The world is a scary place right now. Feeling helpless can further send the mind in a downward spiral. If you want to do something, here are some suggestions of where to put that enraged energy. A lot of these suggestions can be found elsewhere, we just compiled them in one handy-to-reference place. Feel free to add other suggestions in the comments!
Stay (at least a little) informed.
Yes, following the news is a surefire recipe for anxiety, depression, and more helplessness. But unless you stay aware of what is happening, you won't be able to argue and fight against it. Heather Cox Richardson is a brilliant and much-needed historian of democracy. She puts this moment into historical context in 20 minutes a day. If you aren't already listening to or reading Letters from an American, get on it. Also, read this piece from M. Gessen who lived through something very similar to our current administration in Russia. Most important, believe the historians. Believe the storytellers.
Give yourself a break.
There is so much advice out there about breaking up with your phone and stopping the doomscrolling cycles. Take it. Yes, staying informed often requires you to use your devices, but try to practice putting it down and breathing after you've done your homework. Or start a new habit of using a journaling app to record your emotions and feelings. Get that stuff out of your system and actively work against feeding the doom.
Don't give Amazon your business.
I know, it's so easy to click and order. I do it too. But the less money you give to Jeff Bezos and the other tech billionaires, the less profit they have to buy off the government. It doesn't feel like a lot as one person, but collectively we have purchasing power. Buy local, switch to Storygraph instead of Goodreads (such a better interface anyway), and maybe just buy less anyway. Here's a list of companies you might also want to avoid (I haven't vetted them myself, so you may want to do your own research).
CREATE.
Recently I was on a call that was sort of group therapy for DEI leaders. Our facilitators asked us to study the wheel of emotions and identify three things we are feeling right now. It was hard to narrow it down. But then they asked us to choose three things we wanted to lead with going forward. Looking at the "Happy" pie slice, I realized that many of the "emotions" required a growth mindset. Creative, curious, inquisitive, thankful -- each of these require us to understand that things can be different, that we have the power to learn, grow, and contribute. This is good for us! As designers we know this is true, but we don't always make time for our own art and craft work. But be assured that it is the thing that will save our minds and our hearts and restore our spirits for the work ahead.
The feelings and emotions wheel. Courtesy calm.com.
Spend time with your people.
This one's for me. I have a tendency towards hermitism when I am not at work. (And sometimes when I am at work.) As a self-proclaimed introvert with a job that demands I talk to people for hours at a time, mostly what I want to do in my free time is sit by myself and read or watch "The West Wing". But I have been finding so much life in spending time with my people lately. Just in ones and twos, remembering that there are like-minded people in the world who care about me and the things I care about. And I have found that when I most want to hide away is when I most need this. So reach out when you need a conversation or a hug.
Get some fresh air.
Not that the air in Pittsburgh is always that fresh, but all those articles saying that nature is a healer and a salve are right. Forest bathing, anyone?
Donate to NOMA / UDream / MAPS and other local organizations supporting people of color, immigrants, and the LGBTQ community.
I recently attended the NOMA Gala and not only was it an epic party, but this organization has and continues to do the work of diversifying the pipeline to architecture and supporting designers of color as they transition from academia to practice. It is vital to our city. As are UDream and the Minority Architects of Pittsburgh Scholarship. All three work in tandem. There are many other local organizations who likely need help in the wake of pulled funding and political backlash. More on this coming soon.
Carry red cards.
The Immigrant Legal Resource Center has created "red cards," small business card-sized resources listing a person's Constitutional rights, regardless of immigration status. These are available in a ton of languages and are so important now that ICE raids have become a regular occurrence, yes, even in Pittsburgh. About 9% of our population is immigrants and they collectively contributed $3.5 billion in 2019 according to the American Immigration Council's report. Without immigrants moving to Pittsburgh, our population would be declining by almost 3% per year. we need them and they need us to be their advocates.
Take action.
I hadn't heard of Indivisible before last week, but they have some incredible resources on their website. A handful of Congressional staffers created this organization in 2017, the first time around, and have updated for the current administration. There are resources in here for understanding what is going on, learning how to contact your local and state representatives, and making an impact.
Support local journalism.
Public Source is a fantastic resource for understanding how national policies are affecting us locally. They also uncover sometimes really niche stories that are what actually affect our day-to-day lives. Their first person essays are thoughtful and enlightening. If you are disheartened by what has happened at the Post-Gazette, consider supporting PS.
Get familiar with cognitive dissonance.
The next four years are going to be challenging for so many of us in so many ways. And yet we have to keep going to work and making dinner and -- for the parents out there -- raising kids with hope, resilience, and yes, joy. I want joy in my life too. I have to keep reminding myself that it's ok to feel moments of happiness under this blanket of rage, fear, and hopelessness. Both things can be true. Because I will stay if you will stay. And we'll get through it together.
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