Today’s post is a conversation that is mostly neglected in our community. But I feel like we need to break up with silence and talk about the very serious consequences of being an environmentally conscious person.
We often talk about how amazing it feels to be part of a community and how great it is to meet like-minded people who share the same passions of ours. But in a community like ours where we are constantly fighting for environmental justice (one way or the other) and continuously work towards making positive change, it can dawn on us that some things are really difficult to change and we unfortunately can’t change everything we wish we could. Like climate change, social injustice, systemic racism, animal abuse and so on (it’s a long list, I know).
Sometimes, it can be really, really difficult to remain positive and believe me, as a glass half-full kinda girl these things take some time to hit me. But these past weeks have been challenging to say the least. If you are keeping up with the news recently, you may have seen that the UN released a new report with very dim predictions in regards to global warming.
Moreover, as a Brazilian citizen things aren’t looking much better (if global warming isn’t terrifying enough), the rise of a far-right fascist politician is taking the lead on the poll and most possibly getting elected the new president (sad update: he’s been elected and his first year was disastrous) . This is not only bad for the Brazil as whole in all aspects but violence against minorities is already happening and it’s getting harder and harder to find hope in a change for the better.
Nevertheless, I’m not here today to bring you more bad news but even though this week was really difficult for me to stomach with so many negatives, I had to stop and take a deep breath in to keep going. I also had a little cry and felt a little desperate too. And I’m here to say, that it’s okay.
Then it hit me. If I give up now, then who will continue the fight? Who will keep working towards a better future? One of the few things that keeps me going is the hope that if we created all this mess, we sure can fix it, right?
‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has. ‘
~ Margaret Mead
Moreover, this post today isn’t about negativity but more about self-care. And how you can care for yourself before going on kicking ass and fighting for what you believe! So let’s get down to it.
How to Maintain your Sanity (and Optimism) in a Climate Emergency
- Put it out there
It’s important that we put our feelings out there. Don’t bottle them up and expect them to stay there for so long. Have a chat with a friend, a significant other, hell, even with a stranger. Pour yourself out and make your concerns heard. If you don’t think anyone will understand you, hit me up! I’ll hear your cry. - Burst your bubble
Being ‘self-absorbed’ in your own reality is not really helpful. Understand that while we live in a climate emergency and the situation is grim, our brothers and sisters (aka indigenous and people of colour) are on the frontline of the climate injustice and suffering the additional burden of colonialism and environmental racism. They are suffering the most and we, as privileged people, have our share of work to do. - Take time off from social media
Everyone needs a time off, specially in such a time. Social media is a daunting and oftentimes a toxic place. We are constantly bombarded with news of all kinds, trolls and whatnot. So remember to take time off every now and then. - Meditate
Meditating is one of the best ways to stay focused, present and grateful. Making it a daily practice is even better. Meditation is proven to help you be more appreciative and will help you on your daily journey. - Eat well & Rest enough
Eating well is so important for our health and general wellbeing, so never forget to nourish your body daily with nutritious and delicious food.
Getting a good night sleep is also essential for functioning well and so important for your wellbeing, so don’t neglect a good shut eye (at least 7 hours sleep generally). So you can wake up and… - Keep fighting
That’s right, one way to stay on top of this whole fuckup is to keep up the good fight! We can’t forget that we are part of the change and we need to keep working and pushing for change. The world needs more people who care enough to make a change!
If you got through this list and through this (almost very sad) post, I salute you and invite you to join a community group, support indigenous groups, volunteer at a local shelter, help someone you don’t know, donate your time or money and keep fighting!
Thanks for what you are doing! Let’s keep going!
Peace & Love,
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