Importance of Community and Living in the Current Political Climate
The political environment this January has been challenging, with numerous harmful executive orders negatively affecting many communities. These orders have left people feeling scared, hopeless, and exhausted. Remembering to take care of ourselves and each other during these difficult times is crucial. These detrimental government orders aim to demoralize communities and instill hopelessness, making it more critical than ever to remain resilient and not give up.
What can we do during these volatile times?
Take care of yourself. I know this sounds vague, but what I mean is many things. Be careful of doom scrolling. It’s good to be informed, but if it’s not helping and creating more hopelessness, it’s time to stop. Remember, you need to take care of yourself physically and mentally. Remember, oppressors want to make you feel demoralized, so it’s important and ok to try to be away from the chaos. Do things to distract yourself, spend time with people, and ask for help and support.
Safety Plan. When you’re in a better headspace, it’s okay to think of safety plans, whether you plan to stay or go. Find a safety net if you need to. If you feel lost, uncertain, and scared, please contact safe friends, family, and the community. People are there to help and care. Good allyship is out there, and you are not alone.
Importance of Community. Whether to what degree you’re affected by this, we're working on this together. Even if some others won’t be as affected, we must remember to be mindful of others and care for others who need support, mutual aid, and other help. If you need help again, please ask and reach out to others. It’s more important we’re here for each other to fight and protect each other more than ever.
