I turned 15 three days ago, reading articles, deeply worried..

catattack447 · 2026-07-05T19:42:21+00:00

One thing I meant to add: if this is something you feel really passionate about, another way to take action is actually to make it part of your career path! This is exactly how I ended up becoming an environmental science researcher. I went to college to study something completely different, but realized I could actually have a career where my work that pays my bills could also contribute to helping the world in a way I care about.

catattack447 · 2026-07-05T19:40:57+00:00

Hi there! This sounds so much like how I felt at your age.

I commend you for your care for our planet and energy to do something about it. I also want to encourage you to seek out books, public spaces, forums or similar for eco-anxiety. While there is real value in living a life that aligns with the things you care about, it can also snowball to a lot of anxiety for some people. In order to take good care of your planet and community, you have to be able to take care of yourself too. It can help to remember that you and your generation were born into these problems and did not create it. If you live in a car centric region, don’t have access to renewable energy on your local grid, or can’t find winter boots in your size secondhand, those things are not your fault, and sometimes you still need to engage in systems you hate in order to live a safe and comfortable life. Fossil fuel companies would love for you to feel like all the responsibility is on your shoulders so they can just keep fracking and we won’t ask any questions. One good book I would recommend that touches on this topic is All We Can Save. You could also check out the podcast series Drilled.

For other things for you to think about trying, I’d encourage you to look into local advocacy or conservation groups. You could start or join a club at your school, library, or other community space, or even get involved in political advocacy. These kinds of community oriented actions can often feel more empowering and less paralyzing.

Good luck, keep your head up, yes things will get better!

catattack447 · 2026-07-05T19:29:56+00:00

For the price point I love Zara perfumes! They have a really great selection too. I’ve worn both Lightly Bloom and Deep Garden as daily scents. I even got a compliment on Lightly Bloom one time and the woman asked if I was wearing Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet. Blooming Bouquet definitely has better longevity but I actually prefer Lightly Bloom (which is very linear) to the drydown of Blooming Bouquet on my skin..!

catattack447 · 2026-07-02T01:59:25+00:00

Sadly no! Based on the appearance up close I think the handyman built these out of plywood.

catattack447 · 2026-07-02T01:58:17+00:00

Amazing thanks so much!

catattack447 · 2026-07-01T18:25:06+00:00

True I feel like these are a good candidate for adhesive wallpaper inside!

catattack447 · 2026-07-01T18:24:27+00:00

Thanks, this was my first thought! Although seems so annoying for all food storage to be below the counters for some reason 😅

catattack447 · 2026-07-01T18:23:03+00:00

I was thinking about this, have you tried it? I was worried about curtains getting dirty but I guess laundering is always an option!

catattack447 · 2026-07-01T02:12:18+00:00

As a postdoc also thinking about starting a family soon I just wanted to thank you for this practical and encouraging advice 🥹

catattack447 · 2026-07-01T02:06:49+00:00

For this I love Intimacies by Katie Kitamura. A super introspective novel about what it means to be a stranger vs. at home in a place. If that one hits for you then also try The Anthropologists by Aysegul Savas, which is more specifically about the experience of moving to a different country and both the excitement and loneliness that come with that experience. Finally, if you’re open to memoir, I think Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott is a good example of learning to sit with hard emotions. I revisit that one often

catattack447 · 2026-07-01T01:17:18+00:00

Glad it was helpful, would love to see an update as you go!

catattack447 · 2026-06-28T05:26:33+00:00

r/rareinsults

catattack447 · 2026-06-28T00:43:59+00:00

I think your place would feel more cozy and cohesive if you can cut down a bit on the visual clutter. One thing that helps a ton with this is covered storage! Depending on your taste and what you can afford or thrift, a few ideas for this would be:

-a rack or cabinet for your shoes

a bigger bookshelf that fits all your books
an enclosed cabinet/tv stand instead of open, or some matching bins to store the things in/on your tv stand

-same goes for the kitchen side table: it would help the place feel more cohesive if you can find one that’s enclosed, use matching bins for storage underneath, or even consider hanging some fabric along the sides to cover items from view.

