love
All you need is Love, and Love is all you need.
In a Word, "Friendship/Platonic Love."
"I love you."/"...Yup; luv ya, bro/babe."/"Lotsa luv to ya."/"Love and appreciate you." These sound familiar; in fact, even in my lifelong season of singleness, I used them ALL OF THE TIME with close personal friends, my nearest and dearest coworkers, and platonic pals.
Kent BrindleyPublished 2 months ago in HumansI feel more alone when I’m scrolling on my phone
What does it mean to be depressed and high-functioning? I learned in 2020, in the midst of feeling stuck in a cycle of overeating because I feel bad and then feeling bad for overeating, that I fell into the category of people who are sad yet can perform regular societal duties. I can keep a job, be social, go grocery shopping, take my dog out, make plans, keep plans (surprisingly), and check up on my friends and family. I could give a lot of myself and feel like my heart is so full, and at the same time feel deeply sad and empty. I was good at distracting myself with a Netflix binge or spending way too much money on dinner and drinks with a friend. I could be the funny one in the group I’m with, and later that same night curl up in a ball and cry myself to sleep.
Managing Expectations
Managing Expectations Overview Something that I’ve been thinking about a lot recently is managing my expectations about almost everything and every person, including myself. I’ve always had an issue with setting unrealistic expectations for myself, for others, and for various experiences. I admittedly tend to set my standards too high for a lot of things, and I usually wind up disappointed in the outcome because I set myself up to be. I’m especially hard on myself and I always have been. I find it difficult to relax or be unproductive for a day and not feel absolutely horrible about it. I set these expectations for myself to be constantly productive, and to always be doing something useful, and that most definitely stems from heaps of my intrinsic, habitual insecurity, as well as my often perfectionistic mentality.
zoe frenchmanPublished 2 months ago in HumansWatching Eternal Sunshine With my Ex on Valentines Day
The first time I watched Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, the 2004 film directed by Michel Gondry and written by Andy Kaufman, I was learning what jet lag feels like. I was in a movie theatre in Reading, England, having landed that morning in London and taken the train to visit a friend from Virginia who was studying abroad. I’d never flown internationally before. I was a few days shy of turning 21.
Kerry KehoePublished 2 months ago in HumansI dressed up for my husband and ended the night crying
Thursday, when my husband left, I was determined to greet him at home in a special way. I put on the lingerie I bought. I looked at myself in the mirror and felt ridiculous. I told myself I was being silly, that I was sexy and beautiful. I forced myself out of my comfort zone; I wanted to feel sexy and seen. I looked in the mirror again, considering changing. Should I switch to a different pair of panties? No, I'll wear them as they are. Oh my god, I look ridiculous, but my at least my chest looks nice like this. I fixed my hair. I poured myself a whisky and sat on the couch to wait for you. I looked in the mirror again, almost giving up. I reminded myself that it was just my low self-esteem talking.
sagar dhitalPublished 2 months ago in Humans- Top Story - February 2024
Addiction
I'M SORRY my depression consumed us. I'm even more sorry yours didn't. If it had we could have been over a lot sooner. Not that I wanted an end at all. But because that's where we ended up anyways, we might as well have saved us a lot of time. People talk about cherishing or focusing on the good stuff... and let me tell yah, having been outside the good stuff for a while I really wish none of it ever happened. This isn't usual for me. I like to think I'm rather the optimist. But with you babe, I spent all my optimism. This isn't to say I didn't have a blast, feel love more intensely then ever imaginable... that's the issue really. I believed you were my one, my soulmate, twinflame, kindred spirit, partner in crime, better half, companion, lover, any other names I'm missing? Someone I've been with in many lives before this one maybe... (I don't know if I believe that sort of thing anymore, but with you I did.)
Hayley MattoPublished 2 months ago in Humans Holding On Sometimes Does more Damage than letting Go
Navigating the tumultuous terrain of heartbreak is an inevitable part of the human experience. Whether triggered by the dissolution of a relationship, the loss of a loved one, or the shattering of a dream, the sting of heartbreak is a universal phenomenon that transcends cultural, social, and geographical boundaries. Yet, amidst the shared experience of heartache, there exists a perplexing disparity: why do some heartbreaks inflict deeper wounds than others?
Ibrahim DaudaPublished 2 months ago in HumansLove Unravelled? Love's Unravelling Me!
My darlings, I have been having a bad week. Not cataclysm bad. Perturbation bad. 4am angst and mild diarrhoea bad. The bad that is born of love, and of tolerating living with this affliction.
Hannah MoorePublished 2 months ago in HumansAre We To Independent For Love
Love is a big word for many even to say. For some, the question is, does it come with a price tag? A young couple starting, by chance they meet, they become friends and low and behold they are dating. High school dating is wonderful, for some it can mean a lifetime of love. For others, you grow in two different directions. Love if it is love, can be painful—mostly the breakup or worst of all infidelity. Yet real love is the best thing that could ever happen to you.
Cathy DeslippePublished 2 months ago in Humans"Rediscovering the Echoes Within: A Journey from People-Pleasing to Self-Discovery"
In the reflective surface of the mirror, a plastic shell stared back at her – a hollow representation of a woman who had, for years, lost the resonance of her own voice. The journey from people-pleasing to self-discovery is a tumultuous one, filled with societal expectations, misplaced priorities, and a yearning for authenticity that often remains buried beneath layers of conformity.
Marwan Amin Mohammed Al-DhobhaniPublished 2 months ago in HumansHeartbreak Loss Hurts Too
If you’ve ever experienced a heartbreak, you’ll understand the soul-crushing numbness you feel in those first few days. You’ll then spend the next few weeks and months passing through ‘stages’ of heartbreak. It can sometimes feel like it will never end.
Christia HuntingtonPublished 2 months ago in HumansThe Reason You Feel Lonely
Friendship, often revered as one of life's greatest treasures, serves as the bedrock upon which we build our sense of belonging, support, and shared experiences. In a world characterized by constant change and uncertainty, friends provide the scaffolding that makes our journey not only bearable but truly fulfilling and meaningful. They offer a refuge from life's trials, a source of joy in times of celebration, and a steady hand to guide us through the darkest of days.