I keep this picture of the Earth on my second monitor. It’s meant to inspire me, and it does. But right now, it seems like all I can see is the Gulf of Mexico smack dab in the middle … where unimaginable horror has been unfolding for months now, with no end in sight.
I’ve followed the news closely, heartbroken, often in tears. (As I am right now writing this.) And there have been many times when I’ve felt on the edge of despair. (“What’s the use, when human beings seem hell-bent on destroying the planet and each other?”)
Now, I want to know what’s going on in the world. After all, righting wrongs is part of what fuels me.
But at some point it becomes too much. For me, watching a distant tragedy so intently creates a feeling of helplessness that distracts me from acting.
Helplessness is not my natural state. It’s not the natural state of most Americans (or most people), which is a big reason this situation is so deeply frustrating.
So I’m channeling my energy into my work — and this blog — more determined than ever to change the social and political conditions that led to such destruction.
And today I’m starting a three-day news diet. No Twitter, no Rachel Maddow (as much as I’ve respected her reporting on the Gulf), no news blogs, no sneaking a peek at CNN. If I can pull it off, I might block out everything. Just for a few days … just to get my strength back.
Oddly enough, limiting my exposure to what’s going on in the Gulf may be the only way I can focus on actually doing something about it.
How about you? Leave a comment …
I hope your 3 days news break helps you find renewed determination and focus. For me it isn’t even the amount of coverage all day long but that it is the same coverage repeated endlessly. It can feel a little like being beaten (or beaten down).
Knowing when to step away and gain some perspective is so valuable. Have a good and restful weekend.