Respite
The image starts with text that reads: “I try to find respite from a busy world in which I cannot meet demands. I see the silence and comfort of my bedroom, away from the noise and chaos that always seems to follow me – but in this room, I cannot merely stare at my walls, so I lie down and bring out my phone to scroll. It then shows a digital representation of three smartphones, each containing a negative type of social media content; one saying “more people are dying”, one saying “eat less, take this instead” and one saying “we are taking away more women’s rights”. The text goes on to say: “So I put down my phone, walk downstairs and find my dog. I stroke her fur and watch her unwavering joy as I say her name – she reminds me that love and peace exists. Some days it is easier to consume media, where dieting, horrible news and depressing stories will not get the best of me. Yet, those other days where I can feel my heart sink and my brain moving at full speed, I take a step back; I lean on my family, walk my dogs, play piano or read. There are other ways to find respite that don’t cost your mental health.