The Awakened Salad

May is almost over, but that doesn’t mean the conversation on mental health has to or should stop. I think sometimes we fall into the trap of thinking that nothing bad will happen to us or to the people around us. That our loved ones would never be going through anything bad, because we’d know, right? I’ve fallen into that trap too many times, and I still feel guilty. It’s hard, strangely hard, to see the signs that someone is going through something. But please, please try. Read up on signs that may indicate that there may be something lurking beneath the surface, and ask people if they’re doing okay. Let them know that you care. Not all of the signs will apply to everyone, so it’s not a good idea to dismiss someone because they don’t fit into a checklist. Also, remember to listen with an open mind, should someone choose to confide in you. If they seem uncomfortable, don’t push them. Opening up about this stuff can be absolutely terrifying, and it probably won’t all come out at once. There’s nothing wrong with taking small steps. It takes a lot of courage to open up and speak about things sometimes, and those feelings need to be respected. It’s hard to know what to say. There are so many times where I’ve wished I could say the right words, and the other person’s pain would just go away. Honestly, I don’t think that any such words exist. But listening, trying to understand, and reiterating that you care helps. Be patient, because sometimes even getting a few words out can be challenging. If the person is being rushed, it may just lead to feelings of guilt and inadequacy, and then lead them to be even less likely to open up. It can be extremely difficult to tell what someone's going through, especially if we don't know them that well, or dislike them. I'm not saying that you have to like everybody, but please, be kind. Be kind, because the alternatives can hurt far more than you may have intended. The state of mental health can be a slippery slope. The definition of “normal” can slowly change, until it becomes... not so healthy. Maybe you didn’t realise until after a long time. But it’s never too late. It became hardwired into my brain to just say “I’m okay” whenever someone asked how I was doing. Even if I wanted to tell them how I truly felt, I just couldn’t. It was awful and frustrating and it’s still a part of me today. But, taking that first step is important. Whether it be in real life or anonymously online in a place like this. It’s hard. I know it’s hard. If you can’t say the words, you could try writing them down. You don’t have to say everything right away. I used to think like that, and the thought of just spilling everything out of myself was extremely overwhelming. Even admitting that something might not be right to someone might be terrifying. But I cannot stress enough that talking about it helps. It helps more than I ever imagined. No, it’s not a magical fix that will make everything disappear, but it helps. If you don’t feel comfortable talking about it to someone you know, there are plenty of places online where you can anonymously, or hotlines you can call if you need to. Please, even if it’s the hardest thing ever, even if it scares you, even if you don’t want to bother anyone, even if you think your problems aren’t that bad and that no one will care, if you feel at all like you need help, please reach out for support. Asking for help isn't selfish. Asking for help isn't weak. You deserve to be happy. One of the biggest challenge mental health awareness faces is the lack of information. We’ve come far, but there’s still a long way to go. No matter how big or small, whether it’s in real life or online, your voice matters. There’s so much more I want to say but I don’t want this post to get too long. But please remember, you are loved, you are cared for, you are important, and the world is a better place with you in it. It’s a long and tough journey, and there will be setbacks, but it is possible to get better, things will get better, as long as you keep trying. The most important step a person can take is always the next one.

Welcome to the Shard! How far are you through Mistborn?

Created by some rats.

Coconuts

Salad belatedly started partying in celebration of 1000 pages. Woooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!

Number two didn’t like him back.

The comet wasn’t very happy about that.

You haven’t watched The Matrix??

Since InspiroBot memes are the only thing I’m good at, have this. Odium’s advice:

10/10, because it exudes an intimidating aura and I feel like I have to or else.

For that time he broke into the kitchen and ate all of the bacon.

I got these two right after each other and I don’t know how to feel.

I don’t really know what this means, but this quote was generated and I took it as a sign.

This is kind of late, but I think you can adjust the size of images by double clicking on them once you’ve inserted them into your post.

“IT’S OVER ANAKIN, I’M ON THE HIGH STEP!”

Or being lazy and not practicing scales

Well, considering you definitely haven’t eaten any of my salad brethren, if you hypothetically were a salad eater, what would be your favourite type of salad?

The Adventures of a Procrastinator 9am, bright and sunny: “I should write something.” 11am, scrolling through social media: “I’m not inspired.” 2pm, engrossed in a new book: “I’ll do it at later.” 6pm, still reading the book: “One more chapter.” 9pm, five episodes into a show: “What’s the point now?” 12am, finished the season: “Tomorrow.” What do you mean I’m just writing about my bad writing habits? Also please ignore the fact that 12am is technically the next day

Pegasus!!

In that case, how does your garden grow?

Waffling was a highly regarded sport, which involved riding a waffle boat down a syrup river.

No worries . When I found out it was in fact called flamenco dancing and not flamingo dancing, I refused to accept it for a while. How dare there not be a dance dedicated to the majestic flamingoes!

I think you were thinking of flamenco dancing?

Perfectionist A blank screen stares back at me, tauntingly empty. Then, the flash of an idea! My fingers twitch, then begin typing. Frantic, wild eyes trace the words as the symphony of clicks becomes faster, frenzied. Then it’s done. I read what I’ve written. The delete key returns the blank screen.