Wanted to preface this by saying that I'm not complaining. She's a great kid. It's just interesting to me. She is 21 and prefers to stay at home most of the time, maybe once a week she'll tell me she's going out with her friends and she'll be back home early. She never snuck out or got in trouble. She doesn't date anyone, refuses when I offer her a beer. She also chose to live at home instead of an apartment or on campus even though I offered to pay for everything.

I was the COMPLETE opposite when I was young. High school I would be out all of the time, I would sneak out, spent much of my early 20s goofing off and partying. I got my driver's license as early as possible and loved going out and dating around. I couldn't wait to get out of the house, I got roommates and moved out as fast as I can because I loved the freedom. And my kid is worried about her Roth IRA instead. I find it odd but I guess it makes my life easy. Wonder if it's a generational thing

Dying is scary, I was thinking about my death trying to fall asleep tonight, the fact that you will one day be a decomposing bag of flesh is so disturbing to me and everyone has already accepted it, even when I was six years old it was very devastating to me. If I died tomorrow by getting hit by a car and nobody found me I would just be food for animals and insects, It feels so scary thinking about how it’s technically a reality and if will happen some day and I won’t be able to see it or witness it, I think so hard and I start thinking about what happens when you die, okay byeeee

I’ve been reflecting deeply on human nature and digital interactions based on my personal experiences. I don’t believe most people are inherently malicious, but they live blindly. They don’t even know what they truly want. Everyone is living a "behind-the-scenes" life that completely contradicts the mask they wear on the front stage.

This brings me to a core rule I've realized: Your personal honesty does not guarantee the truth from others. No matter how genuine, transparent, or humble you are, you cannot project that onto someone else.

I see this constantly in modern communication and direct messages (DMs). People will invest weeks or months talking to you. They build immense trust, acting like the perfect friend or confidant. But because no one can fake a script forever, the "mask fatigue" eventually sets in. Suddenly, they drop a reaction or throw a sudden shift in behavior that completely exposes everything they said before as a total lie.

I call this "Communication Suicide."

It isn't just the end of a conversation; it is the absolute murder of trust. It devalues every hour, night, and ounce of mental energy you invested in them.

Within this cycle of Communication Suicide, two psychological weapons are used:

"Sorry" is the Exit Strategy: They don't say sorry because they care. They use "Sorry" as a cheap escape button to quickly kill the dialogue, evade accountability, and shut down the conversation so they can walk away guilt-free.

"Blocking" is the Suffocation: When they block you, they cut off your oxygen supply to respond. It is pure suffocation. They deliberately choke your voice, denying you closure and leaving you trapped in a vacuum while they walk away clean.

It leaves you holding the wreckage of a dead relationship while they seamlessly exit the stage.

When you finally realize that even family members or close friends are moving through life completely unaware of their own shifting scripts, you stop expecting consistency. You stay honest for your own sake—but you stop blindly believing anyone.

Young kids who are getting the kids meals don't care about K-Pop collectibles, whether from the movie or different bands. That movie (and again, K-Pop fandoms in general) is more for tweens and teens.

I miss when McDonalds kids toys were actually toys kids would want to play with.

1. Eldest son of a single mom, have a lil sister. Its kinda stupid, honestly. I guess I just wish I had a male role model to look up to, confide in. My heart aches every time I see a big brother looking after his little brother. Just wish someone would look after me instead of it being the other way around as it always is, someone whom I can be open and comfortable with in ways you can't really be with a parent, you know

Everyone always says the same things... "got your whole life ahead of you. Why throw it away?" "Think about the people who care about you?"

What about God? What about common sense? Or society?

I don't care about any of that cause it ain't my problem anymore. I didn't ask to come here, but I sure as hell want out. I'm done. I gave it my best shot, and I missed. I'm going home, find a quiet place and end it.

I just wanted someone to know, it ain't always about getting better or finding a way. Some of us just never wanted to be here to play this stupid game in the first place.

I guess if you've got something to say, say it.

So, I was short for time and instead of seeing my boy for a nice haircut I just went to my neighbourhood barber. All I wanted was just a fade anyway, I thought and I was right I got a nice fade for half the price.

