Digital Minimalism - Post #7 - Abandon All Hope, Ye Who Enter In

Extreme Pessimism Ahead and I will NOT reply to debate-provoking comments.

In the past few weeks, I have learned a harsh lesson: There is no hope. The world is falling apart- I don't care what side you are on or if you think I am wrong. That's fine. But for me. I realized I have to accept what I must. That is, the world is falling part from where I stand. Only when I do that, can I find peace.

I think we can all relate to when we jump on our phones and begin searching news, hoping something has changed. Lately, I have been doing it too much and my friend named this reflex, 'HopeScrolling'. It's not DOOMscrolling, because we ALL know it's bad out there. HopeScrolling is the scrolling that promises that maybe, just maybe, we will find some good still out there. Something good happening despite everything. Something we can hold onto until maybe, we see the headline in the news: 'Breaking News: The World is Saved and at Peace!'

Is this jaded of me? Yeah. It really is. Should I always believe in the goodness of humanity? No. Because I have been proven wrong time and time again. But that's from where I stand. But I think it's easier to put down the phone if I take wisdom from my favorite author:

"Abandon all hope, ye who enter in."
- Trans. Longfellow

Which, I find oddly comforting right now. Because it just tells me that no matter what I am looking for on the internet, on the news, I won't find the hope I seek. So, it's best to just put down the phone, news, all the things that draw my energy outward into the world. Instead, focus on me. Focus on my daily life, spending time with my cat, writing stories, and talking to people on this forum who are my 'internet family'. Just... take care of myself, because there is nothing outside myself that can bring me joy.

And maybe, that's okay.

Because I can always look up at night at the stars for peace of mind.