Finding Freedom from Digital Overload & Complacency

So, I think I'm going to have to just turn off all social media for the rest of the day. I just got done scrolling through a political creator’s posts on Instagram. Which is so weird to say. A political creator? I don't understand. Anyway. I find myself getting wrapped up in that bubble of information because I feel like I'm keeping myself informed, right? I'm getting a better understanding of what's happening by listening to people speak about it. And I think partly that's true, but the other, darker side of being informed is the existential dread and helplessness of it all. Because what the fuck do I know? I am a white woman in a very nice house with a very normal, safe family. I have experienced some traumas, but it's nothing compared to the things that are happening right now, across the world. And I can't help but wonder what it would be like to see through the eyes of a 36-year-old Iranian woman. Is she safe? Is she celebrating? Is she locked up with fear in her bedroom, just like me? I couldn't even possibly begin to understand the depth of that. But it all feels so big. It feels too big. What could I possibly do? Even with the privilege that I've been born into, I still don't have the power to stop what is going on, at least not by myself. I can't help but think, though, that the helplessness is just another device that is being used to make us compliant. Complacency is such an easy road to go down. And I think to myself, oh, I'm not complacent. But there are things that I still do out of convenience. Like having an Amazon account and getting things sent next-day air that I don’t really need. Or any of the other things, the conveniences, that are a part of my life. If I am feeling helpless, the remedy is to do something about it, right? But because of where I am and because of the life choices that I've made, there's a lot of stuff that I'm not able to do, physically mostly. I talked about getting rid of my TikTok and that felt like a really big step to me. And I'm holding to it! I’ll admit I did have the thought to download TikTok just so I could watch videos. 🙄😂 I girl loves her chicken videos, okay?? But the more that I break away from those things, even if it's small, even if it's not even a huge deal, the more I see the things they don't want us to see. It sounds so conspiracy theory coming out of my mouth. Unfortunately, this is alllll part of shedding the skin. We just came out of the Year of the Snake, right, and moving into the Year of the Horse. The Fire Horse, actually 🤠 Better buckle up, buttercup! On a brighter note, I’m trying to be careful about not policing myself too hard. When life feels heavy, the first reaction is to start overanalyzing my life to the point that I find my way back into my victim hood, feeling like I don’t deserve all the things I have. Shedding the skin of complacency also means being able to live with the tension of the opposites. Life isn’t just black and white reasoning, like we’ve been force fed our whole lives. It’s okay that I was born into this family and in this timeline, but also understanding that it is a privilege and do my part to make the world a better place. As for the 36-year old Iranian woman, I hope she is safe. I hope she feels relief amidst all the chaos and is able to sleep soundly. I hope her family in whatever capacity is safe and healthy. I hope they never know hunger or thirst and have fluffy animals to snuggle. ❤️

The author reflects on the overwhelming nature of political news, the existential dread it induces, and the struggle to reconcile personal privilege with global suffering. They question the authenticity of their own perceived lack of complacency, identifying Amazon's next-day delivery and TikTok as conveniences that contribute to a passive state, and express a desire to shed these habits to gain a clearer perspective. The post concludes with an acceptance of life's dualities and a hopeful wish for the safety and well-being of a specific individual experiencing hardship.

Iranian women are celebrating they are finally going to be free.

@ayna which fills me with so much joy!!

It sounds crazy but I’m lowkey hoping that the struggles and conflicts finally reach the country I live in. So I can finally do something. something that actually matters because no one does anything if the problems aren’t knocking on your door, especially if they are across the ocean. I mean what does spreading awareness do atp? We all know what’s going on. Even if we pressure our government, they do what they want anyways. And no one is gonna escalate and risk their comfort if they aren’t uncomfortable yet.