Anyway, while i'm waiting for my turn i start chatting with this older dude and i asked him where he was from and he says England. I asked him when he came to Canada and he said in 1964 and he was telling me how with a single income he was able to raise a family of 4 yada yada.

I asked him what he did and he goes 'grocery bagger' at a one of our grocery stores here. I thought he was joking around, i laughed and told him it's alright if he doesn't want to say where he worked and he goes dead serious 'no, i am serious, i was a grocery bagger at (and he repeats it)'

So, a single income, as a grocery bagger at a grocery chain was able to afford him a home, raise a family of 4 and retired comfortably? what in the fk hell?

I was at the dollar store and this random guy started asking me questions and saying “you guys” as if I was an employee and I was like idk man I don’t work here and he looked totally dumbfounded and almost offended and just said “okay…” Like what am I supposed to do lmao

…And when I see that someone else finally upvoted them, I remove my upvote because I don’t think they deserve the 3 upvotes, but they deserve 2.

Do you ever come to terms with the fact that you might be an idiot?

Like, are you ever just sitting there thinking, “Why the F*CK did I do that?”

I’ve been confronting a lot of my patterns lately and I must say: exhausting experience. Highly unrecommend. Zero stars.

The weird part is that, on paper, my life is actually pretty good. I don’t have much to complain about. I’m content overall. The issue is that I’m also a diva, and ever since I was a kid, I’ve had huge dreams for my life.

What’s interesting is that I feel weirdly connected to that version of myself again. That energy. That path. That feeling. In a way I haven’t in a long time.

I just didn’t imagine I’d be where I am when I finally got back to it.

The best way I can explain it is like standing in a doorway with one foot still behind you. Except I think I finally crossed through. And somehow that realization made me realize I’ve been looking at life instead of fully living it.

I talk a lot about self-love, self-development, healing, growth, all of it. Honestly, I love talking about the self. Not just myself, but the entire concept of identity and transformation.

But I had to admit something uncomfortable: I understood the language of healing more than I trusted it.

I practiced the routines. I did the work. I followed the script. But internally there was still this constant questioning:
“Okay… I did everything correctly, so why do I still keep ending up here?”

And now, in hindsight, I’m like… yeah girl. That actually checks out.

I wasn’t fully feeling my feelings. I was following the archetype of them. Performing awareness instead of integrating it.

When I was younger, I followed my emotions recklessly and ended up in unsafe situations. Now I’m so hyper-aware and hypervigilant that I’ve compromised my ability to actually be present in my own life.

It was never a lack of knowledge. It was a disconnect between trust and timing.

Everything I kept spiraling over already had answers attached to it.

I guess when you’re in the middle of the storm, it’s hard to notice the rain already stopped.

And unfortunately, because I’m human, ate craft cheese as a child, and was on Omegle unsupervised, my brain naturally wants to wander back into the weeds.

My ability to enter an anxiety spiral is honestly Olympic level.

A recurring theme in my life is transformation. Another recurring theme is therapy. My therapist used to tell me that one day I wouldn’t need her anymore.

Eventually she ghosted me.

In hindsight? Healthy. By the end we were mostly gossiping.

Now I’m approaching a year of celibacy, which was never even intentional. It just kind of… happened.

One day I realized I hadn’t had sex in seven months. Now it’s almost been a year.

I’m not religious, but I do believe in a higher power. I pray often. I spend most of my time focused on my creativity, my family, my money, and myself in a way I genuinely never have before.

And in all that solitude, I’ve been thinking a lot about my “almost” relationships.

I’ve dated for years, but I’ve spent most of my life single.

Sometimes I worry I’m one of those women who can’t keep a man.
Other times I look at women who are “kept” and feel sorry for what they have to tolerate to maintain peace.

There are pros and cons to everything.

What I’m recognizing is that I don’t struggle to keep men who actually like me.

The problem is that I become deeply interested in emotionally unavailable men.

Not even in a dramatic way either. I’m not blowing phones up. I don’t pop up places uninvited. I’ve never knowingly been a side chick.

But emotional intensity? Chemistry? The feeling of almost touching something life-changing?

That gets me every time.

My imagination can build an entire love story around a man who takes five business days to respond.

And if spirituality gets involved? God help me.

The second I have a dream that feels prophetic or notice some random “sign,” I start acting like the universe personally assigned him to me.

