And finally this question, the mystery of who’s story it will be. Of who draws the curtain. Who is it that chooses our steps in the dance? Who drives us mad? Lashes us with whips and crowns us with victory when we survive the impossible? Who is it, that does all of these things?
Who honors those we love for the very life we live? Who sends monsters to kill us, and at the same time sings that we will never die? Who teaches us what’s real and how to laugh at lies? Who decides why we live and what we’ll die to defend? Who chains us? And Who holds the key that can set us free… It’s You. You have all the weapons you need. Now Fight!
-Sweet Pea from Suckerpunch
This post was inspired after reading this one by Justin McElroy.
-Anxiety and depression are the best liars around. They know you because they’ve built a home in your head so they know how to spin you around. Don’t listen to them. This is much harder than it sounds because they will consume your mind and drown out anything else. With time and practice you can learn what you need to cut through their static.
-It is possible to be an introvert and present like an extrovert when you like to be around others so you’re not alone with yourself.
-Learning to be content alone without assuming others hate you or don’t like having you around is the most empowering thing you’ll ever know.
-Don’t let anyone make you feel guilty for the things that give you joy. Even yourself. Life is short, why not enjoy what you can?
-While sometimes lighting a fire under your own ass is a good motivator, it’s not the way to accomplishing something all the time. While life is short you also have all the time in the world to complete something. It’s not a failure for it to take days, weeks, months, or years. Rome wasn’t built in a day nor was the final draft of a novel.
-The way you see yourself is always harsher than how anyone else sees you.
-There will always be people who don’t understand the constant struggle and imperfection of mental illness, especially when you’re “high functioning”. As Anne Boleyn’s motto once said: “Let them grumble, that is how it is going to be!”
-You are smarter than you think you are. You’re not going to know everything and that’s okay. Once you see that as something new to learn instead of unbearable shame you will shed tons of unnecessary negativity.
-You’re going to fail. You’re going to have bad days. Be gentle with yourself on those days. It’ll help you get through them more than scolding yourself for missing the signs.
-Make time, every day, to do something that settles your mind. Meditate, take a walk, listen to some ASMR, it doesn’t matter. JUST DO IT.
-Making new habits take time. You’re going to struggle. Don’t quit because it’s hard, keep trying.
-Don’t let the world steal your enthusiasm. Never stop loving simple things that give you warm fuzzy. Never stop getting excited for things. Learn to stop feeling guilty when you want to share it, sometimes other people need distractions too.
-Taking time for yourself isn’t a waste of time.
-Whenever you get down that no one will appreciate your writing remember this Hamilton lyric. “It’s planting seeds in a garden you’ll never get to see.” You don’t know the impact your stories could have on someone. Don’t let that paralyze your from writing them.
-Write when you’re excited and can hear the characters. Don’t wait to flesh things out all the time, that’s how you end up with a stack of ideas and nothing on the page.
-Look back to the quote for this post. Now Write.
Steph the Bard 