A crisis. An election. A holiday. Another event. Another threat. Another act of violence. Another argument about which group of people is personally responsible for everything wrong with the world.
Another email explaining that if I do not act before midnight, civilization may collapse.
Apparently, civilization keeps office hours in the fundraising department.
The fatigue is real.
I am tired.
And I suspect quite a few other people are tired, too.
Everything Cannot Stay at Emergency Volume
There are serious problems in this world. There are people facing real danger, families struggling, and decisions being made that deserve our attention.
I understand that. Much of my advocacy involves asking people to pay attention to issues they might otherwise overlook.
But the constant fearmongering and rage baiting are getting old.
Every disagreement becomes a battle for the future of humanity. Every election becomes the last opportunity to save the country. Every headline arrives with instructions about whom we should hate before we have even finished reading it.
There is barely time to understand one issue before the next one demands a full emotional response.
I would like a moment to process the previous catastrophe before subscribing to the next one.
I Am Tired of Being Assigned an Enemy
Political tribalism makes everything heavier.
Ask a question, and someone wants to know whose side you are on.
Express concern about violence, and someone starts calculating whether the victims belong to a group worthy of sympathy.
Acknowledge that a person made a useful point, and apparently you have accepted lifetime membership in their political movement.
It is exhausting to have ordinary human concern treated as evidence in a loyalty investigation.
I want to be able to say that something is wrong, examine the facts, and discuss what might help.
I do not want to perform the required outrage ritual first.
And I am particularly tired of watching people excuse behavior from their own side that they would loudly condemn from anyone else.
If our principles change depending on who is involved, we need to take a closer look at those principles.
There Is Already Enough Happening
People are carrying things that never make the news.
Grief. Medical appointments. Job searches. Bills. Family responsibilities. The ordinary work of getting through a day when their attention is already stretched thin.
Then come the events, the holidays, the expectations, and the reminders that we should somehow be doing more.
Show up. Speak out. Celebrate. Volunteer. Donate. Respond. Stay informed.
Also, please enjoy the season.
Somewhere in there, we are supposed to sleep.
There are days when one more urgent demand lands on top of everything else, and all I can think is:
I understand that this matters. I have very little left today.
That deserves a little grace.
My Anger Has Work to Do
Anger can be useful.
It can get someone to ask a difficult question, challenge a bad policy, or refuse to accept an explanation that makes no sense.
I have put mine to work plenty of times.
But keeping me angry all day does not automatically make me a more effective advocate.
Sometimes it makes it harder to concentrate. Harder to sort out what matters. Harder to find the patience needed for a conversation that might actually accomplish something.
I need to read the bill. Check the source. Make the call. Write the email. Follow up.
That work requires attention.
Attention is difficult to protect when every screen is shouting.
I Am Allowed to Set Something Down
I can close an app.
I can leave an argument unanswered.
I can decide that a stranger’s deliberately inflammatory post does not need a piece of my afternoon.
I can read about an issue without immediately issuing a public statement about it.
I can enjoy a holiday, laugh at something ridiculous, or spend a quiet evening at home while serious problems still exist.
There will always be more work to do. I need enough of myself available to do it.
That means making decisions about where my energy goes, including when it goes toward rest.
I Still Care
I care about what happens to people. I care about our military community. I care about policies, accountability, and whether the promises made to families are being kept.
I intend to keep asking questions and doing the work.
But I am tired of the constant pressure to be frightened, furious, and ready to fight every waking moment.
Give me facts I can examine. Give me a specific problem and a meaningful way to help. Give me room to think before demanding a reaction.
And occasionally, give me a quiet afternoon.
I care.
I am also tired.
Both deserve to be heard.
