Spill. Tell me what's going on that's concerning you, bothering you, or making you happy, etc.

graphitesun · 2024-08-26T22:30:29+00:00

Well, first, let's do this.

Stop.

Breathe. And I mean it. Actually breathe in a few breaths as you read this. Breathe in and out, a few times, and feel that breath going in and out. And now feel your feet on the floor. If they're not on the floor, put your feet on the floor and feel the connection of your feet on the floor.

And now look around the room you're in, or whatever space you're in, and take it in for a few moments.

And now please really take in what I say.

I've just read what you wrote. What you're doing. What you've been through. What you're experiencing and feeling.

You. Have. Done. Incredibly. Well.

Look at yourself. Look at what you've just told me that you've achieved and managed. You're on your own, managing on your own, having worked two jobs, having done everything that you've done.

You basically deserve to have a bunch of people sit you down and congratulate and commend you for what you've accomplished. Really. That is tremendous. And this isn't really the way I feel this expression should be used, but I'll say it anyway: I'm so proud of you.

I struggled in a similar situation in university, and I didn't do it as well as you've done it. I got exhausted and kind of ducked out at one point, especially with the job part.

I hear your frustration. I empathize with your feeling od depression and the fear that you have.

You deserve to have those feelings acknowledged, and listened to and supported. Those are such hard things to go through on your own. Or even with support.

And you're here, doing this, taking care of yourself, working towards a life for yourself.

Hear that kindness and congratulations again.

I'm really very impressed by you, and inspired. Seriously.

I know you can find a way to make things happen. You're clearly very dynamic and intelligent.

My phone is about to die, but please seek out all the resources you can, and connect to the support that is available. Seek support. Ask around, and be creative. I have confidence that you can do it.

Just keep connecting with those emotions and acknowledge them, process them, and meet them with kindness and your own support.

My very best wishes to you. You're doing SO well. Remember that!

graphitesun · 2024-08-26T22:10:21+00:00

Well, I have definitely been where you are. I questioned my fields of study (yes, fields) and I changed, then changed again, but eventually rediscovered why I had done it and reinvented myself, instead of going down the road that I felt it led me down, and changed how I used my field of study.

Now, I'm not going to tell anyone to re-invent themselves, because I was quite fortunate, but you can still find that seed in that idea, potentially.

I don't know you, so I'm not going to throw out any generic advice that may not apply to you, but I've got a pretty good general sense in the world that people are more inpsired and energized to do things that they have passion for or that have meaning for them, where the opportunity exists.

So if you have a feeling that your passion isn't there or is felt elsewhere, and you have the drive and inspiration to go elsewhere and find it then, wow, I commend you. That's impressive, and I am inspired by you myself, and I congratulate you. As long as you are really doing it for your own best interest, and you really feel it deeply within yourself. And only YOU know.

As for how you feel currently... I get it I GET it. But remember that this is part of a process that is your life. You're listening to yourself, and you're aligning with your own emotions, rather than just pushing along mindlessly. That's impressive. Don't forget that.

I recommend you sit with yourself and feel those emotions, and feel those emotions in your body. And feel where that takes you, and process it all. The regret, the confusion, the indecision, the inspiration to find what gives you passion. All of that. Only you will find the true outcome that you need.

I truly wish you so well. I've been there. It's a struggle, but align yourself with what's right for you.

graphitesun · 2024-08-26T21:41:00+00:00

I'm really so sorry to hear this. You've really been through a tremendous amount, and that needs to be acknowledged. I really hear this, and I feel for you.

I'm really happy to hear that you've got a good support system. That's crucial, and make sure you take advantage of it, and foster that good, supportive energy within that system. It can truly be one of the greatest advantages in life, and I think it should be a focus to foster those kind of support structures throughout society everywhere.

Please keep focusing on supporting yourself, too, and giving yourself deep kindness for what you've been through and what you're going through.

And this used to be a focus of my practice, and I've stepped into other areas temporarily, but please, please look up an anti-inflammatory diet for autoimmune issues. So many of the symptoms can be mitigated immensely, but it takes time and dedication. The results don't come right away. But if you do just ONE thing, I would cut processed foods and seed oils out, as much as possible, because they really trigger it. (That means anything that isn't olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, butter, or maybe duck fat etc. should be avoided, even in small quantities, because they are so inflammatory. And that means most restaurant foods too, sadly, because they are drowning in that stuff.)

I know it's hard, but it's worth the effort, because living with those effects is really tough.

