We live in a time where the world feels doomed.
Where it seems like World War III is already in motion, AI is taking over and there’s no hope for a greater future.
But this perpetual doom isn’t fed to us by accident. It’s an attempt by those in power to numb us and keep us in fear and not wanting to act.
Just go to work, go home and doomscroll until we are depressed.
So, during a time when bad news oversaturates the media, people are stuck scrolling even longer. While glued to a screen, people are dangerously informed about everything terrible and losing sight of what makes us human.
That’s why it’s so crucial to highlight the good in the world.
There’s a trend online called “hopecore” that typically consists of an edited video with clips of something beautiful about the Earth or someone saying a quote that can give people hope.
Some of the most popular videos bringing in over 20 million likes features a compilation of videos displaying moments of humanity. Moments like someone shaving their head in support of their mother who has cancer, people skipping in the rain, babies trying on glasses for the first time and seeing their parents clearly and so many more clips that will bring tears to viewers.
These videos often have “Evergreen” by Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners playing in the background. This song is found in these types of videos for its emotional guitar and hopeful vocals.
At the moment, the biggest topic that has flooded the hopecore hashtag is the Artemis II mission to the moon.
NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen were the first crew to fly beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972. This has brought inspiration to so many people, not just across the country but around the world.
Koch, the first woman to go to the moon has brought motivation not only to the little girls in the world but to women. The photo of her hair floating in front of the window where Earth is visible has brought about the emotional reminder that throughout time women have been braiding hair in so many cultures. So, in a way, Koch carried the women of the world with her to the moon.
Glover is the first Black person to go to the moon and has brought inspiration to so many who feel represented by him.
Not only has the diversity of the crew brought about hope but also the fact that from up in space the world problems seem so small. The most important thing in life is that we are all living it for the first time and the fact that we are alive in itself is something to be grateful for.
“In all of this emptiness … you have this oasis. This beautiful place that we get to exist together,” said Victor Glover, pilot of Artemis II, when looking at Earth from outer space.
Being human isn’t easy, but we’re all doing it together.
The truth is breaks are necessary, and time spent focusing on what’s good could actually make things better, whether that’s seeking out positive content, taking a walk and seeing the sun or having a board game night with your friends.
Taking a moment to celebrate the often-forgotten beauties in life like nature, health and connection is how we can later have the strength to push on and advocate for the world.
It’s impossible to create a better world if everyone has their head stuck in war and terror, so we must appreciate the little things to have hope.
Sure, it’s easier said than done, but there are people on campus to meet who feel the same way as you and want to connect just as much as the rest of us. There are community events to attend happening right now that will positively impact us and our community more than doomscrolling ever will.
We encourage you to take a break, go see the sun, appreciate the moon, touch some grass and say hello to a stranger. We are all in this life together.
