The Kids Are Not Alright
from Out With Lanterns, a daily poetry practice
They’re anxious, screen addicted, climate panicked, dopamine hijacked, pressured from all sides to be all things. Not to mention fentanyl and roofies and boys sneaking airtags into pockets of girls they want to follow home. Cyber stalking, cyber bullying, politicians threatening lives, bullying anyone not like them. Fires, floods, hurricanes. How did we get to this awful place? How do we go back? What door do we close? What escape hatch can we open? It sounds so hollow when I tell my daughters, “It will be okay. Do not spend your whole life worrying, future-tripping. Be here now. In this moment.” In the face of all of this, such advice is laughable, is it not? But what else can I say?
And we r not alright either....sigh
This seems to be in the air—I write an allegory yesterday, out of sheer need. It seems the only answer is there is no answer and it is frustrating to be in it snd watch from the sidelines at the same time.
Ah, I’ve got it: The answer is to keep sharing. Keep Creating. Keep what is real close, like love and friendship.
Because, indeed, the none of us are alright. Even those that think the are 😔