Things are grim. I’ve spent days trying to put my thoughts into words, and that’s about the best I’ve been able to come up with. Things are grim, and it upsets me.
I don’t think I’m alone in this feeling. In a 2022 survey of 1055 Gen Z adults, 1 out of 4 reported having more bad days than good within a 1-month time frame, and more than 2 out of 5 (42%) had a diagnosed mental health condition. According to the same survey, anxiety and depression are the 2 largest mental health problems afflicting Gen Z. So, I think it’s safe to say whoever is reading this is probably struggling too.
It’s hard not to struggle in a world plagued by violence. Of course, violence has afflicted this world since its creation, but we are the first generation to have this much exposure to it. We’ve all grown up interacting with it at our fingertips. It’s on our Instagram timelines, the 10 different 24-hour news channels on TV, our email inbox, TikTok creators who spout that the end of the world is coming soon; I could continue, but I’ll spare you. This evil feels inescapable and weighs heavier on my heart by the day, and I imagine many others feel the same.
Naturally, when we feel this weight, we want to rid ourselves of it. We want to end the violence that we have become so familiar with. However, saying that we want to make a difference; that we want to change the world that enables horrific actions, is easier said than done.
So, what exactly do we do about it? Frankly, I have no idea. I’m in the same confused, unsteady boat as you are. But until I can solve the age-old question of how to achieve world peace (I will be sure to alert the masses when I’ve made this breakthrough), I do have some smaller solutions to offer.
You could become apathetic. You could harden your heart and uphold the belief that the world will always be horrific; therefore, there is no use in striving for one that is better. I don’t think this is a great option. It is certainly a quitter’s mindset. You could also drown in your own sorrow. You could allow your feelings full control and let that evil weight crush you. This, too, feels like quitting.
Or, you could act. Although it is extremely cliché to tell you to be the change you want to see in the world, it’s not entirely untrue. Just about the only thing in our lives we can consistently control is ourselves. Every day that we wake up is a new opportunity to be our ideal selves. It’s an opportunity to seek what is good, to say what is true and to uphold what is righteous. You don’t have to run for political office or start a non-profit to make waves in this world. You’ll change more lives than you realize just by exemplifying what is right.
Part of seeking what’s good is surrounding yourself with a good community. Spend time with your people and share some good news. As I have previously established, there is enough bad news to go around. Your community doesn’t have to just include humans, either. There are many members of God’s creation. Go out and find a quiet place in the trees or spend some time with your pets. Dogs always seem to be doing alright; maybe their joy will spread to us. Personally, I can’t recall a time when I was unhappy while hanging out with a dog.
But yes, things are grim, and I still feel quite sad. Moving forward, I want to change that. I realize that I may not be able to change others or the forces the world imposes on me, but I can control my reaction to them. So can you. We can choose to wake up and become a better version of ourselves, even when it’s hard, and outshine the darkness with our light. We have a new opportunity, and it’s what we do from here that counts.
Staff Reporter
