self care in chaos
how to live while others die
Has the world ended yet? Very legitimate question to ask if you are aware of at least 1% of what is going on in the world.
If you have geographical luck, aka living in a place where bombs don’t keep you from sleeping and climate change is not making your environment dangerous, you have privilege. So how are you using it?
As a Ukrainian who does not live in Ukraine, this winter has been intense. Emotional labour. Survivor guilt. Frustration. If you have been off the “news loop”, Ukrainians are freezing. The hardest winter in 4 years of full scale war. Russians target energy infrastructure: no heating, no electricity. Weather far below 0 celsius. Length wise, this war is longer than Ukraine’s participation in WW2.
That got me thinking, how does my brain cope? What does self care really mean when hope is robbed from you?
Personally, I am reducing my “social media” time. For over 2 months now, I have been actively logging off and choosing when information has access to my brain. In an era where we are force-fed everything, I am trying to stay in the loop on my terms.
I practice what gen z calls “analog activities”. Which makes me laugh a lot, because I just call it living.
Here is an idea of analog stuff that makes me happy. I encourage you to make a list of your own:
walks (nature, city, around my block), no music
bouldering (a new side quest of mine)
driving range (no I am not a golfer, but love practicing)
pilates (mat, reformer, and mainly in a studio)
watching a movie (mostly a murder mystery or thriller) that is longer than 1 hour with my full attention
coffee catch up with a friend
visit an expo or museum (latest I went to is Nigerian Modernism at the Tate)
try out a new restaurant. A friend introduced me to Eatclub which has discounts on a great range of places in London
paint. I love the aquarelle colouring books
try to cook a new recipe
write...tho it happens in a digital space, writing is one of those presence requiring activities
give myself a facial, or do my nails
All of this is possible to me because of the many privileges I compound. Some days I feel like I should live for the people that can’t. But most days I do it because I need to stay sane. To keep working and be able to donate to Ukraine.
I am able to do all of these activities because thousands, over 55,000 Ukrainian service people, have lost and more are losing their lives on the Ukrainian frontline.
If you live in Europe, I hope you realise how much of a direct impact this war has on you. How “lucky” you are that Ukrainians chose to fight for their freedom.