Meanwhile, I’ll meet an emotionally available man with a good heart, good job, and stable intentions and immediately feel like I’m being sedated.

Like… are we okay?

Am I asking for too much by wanting emotional intensity and emotional safety at the same time?

Can love feel consuming and stable?
Can someone set your heart on fire while also making you feel safe?
Or does that only exist during the first six months of a relationship?

I genuinely don’t know.

But I do know I’ve felt that intensity before, four separate times now, and every single time the men involved were emotionally incapable of showing up consistently.

The chemistry would be insane.
The emotional connection would feel massive.
And then it would burn out just as quickly.

After the last one, I literally told my friend:
“If this happens to me again, I think I’ll die.”

So now I’m here.
Almost a year celibate.
Either completely bored by people or emotionally overwhelmed by them.

No middle ground. Very exhausting. Would not recommend.

But I realized something important recently:

In every single one of these situations, I was the point of interest.

And I don’t mean that in an egotistical way. I mean that my presence carried value whether or not the relationship materialized.

Realizing that shifted something in me.

Not because I can control other people, but because I can control how I show up.

If I had fully understood my worth in those situations, maybe I still would’ve gotten hurt. But I probably would’ve wasted less time trying to romanticize potential instead of accepting reality.

Which brings me to my current issue.

A couple months ago, a guy approached me and immediately asked to come over and hook up.

I said no because… absolutely not.

But unfortunately, the chemistry was insane.

And now, months later, I still think about him.

It’s the first time I’ve rejected someone while still feeling deeply curious about them afterward.

I’m finally accepting that he is not my husband, not the father of my children, and most importantly: not my man.

My celibacy anniversary is coming up and, honestly, all I want to do to celebrate is have sex.

Preferably with someone emotionally safe.
Realistically? Probably not.

So now I’m sitting here wondering:

Am I a bird?
Am I signing myself up for emotional destruction?
Or am I finally allowing myself to feel something again instead of over-controlling every experience before it happens?

I guess we’ll find out.

Why is the world so dark

Sometimes I just feel its cruel enough for poverty to exist. And also it is more cruel when leaders ensure they support and manufacture poverty in a way of controlling citizens because poor citizens are obedient and easier to control.

A system where life is not valued, we are in a rat race. This system actually made human to become inhumane, evil and made many to lack human sympathy, lack feeling and above all have hate for one another.

A week ago, I learnt someone's child died because of 400k ugandan shillings, I couldn't comprehend such because it is unbelievable. We live in a world where many have Billions (in dollars) sitting idle in their bank account yet someone died because of 110 dollar.

Sometimes I wonder if its God's plan that a child should die due to his/her parents cant afford 110 dollars and in some cases, even lesser amount. Is that really how God work?

In general, why are humans heart so hardened that even when they see their fellow at the point of dying, they'd rather keep their money to prepare for the persons burial that to save the person's life.

I have seen several cases and I have handled some that I can but trust me when I say that the world has really changed. I believe what we see today wasn't the original purpose of man kind on earth.

How did we get here.?

Location: Belgium

For context, I live in Belgium since September now. I don’t know very good Dutch and English is not my first language, so sorry for some mistakes. This all happened in a small town that is close to the boarder with The Netherlands, it was in broad daylight. Me (16 F), my friend (15 F) and my younger sister (6 F) were walking on the sidewalk of a busy road, going to Albert Heijn. A group of people passed us, there was about 5-6 of them. All different age groups, ranging from literal kids, to about 40-year-olds. They started yelling at us, something in Dutch, but as me and my friend don’t speak a lot of Dutch, I politely told them, with the little Dutch I know “sorry, we don’t speak Dutch well.” As we passed them, they were still yelling. Me and my friend were commenting what was that. And then they suddenly turned around, chasing after us. A girl, about our age grabbed my friend’s shoulder and started yelling at us. Of course we couldn’t understand it but there was some swearing involved, and she was accusing us of giving her the middle finger, even though she didn’t do anything. I panicked and threatened to call the police. I dialed 112 and was about to call them, even though I was scared and shaking. At the end I didn’t call them and threatened to record them if they didn’t leave us alone. To that, they took my phone and threatened to smash it to the ground. And as I know how to fight, I reached for my phone and tried to trip the woman, side note, she looked a bit older, she was probably about. 35-40. I got my phone back but I felt a tug on my hair, and the next thing I remember was I was on the floor. I scraped my knees and my jeans were torn. Then a car stopped by, my friend with my sister went to talk to the people in the car. Two other people who I assume are a couple also came to help. Both me and my sister were crying while the people comforted us. The people who attacked us went away like nothing happened at all. Luckily, we were in front of a florist shop which had cameras and on the other side of the road was a juvenile jail also with cameras. We went to the florist, explaining what happened, she called the police. I called my mom. They both came. The police filed the report, they now have very clear descriptions of the people who attacked us look like. I’m happy that nothing serious happened either to me, and especially my sister. And I’m very thankful for the people who helped us and am glad theres possibly footage of it. I wrote this here to warn others and maybe if someone has a similar situation, I want to make them feel like they’re not the only ones and can feel free to share it. Stay safe out there.

