find some orgs already doing work and show them some love.
Spend more time with people. In person. Don’t be isolated. Some nights you’ll feel like you have to push yourself a little bit, but it’s worth it in the end.
Remember that the news will show you a lot of terrible things, but it won’t remind you that somebody got their first kiss this week and feels a thousand feet tall. Or that some kid just discovered The Fugees for the first time. Or that some grandparent is getting to course correct regrets they had with their own kids.
And know that it’s sometimes hard to find foods in the center of the good-for-you and tastes-good venn diagram, but kimchi exists and lives in that space.