People get really irritated by mental illness. ‘Just fucking get it together! Suck it up, man!’ I had a breakdown, and a spiritual friend came to visit me in the psych ward. And they said, ‘You need to get out of here. Because this is the story you’re telling yourself. You know, Patch Adams has this great work-group camp where you can learn how to really celebrate life.’ It’s something people are so powerless over, and so often they want to make it your fault. It’s nobody fault. I started thinking of suicide when I was 10 years old—I can’t believe that that’s somebody’s fault. Like, ‘Oh, you’re just an attention getter.’ Mental illness isn’t seen as an illness, it’s seen as a choice…. I have a joke about how people don’t talk about mental illness the way they do other regular illnesses. ‘Well, apparently Jeff has cancer. Uh, I have cancer. We all have cancer. You go to chemotherapy you get it taken care of, am I right? You get back to work.’ Or: ‘I was dating this chick, and three months in, she tells me that she wears glasses, and she’s been wearing contact lenses all this time. She needs help seeing. I was like, listen, I’m not into all that Western medicine shit. If you want to see, then work at it. Figure out how not to be so myopic. You know?’
Maria Bamford (via aubades)
Stolen from senor koterba.
(via jkoterba3)
What would the community think?: 15 things I learned in my 20's (or Things I'd like to say to my 18 year old self)
15 things I learned in my 20’s (or Things I’d like to say to my 18 year old self)I’m nearly done with my 20’s. It’s really weird to think about. It preoccupies me because it just sounds so grown up, and I don’t always feel so grown up on the inside. But then I have these weird moments when I’m hanging out with a 20 or 21 year old and I realize- “YEAH I’m a grown up now.” My 20’s were fucking INSANE and I’ve been reflecting on them a whole lot, so here’s what I’ve come up with so far-
1. Look. Don’t get married. Okay? Just don’t fucking do that shit. I know, I know…you’re an adult now. I get it. I totally believe you. You honestly do not need to legally attach yourself to some dude you’re having hot sex with just to prove a point. You. Are. Not. Ready. And for the love of god, if you HAVE to do it, wait as long as you can. If he loves you, he’ll stick around.
2. Divorce really sucks (see tip #1)
3. The only constant is change. I know, you’re thinking, “…as soon as I do _________, everything will be totally amazing forever and I’ll just be so happy.” Yeah, it doesn’t really work that way. I mean, sometimes things are totally amazing and you’re happy, but that’s just until the next huge bullshit transition comes and then you feel all fucked up again. This will NEVER stop. Never. You just get really good at dealing with it as you get older. Promise.
4. Balance is SO hard to achieve in your 20’s. It’s brutal (See tip #3)
5. Depression and mental health issues happen. We’ve all been though it and it’s okay to ask for help. Be open about it when you’re ready and you’ll be surprised how many of your friends and acquaintances have been though similar issues.
6. Almost Everyone’s childhood was fucked up. You’re not alone in this. You gotta find a way of moving past it. It’s just not okay to let it be the excuse for why don’t put the work in to leading a productive life. If you need some therapy, figure out how to get it. You can do it. Most of us have.
7. Everyone is a weirdo. Everyone, I swear to god. If you just get to know people well enough you’ll find a pervert or maniac in each one. Oh, and everyone is slutty. You’ve just been mislead to believe that you’re the only one. Your doctor? SLUT. Your mom? SLUT. Your boss? SLUT.
8. STD’s happen. The majority of them are no big deal if you catch it early. They’ll probably happen to you if you’re having sex. I’m not implying that they’re not a big deal (THEY ARE), just don’t freak out and use condoms. NO, really- USE THEM. They’re fucking free at the health department. Don’t be a dumb ass.
9. Sometimes you have a kid in your 20’s and that’s okay. I’m not endorsing it (it’s the hardest thing ever), I’m just saying having a baby young doesn’t mean you’re a peice of shit. People will tell you it does. People will make you feel like a bad mother and/or white trash weirdo all the time. Your child-free peers may SAY they think nuclear families are no longer necessary in our culture and a bunch of other liberal bullshit, but when you’re a single mom who shows up to some hip party with your naked, screaming two year old, you get judged. Ditch those stuck up assholes and go find some people who think it’s cool that you have a kid and don’t mind playing at the park a lot.
