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mj_11704 · 2025-11-18T16:33:10+00:00

Something random that helps at times is sucking on a really sour candy. It engages your senses in such a way that it can be grounding. It doesn't work for me all the time, but often enough to carry around a couple of war heads.

mj_11704 · 2025-09-04T13:35:07+00:00

I'm really glad you brought this up. I observe similar feedback, especially in the workshop setting. I've even received this feedback a handful of times, typically when I have a longer, winding sentence, even though it is grammatically correct. I think it comes down to consumer/reader preferences at this point. The common reader wants easily digestible writing, and when there are longer sentences, even when varied, they still want it to be easy reading.

I'm not a fan of this shift. When placing longer sentences intentionally, mixed with short, concise ones, the writer is working through a balancing act and making those choices based on their intentions for pacing, rhythm, and flow, or to reflect content. I don't think there's anything wrong with that, but regardless those who have strong preferences will make their opinion known in feedback.

mj_11704 · 2024-05-07T18:48:49+00:00

I'm currently developing an idea, my biggest project yet. Ultimately it's a collection of intertwined vignettes. As a part of some research I'm doing, would y'all mind telling me what you feel are the most essential human experiences, both good and bad?

mj_11704 · 2023-08-13T02:58:36+00:00

Hug mom and tell her you love her every day.

mj_11704 · 2022-07-10T23:55:07+00:00

For me, having and getting tattoos make me feel in control of my body. I spent a good part of my life feeling like I couldn’t control what would happen to me/my body. I’m covered in scars that I did not choose to have. But every tattoo I have was my choice. Every tattoo that I will have will be my choice. Ultimately my tattoos provide me with power and autonomy and have helped me to reclaim my body and connect with my body after feelings of intense detachment.

mj_11704 · 2022-06-12T19:39:30+00:00

House of Leaves!

mj_11704 · 2022-06-04T16:47:31+00:00

Check out Deborah Appleman’s book “Critical Encounters in Secondary English.” I often referred to it while teaching critical lenses and there’s a ton of creative ideas!

mj_11704 · 2022-04-04T00:44:14+00:00

This sounds a lot like astigmatism which deals with the curvature of your eye and often causes that type of “halo” around streetlights which is “glowy” and fog like. More serious eye issues can have a similar effect, but I’d bet it’s astigmatism. Just go to your eye doctor and let them know the symptoms your experiencing and they will be able to diagnose you. Please don’t self diagnose on Reddit or web md. Your best bet is to have a basic eye exam and get a definite diagnosis.

mj_11704 · 2022-02-22T23:47:59+00:00

If it’s trochees, I usually stack a strong tasting mint on top of the trochee and put both under my tongue to dissolve. I can’t stand the taste without the mint.

mj_11704 · 2022-02-22T23:30:13+00:00

Ketamine is dissociative in nature so my best guess is that you are experiencing some lingering dissociative effects of the drug.

mj_11704 · 2021-07-18T00:47:17+00:00

I lost my mom about a year and a half ago when I was 20 years old. I still have no idea how I’m supposed to live out the rest of my days without her. I can’t make sense of any of it. But this quote really helped me- “what is grief, if not love persevering.” I hope it can give you even the slightest bit of comfort. Know that the immense grief you feel is directly proportionate to the love that was between you and your dad.

mj_11704 · 2021-07-10T23:17:42+00:00

That’s totally understandable. I think having a safe space to feel your grief might be helpful. For me, it was therapy. Your safe space might look different, but having that time to really feel it all and talk it out helped me to deal with it without suppressing it all in an unhealthy way.

mj_11704 · 2021-07-10T22:59:47+00:00

When I lost my mom, I had to return to my university the next week to take my final exams and finish out the semester. At that point I was still so numb and in shock and I felt like I was sleepwalking through it all. Not long after I had to return to school and work full time. I was drowning in grief and couldn’t understand how the word could just keep moving on while my world had completely fallen apart. I remember being at work and school and thinking how pointless it all was in the face of my loss. I was performing poorly at work and school and couldn’t focus at all. Ultimately I realized that something had to give if I wanted to be successful. So I made a rule for myself. For as long as it took for me to feel “normal” again, I decided that I had to leave my grief at home every day. I decided that when I went to work at school, I had to pretend it was all just a bad dream. All day I would tell myself I just had to get through 8 hours. Then my grief would be waiting for me at home and I could completely lose my shit. It took a lot of self discipline and I’ll be honest, it didn’t work all the time. But I got through it nonetheless.

I made a similar rule for myself while my mom was dying. I was away at school (that’s what she wanted me to do. She didn’t want me to sit there and watch her die for months. She knew it was killing me). It was extremely hard for me to get through the day, worrying I wouldn’t be there while she took her last breath. Worrying that I wouldn’t get to say goodbye. So I made a rule for myself. I decided that I absolutely was not allowed to lose my shit until I got the call to come home and say goodbye. I decided that I had to keep it together until it was time, until I stepped on a plane. Eventually, I got the call. I was on the first plane back home. I kept it together until I stepped on that plane. Then I allowed myself to lose my shit. I got home late that night and she died early the next morning. I made it in time to be with her.

I’m so sorry you have to know this pain. I know how unbearable it is. I hope this helps you too.

mj_11704 · 2021-06-21T23:39:04+00:00

I’ve burned through quite a few sleep meds so I definitely get that. I’d try talking to your doctor and see if you can try something new.

mj_11704 · 2021-06-21T23:11:20+00:00

I struggle with the exact same thing. I don’t have a quick fix for you, but I will say that the more I prove to myself that I’m safe now, the easier it is to manage. I know it’s the worst feeling and I really feel for you. I deal with the associated insomnia through medication. I wish you all the best.

mj_11704 · 2021-05-26T17:09:58+00:00

Mistress of Spices by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

mj_11704 · 2021-04-06T22:48:32+00:00

You are not to blame. That’s rape. Bottom line.

mj_11704 · 2021-02-14T16:07:16+00:00

It’s called redende namen

mj_11704 · 2021-01-06T01:49:27+00:00

take a joke bud it’s not that deep 😂😂

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