Prewarning: This blog came out more like a rant than a gracefully written opinion. Okay, thanks, enjoy!

If you're feeling like the world has gone crazy you're not alone. There is so much going on in the world and feels like all the things we've held on to are fraying thread. Between COVID-19, the Black Lives Matters movement/protests, gun laws being passed without the house of commons, a plethora of conspiracy theories, and political tensions with the coming election (not to mention that brief period of killer bees) there has been so much instability, and a lot of pain exposed. On top of that, these are just new things this year. For a long, time things like human trafficking, world hunger, unfair treatment on reservations, and so much more, have been the norm in our world, even if they are flying under the radar. Even just one of these issues is enough to break you down. I spent the whole day today a little bit sick at home (thanks to COVID) thinking and researching human trafficking, and honestly, all it did was left me heart-broken and hopeless. I read a post the other day that tried to comfort the people that are empathetic during this time but feel like there's nothing they can do. There's so much pain around them and they feel that all they can do is take it on. And to be fair I feel like that's most of us right now. 

I guess what I'm trying to say is things look pretty rough for this world right. Maybe they always have been and this new world of media is opening up our eyes to it. If I'm honest, sometimes I wish I didn't know all the things that I've been told, to be able to live in the bliss of ignorance. But we are not ignorant anymore, and so all we can do is take whatever small action we can to make the world better. Whether it's a prayer in the morning, or a smile to a stranger, or a just raising a little more awareness to the world's issues, I'm pleading with you Empathetic People: do a little something, take some action. We can't control anything, and we're hyper-aware of that right now, but we can control what we do about the injustice around us. 

My little step of faith for today is to share the things that I learned this morning about human trafficking and sexual exploitation. I don't know what I'll do about them yet, but I hope that sharing them will inspire someone else out there to take a little step too. 

Documentary (Nefarious: Merchant of Souls): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFaDHgXPbUg

Traffick Watch (informational website): https://traffickwatch.org/

The Exodus Cry (Abolitionist Petition): https://exoduscry.com/

Trafficking Hub (Petition): https://traffickinghub.com/

The Exodus Road (Rescue Organization): https://theexodusroad.com/

Along with this blog post goes my song Cycles Never Break. It talks about the Cycles we go through and encapsulates a lot of what I'm feeling today. Feel free to give it a listen after you read. 

So if you haven't noticed, things in this world have been changing, but you're probably fine because you haven't been leaving your place under the rock anyway. COVID-19 has been a pandemic for a little bit, and it's affected everyone's lives, and it's certainly changed mine. I tend to be a bit of cynic, so my initial response was touch grim and dire. THE WORLD IS ENDING. It sent me spiraling into depression and worry. There was so much uncertainty in my life that I felt like I was floating, with nearly nothing certain to cling to, a situation that no one likes, but we always seem to end up in. And so homeless, jobless, purposeless me stressed myself out to the point where I had no joy in my life.

Eventually, I did start figuring my life out. I found a place to stay, and I figured out I could finish my schooling online. I sent out resumes far and wide. But yet self-isolation gave a lot of time to think and reflect on this whole situation. Often time we get so worked up in an emotional response that we don't see the silver lining to the dark clouds. 

For me, there have been so many things to be thankful for that have even come as a direct result of this pandemic. I ended up finding a place to stay with my girlfriend's parents, which has been a blessing as I get to know them better. I ended up with a lot more free time, which I got to use to build a website, and working on my music career (and write this blog!). It freed up my schedule so that I can rest instead of my usual state of constant near-burn out. I've even taken more time to play music, and rediscover the joy of music for the sake of music. Even in the midst of "the world ending" there are always positives. 

So what can you take comfort in during this time of crisis? I get it. Everything in your life is falling apart. But there is always a silver lining. Everything comes in cycles, and this cycle will pass away, but in the end, your happiness is on you, so choose to be happy. So take some time today to take comfort.