Finding Balance in a World of Uncertainty: Reflections on Creating Change and Living Freely
updated: Jan. 2026
#FreePalestine, #FreeCongo, #FreeSudan, #FreeLebanon, FUCK COLONIALISM, FUCK ICE AND FUCK TR*MP!
I need to be honest: I feel like I lie on the spectrum of “the world is ending, I’ll throw my hat in the ring” to “we need to make changes to save the world now”, all while simultaneously thinking, “what in the actual f*ck is going on?”
I find myself struggling to carry on with my “normal life,” acting as if the world isn’t in complete shambles, with respect to the atrocities in Palestine, Lebanon, Congo, and Sudan. Not to even mention the atrocious state of AmeriKKKa - marginalized communities are being targeted and surveilled now more than ever.
The continuous negative impacts of colonialism and capitalism reveal themselves every day, yet nothing seems to change. History has proven that it repeats itself- sometimes tenfold - yet here we are, in the midst of a sh*t show, where it feels like world peace is farther than it’s ever been.
Is there a future to even think about?
I feel as if I have a responsibility to create a better future for the next generations, yet I feel paralyzed at where to even begin. With a mix of fear mongering and distraction tactics, it’s almost succeeding to overwhelm me. One thing I know for certain is that I’m against colonialism, genocide, and all other forms of inhumane treatment in attempts to brainwash and seek a rise of power.
When it comes to acts of resistance, I try my best with small daily choices: shopping locally, boycotting big businesses, not using AI, and donating when I can. However, I get to a point where I’m asking myself, “is this enough?”
How much can I do when I cannot even fathom a world beyond a few years from now? Obviously, things are constantly evolving, but at this rate, how can we even be sure that it is evolving into a better place?
There is a whole population of Palestinian, Congolese, Sudanese, and Lebanese people who need our help—who deserve to be free and yet they are continuing to reap the negative consequences of colonialism. We’re supposed to learn from history, but history is currently repeating itself with no second thought. How do we make it stop?
Not only are mass genocides occurring, but the crises in AmeriKKKa continue to rise - it’s as if no one’s safe.
Not to sound morbid, but when so many things are plummeting at once, how can we even possibly think the future is bright? It’s not supposed to sound so dark, but I mean, how else is it supposed to sound?
Is there anything to do?
There’s obviously a plethora of issues at hand, aiming to overwhelm us. While it’s important to be informed, I also think we need to be critical of the type of media we consume and how much of it we consume.
When it comes to media consumption, we should continue to question what we come across and take the time to think before forming opinions, especially since media is more present in our lives than ever.
There’s no doubt that media consumption is overwhelming. While it’s important to educate oneself and stay up to date with current events, I find myself wondering: is there still room for our own self-care? This is where my inner conflict lies.
I am privileged in the sense that I can look away from the atrocities on my phone and pretend that everything is fine. However, I also have to understand that I am living in a country that is taking a sharp turn to fascism, trying to wipe out its own people, all while simultaneously funding and being complicit in genocide.
Everyone always mentions the need for self-care, and while I definitely think it’s important, is it selfish to want it while others are literally suffering? Can we still indulge in self-care without feeling guilty? Can two things be true at once?
Conclusion
I don’t want to end this on a morbid note, nor do I want to overwhelm anyone with the current state of the world. I don’t condemn anyone who is engaging in their well-deserved self-care because, let’s be honest, we all deserve self-care, and we all deserve to feel as if the world will be at peace.
I want to take every sliver of hope I can get, whether that’s feeling hopeful with Mamdani’s recent inauguration or continuing my own path of resistance.
With that, I want to know your thoughts on trying to change the world and salvage it versus just letting it be and continuing to live your life as it is. How much work can we do together to create change? Are our small daily choices enough? Are we lacking the necessary critical thinking skills to propel us forward? Are we simply thinking about the issues without trying to find any real solutions? How can we continue resistance to fundamentally create change?
The list of questions can go on because I, unfortunately, have no real answers. I guess that just brings me back to my initial question: “what in the actual f*ck is going on?”
xoxo,
kaels
too bad ain’t me<3
