Does anyone else feel like the more they learn about fucked up history and current events the more we have to worry about? The older I get, and as I learn about history, the more things I have to think about that keep me up at night. Maybe ignorance is bliss after all?

EDIT: I should have mentioned originally that I’m a person that is hyper vigilant (on the spectrum) and can’t not notice things. I notice every little detail of everything I see. Why is the guy at the grocery store blocking the entire aisle and is completely oblivious that people can’t get by? Why did that person turn without a turn signal? I notice people’s body language. I meticulously pick apart things that people say and extract meaning that I’m sure they never intended. I originally thought it was OCD, but I don’t have any of those traditional trappings. I wish I could just turn it off, as it’s exhausting.

This essentially sums up how I go through my day. I wish I could not know/notice things: https://youtu.be/dmbtt3iGXzg

  • garbagebagel@lemmy.world
    21·
    11 hours ago

    But I’m so tired of caring for other people. I just want like a month where everything is fine and okay and nobody is being hurt and I can just breathe without feeling bad about being selfish. IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK? just a little bit of world peace. Just for me :'(

    Edit: asking as someone who lives on the verge of burnout because I do way too much community organizing and volunteering.

    • theneverfox@pawb.socialEnglish
      2·
      7 hours ago

      I get that… As someone who has been thoroughly burnt out, I give what I can when I can, and when the affect on others is greater than the cost to me

      Self care isn’t being selfish. The world will barely notice if you took a month off. You can shut off the news, you can decide not to pick up the phone. There will always be problems to solve and more people who need help

      You have to help the people within your reach first, not because they’re more important, but because they’re within your reach. You can do more for a single person nearby than many people far away. You can do more to improve the community around you than you can for the people in Gaza. It doesn’t matter if the people far away need it more, you just have more leverage within your reach than beyond your fingertips

      And that includes you. You have to be a person who helps others. A person with a clear heart, who can help others without being tainted by the badness of the world yourself or so used up you stop feeling

      When you have less to give, narrow your scope. If you need a month to regain the energy and joy of helping others, take it. Don’t be selfish or shut out the suffering of others, just focus on helping yourself and those right in front of you. Invest in the good you will do in the future

      If I ever have the opportunity, I’d like to run a retreat for people like you. A place in nature, surrounded by good people who need a refuge from the world for a while. A place where problems are simple and direct, like rain is coming and we need to bring things inside, or someone is in distress and needs comfort

      I’m not in a place to offer that, but I urge you to take the time and try to find some time and peace for yourself to recover. Burning yourself out would be worse for everyone than whatever problems your temporary absence brings