Me Skills Episode #53: Feeling Helpless? Create Something! cover art

Me Skills Episode #53: Feeling Helpless? Create Something!

Me Skills Episode #53: Feeling Helpless? Create Something!

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 I exist in wildly competing states, and maybe you can relate. Close in. The space I live and work in is wonderful. My home is safe. My partner and I have love and trust and peace between us. I enjoy my work and have more than enough. Outside of this cozy bubble, I enjoy time with my family in a largely safe community space. Out far. The world beyond my personal experience does not seem at all safe. The closer I look at specific areas of unrest, it becomes terrifying. Choosing where to focus is a privilege. When I turn away from news and pull my thoughts away from the world out there, I can snuggle into my safe space and find peace. I feel it is terribly important to understand and appreciate this privilege. I am far from the chaos so tuning it out is possible. For many other humans it is not. Chaos is at their doorstep. In their communities. Hurting their families. Threatening their safety. The farther a person is from the chaos, the easier it can be to ignore. The closer a person is to the chaos, the harder it is to think about anything else. In our age of constant news and communication, that sense of distance is skewed. If you watch news all day and scroll through stories on social all night - even if you're physically untouched, you're emotionally immersed. If you're at all like me, you ask yourself 'What can I DO about this?' and feel helpless. I genuinely believe some are uniquely prepared to DO something about the chaos out there. We see people who step up in big and small ways. They step out into the world. They show up to express support and physically help others. I equally believe that some are not prepared to be that kind of do-er. There are thousands of situations that making staying where you are the better choice - not the least of which being taking care of your own family and fighting your own chaotic battles close to home. Sidebar: The Lord of the Rings The Lord of the Rings came to the big screen 25 years ago and they brought it back to theaters recently. We rewatched the first two films here at home and then went to see the last part at the theater on Sunday. Reliving the story sparked something important for me. Of course I'm inspired by Frodo Baggins. Of course I'm brought to tears by the faithful support of Sam Gamgee. Of course I love every unique character that makes up the Fellowship of the Ring. But you know who stuck out for me this time? All the people left behind in the Shire.
  • The stern man who's always sweeping his front walk.
  • The pretty girl who flirted with Sam.
  • The kids running around the village without a care in the world.

While Frodo and all the others faced dragons and terrors, the Shire went on as always. Same with countless other lands in Middle Earth that lay far from the 'rising evil' of Sauron. Men and women worked, and loved, raised their families and had their dreams with little awareness of what happened in other places. Question: Are any of those lives less important for their simplicity? Answer: No. In fact, Frodo and the Fellowship fought FOR them to be able to continue their simple happy lives. Now, back to OUR World. If in your heart you feel a certainty that you're mean to step out and battle a dragon - go for it. Look around you for your 'Fellowship' and do what you feel is right. And if in your heart, you know that your time, energy and creativity is better focused at home - do so with great intention. Don't let news and doomscrolling freeze you up and rob you of the simple pleasures of your life. I'm not suggesting that you ignore the world, but I am encouraging you to manage the time you give over to being informed. Speak up when you have the opportunity. When the time comes. VOTE. Listen to the urges in your heart and take the actions that feel right....
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