The 2024 Election and You

Are you tired? I am.

It feels like I have been tired since the dreaded Referendum that polarised this country.

Actually, I am not tired, I am fucking exhausted.

Holding both a US and a UK passport right now makes me feel like I am holding a turd in each hand because whoever wins the elections this year, there is still a fight on our hands.

I have now been a full time Carer for about 2 years and as a friend reminds me just when I need to hear it- you're in a marathon John, not a race.

Of course this makes perfect sense but not when you're exhausted. That said, this reminder is something that has struck me about the current election(s) and what I see is the general mood of the electorate.

So here are a few things to keep in perspective as the 2024 elections roll on...

1. Our lives are a marathon, not a sprint. Take the necessary break from the election news. Nothing is going to change that much from day to day because we are polarised at the moment. The media at the moment is feeding your anxiety not nourishing your intellect.

2. As an immigrant, a son of immigrants and a queer person, I know that I will battle ignorance till my last breath. This unfortunately is the reality of life for marginalised people in the world. Some minds you enlighten, some people are fucking idiots. Learn the difference and don't worry about the minds you can't change. The minds you do change are more important.

3. Start to think of ways you can help going forward. What can I do that is proactive and not reactive? Change can be motivated by reaction but in my experience once the emotions calm down, you have to have something else to continue the momentum. Find that for yourself and channel that energy where it belongs.

4. Stop picking the scabs. Following on from above, stop reacting to every news article, every social media post and sharing every awful image, meme or doom scrolling article you come across. Even bad publicity is still publicity and the best way to not feed the monster is by scrolling past instead of engaging with every piece of doom that crosses your path. Remember as a kid being told not to pick your scab. Well here I am to remind you: Stop picking the scab!
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5. Find one good thing about each day whether it is 5 minutes alone enjoying a coffee, or watching a bird in the early hours, or remembering a happy time. You get the picture. If you find more brilliant but if you can't find at least one good thing a day to shine a light through the political storm clouds hovering above us right now then you need more of a break than you realise. You are no good to anyone or the fight ahead if you are not recharged.
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