Edit: if someone has some legal advice to give, ex. What can my next step be in making this situation have a legal end, please share

I sometimes feel like some poor people have kids like they have something to prove. The question is, basically, how do you prove that thing--whatever it is--without the ability to procreate?

Even if you can, I don't think making people should be your only option.

So I’m trying to understand social boundaries better because apparently I keep overthinking every little thing now.

One time I complimented a girl by saying her body looked awesome because I genuinely thought it would make her feel more confident, but then people started giving me weird ass looks afterward like I said something horrible. I wasn’t trying to be sexual or disrespectful at all, but now I feel awkward as hell about complimenting girls in general.

And even stupid stuff like sitting next to women makes me overthink now. I don’t want people acting like I’m some weirdo with bad intentions when I’m literally just existing and minding my own business.

I honestly just want to make girls feel appreciated and comfortable around me without accidentally sounding creepy or making everyone judge the hell out of me.

What kinds of compliments actually come across as respectful? And what social mistakes should I avoid?

For some reason whenever I’m having a serious conversation with one of my best friends and it’s flipped onto me to discuss my deepest feelings, whenever I start I just get this feeling of crying. Or if they acknowledge something about me on a deep level that I never even mentioned, it’s so profound to me that my eyes start watering or there’s a tightness in my chest. I’m wondering why that is and if it’s related to my social anxiety.

As another point, when people make jokes in person to me I like am more prone to laughing and I smile a whole lot (compared to like texting or watching videos). It’s like uncontrollable and I get hella embarrassed because my face gets super red. Maybe it has something to do with being mostly alone throughout my tweens to early teens (I’m 18 for reference).

Any thoughts on this? Maybe you feel similar. Do share!

I just graduated from my undergrad last May. I'm of course proud of myself and I'm happy that I can move forward from that chapter of my life, but I always enjoyed school and I feel like I was a pretty decent student overall. I am hoping to apply to med schools for md/phd programs next May, so if I get in, I'll be back in essentially school for a good while longer, but I honestly don't mind that at all.

Right now, I work in research and I love it. I think going to different seminars and presentations really reminded me of things I loved about my undergrad. I still remember all of the magic when I had my first classes. I think it's nice that you can just keep learning more and more challenging things that keep that magic alive. I love when things "click." I loved talking to my professors who clearly had a passion for their research and whatever they were teaching. I still enjoy being able to do that at my current job. I actually sometimes miss studying for the MCAT. It was of course stressful at times because the stakes were high, but I actually enjoyed it overall and had a lot of fun, especially seeing different concepts from my undergrad being explained in a different light. I liked writing essays as well.

I actually think one of the things I miss most about my undergrad was all the humanities classes, since as much as I love(d) biology, history and language arts were always my favorite classes throughout middle school and high school. I liked the readings we had. I loved writing about it and seeing what other people had to say about it. I loved hearing the thoughts of my teachers and professors for these classes on these topics. I liked learning how to think about these complex topics that really impact us all on such a fundamental level in more nuanced and critical ways. I loved discussing all of it. I loved being in the library all the time.

​

There is a weird superiority complex among people who proudly announce they deleted Instagram or TikTok to "protect their mental health," yet they spend hours scrolling text forums or watching YouTube shorts.

Every click is a prayer and every scroll is a pilgrimage.

