This morning, January 30th, many Americans awoke to the devastating news of a military helicopter colliding with an American Airlines plane, sending both tumbling into the icy waters of the Potomac River. By now, the rescue efforts have transitioned into a recovery mission. My heart aches for the families and friends of those caught in this tragedy—yet another reminder of our fragile existence in this unpredictable world.
Consuming the news during times like these feels heavier than ever before. Honestly, it’s still only the first month of the new year, and I can’t shake the exhaustion that has settled in my bones.
It’s not the winter blues or the weight of chronic illness dragging me down; it’s the relentless barrage of alarming events happening across the globe, each seeming to tumble headfirst into the next. In truth, I’m not merely fatigued from trying to keep up; it’s the emotional toll these stories extract that leaves me feeling drained.
We opened the year on a tragic note when a car plowed into a crowd in New Orleans on January 1st, killing 14 and injuring 25 people. On the same day, a car explosion rocked Las Vegas. Both perpetrators, dishearteningly, were born in America, yet radicalized, inspiring them to commit such heinous acts.
The political landscape has only added to the turmoil. We witnessed a new president stir national controversy within mere hours of his inauguration, even before it began, in fact. He was apparently distraught by the decision to lower the flag to half-staff in honor of the late President Carter on the day of his inauguration.
President Carter passed on December 29th 2024; his death and legacy dominated the news of the fresh year. Yet it feels like it happened ages ago. Touched by the loving and poignant words spoken at his state funeral many hoped that his legacy would inspire the new leadership. Show that executive power means more than ‘ruling the world’. It requires compassion, empathy, humility, and grace. Unifying instead of dividing. The state funeral was an inspirational moment in time.
Since President Trump’s inauguration on January 20th, the United States has been confronted by whirlwind of chaos: the release and pardon of January 6 rioters, the withdrawal from the WHO and the Paris Agreement, astonishing confirmation hearings beset by questionable candidate qualifications, the cessation of foreign aid, aggressive deportation measures targeting undocumented migrants, and plans to transform Guantanamo Bay into a holding base for deportees. We’ve seen the dismantling of transgender recognition and rights through initiatives like “Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government,” a rollback of government DEI programs, and new military policies regarding transgender personnel. All this, alongside the absurd suggestion that Canada should become the 51st state while Greenland is folded into U.S. territory and control over the Panama Canal is pursued.
Yet, amidst the political clamor, we’ve witnessed vast wildfires ravaging parts of Los Angeles, historic snowstorms in the southern U.S., a faltering peace treaty between Israel and Hamas mere weeks after its signing, and the relentless impact of storm Éowyn sweeping across Ireland and Scotland. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine continues to loom large, and I could fill pages with the countless other crises that have unfolded—just within a single month.
Each of these events carries with it a weighty emotional burden. I find myself scrolling through posts on Bluesky and Facebook, devouring columns in newspapers and opinion magazines, engaging in conversations with anyone who’s willing to talk, and watching programs on TV. I hear the echo of voices urging me to turn it all off—“don’t read about it, shut yourself away.” And yes, perhaps stepping back would lessen my exhaustion, soften my despair, and dim the negativity that seems to pervade our world.
But there’s a cost to disengagement. In turning away, I would become less informed, less enlightened, and blissfully ignorant of the destructive shifts reshaping our society. If I don’t consider it vital to follow the news and voice my opinions, how can I hold others accountable for the societal unraveling I witness? Many may be disillusioned with the current state of affairs, but it is our collective responsibility to engage, to listen, and to welcome diverse viewpoints—not necessarily to echo my own, but to foster participation and accountability in our shared community.For now, I offer a prayer for those in need, those facing adversity, those mourning lost loved ones, and those gripped by fear. May February arrive with kinder intentions and a more hopeful spirit.
RosieGlobal 