Survival of the Joyful: Rest, Resistance, and Recharging the Fight
Happy (belated) Juneteenth, B&B readers. I hope you spent this Thursday celebrating Black joy, culture, and resistance. I am writing to you on this Thursday in reflection of our country and the world during these times – how we got here and where we are going. When the world feels this heavy with the weight of it bearing down on the people, it is immensely important to reflect on how we can take care of not just each other, but ourselves as well. Something you might not know about me, if you’re new here, is that I have a degree in Peace, Justice, and Conflict studies (PAX). My education in this subject has taught me not just about the power and history of social movements, conflict resolution, and peace practices, but also how to remain grounded in my beliefs, power, and joy at times when burnout is looming. I would like to share some of my takeaways with you today in hopes that they might offer you some sense of peace at a time like this.
The first thing I was asked to do in so many of my classes was write about my hopes for the future. What do I want this country’s future to look like? What state do I hope the world is in in ten years? 25? 50? 100? What are specific changes I want to see? I ask you to do the same. Journal a bit about your dream world, what you would like to see in the future. Write nothing about how we will get there, just your deepest desires for peace and justice for all, and be specific. Write it as if it is going to happen: “We will see justice for immigrants in the United States, we will create an easier path to citizenship to ensure this for future generations.” Although I never considered this assignment through this lens until just now, as I write this, I suppose it can be used as a form of manifestation for a better future. However, the real purpose is to always have something to go back to as a reminder of why we continue this fight, no matter how hard it may get.
After writing that, take a moment to reflect on what issue, or issues, fuel passion in you the most. There are so many terrible things going on right now, you as a single person cannot fix them all. Thinking that you can is only going to result in expedited burnout. What do you have the fuel to put your energy into? That is where you are needed. Now, I’m not saying don’t fight for anything else, you just need to know when to step up and when to step back. Maybe you do not have the capacity to help plan a sit-in for a cause outside of what fuels you most, but perhaps you can still show up and participate. One way you can focus in on what fuels you the most is by joining groups that fight for that cause. If you’re in college, check out your school’s orgs page, see what activist groups are right there on your campus. If you’re out of college, social media is your best friend for getting in the door. Pay attention to what your friends and mutuals are posting about, look up your cause plus your city and see what comes up, look into nonprofits and see if they need volunteers.
Going off of that, when you’re feeling overwhelmed, even before burnout, ask yourself- What can I do today? What can I do right now? It’s not every day that there is a protest planned for you to attend; most days, there isn’t. So, what can you do today? Can you join a social movement today? Can you commit your time to planning educational events today? Can you volunteer for a nonprofit today? No? That’s okay. Can you commit to not spending money at chains today? Can you watch a documentary about a cause you’re interested in today? Can you make a TikTok amplifying your cause today? Can you listen to a podcast by a leader of your cause today? Can you post resources on your Instagram story today? Can you make a donation today? Not every day is going to feel like you are part of a massive movement, and that is okay.
Finally, and arguably the most important piece of advice to avoid burnout, surround yourself with a community you can both fight for justice and experience joy with. Something I loved about my PAX classes in college was how we could transition from a passionate discussion about a social movement we cared about to laughing about something we overheard in the hallway before class. It’s all about balance, and joy is a form of resistance. Joy is what fuels us to move forward, what gives us the energy to carry on. Creating communities of care and support is the most important thing you can do for yourself. I will never forget when FDT (those are his initials, right?) “won” the election in the fall. The next day, my girlfriends and I were feeling this overwhelming sense of existential dread; it seemed like we would never get out of that headspace. So, that night we gathered, with wine and tear-filled eyes, to discuss our feelings and show each other support. We even laughed together, something that felt so outlandish at the time. What started as a collective of despair ended in the reminder that no matter what, we had each other’s backs. That day, we grieved what could’ve been and what would be; the next day, we woke up ready to fight.
This fight is not a simple one, and change does not happen overnight. It also does not happen with just one person. Contribute where you feel like you can best. What skills do you hold that can aid the movement? You know you best. So, take care of yourself, whatever that may look like for you. Take the day off, go unplugged if you need to, because we need you tomorrow, and we need you well.
I am sending my love to all of you fighting the good fight out there. I hope you are finding ways to take care of yourself along with your communities.
Write you soon!
Beth
