With Love, Clarity

twenty four. college grad. yoga. melanin.

[paradiseasha]

Ah, tumblr my old friend, we meet again.

[paradiseasha]

*taps mic* is thing still on?

[og-mako-mori]

Ari Lennox - whipped cream acoustic

[thisisevak]

She’s everything

[lightskintgawd]

Yo I’m so happy she getting the clout she deserves. Shawty been slept on for so long. That voice 🙌🏽😩

[paninimami]

^!!

[paradiseasha]

I've been gone but I ain't never lost it.

[babybree-deactivated20160902]

Reblog if you're a part of black tumblr & you're 21+.

[sapioshay]

Ayeeee we lit… follow @SapioShay

[trappeds0ull-deactivated2020072]

My nigga follow me!!!!

[wise-browneyes-deactivated20190]

[dafunkyconstellation24-deactiva]

[themlntdnetwork-deactivated2022]

[poisonedblacklotus]

If you tryna join this new iPhone group 21-30 DM me we gone be litty

[love-lust-kush]

[justcurvemealready-deactivated2]

[aethepoet]

Where my fam at?

[moodyspacebabe-deactivated20190]

what’s good?

[stark-red19]

[lovenykol]

[thatcatpersondotjpeg]

My assigned FBI agent hearing me play the same song for the 500th time in a row

[m0deasa-deactivated20220906]

[thenatsdorf]

View this post on Instagram

Mirror calligraphy.

[nefertitiq-deactivated20180120]

Calming.

[blerdrhythm]

Gorgeous.

[hellyeahrihannafenty]

[betterthankanyebitch]

Solange Knowles

[ted]

Ella Dawson has genital herpes, and she wants to tell you about it. 

She’s not speaking up for the shock value — she’s telling you because she wants all of us to be able to talk about STIs without shame or stigma. When we make it okay to talk about, she says, people are more likely to get tested and less likely to be afraid to share their status. 

In her badass talk at TEDxConnecticut College, Ella tells the story of her diagnosis, how she overcame feeling like “human trash,” and why we need to end the stigma — now. It’s packed with information (and a shot of humor), and if you didn’t already agree with her, you will by the time she’s done.

Watch the full talk or read the transcript here.

(Full disclosure: Ella is TED’s social media manager. This post was written by her boss who is so incredibly proud of how fearlessly she speaks out.)

[tylerct]

OK What the fuck is wrong with this bitch. Getting herpes is most definitely a reflection on a bad decision!!! There is something in this world called condoms!! Oh yeah and they are free at Planned Parenthood so you can’t even use the fucking excuse that they are expensive or your broke so you couldn’t buy any.. Seriously what the fuck I am not saying you have to make it a big deal that you have herpes and have to tell the fucking world but you need/should tell your sexual partner..

[brosandprose]

Hi! That’s me. I’m that bitch. Nothing wrong with me except for an anxiety disorder and a runny nose today.

Here’s a fun fact you should probably know: condoms do not prevent the transmission of herpes. That’s because herpes is transmitted through skin contact, not fluids, and a condom does not cover all of the areas where genital herpes can express itself. Herpes is also often transmitted through oral sex, which most people do not use protection for. Using condoms and dental dams can greatly reduce your risk of getting herpes, but telling people to just use condoms is quite useless advice. I should know—I was a Planned Parenthood volunteer who used condoms religiously when I contracted genital herpes.

Many people do not tell their partners that they have herpes because they do not know they have herpes in the first place. That’s because many people can carry the virus without showing symptoms, and herpes is not tested for in most standard STI tests. But most people have herpes—in fact, according to the World Health Organization, 2 in 3 people in the world have HSV-1, which is the strain of herpes that I have. In all likelihood, you have herpes too. You may have even contracted it from a family member who kissed you on the mouth when you were little. 

