Dear Optimist, Vol. 2
Daily dilemmas, dispatched by our empath advice columnist*
Dear Optimist,
Now that the election is over, I am a little worried about going back home for the Holidays, since I will have to see Trump supporting relatives. What should I do to avoid a confrontation and a fight, because I don’t think my brain can handle it.
From,
Anti-Political Holidays
Dear A-P.H.,
Rule number one of any household during the holidays should always be “no discussing politics.” Avoiding such confrontations is difficult. If that particular family member keeps trying to bring it up, I would recommend just ignoring them. And if it gets to be too much, then exit the situation. I tend to go on a walk outside through my hometown as a way to cool myself down. The holidays can be tough sometimes. But remember that family is family and even though they may not agree with you, they still love you!
Dear Optimist,
I’ve been starting to feel a bit down with the winter rolling in and the seasons changing. I feel like I can’t be my true self or live up to my fullest potential when I feel this way. Do you have any advice on how to cope?
From,
Seasonally Affected
Dear S.A.,
The only thing that I can think of to really help is to talk about what is on your mind. Telling friends about how you are feeling and what you are going through can help lessen the load. I know the darker seasons can be a hard time for everyone. Just remember that you are never alone and there are so many people that care about you and that are willing to listen to you.
Dear Optimist,
It’s been hard to think about post-graduate plans with the current pandemic state of the world. I am not sure where to really start to explore my options. What are some ways I can prepare for post-graduation life?
From,
Post-Graduate Agonizer
Dear P-G.A.,
Anxiety about change is as old as time itself. With society and everything the way it is right now, it only makes sense that that anxiety get heightened. Graduating is a big change, with a lot of complex things involved. One of the first things to think about is whether or not you want to continue your education or if this is the last graduation you ever want to be a part of. I would also think about where I would want to live next and try to make arrangements to do so. Or if you want to put that off until later, that’s okay too. Change can be scary, but if you think of graduating as a step towards freedom to live you life the way you want and think of the post-graduate world as a new adventure, things become a lot easier to handle. I believe in you, don’t worry!
Dear Optimist,
I just learned the term "highly sensitive person," and feel so liberated. Growing up, I was self-conscious and felt physical pain when overhearing adults talk about news stories. Now, I understand that this makes me an empath--highly evolved! What more can you tell me about this personality style?
From,
Overly Empathetic
Dear O.E.,
Worry not dear reader, for I also suffer from sensory processing sensitivity! This does cause me to get overstimulated pretty easily, which I am still learning to manage. But do not feel alone for this trait is found in 15-20% of the population and is also common in other species such as birds, fish, cats, dogs, and even primates (hsperson.com). It is just our brains way of observing the world around us before acting on anything, a survival trait. Noticing everything around us though is where the overstimulation comes from, which can be exhausting so it is important to find ways to shut your brain down for a little while. Being hypersensitive to the world around you can be a little much sometimes, but it makes you much more understanding to people’s issues and a much better friend!
Dear Optimist,
I have had a hard time coping with the ongoing climate crisis that our world is facing. Climate change is such a huge issue for the world. It pains me to think of how humans are hurting our planet. Are there any tips that you have to reduce our carbon footprint in our daily lives?
From,
Climate Concerned
Dear C.C.,
Lessening one’s carbon footprint is definitely something we should all be worrying about. I would check out the Sunrise club here at SSU! It is a club of about 30 students and professors who got the university to divest from fossil fuels in 2018. Also making sure you keep an eye on your thermostat and closing windows to keep it warmer longer without needing the heat blasting. A closed or insulated room will reduce the need to burn fuel for heat, reducing unnecessary emissions. Keep shades drawn during the hot months and turn lights off when you leave a room. Using surge protectors will also cut energy consumption, and they’re safer for devices that stay plugged in.
Another area of life to put more focus on is how we deal with our food scraps. Food scraps left in landfills produce microbes grown due to the lack of oxygen creating a large amount of methane which is 34% more potent than Co2! Composting is a great way to help cut back on these emissions, and can also lead to a better fed garden allowing you to grow your own fruits and veggies, cutting back on plastic waste from grocery stores and unfair labor on capitalistic farms.
Educating yourself on more ways to help, even on a larger scale, is always a good first step. Learning about different green initiatives that your community has installed or other groups that help advocate for the planet is a great way to learn more, meet more people with similar passion, and make a larger impact to better our only home!
Need some help navigating churning seas? Write to the Optimist for advice!
*This column was prepared by Emily Optimist Howell.
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