“Get Outside”
Illustration by Stefan Gasic
The more I read about something, the more I notice it in the world. If I read an article about men wearing yoga pants, I start noticing men wearing yoga pants. (That’s not a real example and I certainly hope that’s not “a thing.”)
If I’m around negativity, I start feeling negativity. If I’m around positive, upbeat people, I start feeling and acting more positive and upbeat. Perhaps I’m one of those people who intuitively mirrors behaviors and ideas I see in the world. All I know is: the more I’m exposed to something, the more I see and reflect it in day-to-day life.
Social media and online living require curation. I have to be very careful about what I expose myself to because it’s too easy to go down a rabbit hole. In fact, I have muted tons of words (regardless of whether I like them) just because I don’t need random strangers’ opinions in my life.
Exposure requires balance and care. It’s easy to “live in a bubble” or “put on tunnel vision goggles,” but if it’s something as low-stakes as what I see online, I don’t really care. When people bring up tough topics in real life, I’m more than happy to discuss them, ask questions, learn, and argue.
FYI, this comic is one of several from my book Mental Prisons.
