Doing What You Can

Plus, how to help Afghan refugees

View this email online Kristen Uroda for NPR Friends, It’s been another difficult week. It feels like hard is all we’ve had to talk about for a while, no?  At the beginning of each week, the Life Kit team discusses what we should include in this space. Sometimes, we’ve got nothing but good options: Let’s highlight our favorite listener tips! What about a financial roundup? More food things, please!  Other times, like today, the choice is clear. The swift Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, and the pressing threat against human rights for women and girls, presents a potential global and humanitarian impact too big and too overwhelming to be ignored. We’ve been watching videos of the Kabul airport along with you, following the headlines and witnessing one heartbreaking story after another. All of this as Haiti continues to reel from a massive earthquake, COVID continues its surge in the U.S. and wildfires continue to burn around the world.  The question we asked each other this week was: What can we do? Newsletter continues after sponsor message Maybe you’re asking yourself the same thing. The sheer amount of pain and fear going around this week can feel too massive to comprehend, let alone fix. You might be feeling a familiar numbness around it all. Maybe you’re feeling helpless, anxious or all of the above.  The answer we found for ourselves was: Whatever we can do.  Clare Schneider/NPR Reporting on pandemic numbness taught us when a problem feels too big or too distant, focus on the small and local. While it might not always feel like it, working to help yourself to heal and connect on an individual level does in fact serve the greater good. As they say on airplanes: before assisting others, put your own oxygen mask on first. Mind you, we’re not talking self-care in the form of glitter bath bombs, spa treatments, or trips on a private jet. We’re saying check in with yourself to understand your needs, your limits and your capabilities. Outer progress starts with inner peace.  That might mean journaling or practicing solitude: step away from your devices, limit your doomscrolling and carve out some quiet time to tune into yourself and recharge your mental battery. You could also try a daily practice of focusing on the good and practicing gratitude. Once you’ve recalibrated, look for realistic ways you can help within your own sphere of influence. Can you research local aid efforts and help spread the word? Can you start an email campaign or offer comfort to a friend? Can you donate money or volunteer? Do what you can, when you can, to keep moving forward. If you want to help Afghan refugees, here are great ways to start. We’re wishing for easier weeks ahead right along with you, friends. In the meantime, we’re here to help however we can.  — Andee Tagle, Life Kit producer Thanks for sticking with us! Watch this space for next week's episodes on:    📝 Giving Feedback I 💉 Vaccine Etiquette I 📚  Sci-Fi 101 We love hearing from you. And, as always, we *love* hearing your random life tips. So send us a note at lifekit@npr.org or leave us a voicemail with a greeting, your name, phone number and your tip at 202.216.9823. Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: LifeKit@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Daily News, Code Switch, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Life Kit emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy