I feel a sort of duty of staying informed about the suffering in the world. This includes current events like war crimes being commited today; as well as the history of oppression: colonialism, imperialism etc.

But it makes me feel bad, really depressed. I feel like I’m torturing myself. So I try to stay back, take care of my mental health.

But then I feel bad turning my eyes away from it. It’s like the passerbys looking away from a homeless person. Or the people, safe at home, not caring about the suffering of others because it’s far away and it doesn’t touch them personally.

I guess I’m not alone feeling this. How do you find a balance between taking care of yourself and not falling into apathy, insensitivity, or willful ignorance?