It follows our every move, breathing its hot breath down
our necks. It surfaces in dreams, warning us of its presence. It pounces
on us when we are most weary, suffocating us with its weight. What is
this insatiable beast, and what does it want from us? Simply put, its
name is Burnout and its mission is to render us too apathetic to fight
it. At Vegan Street, we have been observing this noisome creature for
years, sometimes while in its clutches, other times while charting its
course from a safe distance. We have compiled empirical data from our
field studies in order to bring you, the online activist community, the
latest in Burnout research, with the hope that if we understand its
nature, we can work with it.
"Work with it?!?", repeats the well-intentioned activist
incredulously, "Why would we want to work with such a sinister fiend?"
To answer that we simply state that to understand the nature of the
beast is to realize that those who think they are immune to Burnout are
most vulnerable to it. Let us begin our exposition (best we should
proceed with caution so as to not to draw its unwanted, hungry
attention.)
The habitat: Having no natural home of its own, Burnout
has to invade other territories, and it is almost invariably drawn to
busy, frenetic host environments. It lurks behind cluttered desks; it
hides under beds that are rarely used. Any home of hectic activity is
where this impudent creature will likely dwell; once it has firmly taken
root, though, it starts to warp the environment to suit its needs. The
change is drastic and severe, for while Burnout is drawn to active
places, it truly thrives in the sleepy, subdued conditions that it
creates.
How it operates: Victims may feel slightly fatigued,
perhaps a bit peckish after their first contact with Burnout, but in a
very short time it will make its presence known in much bolder terms.
The nature of the disease is so invasive, so demanding, that those
afflicted with deeper levels of Burnout exposure will soon long for days
of mere sluggishness as the full weight of apathy comes crashing down,
rendering them nearly immobilized. Mere shadows of their former selves,
the classic Burnout victims display obvious indifference to the passions
that once propelled them.
How to combat it: A general rule is that it's easier to
prevent Burnout than it is to rid oneself of it once it has taken root.
Potential victims can often stave off Burnout by developing myriad
interests, relaxing when they need to, and knowing when to say no to new
projects. We have found, through both personal experience and
observation, that this disease strikes those who are over-extended,
frazzled and tense. What to do? It's pretty simple: we advise that
people keep active in pursuing their interests, but balance intensity
and focus with a little play time. Go see a movie, meet a friend for
coffee or read a book. Additionally, starting a hobby, like pottery
making or yoga, helps to enhance and diversify your life, making you
less vulnerable to Burnout. And don't wait until you feel it creeping up
behind you, ready to pounce; if you make it a habit to add balance to
your life, not only is Burnout less likely to strike to begin with, but
we have found it to be an all-around positive thing to do anyway. Here
are a few more specific pointers:
Get a larger view: A colleague of ours once
metaphorically referred to her work environment as "swimming around in a
dirty fishbowl". In this state of muddiness, we become so singly focused
that we fail to see the edges of things, and forget that there is a huge
world beyond our daily existence. While we certainly would never wish to
subject a fish to such a condition, it is unfortunately all to common
for many an activist (not to mention, a great many other people) to live
in this environment. Often the best remedy is to simply crawl out of the
bowl for a little while and take a breather.
On a recent Sunday, your Vegan Street researchers were
feeling kind of rundown and uninspired, but we still wanted to get out
of the house. We narrowed our options down to either hearing a lecture
about factory farming or seeing a new exhibit at the museum. We read,
hear and think about factory farming a lot and it takes an emotional
toll on us; we don't often take advantage of our city's wonderful
museums though. Balancing out the two, we chose the latter. It ended up
being a wise decision, because looking at and talking about the
paintings and sculptures gave us a fresh perspective and rejuvenation.
If we had gone to the lecture, it's unlikely we would have been able to
clear our minds like we were able to after a visit to the museum. The
next day, we were refreshed and renewed in a way we may not been
otherwise. Burnout, which had been imminent, retreated like a vampire at
the first ray of light.
The creativity we can use in our activism is enhanced by
life experiences, and in order to have life experiences, we need to try
as many new and diverse things as possible.
Get in touch with what you're trying to protect. A
couple of summers ago, we spent some time at a workshop with Rae Sikora
and Zoe Weil from the Center for Compassionate Living in Maine. After
years of working with activists, Zoe and Rae discovered that highly
compassionate people often get so caught up in their work that they fail
to sit back and simply stand in awe of Nature and all her beauty. For
two days, we frolicked in tide pools, walked blindfolded (but guided)
through the woods, and experienced a prairie simply by our sense of
smell. It was a wonderful retreat and we met some amazing activists (who
were all, of course, fighting the same Burnout as we were).
Another highly invigorating experience for an
animal-rights activist is to visit an animal sanctuary. Our visit to
Farm Sanctuary in California served as a reminder of why we do what we
do. We nuzzled cows, played with turkeys, cuddled lambs. The experience
was at once relaxing and invigorating, because it helped us get back to
earth and sharpen our minds. If we know what motivates us only in an
abstract, theoretical sort of way, Burnout has much more opportunity to
nudge it's way into our lives. But if we're really touching the animals,
looking into their eyes and communicating wordlessly, we know exactly
who we are working for and why it's so important.
So there you have it! The intrepid researchers at Vegan
Street have once again risked their well-being to bring you, the online
activist community, the latest information about the perils that lie in
wait for unsuspecting vegans. Remember, Burnout cannot infiltrate if we
don't allow it! Contribute your thoughts about how you've chased Burnout
from your doorstep at by sending an e-mail to Marla at veganstreet@earthlink.net
Source: http://www.veganstreet.com/navigation/index.html
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