By Alliance Intern Rachael Lee
Sometimes, the fears of the world paralyze me.
It’s easy to get lost in the cycles of pain and suffering immediately at our fingertips.
These constant loops that feed and evoke our misery.
At times, my only comforts were to drown in the agony of others.
To retreat and seek solace in the shared torment was all I had the energy to do.
And, I know this is not a feeling limited to only me,
but the more I’m exposed to the suffering of others, their misery becomes mine and I further drown.
According to the WHO, 1 out of 7 10-19 year olds experience some form of mental disorder.
And 30% of high school girls are contemplating suicide according to the CDC.
Our media and AI algorithms were designed to profit off our suffering, despite their original denials.
To cage our attention and entrap us.
It’s easy to be told to get help.
But how do you ask for help when all you know is sorrow?
When those that surround you are entrapped by the same emotions as you.
Asking for help, of course no one bats an eye.
We’re told to seek out a responsible adult.
But those adults are the very ones who’ve participated in or even created
the failing capitalist system that has helped cause much of the distress.
And their solutions are often based on outdated ways of thinking that don’t relate
to where young people are today.
It’s a Catch-22.
There is a 24/7 988 Suicide Hotline but
some of my friends have been put on hold or laughed at.
So…… how does one escape these cycles?
I hated the cliches.
Constantly, being told that I was the biggest determinant of my own happiness.
“It’s all a matter of glass half full vs. glass half empty.”
How can one be happy when the world is engulfed in flames?
How can one choose happiness when people are locked up due to the color of their skin?
It’s easy to choose suffering.
To accept life at face value and choose the easy way out.
But…
Humans have a predisposition for connection.
You’ve seen it…like in #hopecore videos showing positive human interactions,
the occasional viral video that shatters your malicious ‘fyps’,
of people with hope for the world,
of people envisioning a better future.
There are those out there who strive for connection.
You’ve gotta surround yourself with people with the same yearning to connect.
It’s hard to take that first leap of faith,
faith in the good of people.
Seek life-affirming people.
It’s amazing how quickly your ‘fyp’ shifts from shared moments of suffering to shared moments of connection.
To take that first leap of faith is the hardest thing one can do.
Choosing empathy/kindness when you haven’t experienced it yourself
and then applying that to every facet of your life is the hardest thing to do
in a world that profits off suffering.
Sure, the world is hard, but my community isn’t.
Find those that align with your goals and work towards the world you want to see.
Slowly, your world can shift to reflect these efforts.
Chase Connection. Embrace Empathy. Kindle Kindness.