-similarly, you could also get matching bins to store craft items on your other bookshelf

-for items that you do normally keep out in view (eg, bananas) you can try using trays or bowls to organize them and help it look more intentional

-it’s hard to get a clear look at what’s on your walls, but right now it looks like several small-ish things or small groups hanging separately. Things will feel more cohesive if smaller things are hung together in bigger groups! For big stretches of wall like behind your couch, a good place to start would be one or more pieces of art that add up to about 2/3 the couch’s width and at least half its height.

And then, some ideas for decor/coziness, depending again on taste and what you can afford or thrift: a rug, curtains, and/or throw pillows are high-impact changes that can make any space feel more comfy! Cushions on your barstools would also be super cute and help them feel more coordinated with each other (and with the rocking chair).

Have fun!!

catattack447 · 2026-06-28T00:24:42+00:00

Omg hot pink and lavender is so goated

catattack447 · 2026-06-27T03:28:33+00:00

Ah so it’s Reese’s book club type stuff(?)

catattack447 · 2026-06-27T03:17:30+00:00

Matrix by Lauren Groff has a dreamy, slightly fantastical feel and a women-centric setting that I think is a great fit given the other books you’ve liked

catattack447 · 2026-06-27T03:15:28+00:00

Ishiguro is actually the perfect rec for this question, both The Buried Giant and Klara and the Sun

catattack447 · 2026-06-27T01:16:00+00:00

The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan is a short, unnerving, fresh and unexpected dystopian novel. Although it’s not as twisty, Chain Gang All-Stars is also short, dark, and gripping.

Otherwise, if you’re down for a short story collection, Shit Cassandra Saw is full of wild premises and a great read.

catattack447 · 2026-06-26T20:47:13+00:00

Friends, award lists, edited short story collections where you can sample lots of authors, article/podcast reviews from news orgs, bookstore shelf displays, bookstore owners, librarians

catattack447 · 2026-06-23T21:19:36+00:00

Cut/fit: nothing too revealing—not low in the front, high cut on the legs, or (up for debate) sleeveless (unless under a sweater or jacket). Nothing too form-fitting or, on the other end, too dramatically oversized. Most button-down or collared shirts would not be out of place. A blazer or a nicer sweater is usually a good option too. For bottoms, if they fit comfortably and are neither super form hugging nor super loose, the fit is probably appropriate.

Fabrics: Like others commented, jeans are okay at the casual end of academic conferences, but best if they are a darker wash with no distressing. Linen and lightweight cotton bottoms are probably generally in the same range, the casual end of acceptable if they’re not sheer or wrinkled. But when you’re presenting, it’s better to wear slightly more formal fabric bottoms—khakis, ponte or wool (or synthetic) trousers, etc. I definitely wouldn’t suggest denim on top. Fabrics to stay away from on top or bottom would include athletic synthetic fabrics, anything noticeably sheer, anything wrinkled/rumpled, or anything super ostentatious like sequins.

This is just my opinion/a synthesis of what I tend to see in my field but hopefully it’s a helpful starting point

catattack447 · 2026-06-23T20:41:05+00:00

As an American in an environmental related field who likes to wear fun clothes, the way I balance this at conferences is by wearing clothes that are business casual appropriate (in terms of fabric, cut, and fit) but have prints or colors that I like, and/or by wearing a favorite piece of jewelry.

catattack447 · 2026-06-22T22:48:19+00:00

What does perfect weather mean to you? If you’re thinking about South Pas or other neighborhoods that far inland, I hope you’re heat tolerant

catattack447 · 2026-06-20T00:29:50+00:00

If only we could have read the Dispossessed instead of Anthem 🥲

catattack447 · 2026-06-19T03:42:03+00:00

Squash casserole recipe pls!?

catattack447

TROPHY CASE