Self Improvement Masterpost

start here, caitlyn siehl // untitled, fortesa latifi // rien ne va plus, margarita karapanau (trans. karen emmerich) // black iris, leah raeder // the thorn merchant, yusuf komunyakaa // monster movie, nicola maye goldberg // a key to common lethal fungi, marge piercy // give me a god i can relate to, blythe baird // crimson peak, dir. guillermo del torro (2014) // the house of hades, rick riordan.

You're literally a source of joy. How do you do it?

i think reason i am joyful is similar to reason i am successful: LUCK. i was born into circumstance that created this outcome. the chemicals in my dang brain give me joy and i did not ask for this nor earn it. i am no better or worse than a buckaroo who is in a constant battle with sadness, these are just the mechanics of our brains.

i say this not to disappoint but to ENCOURAGE others. if you are having a down day please remember you DO NOT NEED TO BLAME YOURSELF FOR YOUR MIND. there are things you can do and steps you can take with drive and determination and practice this is true, but the ultimate number one trot for these harsh ways are usually factors outside our control.

the REAL TEST is what you do with these circumstances, how you trot through life with the understanding that we are mostly caught up in a current and our swimming provides limited movement in the water.

here is the key for me. i do not have 'everything', and i certainly do not have 'nothing'. like the vast majority of buckaroos i am somewhere in the middle but i am SO GRATEFUL for what ive got. i have perspective on the grand uniqueness of this fleeting moment and i feel so thankful i get to be here for it.

so along with harsh awareness that hand of fate is stronger than most would give it credit for, i also have an equally large helping of gratitude. i take time every dang day to consider how lucky i am, not for my joy or my success, but lucky just to be here in the first place even considering such things

Spicy-brained friends, I would like to propose an update to the very useful ‘if you hate everyone, eat, if everyone hates you, sleep, and if you hate yourself, shower’ mantra to live by

Have you suddenly become a petty, hateful little gremlin who thinks people should face the firing squad for (checks notes) leaving teabags on the counter, breathing loudly, or daring to exist in the same space as you? Perhaps mundane and reasonable requests like ‘hey, we agreed to hang out now, let’s hang out’ make you want to scream and move to a yurt in the woods.

You. Are. Overstimulated.

People talk a lot about being overstimulated, and the physical/mental effects of it. What I haven’t seen is people talking about what it does emotionally, and it took me an embarassingly long time to link up those nitpicky, resentful emotions with the state of overstimulation/meltdown/shutdown.

These feelings do not mean that you’re a bad person! They probably aren’t how you actually feel about the people around you. They probably do mean that your nervous system is at its absolute limit and any request/demand/stimulus is Too Much and taking you into fight or flight territory.

Go lie down in a dark room for an hour, or find somewhere safe and familiar to stim for a bit. If it’s happening a lot, schedule yourself regular low-stimulation shutdown time

Signed: someone who moved in with their nearest and dearest only to have a massive crisis of faith about Suddenly Hating All of Them. I don’t hate them, it’s just overstimulating living with people. If I can spare anyone else a similar 9 months of suspecting that they may actually be a bit of a shit person, then this post is worth it!

someone i follow on instagram just put out the PRETTIEST rendition of the traveler's prayer

They spent money so I can make y'all look at their frog. That's a great frog. 👍

I'm spending money to make you look at my frog. 👍🏽

Ah, I see. Thank you for your honesty. Please, take as much as you need. There will be enough for everyone.

A change of scenery. Simple, but marvelous.

A glimpse into your future, for you brave souls! (Divination is tricky business, tread carefully my dear!)

Knowledge from the universe, eh? Perhaps this will be of interest to you.

Rest for the weary, right this way. It's a personal favourite of mine.

A home-cooked meal you say? I like how you think! A labour of love worth savoring (and sharing with friends!)

For something to pass the time, try looking here, or if that doesn't hit the spot, here.

Seeking adventure to a far-off place? I know a way to get you there.

✨

I hope you found what you were looking for!

Send this to every Christian you know

When people on Tumblr say “Be critical about the media you consume,” it’s important to understand that what they really mean is “Apply a paranoid reading to everything.”

ghostlight gravekeep ghoulboss