I imagine I am not alone when I say I am living in a constant state of overwhelm right now. There’s the constant background drone of the decline of our country, the rabid messaging around the Democratic primaries, the coronavirus, political insanity on the global level, oppression of indigenous rights (also on a global scale), being mindful, being thoughtful, a new job, and a laundry list of things that need to be done on the daily. I am, my friends, tired. And as I already said, overwhelmed. I find myself responding by checking out, which is not how I’d like to be responding. On the other hand, I am not interested in being engaged at the attack level that is so often the default on social media. It’s like we want to state our case so forcefully because it’s so important, and I get that, but also, it comes so hard and so fast that I literally cannot process it. So I turn away.

I’m looking for ways to re-engage that are healthy and productive. And meaningful. Working on local IRL engagement rather than online stuff. So I’m getting through the training for the women’s shelter. And learning a new job. Making new friends. Trying to find ways to record what I’d like to write about here (I have a plan for that, actually). But I’m curious… how do you take care? How do you live with the bombardment? Am I the only one feeling this?