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seconding looking into anarchism and smaller community/forms of government for alternatives of what could be, and socialist history to see the types of great governments the US has squandered intentionally to push the "capitalism is natural" narrative... HOWEVER, these are tools for collective action and dreams to reshape our unfixable broken system. great knowledge but not great for keeping yourself mentally healthy.
stay or get involved if you can with political groups in your area, however I find it beneficial as an american to stop looking at our government as a whole. especially in rural america it gets easier to remember that our local governments, despite being controlled by the big wigs, are more influential to our lives and something we can directly change. we can also touch people close to us, rather than focusing nationwide or globally. in these times it's best to build communities to resist any oppressive change that comes onto us the best we can, sure - but to also cherish the great silver linings we have with each other in the midst of all the chaos.
it's okay to turn off your TV and hang with friends and do/find personal hobbies for a bit. it's okay to also not feel okay with the state of things. it is irredeemably and preventably bad, and it's okay to be mad about the tough times ahead. but it's likely we have a lifetime ahead of us still. so if you're lucky enough to find joy in it, do so like there's no tomorrow - even though I assure you there likely will be.
I wish I could be hopeful too but I think it's a tall order to ask when a lot of preventable problems are being caused and perpetuated on a wide scale. and I do think its a little subjective and based on a gamble of the future. can we have hope if things change radically? for sure, in some ways. can we have hope if things continue without change? not really. not for me or my family, and not for kids growing up now. but even though oppression is barreling down on me and my loved ones personally, Â I'm taking it as a challenge to be loud and proud and remind everyone they can't pretend I'm not here and human. I hope you feel inspired to do the same.
stay safe friend you are so so important and I mean it!!! if you have access to even one therapy session a month I highly recommend it just to get these worries out.
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i do see a therapist and that helps !!! but i think it’s different when im talking to my therapist vs. talking to other people in a similar social circle. this is such a real answer i’ve read it like… five times. thank you sooooo much friend!!!
@SOURBOTTLEBABYGIRL aw yay  I'm glad you found it so helpful. I've been really hurting and scrounging for answers myself so I think about  this a ton unfortunately lol. I'm glad it resonated with you!!! and I get it therapy especially the talking portion is not ✨magically healing✨ I mostly just feel like it helps offload the pure volume of brain junk, like 80% capacity instead of 100%.
& if you ever need to or want to you can always message me about anything! no pressure just wanted to offer since it helped you so muchÂ
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i’m not gonna go into the state of politics in this country, frankly I enjoy that this site has been a politics free space for the most part. with that being said, resigning to despair and the feeling of powerlessness serves only the status quo. inaction is not the solution, nor is waiting for the government to be what you want it to be. politics over: here’s the rec
be the change you want to see
as much of a cliche as this saying is, i’ve grown to believe in it with my full being as i’ve gotten older. for the things you have control over, for the practical needs that you can meet within your community, for the little things you can do every day to ease someone’s burden or generally be a pleasant interaction in someone’s life: bring to the world what you feel it lacks.
where you live there are likely already communities that are arising to support each other and call for change. seek those out if that’s a motivating notion for you. participate as much as you are able and as little as you please, every bit counts. being a visible and tangible example of how the agency we all have can create something better will motivate others to find their voice. a lot of people feel like you, but even a few in action is better than multitudes in despair.
community is so key, and the world we live in has created a situation where isolation is the default so that individuals are forced to rely on the market or the state to meet their needs. how much better would it be to have neighbors and friends as a support network, mutually exchanging their time and resources to strengthen the communtiy and invest in relationships that benefit the whole. the moment we all realize that we can do for each other what the world tells us we need to do ourselves, the stronger we will be and the more we can come together and enact real change from the bottom up, rather than being divided in pleading for a top down approach.
