I’m Exhausted. How About You?:
Dealing with today’s chaos induced exhaustion without giving up your activism
By Laura Martinez, Grassroots Connector
I don’t know what to do. Am I doing enough?
If you’re asking yourself that question, chances are you are doing your best. And your best is what we need at a moment like this.
“But” you may say, “I’m only one person, and it doesn’t seem that what I’m doing is enough.”
To that, I would like to suggest taking out the “only” from that sentence. Sure, you are one person. But you are not alone. Behind you, there are hundreds of thousands of other persons, each doing what might seem like small things. It adds up. You might feel that you are only a drop of water in the bucket, but you know what millions of drops of water become? A flood. And trust me, my friends, a flood is powerful. You are more powerful than you think, because you are not alone. We are all working together.
Pick your spot in the orchestra
You know your physical and financial resources have limits. But that doesn’t mean that what you’re doing lacks value.
Think about an orchestra. There is always the conductor, followed by the first, second, or third violin, and so on. And of course, the percussion section, including the guy who pings the triangle.
Do you think the guy with the triangle is not necessary? Richard Wagner would like a word. So would Mozart and Franz Liszt, for that matter.
So, play your part with gusto, whether it is plaintive or thunderous. Everyone’s contribution counts.
And while we’re at it…
It’s okay to take a break
I’ve been doing this for several years, and the hits keep coming. Yet, staying silent is not an option. We’ve been told that despair is counter-productive. Despair makes us think that what we do doesn’t matter, but of course our actions matter, otherwise, there would be no efforts to convince us that our work is useless.
Early in 2017, when the current occupant of the White House was in his first term, I adopted the mantra “It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon.”
I was wrong.
I have concluded that this is neither a sprint nor a marathon. It’s a relay race, a competition in which team members take turns completing parts of a track and field, swimming, or other athletic event. Think about the present moment as a relay race. Are you exhausted from running and carrying the baton? Let someone else take it over from you and keep carrying it while you recover. Once you have recovered your energies, pick up the baton from someone else and give them a break. That’s what teamwork is all about.
Do what you can!
Not everyone can participate in protests, yet some other folks thrive in them. I love writing postcards to voters, yet it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. And as much as we would like to do everything and be everywhere all at once, I know I can’t do that. No one can.
“I feel terrible,” said my friend Jane (not her real name). “I can’t go to the No Kings Protest, and it’s killing me.”
“No worries,” I said. “You’re staying home, and you’re our point of contact in case anything goes wrong. If anyone can bail us out of jail or look for us if we get disappeared, it’s you.”
“It doesn’t seem like I’m doing much.”
“Trust me, it is enough.”
In every superhero movie, you have the superheroes and the sidekicks. Then there’s the person that stays behind and supports everyone. That’s a much needed and important role. So don’t sweat the fact that you’re not doing the superhero thing at any moment. Being the person behind the desk is an important role, and someone must do it.
Do what you can. You are not alone.
Community, the silver lining of this mess
Social media has given us more connections and at the same time, many of us have never felt more alone. This is where connecting to our friends and community, in person if possible, enters the conversation. Whether you join a group to write postcards, or to join a phone call or Zoom meeting, participate in a protest, help make signs for those who are going to the protest even if you can’t go, offer to drive someone to the polls, or figure out who your neighbors are and chat with them in person, you are finding your community.
There is something very valuable about looking after each other. They can take down some of us, but they can’t take down all of us. There is power in that, and you are part of it.
So, take a break if necessary, but do not give up. You are not alone, and we’re here for each other. That’s what humanity is all about.
Laura Martínez is a retired Mexican American lawyer with extensive experience in anti-corruption matters. She is also a writer and an activist who believes in humanity and the power of community organizing.
