Just like that: a year has come and gone. There is much to be grateful for, but there is also much to grieve and mourn as we reflect upon the year. The world is no stranger to violence and war, but for the first time in history social media allows such terrors to be seen in real time from the convenience of our phones.

Finding a local community around social issues can often seem extremely daunting and difficult if not impossible. There is nothing that can replace human interactions – however, social media has made navigating the world easier in ways, finding other like-minded individuals creating a virtual interconnectedness. These technological advances bring so much information to our fingertips, often overwhelming us with media, information, advertisement, and updates. With that comes many questions concerning the value of such huge amounts of information, the moral obligation to act on such information – also how to produce and consume that content. There comes a discussion of moral responsibility of how to practically, usefully, and productively utilize the wealth of information – whether the moral responsibility belongs to the consumer, creator, or platform owners. There is something so special about this newly created internet community – but these questions constantly loom over our heads.

It’s 2024. I believe without justice, there cannot be peace. It’s 2024. I believe that I am not free, until we’re all free. I look forward to the liberation of not only Palestine but other countries and peoples who continue to live under oppressors and colonizers. This includes the native people that are from the Americas whose land has been violently stolen. This includes the Haitians that have paid so much in reparations to their own colonizer. This includes the Black Americans who have been targeted by a racist legal system. This includes the Congo people who are used for their precious metal resources. The list is long and endless - but one that needs to be fixed yesterday.

It's 2024. With a new year comes the questions of goals and resolutions. Depending on the year, I feel differently towards these things – and this year, I don’t believe in resolutions. Similarly, resolutions can feel daunting and difficult if not impossible. Resolutions are often these over-the-top goals of losing weight, going to the gym everyday, and reading some extraordinary amount of books. While nothing is inherently impossible, goals are often things we’ve never done before – and therefore the bar is set too high heading towards inevitable failure. I’ve chosen goals this year to build on things I already do. I believe in health and wealth, but this year I want to consider some local community oriented goals.

1. I want to reduce my waste. I want to minimize how much I purchase from Amazon for many reasons – one, its unnecessary waste and plastic. I want to find more non-plastic replacements. For example, using plastic free and water-free household cleaning products like laundry detergent and dish washing soap. I’ve recently learned that Lush sells plastic free makeup like mascara and lipstick. I currently use a deodorant that is encased in non-recyclable plastic. I am on the hunt for an alternative.

2. I want to support my local vendors – I want to shop at more co-ops and farmers markets, and of course avoiding the plastic bags and opting for unpackaged items. I want to attend art markets to hunt down pieces to fill my walls. I want to find local gift shops and craft shops to support local entrepreneurs.

3. I want to learn more about my local community and local politics, continuing to find local groups who are cultivating a culture around many of my similar ideals. I want to support groups advocating for environmental sustainability and economic equity. I want to find groups who will motivate, encourage, and enable me to commit to sustainable goals.

There’s much to do and much to learn - and I hope to create a life around the values and morals that I find important to me.