Holiday Lights and Human Rights
In 1948, the United Nations put into effect the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, celebrated by Human Rights Day on the 10th of December. But in 2022, the global population is coping with an existential dread that’s distinctly at odds with the enthusiastic celebrations the holiday season seems to demand. So where does that leave you, dear reader?
We can’t deny that it’s feeling a bit grim out there, even with the twinkle of festive lights and holiday bells beginning to ring from radios, advertisements, and maybe even in the office. Human hurt and holiday cheer are vying for your attention in ways that make it difficult to keep up, much less give these things the energy you know they deserve. Even if you had the energy, it feels weird to try to do all of this without acknowledging how incredibly at odds these things are.
If you’re coping with existential dread, nihilistic curiosity, compassion fatigue, or just absolute ambivalence at the coming festive period in the face of it all (or all of the above), you’re not alone. So let’s talk about it.
Before you begin, remember that our professionals are always here to help
It feels like the world is falling apart
Spoiler alert: it isn’t- read this article to learn more about the reasons the media is making it feel that way though- then let’s talk about what you can do right now to help.
With the holiday season having officially begun, the overwhelm of everything is pretty undeniable. I sat down to write this with the idea that I’d name off a quick list of the things we currently need to care about and very quickly erased it when it consumed 3 lines before I even fact-checked it. There’s just so much.
Everything seems to be happening at once and much of it feels scary or overwhelming. After the pandemic and with the roar of political upheaval, global distress and loss of rights for many minority groups around the world, you don’t have bandwidth for more. But that hasn’t stopped it from coming. It’s a deluge of incessant intensity.
We hear you. We feel it. There’s too much stuff and not enough you. No matter how passionately you feel and how much you want to help, there is simply not enough time or energy to give it all the attention it deserves. So we’re challenging you to stop trying. That doesn’t mean turn off the news, stop caring about causes or to abandon the movements that mean something.
Instead, we want to invite you to temper the overwhelm with fluff. If you’re a reader or a binge watcher, consider these activities self-care wherever you can fit them in. Adding activities that aren’t attached to the outcomes of real-world strain can help you right the balance of energy in your own body by allowing you to shift beyond the here and now. This holiday season, making space for that is an ideal way to give back to yourself. Replenishing your care tank any way you can is a meaningful way to refill and refuel the passion you bring to the movements that you strive to contribute to.
What is Human Rights Day?
On December 10th, the United Nations commemorates the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on the anniversary of its implementation. This document, said to be the most translated in the world, lays out clearly the rights that every single human being is entitled to, simply by existing, no matter when, where, or how they do that.
This year, the theme is Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All. An important and valuable theme especially on the heels of the fall of Roe v Wade here in the US and the strife in countries across the globe. For Human Rights Day, we focus on the power we do have to ensure the inclusive and elevated acknowledgement of human rights.
It’s a powerful (and empowering) effort that begins a year-long campaign to implement (or restore) rights to those who are currently denied it. And though we hope that you’ll find a way to engage with this important mission when you have the energy, recognizing how exceptionally important human rights are can amplify these feelings of overwhelm this time of year.
When you’re ready, the UN and its partner organization have an amazing list of ways to get involved at every level of commitment—you can see that here. Until then, let’s sit with the way the holiday season is feeling alongside it and talk about coping with existential dread during festive times.
3 Tips for balancing humanity with the holidays
It’s complicated to care about the state of humanity, the holidays and your daily life at the same time. All these things feel different and ask for different things from you. But your energy isn’t infinite, no matter how much you wish it so, and we know you want to give the best of yourself to the things that matter to you. We’ve gathered our favorite tips, tricks and reminders to help you manage it all while working with limited resources so that you can capture the magic you need.
#1 Be an advocate for yourself first
If you are involved in activism personally or professionally, it’s easy to forget yourself among everything else that’s important to you. But in order to be an effective advocate, you must first apply these principles to your own life. Turn your lens of justice inward as you think about the following questions,
Am I including myself in my compassion?
What makes me feel productive?
What makes me feel rejuvenated?
How do I refuel when I am tired (in all ways)?
Consider journaling these answers, but get creative. Try creating a vision board on pinterest, making a reel on instagram that you can share (with others and your future self) or writing it down in your notes app so it’s easy to look at.
#2 Take back time
Everyone always says we should “make time” for things we love but to be honest, that phrase rings false here. If you could make time, you’d surely do so to give yourself the hours in the day you need to do justice to all the things that matter to you. But we can’t make time any more than we can make water, so instead, consider taking back time.
See where you can steal a few minutes in your schedule by trading tasks, trying new routes or combining obligations to streamline processes. Take back time that is getting lost to stress and stagnancy and instead, give that time to rejuvenating the depleted places you want to feel more alive in. Take back time with your family and friends by sharing in joyful activities, creating stress reducing routines or even re-creating that group chat you had on MySpace [redacted] years ago.
#3 Connect with nature
We don’t just mean get outside. There is no nature walk in the world that’s going to make all this intensity feel comfortable and okay. But we do think that re-connecting with the way nature feels has healing qualities that are difficult to duplicate, leading to a loss of connection and curiosity in our lives.
If you’ve been feeling bogged down and overwhelmed by the lack of solutions and ample obligations this time of year seems to have for you, step out into nature. Look for clovers, collect some rocks or pick up litter by the shore as you ponder the moon cycle and tides. Put yourself in the path of constant change that will prevail no matter how this moment moves through the world. You can do this in standard or unconventional ways—it’s about what works to help you cope. Remind yourself that you are small and also mighty. Feel the breeze, the rain or even the heat. Let nature remind you of all that can end and begin anew.
This Human Rights Day, remember that you don’t lose your compassion card if you set down the weight of the world and pick up the wisdom of wonder for a moment. Duality exists, even here and now, and we want to remind you that you’re worthy of taking whatever you need for coping with existential dread this festive season.
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