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Monday, Jun. 17, 2024

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Are You Listening???

by Charlie ~

Rated: GC · Book · Emotional · #2181458

A journey of self-improvement - or not.

Sup? I'm Char.
You may know me from timeless classics such as

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#2030442 by Not Available.

and

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I blog for things like

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FORUM

30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS

(13+)
WDC's Longest Running Blog Competition - Hiatus
#1786069 by Fivesixer

FORUM

JAFBG

(XGC)
Because real life isn't always roses and sunshine...
#2094931 by Elisa: Middle Aged Stik

[Embed For Use By Upgraded+]
Believin' all the lies that they're tellin' ya
Buyin' all the products that they're sellin' ya
They say jump and ya say "how high?"
Ya braindead, ya got a fuckin' bullet in ya head

Show Recent Comments

10 Most Recent Blog Comments:

intuey

Jul 22, 2023 at 8:05am
In response to "Invalid Entry"

Hey Char, It's been a while since I've touched base with you. I'm so sorry for your loss. The last thing people should say is everyone loses their grandparents eventually, or it will get better with time. It's the last thing you want to hear when you're hurting. Death sucks, long-lasting illness sucks! Having to decide to let the person go to keep them from suffering REALLY SUCKS! I think the only ones who can understand truly just how much are those who have had to make that decision. My heart breaks for you.

I'm not religious, but I do have a strong faith in God. I call myself spiritual because I don't agree with all the rules and regulations of religion. I do know I will see my family and friends again, and this is a great comfort. I can only imagine how much more painful the death of loved ones is without this belief. But you're right, it can't be faked. But it is a beautiful thing.

Having mental health issues during times like this makes it even harder to go through. I know what you mean about seeing things that aren't there. I'd walk into a room, and say, "Where's Star?" and she would be sitting right in front of me. When I looked, I swear I saw an empty chair. The mind is crazy. It gives new meaning to a mind of its own

Some time has passed since you wrote this. I don't know when you'll see this but know that you are in my thoughts and prayers, and I'm sending good energy your way. I hope you're doing better. I look forward to hearing from you.

Aiva Raine

Mar 28, 2023 at 9:40pm
In response to "Invalid Entry"

I'm sorry for your loss. I know they are shitty sounding words that don't even attempt to fill or fix, but they're meant in sincerity.

Having lost several people the best advice I was ever given was when life gets too hard- take it at your own pace. If a day is too much- cope with an hour at a time. If that's too much, take it ten minutes at a time. If that's too much- then you deal with one minute at a time. Work through life and grief at your pace. And don't ever feel guilty because you feel sad. And if you can- find one positive in each chunk of time- even if it's something as little as the beauty of sunlight on a leaf or the softness of your shirt. And ask for help if you need it.

Elle - on hiatus

Mar 7, 2023 at 3:29pm
In response to "Invalid Entry"

Aw, Charlie, I'm so sorry. It's a shit thing to go through whether it's sudden or not. And just because everyone goes through it, doesn't make it easier. It also doesn't take into account that you were closer to them than your parents. Nobody says 'Oh, everyone loses their parents eventually' do they? Surely not. And that's what's happened here really. I'm actually glad you've got an appointment with a professional tomorrow, because they might be able to help you with getting through that initial devastation.

When my dad lost his mother, he really struggled with his own lack of religion. As you say, there is some comfort in believing they've gone to a better place, been reunited with loved ones, that you'll see them again, and so on. For most of my life, Dad would say 'Religion is a crutch for the weak', but I definitely saw him struggle with the finality of it when he lost his mother, the person he was probably closest to.

My thoughts are with you.

1 Like

~Minja~

Mar 7, 2023 at 3:21pm
In response to "Invalid Entry"

Crazy stuff, grief. If you want to talk about it, message me always.

1 Like

QPdoll

Mar 7, 2023 at 6:21am
In response to "Invalid Entry"

I understand what you mean about wanting to tell your grandmother something. I did the same thing after my grandmother passed. I was at home and the first thing I thought was to call grandma. I picked up the phone and realized that she wouldn't answer. It's so tough losing your grandparents, especially as close as you were. I don't have any magic words, but take care of yourself. It's what they would want.

1 Like

Robert Waltz

Mar 6, 2023 at 10:31pm
In response to "Invalid Entry"

Take care of yourself during this difficult time.

1 Like

Anni Pon

Mar 6, 2023 at 9:06pm
In response to "Invalid Entry"

I know it doesn't help any, but I'm so sorry for your loss. I can't imagine much worse than losing a parent or parental figure. They represent stability and safety, you grew up with them, and you've relied on them for most, if not all, of your life. You're right, the initial devastation will fade and things won't feel so fresh. But, as you know, grief never really goes away. It just becomes a permanent part of you.

