Look Alive, Sunshine

(flirting) you look so biteable today

Steven Yeun shot by Hyea W. Kang for GQ Korea (2022)

Daniele Sartori, A Guy sitting at the Window and Lighting up a Cigarette in the Neighbourhood of Montmartre, Paris, 2010

Richard Siken

@mrgryphon - The thrill, the fear, the hope, oil on paper, 2021

“You’re so cold Maybe I should set the whole world on fire. Would that be enough to melt the iceberg that you’re holding so dear in your heart? Your past mistakes and regrets. The pain you’re not letting go, never letting go. Would that be enough? Can you not see? I am not her, and you are not him. What you thought was a tornado that would always spiral out of control, was merely your vacant aching heart begging for the pain to stop. Wishing someone would embrace the storm inside of you, make it stand still. Gently and softly. Can you not see? You’re not hard to love. You’re misunderstood. You’re seeking comfort in all the wrong places. Searching for love in the wrong people. Your heart beating fast, running. Time exploding, wishing the pain you felt was earth shattering. Hoping what you feel is so significant. Screaming “please someone notice what I’m feeling.” But it’s all in your head. The thoughts. Unwavering. And your heart slows down, You realise once again You’re overthinking. But you know your heart is still cold and empty, and your head will always be burning hot and filled with thoughts. Always angry.”

— Matchstick // 06.11.2018 // I am not her

You keep storing up all that anger and grief. Eventually it spills over. Or you drown in it.

– Leigh Bardugo

me

I want mental health to be so normalised that little children can tell their parents if they’re feeling mentally ill just like they would if they had a stomach ache or a fever.

I want mental health to be so normalised that school lets you go home after a panic attack episode like they do if you sustain an injury.

I want mental health to be so normalised that when someone’s in recovery the people around them ask for progress reports and send get well soon cards just like they would for any other sort of recovery.

I want mental health to be normalised because every mental health disorder is just as frightening, just as damaging as a life threatening injury and we pass people by every day who are so unwell in this sense but who don’t receive a fraction of the care they deserve just because mental health is unseen.

Skins