to give myself backbone

Melissa. Probably yelling about how much I hate driving. Always here if you need help. She/her.

[potsiepumpkin]

I’m here asking for help, so I’m not doing great

[bakwaaas]

[ohbutwebestmakepeacewithit]

[wedarkacademia]

[kosmogrl]

https://twitter.com/isabelunraveled

[vr-trakowski]

"You can't make them - whoever your particular them is - do anything, really," said Ekaterin slowly. "Adulthood isn't an award they'll give you for being a good child. ... You have to just...take it. Give it to yourself, I suppose. Say, I'm sorry you feel like that, and walk away. But that's hard."

- Lois McMaster Bujold, A Civil Campaign

[silverbirching]

I can't tell you how clarifying the quote above was for me, when I was younger. If you grow up as a people-pleaser--say, because of volatile, emotionally unstable parents--it can feel so demoralizing and awful when you start enforcing your own boundaries, when you deal with the fact that people who are perfectly lovely when they hear 'yes' can become incredibly hostile when they hear 'no'.

[flowerytale]

Natalie Díaz, from “American Arithmetic”, Postcolonial Love Poem (2020)

[tendernotion]

[memeuplift]

[funeral]

Rollo May, Man's Search for Himself

[screamon-deactivated20230625]

 james baldwin

[startingtofly]

Repeat after me: everyone's fatigue is different! There's no point comparing yourself. Your limits are your limits and only you can figure them out.

[dogposts]

the cutest jumpscare

[bestyouuniveristy]

There are people reading this who survived not just childhood, but large chunks of their lives by focusing almost exclusively on other peoples wants and needs.

And who now, are virtual strangers to their OWN wants and needs.

It’s time to get to know yourself.

[decentsapling]

Hey, reminder that one of the reasons humanity has been able to flourish is because we formed societies and helped support each other. Complete independence and self reliance is a myth to try to get you to buy more things. Please reach out. Please connect yourself. There is no reason you have to do things alone.

[hungryfictions]

Ruth Madievsky, All-Night Pharmacy

[ivecarvedawoodenheart]

like there comes a point where you think something is fundamentally wrong with you. and then it turns out it’s just Friday and you haven’t washed your hair in three days and maybe you’re also just a little lonely and the combination of all three of those things is whittling a hole into your chest every time you breathe. but also the sun’s up. and you’ve survived everything so far, so you’ll survive this too, even if it hurts, even if you have to survive it many times.

[findmyheartagain]

new ask polly substack has me in shambles