Ideas for 2021: From resolution to self-revolution
This year Skaped is revealing a series of blog posts with young people about the issues that affect us from environmental issues to social justice. January starts with Chloe giving her topics and starting points on how you can make some small goals this year.
Do you find yourself starting the year wanting to make new year’s resolutions, but either don’t know where to start or doubting whether they will last?
If so, welcome to Skaped’s first blog post of 2021! We thought we’d start things off with an alternative to “New Year’s Resolutions'' considering both the social and physical environment.
We hope you find these as a useful guide, learn something new, and take courage in knowing there’s no pressure for this to be “your year”.
Join a community
There was a sense of community spirit in the first lockdown last year, are there ways we can recreate the feeling this time round? While we cannot meet up yet physically, how can recreate a sense of togetherness, connection and trust within our virtual groups? Ask yourself what community means to you and consider what communities you are a part of.
Meetup, Facebook and community websites are a good place to start, as well as joining an email newsletter and following other social media accounts.
I am part of a writing group and a book club as part of my hospital youth group, these have been something exciting to look forward to each month and allows me to connect with others with similar interests, and keeps me busy in my spare time. Some examples of groups you could join are:
We Rise- Muslim Women’s Empowerment Collective
Look out on Skaped’s social media for opportunities in community building
Be a Good Ancestor
This is an idea explored deeply by philosopher, political sociologist, and author Roman Krznaric in the book The Good Ancestor. Themes introduced are centred around the concept of “long termism” getting readers to think beyond our lifetime and into the many generations to come. What planet are we leaving behind and how can we make living more sustainable?
There is hope, for example, in the newly nominated American interior secretary, Deb Haaland, in a climate group. If chosen, she would be the first Native American in history to serve as a Cabinet secretary. She tweeted “I’ll be fierce for all of us, our planet, and all of our protected land,”
Here is a web link that goes into more detail.
Two great ideas from this are to: Write a letter to your future self with Dear Tomorrow, and think about what legacy you want to leave when you’re gone.
Get Creative with Ted Talks
Often we are burdened by news reports and social media bombarding us with new information. We can start taking control of what we choose to focus on through creativity.
Make some beauty in the world and create joy for yourself, art really helps me to relax once I get started.
There are many ways of expressing yourself. You may be familiar with practising activities yourself through art, painting, collage, dance, writing, cooking to name a few.
Ethan Hawkes explains creativity as “being the fool” and one suggestion is to talk “to someone you don’t really know”. Indeed, some of the unique examples he gives are acting, his grandmother’s autobiography writing and quilt making, as well as his brother’s leadership in the military and teaching others.
A well-known resource out there if you are looking for new inspirations is TED Talks. If you’ve not come across them before, they seek to stir your curiosity with “ideas worth spreading” through short, lecture-style videos and range from 5 minutes to 15 or 20 minutes.
Here are some TED talks I have enjoyed and worth watching, I recommend allowing yourself some time to watch one (or another TED talk that inspires you!)
The Art of Asking- Amanda Palmer
What it takes to be racially literate- Priya Vulchi and Winona Guo
Your elusive creative genius- Elizabeth Gilbert
The power of vulnerability- Brené Brown
What creative activity do you want to start, or restart? It’s important to make time for relaxing, studies have shown creativity to reduce depression, anxiety and stress, among many more health benefits.
Make an eco-friendly change
Here are a few ideas relating to sustainable fashion, you could start by buying at charity shops, small shops run by small businesses, or researching sustainable products. Also, challenge the idea that donating to charity means you are then able to buy brand new clothes.
Minimalism is the practice and lifestyle choice of having less stuff, focusing on the environmental impact and waste that our throwaway culture often invites.
I always ask myself “Do I really need this?” Another point is often sustainable, slightly more expensive clothes will last longer than the cheaper equivalent. Check out Tala gym wear, they offer affordable sustainable clothes that are gorgeous and made from recycled fabrics.
Total minimalism helps our personal spaces to feel less chaotic, and bring a sense of peace to our environment. This can be a bold move which you may not be ready for, and that’s okay. If you would like to see more, start with Matt D’Avella’s YouTube video here.
Additionally, this concept can allow us to direct more time to experiences, people and the things money can’t buy. Alternatively, try veganism for a month or limit your single-use plastic purchases.
Educate yourself: Read poems
Environmental issues and climate change are huge, covering a range of impacts, including biodiversity loss, local flooding, and weather changes. It can be a daunting process to know where to start.
Reading poems is one way of opening your mind and introduced to themes in a gentle way, without getting completely overwhelmed. Poetry can express feelings and evoke images in your mind in subtle ways, sensitively tackling painful or stressful detail.
Here is a love poem incorporating a thought-provoking perspective on the environment by Craig Santos Perez
I don’t love you as if you were rare earth metals, diamonds,
or reserves of crude oil that propagate war:
I love you as one loves most vulnerable things,
urgently, between the habitat and its loss.
I chose this poem because it gives you a chance to reconnect with nature and see it in a new way, it creates beauty in my mind and views it differently, it feels powerful.
Read the rest of the poem here.
You could compliment reading with writing down your thoughts in a journal, exploring further or sharing them on social media.
Read up on Environmental Justice
Environmental justice is defined as
the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
What does this mean to you? Take a moment to unpick this.
A brilliant person to follow on Instagram who posts frequently about environmental justice is Queer Brown Vegan @queerbrownvegan using his platform to educate. They shared the book A Terrible Thing to Waste by Harriet A. Washington, which details concepts of environmental racism in marginalised communities. Here is a list of more books to delve into further.
While informing yourself can be empowering, these issues can also be overwhelming so make sure to practice self-care and take breaks as you need.
