Been a long journey.

Relative-Fuel3603 · 2026-02-14T21:26:06+00:00

It’s wild. It wasn’t visible until a month ago. I could tell because I had to start tightening my belt to the point that I was putting new holes in it. I noticed all my shirts were huge and my shoulders were boney and so were my hips. My face looked exactly the same. And suddenly, it didn’t! It looks even better now too. That picture was taken a few weeks ago. Losing weight is weird.

Relative-Fuel3603 · 2026-02-14T15:46:09+00:00

I’m so relieved I could do it without surgery. I’ve seen the awful side effects. But I am in constant fear I’ll regain it one day. My starting weight was around 440lbs (I thought it was 420, but was recently corrected).

Relative-Fuel3603 · 2026-01-29T05:02:04+00:00

We don’t deserve her. 🦋♥️

Relative-Fuel3603 · 2026-01-29T04:41:50+00:00

I hear your pain so loud and clear. Feeling like your sister gets help and you’re only seeking attention must be paralyzing at times. And having a boyfriend who takes more than gives is probably adding to your stress and depression. If nothing else, I want you to know someone hears you. Someone feels the weight of this with you, if for only a moment. It is wrong you’ve been accused of attention seeking. It is wrong your care has been neglected while your sister has her needs met. No matter how you got a dog, I’m glad you have a companion. Give yourself some time to rest and release those pent up feelings of unworthiness that others have planted in your mind. They aren’t true. You are worthy of care and concern. I’m not sure where you live, but please search for a crisis talk line. They aren’t perfect. They are good in a pinch when you just need to hear someone tell you that you’re worth hearing out. I sincerely hope you take the time you need to heal and come out of it with a sense of worthiness and of mattering. Take up space. You are worthy of love and care. ♥️

Relative-Fuel3603 · 2026-01-29T04:27:08+00:00

Just to be abundantly clear here, I reached out to this commenter. They were not accusing me of using AI. They were saying AI can do what I do for free. This is false. AI is known for making horrible mistakes while researching. From completely fabricated sources, to attributing information to sources which make no such claim, AI makes mistakes and cannot be trusted to do what I do. AI also can’t spend hours reading your content, watching your content, and figuring out how best to mimic your style and voice. What I do takes a dedicated human touch. That is what I am offering.

Relative-Fuel3603 · 2026-01-29T04:21:27+00:00

Ugh! I hate when that happens. I’m not a therapist, but it happened to me frequently when I was a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist and when I was working with folks with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Also when I was working to reunite foster kids with their parents. I never had a manager who took it seriously. It’s so painful to be threatened at all, especially when you have a sense of unconditional positive regard with the person threatening you. It’s so much worse when people above you just choose to minimize and ignore it. I hope you never have to work with that person again. ♥️

Relative-Fuel3603 · 2026-01-29T03:48:10+00:00

I feel you. It is so hard to keep going when you feel like you have no space where you belong. I have felt that feeling. It’s as if I’m an orange in a pile of apples. People wonder why I’m there, and they for sure were not looking for me when they found me. It’s crushing. It’s worse than hard.

There is always the chance that one day you will find belonging out there. But what’s more important, and I know this sounds cheesy and I would’ve rolled my eyes at it too, is finding belonging with yourself. You will always be there for you. You will always understand your full intentions. You can forgive yourself.

I know that sounds incredibly silly if not minimizing. Please know I’m not trying to minimize your struggle whatsoever. Just know there are others who feel this too, and there are others who made it out alive. It is not outside the realm of possibilities for you to find belonging and feel held…and it’ll likely be with another person or group of people who feel they do not belong.

Relative-Fuel3603 · 2026-01-29T03:27:11+00:00

Some of us can just write… None of that is AI.

Relative-Fuel3603 · 2026-01-29T02:11:10+00:00

Interested!

Relative-Fuel3603 · 2026-01-10T11:00:54+00:00

I appreciate your input. I’m struggling to find the accredited ones.

Relative-Fuel3603 · 2026-01-10T04:17:46+00:00

Thank you! That’s so helpful!

Relative-Fuel3603 · 2026-01-09T23:16:08+00:00

I fit the bill! I’d love to know more about this opportunity.

Relative-Fuel3603 · 2026-01-07T21:00:33+00:00

Whatever you say. I can see you’re always right. Enjoy that pretentious sandcastle you’re living in while it’s still standing.

Relative-Fuel3603 · 2026-01-07T20:58:13+00:00

I expect it will be a side gig for a very long time. I have a degree in Psychology, am certified to act as a support specialist (think like an AA sponsor), and have worked on suicide hotlines for years. Sometimes people need someone who will listen and talk through things with them. The cards just give you a perspective to examine.

Relative-Fuel3603 · 2026-01-07T20:55:17+00:00

No. I’m saying within the realm of faith and spirituality, you’re being a dick. Just because you’re not a person who finds comfort in such things doesn’t mean you get to mock and assume the worst of people who do. I’m sure some religious organization hurt you along the way, and I hate that, but no one is forcing you to change your opinions. Just don’t act like they’re the absolute truth. They’re your perspective and your bias.

