It’s been a hell of a week, y'all. So, here’s a non-welfare related post.
This is the definition of compassion fatigue - “indifference to charitable appeals on behalf of those who are suffering, experienced as a result of the frequency or number of such appeals”.
I would also include “the result of the severity of other appeals you have recent heard”.
I’m betting a lot of activists follow this page. A lot of the helpers Mr. Rogers told us to look for in times of tragedy. I would like to tell you, first of all, you are doing good work. You are contributing to our society in invaluable ways.
Please do not burn yourself out. DO NOT let yourself hit the point of compassion fatigue.
If you find yourselves angry at a friend who is sick, because you think their illness isn’t THAT bad and surely in light of current events they can stop whining…. If you see someone with a clipboard on the street trying to get you to sign a petition and donate to the cause of eliminating non-GMO produce in grocery stores and you want to rip their clipboard out of their hands because there are REAL problems too worry about right now…. If you heard about Dallas and couldn’t bring yourself to mourn that deeply because cops caused this mess in the first place….
Step back. Take your proverbial fifteen minute break. Disengage and watch some silly YouTube videos, or take a walk, or pet a dog. Do a tumblr search for baby hedgehogs. Write a letter to somebody you love and make it as lighthearted and goofy as possible.
Trust your community to step up and continue the work while you rest. You can contribute so much more, for so much longer, if you take your breaks.
You’re not being uncompassionate. You’re recharging your compassion.
(via cthulhu-with-a-fez)
