It’s okay if you’re not okay right now (seriously, who is?)

Listen, if you’re feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, or like you might spontaneously combust from sheer existential dread, welcome to the club. Membership is automatic and includes unlimited sighs, occasional bouts of doom-scrolling, and the nagging feeling that everything is a little (or a lot) too much right now. The political landscape is chaotic, basic rights are up for debate, and it’s hard to shake the sense that we’re all just trying to keep our heads above water. So if you’re struggling? That’s understandable. That’s human. That’s okay.

The system is failing us, not the other way around

Maybe you’re scared for your job, worried about friends and family, or just feeling the crushing weight of uncertainty pressing down on your chest. Maybe you’re furious at the injustices playing out daily, or completely drained by the relentless cycle of bad news. Whatever your version of not okay looks like, it’s valid. You don’t need to justify your emotions, and you certainly don’t need to pretend you’re fine when the world around you is making it harder to be okay.

Self-care is not a luxury, it's a necessity in this fight

In case no one has told you today: It’s okay to unplug, to step away, to prioritize your own well-being even when the world is demanding your constant attention. Binge that ridiculous reality show. Take a nap. Eat the comfort food. Cry in the shower. Text a friend just to say, "Hey, I’m struggling, can we just exist together for a bit?" Taking care of yourself doesn’t mean you’re ignoring the problems - it means you’re making sure you have the energy to keep going. Rest is not complacency. Rest is part of resistance.

Hope is like a cockroach - it just refuses to die

Look, things are rough, and it’s tempting to believe that hope is a fool’s game. But the thing about hope? It’s annoyingly persistent. It sneaks in through the cracks, shows up in the kindness of strangers, in small victories, in moments of unexpected laughter. It’s in the fact that people continue to fight for justice, for safety, for a better future, even when the odds feel stacked against them. You don’t have to be optimistic right now, but if you can, try to notice those little flickers of light in the dark. They matter.

We'll get through this (even if it feels impossible)

History proves, time and time again, that humanity is stubborn. We keep going. We push through. We take care of each other. And while it shouldn’t be entirely on us to fix what’s broken, we can still show up, support one another, and demand better from those in power. The world may be exhausting, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. And if today feels unbearable? Then today is a day for surviving. Tomorrow will figure itself out.

So if you’re not okay right now? That’s okay. Just remember: You’re not alone in this mess. The system is making it harder than it should be, and you are absolutely, unequivocally not failing just because you’re struggling. You’re human, and that’s enough.

Now go drink some water, take a deep breath, and remember: We’re in this together.