hi! so i wanna say first: i stand in solidarity with blm. if you are not angry, you are not paying attention. there are dozens of bail funds to donate to and petitions to sign for those of us (like me) who can’t protest, and we all need to be active supporters and allies of the movement during this time and at all times. however, being constantly surrounded by things the way they’ve been going this year is stressful for all of us, and make sure you know that a little escapism is ok in some parts of your life. you don’t always have to be watching or listening to the news or watching live-streams of protests or keeping up with the latest on the virus. try watching movies you liked when you were a kid or goofy sitcoms that you know don’t get tragic or dramatic (personally i’ve been listening to the original cinderella soundtrack and rewatching gilmore girls for the twelfth time). it’s ok to take a break if all of your social media feed is about the protests or other heavy news. even as part of a generation who grew up constantly overwhelmed by news and the internet, it can all be a little much. make sure to take care of yourself even as you aid others.