this may sound revolutionary because we have become so detached from community that we cannot envision the changes in our model of living that would have to be made, but it’s sooo not that deep, and it feels more like investing in the good in others than sacrificing personal comforts. it can look like:
- shopping at a local business vs a corporate chain, get to know the staff, get to know your fellow patrons
- spending time with friends, there doesn't need to be a reason or occasion. make meals together, drive together to go do something, maybe literally just be in each others presence as you do daily life, share each others sacred presence amidst the mundane
- give things you don’t need to a friend who does, exchange clothes, exchange favors, share knowledge and resources, lend a skill or a craft, donate things if you don’t know someone who can use it, exchange things and experiences without the need for monetary incentive
- create things together, make art together, share and exchange media, try things for the joy of experiencing them without the need to be “good” at it,
- grieve together, worry together, talk out negative feelings, commiserate, support, encourage, motivate, share your accomplishments, celebrate together
- get to know your neighbors, why is everyone in isolation while in such proximity?
- get off that damn phone if it makes you feel bad, you wont miss out, the world happens outside of it, unlearn FOMO
- enjoy nature, go on walks, get outside, sweat and run and jump and see the sky
- remind yourself that life is about what happens right now, don’t be concerned with what could be or what was if you are unable to affect it in the present.
- go to a concert at a small venue for an artist you’ve never heard of, bring friends, don’t preclude experience for the perceived necessity of entertainment
- unlearn grindset, but also unlearn bainrot. don’t fester in your down time. rest can be active, activity can be restorative. your time is precious and you will meet your need for purpose and direction by literally choosing to pursue a “meaningless” hobby in even what little time you may have vs scrolling and taking psychic damage.
- learn to enjoy the abundance of freely available joy in this world, we have been tricked to believe that money is the sole provider of a happy life
idk i’m just becoming mindful of what brings me life in this world and so much of it is available to me solely by seeking it out instead of idleness in my free time under the guise of “rest.” so much if it comes from seeing the divine in others and creating bonds and relationships and support networks. so much of it comes from enjoying beauty and art, and moderating and savoring that experience vs endless consumption and media gluttony.
the world through a screen is bleak, the world in front of your eyes can be beautiful, the system is broken but you and everyone you know has some untapped agency. anyway imma get off my soapbox, go catch a firefly or sit around a campfire with the homies. you’ll be glad you did.
Jun 29, 2024
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But at a personal level there’s so much we can do. Love our families and friends, meet our neighbors, help out in our communities when we can. Spend time out in the world where people interact face to face!
There are rich people, corporations and politicians all over the world that seem hellbent on making our world worse, but on a small scale we can make a difference for each other. We can create reasons for each other to feel hopeful.
This is a strange and frightening time, though. We certainly should be worried.
2d ago
I’m not gonna lie. Things are bad right now. We’re disconnected from one another and it has fostered a hyper-individualism that borders on solipsism.
Ignorance, greed, and aggression are in good supply but they are also not new. There have always been people who’ve caused harm, but don’t let those people be the only ones who capture your attention and imagination.
There are people taking action every day in both big and small ways. There are people protesting, and fighting legal battles, and driving people to get safe abortions. And there are people who show tenderness to their children when they received none; people who check in on their elderly neighbor; people who give water, food, or money to an unhoused neighbor in need.
There is kindness all around us and it’s happening all the time. Don’t lose sight of it and, most importantly, don’t lose hope. Another world is possible.
Art via Landon Sheely
Mar 24, 2025
Top Recs from @flowers
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I think them has a lot of stories that resonate with the more optimistic side of me, even if you're not queer. maybe give this one a try?
 https://www.them.us/story/weird-little-guy-essay-hobbies-trump-administration-singing-collecting-cringe
2d ago
2d ago
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these aren't my #1 genres, but the emo kid in me is hopeful about these picks for you! most of these have a lofi sound but I guess that's my taste lol
turbulent - waterparks
dog's dinner - sofia isellae
eightball - they are gutting a body of water
leave me be - computerwife (or anything off this album omg sooo good. and vacation)
scum - lowertown
dark matter - little big league
when morning comes - remember sports (or anything off their album "all of something")
2d ago