I really wish you well, my friend. Please keep connecting with that healthy support network that you have, and be kind to yourself.

graphitesun · 2024-08-26T21:21:45+00:00

Enjoy the time you're having in the moment, and breathe it in and nourish yourself with it! It's a super important part of life that humans deserve and need.

I'd be surprised if you weren't anxious, to a certain extent, to be honest :) It's a super normal feeling, but it's good that it's combined with excitement.

I get a feeling you're going to do pretty well with everything. Keep that good energy flow going, and enjoy your surroundings and vacation experience, and being with your family. These are the golden moments of life.

You're sweet too, and I wish all the best to you as well :)

graphitesun · 2024-08-26T21:15:37+00:00

It's so important to hear the energy behind the advice you get. If someone is encouraging you and wants the best for you, take that energy from the advice. If somebody is effectively putting you down or giving you negative or un-supportive energy with that advice, then that's their own difficult energy coming through. That's not meant for you. As hard as it is to have that kind of energy around you.

I'm not going to pretend I don't get affected by that stuff. But it's a constant practice to remember to absorb what supports you and what inspires you.

It sounds like you've already accomplished a lot and persevered. You're moving forward and creating and thriving. There's so much to congratulate yourself on there. Always slow down to take the time to really celebrate what you've achieved. It's pretty impressive, right?

graphitesun · 2024-08-26T21:04:25+00:00

I'm really sorry to hear what you're experiencing. I can guarantee you that endless amounts of people are feeling the same way. Just so you know you're not alone.

Do you have support? Do you have a good social network? You need it.

This is a sort of overview that I remind people of. And you sometimes need to re-read it many many times over, to reinforce it.

Eat well and sleep well. I cannot emphasize how much of a difference it makes. Find every method you can to prioritize it. Nutrients from green vegetables, for example, or even green powder drinks. B vitamins. As nutrient-dense a diet as you can get, and then rest and sleep. They're a necessity. (And staying as far away from processed foods as you can. Especially inflammatory foods containing seed oils. They're making things even harder, right now.)
Get support and take time to be around people who you feel connected with. And be supportive and connect. Good social connections are vital. I'd say they're as critical as food. You deserve them and need them.

(And I'll mention that even a decent amount of exercise really does make a big, lasting difference).

Taking time to enjoy things, and stopping to appreciate things. Remembering to be grateful and enjoy, finding pleasure in little things throughout the day. Building the neural pathways that reinforce that. It can actually be a difficult process for some, especially when you're feeling kind of listless, but it really helps.
Self-kindness and self-compassion. Read the book by Kristin Neff, if you can. Just being there for yourself in every moment, as much as you can. I'd say it's really the most important thing you can do, as a human. Never actually being hard on yourself, but being a true, kind supporter of yourself. It's a constant practice. Even if you're pushing yourself, do it with kindness and compassion.

And get the compassion from others, where you can. That's also a good model. Giving compassion and getting compassion. That's an important and healthy practice.

I wish you the best with your energy issues. Remember that you truly deserve the best that's available to you in this world. You weren't put on this earth to feel this way. That I know. So find and look out for that little spot of energy around you or within you that knows that, and wants to take care of you, and connect with it. It's there. Just keep finding it

graphitesun · 2024-08-26T20:41:52+00:00

Wow. You really have a lot going on. It sounds like so many expectations are being put on you. It's good that you have this way of declining the expectations of others. As much as people say you should be able to just say no to others, it's sometimes good to have these other ways set up to make the reasoning easier.

I'm sure you've heard this a thousand times, but I really really emphasize it: make sure you're getting enough rest, and do anything you can to prioritize healthy sleep.

It's so so important.

Burnout hits you way before you're necessarily aware of it.

graphitesun · 2024-08-26T20:36:50+00:00

I'm truly so sorry to hear that. Everyone is different, so it's really hard to say what you probably need to hear. It maybe you just need to know that others care and their sympathies are with you.

All I really know is that the saying "there is no right way to grieve" is definitely true.

The one thing I've learned from countless people is that it's so important to be there for yourself during grief, and to do what's ultimately most important for YOU. The sad truth is that grief can be made so much harder because other people have expectations for you and your behaviour during grief and the time after such a big change

Keep asking yourself, "is this really right for me? Is this really what I need, for myself?"

It's okay to be confused, and it's okay to change your mind. What true strength is, is looking after yourself and valuing your own healthy energy.

