It feels like a very weird time to be blogging. While my Instagram feed is full of gorgeous holiday snaps and autumn transitional pieces, my Twitter feed is full of escalating international politics and environmental issues. The posts I planned to write and post this August seemed a little frivolous in comparison to what’s going on in the world so I’ve struggled to put my metaphorical pen to paper to write about fashion. It just seems a little…pointless.
I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling hopeless and helpless right now. It kind of feels like being in an old Western, you know, the ones with a runaway train which has had the brake lever jammed so it’s got no way to slow down…oh and it’s about to run out of track and plunge off a cliff. I feel like this every time I pick up a paper, watch the news or open Twitter.
The obvious solution is to bury your head in the sand. Ignore the real news, fake news and everything in between. I’ve seen a couple of folks on Instagram discussing this very tactic earlier today and having thought about it for a millisecond, I realised that I can’t just watch the world burn, figuratively and literally. It is difficult to experience a constant barrage of depressing news stories but I feel it’s necessary to be aware of what is happening in our world. This allows me to be a better citizen and also make my voice count. I can’t passively watch the world crumble in ignorance while my vote, presence at a protest or name on a signature could make a difference.
While I believe it’s important to be aware but it’s vital to protect yourself from the trauma of a never-ending cycle of negative news. I wanted to share my favourite ways to counteract the negativity in the world.
- Take control of your social media
While you can’t control the amount of doom and gloom in the world, you can control how and when you consume it. I used to reach for Twitter first thing in the morning to see what’s happening in the world – the modern-day equivalent of scanning a newspaper front page. Now, I hold off til I’ve had a green tea and toast. I also follow accounts like Wholesome Meme to shine a little positivity and happiness. - Read a book
I’ve always loved reading, as a child I grew up ferociously reading piles of books. I used to struggle to read in adult life – so.many.other.things.to.do. But I’ve found that it’s such a wonderful way to escape to a different world for a little while. Dipping out of our world into a little fiction has never been so appealing. One of my favourite books is The Celestine Prophecy, I’ve bought it for so many friends. - Small acts of kindness
Many of us are feeling like the world is becoming an increasingly negative place. The best way I’ve found to counteract that is to increase the positivity that I’m putting out in the world. Anything from complimenting someone to donating to a charity will help bring some positivity for others as well as yourself. - Take action
Ultimately, the thing that makes me feel better is taking action. It’s empowering to take control and add your voice to make a difference. We can’t stand by passively to watch our world crumble, we must be the difference we want to see. If you’re in the UK, make sure you’ve registered your vote. Charities like The Amazon Conservation Team are working hard to fight climate change, protect the Amazon and empower indigenous people while Rainforest Trust buys land in rainforests to protect them from deforestation, since 1988 they’ve saved 23 million acres.
Bodysuit – Nasty Gal | Jeans – Topshop | Heels – ASOS | Headband – ASOS | Belt – Vintage | Pouch – Marrakesh Souks
Photography by Kylie Eyra.
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