I tell all of my partners that I have genital herpes before we have sex because I think they have the right to decide what they want to do with their bodies. I consider it part of obtaining informed consent. My partner who transmitted herpes to me did not give me the option to decide whether or not I wanted to take the risk of contracting the virus, and I think that was probably because he did not know he had the virus. I harbor no ill will towards him for transmitting to me. If he’d disclosed his status to me, I would have fucked him anyway.

Considering the fact that you know that condoms are available for free at Planned Parenthood—and that your tumblr is full of porn GIFs, no judgment!—I hope that you have been tested recently for herpes as well. It requires a blood draw, so if you’ve been peeing in a cup for your STI testing, you don’t know your herpes status. If you test positive for herpes, which you probably will, statistically speaking, I’ve written this guide on what to do after you’ve been diagnosed. I hope you will find it helpful!

Thank you for watching my TEDx talk, which you absolutely made sure to do before calling me a bitch, and have a wonderful evening!

[mariposa-nena-deactivated201911]

DRAGGEDT

[refinery29]

Danielle Brooks, body positive queen, has an insightful story to share about what it’s like when you compare your body to other women’s

If you’ve ever given in to embarrassment in public locker rooms or let your self-esteem get knocked down a notch by looking enviously at people who seem to be in “perfect” shape, Danielle Brooks has an important message for you.

Gifs: daniebb3

WATCH THE VIDEO

[crissle]

[fapitalism-deactivated20120910]

[raisemysonbootlicker]

This is the money Patrick. Reblog so money will come your way

[gvldenhour]

“I’m getting back in line.”

[sniggadoodles]

OKAY but i just reblogged this last night and guess what i got today from my workplace’s self-audit!

THANK YOU PATRICK FOR FREE MONEY

[musinvenusian]

BLESS ME PATRICK

[lily-d247]

PATRICK I HAVE NEVER STRAYED YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I LOVED YOU

[ghara2]

@billshitposts

[billshitposts-deactivated201608]

*rolls sleeves* aight dude lets get me some money

[merakid-0]

Can i just *Gets in line*…there

[rosaymami]

Can I just.. Scuse me .

[croxovergoddess]

I KNOW I shouldn’t believe in Money Patrick, buuuuut….

[hoodrichjay]

Bitch I hope this workss!

[paradiseasha]

uh.

Now th st I'm passed the six month post graduation I want need to reflect on how difficult that experience was for me. I essentially graduated with a degree I knew I wouldn't use in its traditional sense because after having an anxiety attack related to my performance in the major I now associate the field with rhat feeling which wasn't fun. Though that experience introduced me to yoga and so I'm forever grateful for that. However, I graduated with no secure post graduate plans, a mountain of debt, and not enough savings to last me more than a month maybe two. I felt inadequate and a failure, despite accomplishing this amazing goal. I spent the majority of my days convincing myself to get out of bed, and putting in job apps but then feeling totally exhausted. Around my birthday I finally got it together, I was working a retail job but also interviewing for the job I actually wanted (my gateway position to grad school). I ended up having five bust interviews but the last interview they called the next day to tell me I received the position. I just finished training for the position and I start in a few weeks and I'm extremely excited. Looking back at the last eight months I am reminded how much our lives can drastically change in such a short time. What I know is that for my recent graduates, you are not alone in those feelings that come after the excitement of graduation dies down. When everyone is asking what you are going to do and you so desperately want to tell them that you're just trying to survive right now. I see you, your feelings are valid. I was very fortunate to have people I could talk to, even though I didn't always take full advantage of that. Don't suffer in silence, call/text/email your person. You just accomplished an amazing feat be proud. Don't compare your journey to the journey of others. And if you really need somebody to talk to, I may not be able to offer much but I can affirm you and sometimes that is enough.

[allgenuinebeauty]

The Incredibles. 🤗

[delasouloist]

Guys, dudes, friends, bros, fam, homies, and niggas

Look out for your boys’ mental state. Ain’t nothing gotta be wrong with it but toxic masculinity usually means we don’t check on each other until it’s too late. And let people check on you. If someone is taking the time to check on your mental health, they really care, so don’t shrug it off or “tough it out”, just be real.