H A P P Y F R I D A Y E V E R Y O N E !
How are you all? I've found it really hard this week to sit down and actually blog. I've started two or three different posts but they all seemed a bit 'meh!' Partly because I've had a head cold but mainly because it does feel a bit like, while things are currently all good in my life, the world has in fact gone mental.
Every spare moment I've had on the internet has found me lost in a very dark, and simultaneously, very orange rabbit hole. I'm terrified and angry by what has been going on in the world, but also, inspired and hopeful that people aren't taking it lying down.
The world is seemingly full of conflict, and my emotions are too.
With that in mind it seemed a little frivolous of me to post a 'Happy Friday' post that didn't address this. I'm all for still celebrating the small things (they keep us sane) but I don't want to let celebrating the small things become a safety blanket or a cover up for the not so good. Whether that's not so good personally or not so good politically - because at the moment I'm not sure there's a difference between the two.
Instead here is a list of the ways I'm handling the crazy and staying happy.
Read More Than Just The Headline
Ok, yes this will add to that 'The world is crazy I'm going to build a fort and hide' feeling but now is not the time for ignorance, or for only understanding things at face value. I realised that I had a lot of opinions on this world, and not very many facts after Brexit, so now I'm taking my time to read every article I can about what is happening and what that really means. Who is pushing things through, who is defending them. Read about the bad, but also about the good. Read about what has caused the protests and then read about what happened at the protests. And yes even read the terrifying protrump comments, because while it is great to surround yourself with like minded people, ignoring the fact that there are those who disagree with you does not make them go away.
Talk About It
Sunday morning, bleary eyed and still in pyjammas, some friends and I really went to town on everything we'd seen and heard happening in the world lately. We showed eachother tweets we'd read, shared facts with eachother, and looked for things we could do. From signing petitions to retweeting quotes that gave us a little hope. We are living in a time where people are more politically switched on than ever, and if you have this burning urge to talk about it, chances are your best friend, significant other, colleagues, and family do too. Dealing with the worlds problems is a lot like when you're having personal problems, talking about it helps.
Find Your Cause
It's easy to feel a bit helpless at the moment. Like what can we do? But despite the fact that he isn't our President and it's not our country, there are still things that we can do to fight for what we believe in. Whether that is writing to your local MP to come out in support of taking back Trump's invitation to a state visit, signinga petition or taking to the streets in protest. there are plenty of worthy causes out there, and some might not even be directly effected by Trump or Brexit right now, but they still make the world a better place. If you can find just one to get behind, you'll soon realise the power that we still hold.
Support Others In Theirs
I haven't been able to get to a women's march, or a protest but that doesn't mean I'm not cheering people on. Whether that's retweeting people, sending a message of support or donating to a cause. Not everybody can be on the front line, and you realistically we can't actively support every good cause, but we can let people know we're with them in spirit. Just look at how many tweets there were supporting the Women's March, it was like a whole other March was happening online.
Never Ever Underestimate The Small Stuff
A protest doesn't have to have millions of people attend to be worthwhile doing. Helping a small local charity might not make Trump pay attention and giving up your seat for some body on the bus doesn't have to have a political intention behind it but being a good person every day does make a difference. That's how we make sure that the 'bad' doesn't win, by not letting hate take over every part of our lives. People are scared at the moment and everyone has their own reason for feeling like that remember to reach out.
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.Martin Luther King, Jr.
Celebrate The Good and the Hilarious
The internet is a scary place but it is also a hilarious place. Remember how the only way to defeat a boggart in Harry Potter was to laugh at it? Think of Trump as a cross between Voldemort and a Boggart. Fight him with love, and laugh at the many many many many many many many many many many hilarious videos, memes, photos, articles, twitter accounts and people in the world
Switch It All Off
And finally if it all becomes too much, witch it off, build a den, look at pretty things, play with your make up. Whatever it takes for you to feel human again, so that you can come back tomorrow, and start to process whatever new crazy the world has to throw at us!
Hope you all have a good weekend, and fingers crossed for at least a couple of days of calm x
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