Hand on my heart for this one, Dana. Talk about the forced joy club!!! This is such a good reminder of that Plato quote “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you may know nothing about”, and also that we are not alone, as grievers, during the holidays. Half hearted smilers, unite! 💛✊🏽💛
Thank you for putting words to the feelings, the thoughts, and the jealousy that all the perfect slices of life we see on social media.... I find myself in a functional (barely) freeze and scrolling reels of animals and funny things because I need the escape BUT sure as hell don't want to see others wonderful, fabulously perfect lives (totally curated to show that but still don't want to see it). Your words always bring comfort, humor and a dose of reality to the world I'm living in. <3
So, it is better to write stories on Substack. But... are we more honest in writing? That's an open question. That said, once I discovered and understood Substack, I quit Insta completely, for yet another reason: Instagram owns your contacts, not you. In Substack instead, you own your audience. I wrote a short piece to explain this: https://open.substack.com/pub/4two/p/how-to-own-your-audience
Hand on my heart for this one, Dana. Talk about the forced joy club!!! This is such a good reminder of that Plato quote “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you may know nothing about”, and also that we are not alone, as grievers, during the holidays. Half hearted smilers, unite! 💛✊🏽💛
We need a "half hearted smilers" club!
Thank you for putting words to the feelings, the thoughts, and the jealousy that all the perfect slices of life we see on social media.... I find myself in a functional (barely) freeze and scrolling reels of animals and funny things because I need the escape BUT sure as hell don't want to see others wonderful, fabulously perfect lives (totally curated to show that but still don't want to see it). Your words always bring comfort, humor and a dose of reality to the world I'm living in. <3
I think this is what animal memes were meant for.
From my recent post, a griever's poem (there's also a video of me reading it with a reindeer filter if you're interested):
Tis the season,
The season for grief.
So grab a box of tissues,
Not a bamboo leaf.
******
The weather gets colder,
The days get shorter.
I’m grinding my teeth,
As if pestle to mortar.
******
Why no holiday spirit,
The children will ask.
I’m tired of pretending,
Always wearing a mask.
******
If you’ve lost someone,
Then surely you’ll know.
The holidays suck,
Even covered in snow.
******
Your person is dead,
They ain’t coming back.
Wake me at springtime,
I’m going back to the sack.
******
Some call me Grinch,
To that I say, “So?”
I don’t care what you call me,
These feelings won’t go.
******
One after the other,
The holidays come.
First it’s Thanksgiving,
Friendsgiving for some.
******
Next there is Hanukkah,
Though it changes each year.
I love the Jewish calendar,
Keeps us guessing my dear.
******
This year it’s bumpy,
I cannot even handle.
In the morning it’s Christmas,
At sundown light the first candle.
******
It’s New Year’s Eve,
Your mind is in heaven.
So fucking close to the end,
Nope, light candle number seven.
******
Finally you’ve made it,
To the year twenty-twenty-five!
Until you will realize,
Valentine’s Day will arrive.
******
All of these days,
So special and true.
You say, “Happy Holidays!”
And I say, “Fuck you.”
So, it is better to write stories on Substack. But... are we more honest in writing? That's an open question. That said, once I discovered and understood Substack, I quit Insta completely, for yet another reason: Instagram owns your contacts, not you. In Substack instead, you own your audience. I wrote a short piece to explain this: https://open.substack.com/pub/4two/p/how-to-own-your-audience