It's horrible that you only got a couple days worth of bereavement! That's not even long enough for the shock to wear off enough to START grieving. I hope you have the support of someone else in your life to help you through this dark time. Take it easy on yourself in the mean time, that's all you really can do. Taking care of your physical self, eating and sleeping, is critical. Sleep deprivation and hunger will make things feel a million times worse than they actually are (which, for the record, is already pretty bad).

1 Like

Harlow Flick, Right Fielder

Mar 6, 2023 at 8:56pm
In response to "Invalid Entry"

This is such a very human thing, isn't it.

“I think there is nearly an overwhelming sadness to the human predicament.” - Skinny Boy Hill

BOOM! This ain’t no whipped cream pie I’m tossing.

1 Like

Cinn

Feb 20, 2023 at 9:34pm
In response to "Invalid Entry"

I actually pretty much love this one. Nice, man...

Cinn

Feb 19, 2023 at 11:07am
In response to "Invalid Entry"

I'd say that more freedom for participants would attract more people. One obvious example that I've never understood is fiction vs poetry. If it's an activity, not a contest, why not allow people to explore whatever the theme of your activity is with whatever type of writing that want to do?

I've actually written for countless contests/activities over the years but never entered... because they inspired me, but I don't fit within the guidelines. Max rating too low, items required (book entries only over here), no poetry accepted, etc.

I know well why people restrict writers' freedom, but they're also restricting the number of participants they'll get. I still just take the inspiration where I can get it.

March 21, 2022 at 9:11pm

#1029302

3 months later...

"JAFBG" Prompt: Choose a current war or armed conflict and tell us what steps you believe should be taken to resolve the conflict.

Hello again, WDC friends. My account was locked up for a while, but it's free again in all its glory...

Hope you're all doing well. I'm doing okay. I've been exceptionally fatigued and feeling unwell lately. Got some lab tests done and found out I'm super anaemic (again). Trying to get my diet figured out now so I can raise my iron levels, but it's not super easy because I don't eat meat and I don't eat a lot of literally anything. So even things like vegetables and fruit are good for iron, but I just don't eat that much food in general to get a big dose of iron. I take supplements, but the doctor said they often don't absorb well.

Anyway, just very fatigued.

So... Ukraine - Russia, right?

Crazy, and don't worry, I'm not going to pretend like I know how to resolve an international military conflict. I do stay in my lane sometimes, believe it or not.

I do think what's happening is terribly sad though. I've felt so depressed and hopeless reading news stories and firsthand accounts from Ukrainians who are having their land invaded. I'm extremely privileged to be living in a country where something like this is unfathomable. A ground invasion in the United States? Try never.

I'm fairly engaged in history as an adult and I know the history of the world wars, as I'm sure most of you do as well. There are only a few different things the West can do, as far as I can see.

Do nothing
Continuing to do business with Russia. Ignoring the conflict in Ukraine outside of maybe condemning the action. Wait it out and hope for the best either with Ukraine quickly capitulating and minimizing losses on both sides or Ukrainians holding out long enough to bleed Russia's military and economy dry on their own.

Sanctions + aid
This is what the West is currently doing, of course. Aiding Ukraine with weapons and humanitarian aid. Precariously balancing a deranged dictator with a huge nuclear arsenal, hoping to bleed the economy so dry that war is no longer financially viable and certainly invasion of further countries is off the table.

Stronger sanctions + more risky aid
That would be things like sanctioning more Russian companies and oligarchs or even a full financial embargo which would prevent all imports and exports. A no fly zone has been a big question. Fighter jets. Maybe supporting or orchestrating cyberattacks against Russia. All of these things are obviously escalations and put all of us into a riskier position.

Full on war
Just a straight up declaration of war. Ground troops in Ukraine. World War 3, basically.

I think full on war has to be avoided for obvious reasons. The West entering a conflict like this would be unlike any conflict in the past and just way too dangerous for literally all life on earth.

At the same time, it's completely devastating to sit by and more than nerve-racking. Knowing that there is that possibility that we could be dragged into a war anyway if Russia doesn't stop with Ukraine is scary. Thinking back to WW2, we did sit by while countries were invaded one by one and it didn't stop with just Czechoslovakia.

There's certainly a precedence that makes people understandably weary. I would speculate that this situation is considerably different. I don't think Russia has the capacity or the means to launch full scale invasions of several countries and I think their ability to do that is going to disintegrate more and more as sanctions take hold.

None of that helps Ukraine right now, but I think the West is probably doing the best they can right now. It's not like they've been put in an easy position when anything and everything can potentially escalate into nuclear war.

We can only hope that this ends sooner rather than later with Russia's full withdrawal because I think everyone is in a tightrope walking situation until then.

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