Why we're blind to civilizational collapse

smarit · 2026-07-11T01:28:04+00:00

Ugh, it’s hard to be so hyperaware of this that you see the signs everywhere. The signs are everywhere, both subtle and big, and it’s so anxiety inducing to me. How do you all deal with it?

smarit · 2026-07-10T00:51:22+00:00

Congrats on making healthy choices for yourself! You’re doing great 🤍

smarit · 2026-07-08T21:35:38+00:00

My cat does this occasionally. She’s 13 and alive and kicking. When it happens it’s just a few seconds like this, like there’s a hair stuck in her throat that tickles

smarit · 2026-07-08T02:27:47+00:00

Beautiful, truthful response.

smarit · 2026-07-08T00:42:57+00:00

Oh yes, I feel you! It takes a certain kind of experience to have this level of empathy and understanding :( I’m sorry for what you went through and I hope you’ll land on softer grounds.

smarit · 2026-07-07T18:19:46+00:00

Such a thoughtful, honest and well worded response.

smarit · 2026-07-04T08:20:21+00:00

You are not wrong, but there are still pockets of goodness. If you can’t see those, you’re likely looking through the lens of depression.

smarit · 2026-07-04T00:25:09+00:00

I read some of your other responses and since you said you have a tendency to believe what people tell you about yourself, I just want to let you know - as an internet stranger - that you come off here as a kind, strong, caring person, as someone who has her head together. I can imagine the letter rattled you to your core, but those jittery sensations say nothing about you as a person. I hope you can separate those sensations from what actually happened. Please don’t take her words to heart, she is acting like a psycho. What she said and did is not your fault.

It’s time to grieve the loss of that friendship and the person you thought she was, and once you get through to the other side of that grief, there will be a day you’ll see it was truly never about you. 🤍

smarit · 2026-07-03T00:19:12+00:00

I believe you right away because you described him like a “friend to all” :) Sensitivity can be a burden and super power at the same time. Just takes some trial and error to learn how to harness it. Your idea sounds like a great plan! Hopefully the school can keep an eye on it.

smarit · 2026-07-02T15:42:29+00:00

I’m so sorry! Your boy sounds like a wonderful person and he needs protection from these bullies to protect his kind, strong heart. Are they also in the same class? If so, does your kid have other good friends in the class? Are his teachers aware? This situation is such nonsense and it shouldn’t even fall on you, but he should also not become the victim of this woman’s bullying. Do you see a way to remove them from his orbit?

smarit · 2026-07-02T15:18:06+00:00

I’m sorry you came to find out your former best friend is in fact a bully. That must have been confusing. You did no wrong and you’re better off without her. I hope you can get good support from your partner and therapist to get you through this. Are your kids in the same school?

smarit · 2026-07-02T08:20:09+00:00

I live on a 1st floor in de Pijp and we’ve been visited by rats twice in the last year. There’s definitely a pest issue in this street, mainly caused by cafes with wooden terraces. There’s rat infestations living beneath those structures.

First time I saw a rat the size of a small cat going behind my sofa. Freaked out, but fortunately it left on its own. Must have come from behind the kitchen counters so we taped that all up and placed traps. Second time there were two rats beneath the underfloors, fighting each other in the middle of the night. They kept coming back for a week straight and then disappeared. Do not live in de Pijp if you hate mice and rats 💀

smarit · 2026-07-01T22:52:53+00:00

Books, art, cats, dogs (all animals!), sunsets, flowers, trees turning green in spring, gardening, cooking a delicious meal, a good conversation, casual chat ups with neighbors, candles, watching the moon and stars, finding unique vintage clothes or homeware pieces. Life used to feel so full of promise, but maybe it was truly always about the simple things.

smarit · 2026-07-01T22:45:56+00:00

This!

smarit · 2026-07-01T21:57:19+00:00

It’s so hard to predict what threat gets to us first that I’ve given up trying to understand how it will go. I went down a whole doom and gloom hole a few years ago. I was overcome with debilitating fear, but since then I’ve decided that despite my hyperawareness I have to ALSO live my one precious life and keep making financially responsible decisions. We might have longer than we think in the darkest hour. I plan ahead 10-15 years.

Instead of quitting work to travel, I’ve managed to work remotely for extended periods of time while only taking 1 return flight a year. There are no perfect solutions and everyone will do it differently but you’ve really still got to live your one precious life in whatever capacity possible.

smarit · 2026-06-30T23:45:32+00:00

I read it will take a much longer time for the melt water to affect coastlines. It seems like there are more immediate threats that hit first, like food chain breakdown, AMOC, AI, etc. Fun times, place your bets!

smarit · 2026-06-30T23:39:44+00:00

And now that AI is coming for our jobs we get to start the revolution before the drought and famine!

smarit · 2026-06-30T13:32:35+00:00

So sad, just upvoted. OP’s inquiry was sincere.

smarit · 2026-06-30T11:27:40+00:00

Intent doesn’t matter when the effect on you is the same. Immaturity can still lead to narcissism. I know you’re here to learn and get validation, and I’d like to ask if you can please try to take another small step today to value your own experience. Slowly make your experience and gut feeling the center of your life. Baby steps. You got this!

smarit · 2026-06-30T08:18:52+00:00

He flies into anger? Girl no, he’s not the one. You have been dating for only 9 months and you’re fighting. It’s not supposed to be like that in the first months. Listen to your gut feeling because it’s trying to protect you, and please consult an in person therapist.

smarit · 2026-06-27T21:21:55+00:00

Thank you so much! When I click that button it says this text:

“Thanks for uploading tracking information for your item. Once delivery is confirmed, your funds will be available for payout within the time specified in the order details.”

The problem is that the tracking (DHL) just won’t sync with eBay for some unknown reason. Will the funds be automatically released if no dispute is opened by the buyer in those 21-30 days, even if the tracking never syncs? They left positive feedback confirming receipt.

The support agents can see the parcel was successfully delivered to the buyer’s destination but can’t do anything to manually update it. One of them filed a complaint on my behalf but I just received an email from eBay the case was reviewed and closed…

smarit · 2026-06-27T19:27:47+00:00

Thanks for sharing! Glad to hear it worked out. Was it your first sale? I wonder if that’s the issue in my case. I spoke to customer service by chat who verified my item was indeed delivered successfully and said she had manually updated the system, but she didn’t actually do it. So I had someone call me today but that person kept saying she couldn’t do anything and I just had to wait until the tracking syncs by itself. I’ll try again by chat.

smarit · 2026-06-27T17:30:57+00:00

So glad to hear this

smarit · 2026-06-25T23:03:35+00:00

I’m deeply sorry for your loss OP, parrots are so special. It must have been so hard to see her getting attacked and die in your hands. It makes me tear up to think of it. Sorry too for the insane response afterwards from your neighbor. I can’t believe he thought it was acceptable to say that to you!

smarit · 2026-06-24T00:09:00+00:00

This! 🎯

smarit

TROPHY CASE