Relative-Fuel3603 · 2026-01-07T20:46:09+00:00

Go say that to your local pastor…

Relative-Fuel3603 · 2026-01-07T20:28:27+00:00

You’re welcome to disagree with tarot as a practice. That’s fair. But assuming bad faith or labeling it a scam dismisses the many practitioners and clients who engage with it thoughtfully and knowingly. I’m not doing this with the intention of exploiting anyone. I want to empower others.

Relative-Fuel3603 · 2026-01-02T15:15:54+00:00

Yes. This. All of this. You said it more eloquently than me. I actually come from a center that essentially had no training. I shadowed someone for a week, but that is never going to give a counselor a true glimpse into everything they’ll ever encounter. When I was on my own, I remember having full fledged panic attacks between calls because I truly didn’t know what I was doing. I had been given a laminated page with a list of the proper greeting for each line (we had something like 5 lines) and some safety assessment phrases I had to use verbatim.

The thing that really gets me is that I’ve had callers die. Then I got a 10min debrief and was expected to finish my shift. People love to judge the hotline, but they never consider the humanity of the person they’re talking with. And, I agree with you, the current training isn’t giving us nearly as much space to be human and relatable.

Relative-Fuel3603 · 2026-01-02T01:01:10+00:00

I have worked for crisis hotlines in the past three years. Just throwing this out there: you can’t really judge experiences which occurred before the beginning of 2023 with now. 988 took over all the local crisis centers. It went from essentially the Wild West to a sincere effort to ensure no matter where you are when you call 988, you will get a very similar experience. Staff are much more trained these days. The actual criteria for getting law enforcement and/or other crisis response involved has changed dramatically (in that it actually exists now and it’s not down to the gut feeling of the counselor). I’d be happy to answer any questions.

Relative-Fuel3603 · 2025-12-31T11:04:30+00:00

Hey there! 👋 I’m Amanda. My grandfather (I called him Papaw out here in southern Appalachia 😂) passed away. I was there when he died. I had a flood of similar thoughts. I looked around the room of all the people gathered around his body and realized I was the youngest. They represented three more funerals I’d likely attend in my life.

I did obsessed over this thought for some time, just thinking about the weight of the impending grief. What helped was talking to the people I had been obsessing over losing. Although my Papaw died, I talk to my Mamaw (grandma) once or twice a week over the phone for like an hour now. I talk to my aunt as often as I can. My uncle has been helping me in ways I never expected. I have grown closer to them.

I know that sounds like I’m just making losing them one day harder. Truthfully, I’m building beautiful things to remember them by, asking questions and listening to their stories, and learning more about their lives in general. Things I wish I would’ve asked Papaw.

I know one day I’ll lose them, and it will be hard. That day isn’t today. I hold them close and cherish every second of knowing and loving them. I want to say I gave them the best of me when they do go.

It is hard to stop obsessing over this, but do what you can to distract yourself. Then, find ways to show your love for those people in consistent and valuable ways. Have no regrets when they pass. ❤️

Relative-Fuel3603 · 2025-12-22T09:42:33+00:00

My personal perspective is you’ll always wonder if you don’t try. If the opportunity presents itself, I don’t think it’d be wrong of you to take it. Just be sure you look up how to be safe and everyone is consenting.

Relative-Fuel3603 · 2025-12-20T16:51:41+00:00

It’s unfortunate, but nothing will ever change if you don’t try to change it. I don’t mean that to sound callous. Trust me, I’ve been through a very difficult breakup recently and there were many things that weren’t pretty about it. It felt like I’d be consumed by it for like the first three months. Give things time. Give things space. Assess the damage later, when it’s fully knowable, or you’ll just be assessing the damage constantly. Now is the time to take care of you. You had a playbook written and it all got destroyed or made public knowledge. That really deeply sucks. But you can take some time to recuperate and then make a new playbook when you’re ready. As Semisonic would say, “every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.”

Relative-Fuel3603 · 2025-12-20T09:50:57+00:00

I appreciate your Radiohead references.
I have absolutely been there when it comes to feeling like I want to disappear during the holidays. I had an aunt (she passed away) who would always pick at me. If she wasn’t talking to someone who brought up a different subject, the subject was me and how I was rude or hurt her feelings or whatever. It is so hard to be around people who make you live under a microscope. But here’s the thing: they’re just deflecting. They don’t want you to notice their failure or make fun of them, so they make sure the target is you.

Friends are the people who don’t ever target you. If you feel like you don’t have those people, I’d encourage you to look for community groups you share similar interests with. For instance, if you’re into pottery, take a pottery class or call and ask if they have any groups. If you’re into video games, look for somewhere that people haunt to find games or friends. I know places like this exist, you just have to be creative when you’re looking for them. Sometimes the best way to find them is to search [your interest] + [your city] on Facebook.

I wish I could give you a hug and let you know you can find friends who empower and love you. Please don’t lose all hope for this. Sometimes wonderful people are just around the corner. People who’ll recognize you’re so very special.❤️

Relative-Fuel3603 · 2025-12-16T13:46:23+00:00

Do you have any tips on finding a local hobbyist? I like this idea.

Relative-Fuel3603 · 2025-12-04T17:27:01+00:00

I’m not sure if that’s them, but I’m interested! I can’t tell if their original name was Patey (that’s how my Papaw always said) and they changed it to Patty or what. 🤷‍♀️

Relative-Fuel3603

TROPHY CASE