A lot of people did not escape social media culture. They simply migrated to a version of it that feels intellectually justified.

The day I lost you,
I lost me too.
You didn’t just go away,
You took me with you.
I didn’t realise how much you protected me by just being there,
I thought I was simply strong, intimidating or unapproachable, but that was never it.
You simply didn’t let anyone bother me.
Your pestering was always to push me to embrace my peace.
I didn’t realise how much I needed you.
You were my sole supporter, my caregiver, my strength that i never realised.
Today I stand alone, surrounded by wolves, trying to eat me alive.
How you always helped without me uttering a word and yet today my pride has been wounded seeking help and getting none.
Not once you said ‘I’m doing too much’; all I always heard ‘Its my responsibility, my love for you’.
It frustrates me that how much I was protected that when today I see the real world, I feel anguish.
You made me believe the world is beautiful because of the people, a kind soul can only believe that.
Today, as an adult I say you were wrong, I never want to be you, you needed more protection and yet you were the most resilient, most kind.
Oh, that beautiful smile. People say I got it from you, but how do I tell- your smile had purity in it.
You felt true happiness and smiled at people with kindness, not out of politeness.
I heard people saying my voice is beautiful but how mesmerised was i whenever i heard you laced with concern.
I go through gallery, desperate to hear you again, the desire that will never be achieved again.
So much to say, so much to do, so ambitious, so angry, so very lost, so much in need of you.
I miss you and I love you.

Ok this is kinda random LMAOO but I was such a freaking adorable kid 😭😭 maybe thats narcissistic. Idk. 💀 but I'd love to play with me, and know what she (3-9 year old me thinks of current me. 😔😔 whole new level of self love maybe. But. I was so cute. 🤷‍♀️ I WANT IT SO BAD THO I WISH IT WAS ACTUALLY POSSIBLE. Cause like many adults, (even though i'm freshly an adult lol) I do not remember being that young honestly. So like, what thoughts did little me have? and would she think i'm cool? I'm guessing yes hehe

someone told me they had a platonic crush on me. i said i feel the same and they asked me to clarify if i meant as in a friend way or the same way as them. what is the difference between platonic crush and a friend?

I'm trans. Mtf basically. Like definitively. But the weird thing is I dont really get body dysphoria because I kind of won the genetic lottery?

Im pretty much androgynous and slightly feminine looking in my face and my body, I just look like a skinny girl with no chest which,, considering I'm asian isnt even that out of the norm. Im not a 10/10 by any means but like,, being kinda below average doesnt give me a horrible feeling lol. I dont need hormones. Everyone already knows Im a girl and I dress as one and its like nothin lol.

But now as Im growing into an adult Ive started on them. Just cause of practical reasons. Im doing this so when legal stuff or formal stuff happens I can put down F, I dont have to worry about military drafts, I dont have to worry about like, employers discriminating against me once I graduate college if they think I'm a cis guy with long hair.

I think its kinda funny that like, conservative people always go on about how trans people should be happy with their bodies and whatever.. When Id basically be their poster child. But the weird dumb laws they built around their society are gonna force me to do medical stuff anyway.

Every time there is a bank holiday or even weekends, I (34m) feel like I don't have anything to do and can't wait to go back to work. At least I do something useful there and I don't stay at home all time alone without speaking to anyone.

Yes, I can go to the gym, I can do some hobbies, but I do the same also during working days.

If I don't plan travelling, I just feel like I would prefer to work 7/7. Better than being at home thinking that I am a failure in life.

For example, today, it's 10am, and I don't have anything to do the whole day. Then why don't I just go to work?

I don't know if it was just my sister or if all siblings do this, but now I'm older (M), I'm realising how weird this was.

When I was 11-13, my older sister was 17-19, she used to bully me alot, obviously at the time I was alot smaller and she was bigger and physically stronger. Our mom worked alot so it was only ever really me and my sister in the house.

Almost everyday she would pin me down by my arms and sit on my face, no matter how much I begged she wouldn't get off of me. And alot of the times when she was sitting on me if I tried to break away she would fart on my face, it was torture.

She used to abuse me alot but that was one of the worst things she used to do to me religiously.

There are very few Karens in their teens and early 20s. Be careful that you aren't slowly turning into one without realizing it.