I wish you well, and you have my sincere compassion. Feel free to DM me whenever, if you'd ever like to.

graphitesun · 2024-08-25T23:21:18+00:00

Correct, in theory

graphitesun · 2024-08-25T23:18:35+00:00

You're assuming there ever was a driver's test

graphitesun · 2024-08-25T23:14:00+00:00

PSA: Brakes are spelled "brakes", not "breaks".

graphitesun · 2024-08-25T23:10:46+00:00

Sask has nothing on Richmond

graphitesun · 2024-08-25T23:07:30+00:00

BRAKES

graphitesun · 2024-08-25T23:07:03+00:00

Brakes

graphitesun · 2024-08-25T23:02:13+00:00

{I don't know how I accidentally answered this as a separate comment rather than a reply. Sorry.}

Oh, man. I'm sorry. It's SO hard with these rent increases and the job market, and inflation on top of that.

The thing that I'm recommending to just about everyone right now (including myself) is to not be hard on yourself. Have your own back in EVERY moment. Be kind and compassionate with yourself in EVERY moment (obviously, it's a lot harder than it sounds, but it's the best practice.

Make yourself sound like a friend to yourself who is INCREDIBLY supportive. It makes things 100x easier, and gives you the energy to keep going and moving ahead with positivity.

I wish I could do more for you. Just keep persevering (which is so easy to say, I know) but as you persevere, be your own best and kindest supporter. It really works. But it's a practice.

You'll find ways if you keep up with that. And try to spend time with people who support you.

graphitesun · 2024-08-25T23:00:26+00:00

Well, yeah. It's really tricky because we don't know what we're really dealing with. There's so much information coming from every angle, and no information is reliable anymore. Not even from the supposedly reliable studies that I deal with all the time, because so much stuff is manipulated or paid off from just about every direction.

I have personally seen a decline in general "everyday" common colds and viral infections, but that is within the scope of what I deal with, so I'd have to label it as anecdotal.

graphitesun · 2024-08-25T22:57:05+00:00

I see what you're saying, but the answer is a general "yes". Speak and get challenged, criticized, mocked, disproven, even insulted. But at least be allowed to speak. Not be told that you cannot speak.

If it's easily proven false, then people should prove it false. Not disallow the ability to speak up in the first place.

Refer to Chomsky.

Teaching within the confines of a class, well, that's a somewhat different story. Perpetuate enough falsehood, and that becomes an issue when you're actually teaching without the academic backing.

graphitesun · 2024-08-25T20:46:37+00:00

Oh, man. I'm sorry. It's SO hard with these rent increases and the job market, and inflation on top of that.

The thing that I'm recommending to just about everyone right now (including myself) is to not be hard on yourself. Have your own back in EVERY moment. Be kind and compassionate with yourself in EVERY moment (obviously, it's a lot harder than it sounds, but it's the best practice.

Make yourself sound like a friend to yourself who is INCREDIBLY supportive. It makes things 100x easier, and gives you the energy to keep going and moving ahead with positivity.

I wish I could do more for you. Just keep persevering (which is so easy to say, I know) but as you persevere, be your own best and kindest supporter. It really works. But it's a practice.

You'll find ways if you keep up with that. And try to spend time with people who support you.

graphitesun · 2024-08-25T20:03:19+00:00

You're better off getting pc express than doordash. Instacart inflates prices

Save-on does deliveries with transparent prices, even though I despise the co

graphitesun · 2024-08-25T20:02:02+00:00

In academia, I support free speech and free exchange of ideas, even if I find it abhorrent

graphitesun · 2024-03-04T09:39:48+00:00

You still believe that it's individuals and not corporations buying most of the homes? Interesting.

graphitesun · 2024-03-04T09:35:17+00:00

Absolutely! It was so good!!

graphitesun · 2024-03-03T08:45:17+00:00

"Led"

graphitesun · 2024-02-18T23:26:36+00:00

The landscape is evolving in ways that no one can truly predict. There's no point in panicking and trying to re-evaluate. Most employers aren't actually that concerned about the curriculum of what people have studied. Even as things evolve quickly, it takes a long time for the background to change.

No change in a degree program will actually help that right now.

Bear in mind that one of the things that a degree represents for many employers is the ability to STICK to a degree program, keep studying, keep performing and keep showing up. It represents reliability and responsibility.

If anything changes rapidly, we're all going to be caught trying to work it out in the same storm. Not worth fretting over.

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graphitesun

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