10. You don’t know shit so try not to be so cocky. You won’t know shit when you’re 30 either, you’ll just have accepted that you don’t know shit. You’ll eventually learn how to operate more effectively being totally fucking confused all the time.
11. You seriously need to stop eating so much junk food and smoking. I know, it’s cute and totally fun, but high blood pressure and diabetes are no joke. Go hang out with a 50 year old hypertensive diabetic with emphysema who has 20-30 more years left to live with those painful diseases (thanks to western medicine). I’m not judging you, I do that shit, too. Just try and get it under control as you near the end of your 20’s. Okay?
12. Compatibility and love don’t always happen together. Just because you love someone it doesn’t mean they’re right for you. It’s a really hard lesson, and it gets discouraging falling in love and having your heart broken over and over. When you do find someone you’re totally crazy in love with AND you’refriends? That’s when you know they’re the one for you. Hold on to that person tight. It’s a rare thing.
13. You have the potential to take authorship over your life. If you have a dream? You gotta pursue it with as much vigor as you can muster. Even if you’re broke. Even if you’re fucked up. Even if you fail all the time. If you are lucky enough to have your physical and mental health, you can make it happen. Run towards what makes you feel alive and take risks when it feels right.
14. Make friends with yourself. You’re gonna be you a long, long time. You wanna be someone you’d like to hang out with.
15. You’re beautiful. Just the way you are. SO WERQ
this is so good.
(via brentpafford)
1 month ago - 
288
288 It seems the universe is ready.
But am I?
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/6ubfI8/:pVpV5c3.:Z2euS@Ln/www.instantshift.com/2011/11/03/99-excellent-examples-of-forced-perspective-photography?t=1320424564/
These make me want to break out my camera for the first time in months….
After a while you learn…
“After a while you learn the subtle difference between holding a hand and chaining a soul, and you learn that love doesn’t mean leaning and company doesn’t mean security, and you begin to learn that kisses aren’t contracts and presents aren’t promises, and you begin to accept your defeats with your head up and your eyes open, with the grace of an adult, not the grief of a child, and you learn to build all your roads on today because tomorrow’s ground is too uncertain for plans. After a while you learn that even sunshine burns if you get too much. So plant your own garden and decorate your own soul, instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers. And you learn that you really can endure… that you really are strong, and you really do have worth.”
And now, I’m running towards nothing.
*Mamihlapinatapai*: A look shared by…
“*Mamihlapinatapai*: A look shared by two people with each wishing that the other will initiate something that both desire but which neither one wants to start.”
The Rules of Being Human
You will receive a body. You may like it or hate it, but it will be yours for as long as you live. How you take care of it or fail to take care of it can make an enormous difference in the quality of your life.
You will learn lessons. You are enrolled in a full-time, informal school called Life. Each day, you will be presented with opportunities to learn what you need to know. The lessons presented are often completely different from those you think you need.
There are no mistakes, only lessons. Growth is a process of trial, error and experimentation. You can learn as much from failure as you can from success. Maybe more.
A lesson is repeated until it is learned. A lesson will be presented to you in various forms until you have learned it. When you have learned it (as evidenced by a change in your attitude and ultimately your behavior) then you can go on to the next lesson.
Learning lessons does not end. There is no stage of life that does not contain some lessons. As long as you live there will be something more to learn.
“There” is no better than “here”. When your “there” has become a “here” you will simply discover another “there” that will again look better than your “here.” Don’t be fooled by believing that the unattainable is better than what you have.
Others are merely mirrors of you. You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects something you love or hate about yourself. When tempted to criticize others, ask yourself why you feel so strongly.
What you make of your life is up to you. You have all the tools and resources you need. What you create with those tools and resources is up to you. Remember that through desire, goal setting and unflagging effort you can have anything you want. Persistence is the key to success.
The answers lie inside of you. The solutions to all of life’s problems lie within your grasp. All you need to do is ask, look, listen and trust yourself.
(via brentpafford)
5 months ago - 1596
1596 
