Ripple.

I have mentioned before, I stopped watching the news a few years ago. My mental health has increasingly become a top priority to me in the last few years. With that, I have become increasingly sensitive to negativity – whether it’s on television, news, movies, people, myself – I started to pay attention to it. I’m a flawed person like everyone – we’re human. We all have things we need to work on and I’m not immune to being negative from time to time. I’m much better at catching myself when I do take on a negative stance than I was a few years ago. I’ve been fortunate enough to surround myself with people who also can gently remind me or navigate me away from when I go down that spiral which still happens from time to time. 

That’s not to say I think everything is puppies and rainbows. I realize it’s not and I realize that toxic positivity is just as harmful. Diminishing human emotions of sadness, grief, guilt, etc – I allow all these feelings and I honor people who also are going through tough things. Again, it’s part of being human and I think avoiding processing these things is toxic. I’ve learned to process a lot of not so great stuff. In my opinion and in my experience, I’ve had to feel things deeply to get on the other side of them. Is it easy? No, it’s been the hardest thing in my life. There are still things I’m processing and may have to for the rest of my life. But, for me and my own sanity, it’s necessary for my survival. I’m action oriented. If I don’t like a situation, I know I always have a choice. This is a hard concept for some people and I know that statement can be inflammatory, but that’s what I believe. I’m not saying the choice is easy or doesn’t come with obstacles, but you have a choice. A choice of how to look at things, a choice of how to move forward, a choice of getting out of your own way. 

While I don’t watch the news – or at least limit myself – you can’t avoid the reality of what is happening with Ukraine and Russia. And I don’t try to avoid reality, but I try not to immerse myself in only the negative. When I post on social media, I intentionally stay far far far away from anything political or try to stay away from anything that may get a rise out of people. Some may call it avoidance or living in a bubble, which is their opinion and their perspective. I try to contribute positively from my own little corner of the world sharing (often times self deprecating) humor, cute pictures of my dogs, and things that either inspire or make people smile. That’s how I’ve learned to combat negativity and all the not so great stuff going on in the world. Will positing a picture of Bub do anything about helping the Russia/Ukraine situation?

No, not at all.

But you know what posting that stuff has led to? Walking down the street or out and about and people stopping me and asking, “Are you Lexi Leddy? I love your dogs” or “I know you! You have two pitties, right?” or some iteration of it over and over and over again. I can’t even tell you how much joy this has brought to my heart. So maybe posting happy things isn’t moving the needle internationally, but I am reminded of the Dalai Lama quote:

“Just as ripples spread out when a single pebble is dropped into water, the actions of individuals can have far-reaching effects“