Have you ever scrolled past something heavy and thought, “That’s awful, but I just can’t deal with it right now”?
We’ve all been there. Sometimes life feels like too much, especially when the hard things don’t directly affect us.
But that moment? That’s exactly where awareness starts.
Because if you can choose when to engage with injustice, hardship, or inequality, that’s a form of privilege.
Privilege doesn’t always look like power or money. Sometimes it looks like being able to look away, to tune something out, to walk past, to never have to wonder if the world is built with you in mind. And while privilege itself isn’t a bad thing, what we do with it matters.
It’s not about guilt, it’s about curiosity. About pausing long enough to ask: Why is this uncomfortable for me? What do I have the luxury of ignoring?
You don’t need to have lived someone else’s experience to care about it.
You just need empathy, and a willingness to let it take you a little further, to unfamiliar stories, uncomfortable truths, and quiet moments of reflection.
At Networks, we believe that’s a powerful place to begin.
So here’s a gentle self-check, offered with care:
• Who am I listening to?
• Whose voices do I automatically trust, and whose do I overlook?
• What realities am I lucky enough to ignore?
• How can I use my comfort to make space for someone else’s experience?
We’re not going to get it all right, and that’s okay. This work isn’t about perfection. It’s about paying attention, staying open, and choosing to show up, even when you don’t have to.
Because change doesn’t always begin with a megaphone.
Sometimes it starts with a quiet choice:
To notice.
To care.
To keep learning.
Want to reflect more?
Start by listening. Seek out stories that aren’t yours. Follow creators, educators, and voices from communities different from your own. Let your comfort zone expand a little. That’s where the good stuff grows.