Writing this piece was especially difficult. I’m exhausted from being engaged. I’ve written essays, applied for a grant, and helped two friends navigate emotional crises today: all activities that require you to be engaged. Yet, this level of exhaustion doesn’t compare to what I expect many people feel who are deeply involved in activism.

When you dedicate your life to addressing some of our society’s biggest issues, how do you do so sustainably? How do you avoid burnout or prevent yourself from becoming detached? I would guess that the answer isn’t simple and is likely deeply personal. Searching for the answer is something I’ll likely do across my education and my life. Is there philosophy on this? Are there people who study sustainability in activism? When everything feels like a crisis, how do you survive? How can you justify even the slightest conveniences or luxuries when those resources could have fed a hungry child? I can’t say that giving up your privilege is the answer but enjoying your privilege without concern for others isn’t the answer either. The closest answer I’ve come to is Adam Smith’s Dialectical Wisdom. A concept that I am still working to understand and feel unqualified to explain.

Taking suggestions at Johnnie_Farris@redlands.edu