3 ms·
I'm well aware we're in a pandemic, and my family and friends are quarantining and going to great lengths in cleaning and wearing masks. I'm well aware that the
by joecot 6y ago
I'm well aware we're in a pandemic, and my family and friends are quarantining and going to great lengths in cleaning and wearing masks. I'm well aware that the US and particularly Trump is absolutely mucking up the response. I'm well aware that we're approaching the breaking point of the "Union" part of the United States, as the Federal government and Blue States fight over resources and jurisdiction.
I'm well aware there's a police brutality problem in the US, including brutality against protesters and the US sending Federal troops into cities.
I'm well aware that Biden is the Democrat nominee and there's nothing to be done about it, and that after however much hemming and hawing he's going to make Kamala Harris his VP, and there's not much to be done about that either. That there likely won't be Medicare For All, or a safety net for millions of unemployed people, or any other really popular and obvious change that needs to be needed.
I'm well aware that China, a world away, is trying to stamp out Uyghurs through apartheid and likely soon genocide.
Scrolling Facebook, Twitter, etc just reminds us of these terrible things that are constantly happening, that we have little control over day to day. And yes, we should volunteer, donate, protest, prepare to respond. But day to day, there's not much we can do to fix it. We're instead stressing ourselves to death over things we can't control, at least right now. Don't forget they're problems, help where you can, but don't spend your life hyperfixated on them.
- jjice 6y agoAgreed. It's not that bad news is evil, it's the constant focus on it. Awful things happen every day, especially this year. We can stay aware and active in these situations, but we don't have to spend our entire lives within a Twitter feed of anger. That just leads to an overall sadder life (for me at least). Constant focus on the negative breeds negative energy. Attention and action towards the negative (such as protesting) can breed results, but putting every ounce of your focus on things that are largely out of your hands can't be good for your mental health.