I pride myself on being someone who keeps up with current events. I follow the news, read online articles, and participate in varying discussions on the state of our world. I have always found it irresponsible to ignore what is happening around us, and so being well-informed and politically engaged have always been priorities of mine.
But I’ll be honest – I’m finding these ideals harder to achieve every day. There used to be a time when I found politics rather fun. I enjoyed engaging in political debates; it felt like a competition I could “win” with words. But now, more often than not, these discussions are just painful and exhausting. The last thing I want to do at the end of a long day is sit down and find out what new random scary shit the president is getting up to, or argue with someone over the sanctity of basic human rights.
I often write articles stating my opinions on what’s happening in our nation, and what I view as the proper way to respond. And trust me, there will be more of those to come. But I have to be candid…I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing, and so lately I really haven’t known what to write. I’m simply not an expert on how to handle what appears to be the growth of an authoritarian regime. And even if I were, aren’t there already eighteen articles a day being shared about this very subject? By writing, am I simply adding to the constant stream of opinions and information?
So this is an article of questions. How does one deal with the constant over-saturation of information that comes every day? How are you supposed to live your life – go to classes, work, do homework, engage in extracurricular activities, maintain a social life, get sleep – while keeping up with the daily antics being pumped out by this administration?
I will say this: as overwhelmed as I’ve been feeling, there are a few things which have helped. I’m hoping that this can become a springboard for discussion. If I tell you what’s been helping me make sense of the world, will you comment with what’s been helping you?
Here are a few things which I have made me feel less swamped:
- Using the skills I possess to make a difference. As an artist, I feel it is my responsibility to create art which responds to current events. I just co-wrote a play which was produced at my school and deals with some of the issues we are facing in this country. I am currently organizing a benefit concert with friends which will raise money for the International Rescue Committee. Knowing that I’m using my skills – my art – to do what I can has made me feel more optimistic and less yucky.
- The website What the Fuck Just Happened Today is a great resource. Since we’re living in a world where the president and his cabinet seem to have daily scandals, this site breaks down what happens every day. It’s an organized format which allows me to say, “Oh, so that’s what everyone’s been going on about.” Sometimes I just need to go to one place to find out what the fuck is happening, and this is a nice place to do so.
- I am a big fan of protesting. Not only is shouting in the streets a great stress reliever, but – when organized effectively – it actually works. There is incredible power to people from all walks of life joining together in the name of a common cause, and being a part of it can feel surprisingly healing.
- Listen to a political podcast while in the shower. Kind of random, right? But by choosing to catch up with current events while doing something soothing, it makes me less likely to freak out and go down a news rabbit hole. I’ve been listening to Make Me Smart with Kai and Molly or NPR Politics Podcast in the shower sometimes before bed. It helps me feel a little bit more oriented.
So those are my suggestions. Do y’all have any? How do you keep your brain from feeling like a soggy cracker? What is the proper balance between paying diligent attention to current events and desensitizing yourself to the absurdity of the present moment?
One thing is clear to me: I can’t go this alone. As much as I’d like to think I know the secrets to the world, the truth is I just don’t. You probably don’t either. But maybe if we put our brains together, we’ll be able to make just a little bit of sense out of all this?
I sure hope so.
