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Wed, Nov 19, 2025

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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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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 Turkey DrumStik

[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 Grateful & Blessed

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

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 Pumpkin

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

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.

Turkey DrumStik

Feb 19, 2023 at 10:26am
In response to "Invalid Entry"

I've had decent participation with Journalistic Intentions (even though I know my prompts are sometimes considered "difficult"). I do think that there's been a bit of a shift in regards to contests and activities, where people have been more open to admitting they find some setups too restricting or that they feel intimidated by contests. I would love to be in discussions to address those issues, but so far I haven't been invited.

April 9, 2020 at 7:44am

#980601

I miss that

Artist: The Story So Far
Song: Clairvoyant
[Embed For Use By Upgraded+]

#SaferAtHome "30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" Prompt: What will you never take for granted again once we are no longer quarantined?

That's a loaded question because my first thought probably isn't even applicable. When I read the prompt I thought: Just feeling safe/normal being around large groups of people. But then I realized that's not going to happen. I mean, if the quarantine was lifted right now, would you run to a sold out concert?

I sure as fuck wouldn't. I mean, I'd love to be able to go to a busy place and have things feel normal, but when is that even going to be possible? And it's not just ourselves we have to worry about- it's everyone around us. Even if I'm okay with getting this illness, am I cool with being the one passing it around and killing people? Of course not.

I don't know when the quarantine will be over, but the effects of it are likely going to be longer term. I mean, at the very least until we get a vaccine which will be a year or two or who knows how long. So really, when the quarantine does lift, I'm still not going to feel safe or normal being around large groups of people.

But I do have diagnosed OCD that revolves around things like contamination. So who knows, maybe everyone else will be good to go.

Here are some things I can look forward to and not take for granted once the quarantine lifts:

Seeing the people I care about.
It's getting really long now that I haven't seen my friends and family. It'll still be several more weeks at least. I have a nephew that was born just the week before the shelter in place order started. I won't get to meet him for the first time until he's a couple months old at least.
I'm lucky to be in lockdown with Kira because I care about her more than anyone, but it still sucks to not see my friends I was seeing every weekend before this. I won't take that for granted soon.

Essential workers.
I don't take these people for granted to begin with, but these medical staff, cleaning staff, grocery workers, delivery drivers, etc. are so clearly the backbone of our society. We desperately need these people and we need to treat them like we need them.

Receiving healthcare.
Imagine being able to use the health insurance we spend hundreds of dollars on per month.

Like, I totally get it, the system is swamped. I'm not saying they should see patients for routine things during the pandemic. All I'm saying is that it will be really nice when I can call my doctor and be like, "Hey, my breathing is being shitty." And he can be like, "Oh hey, come in and let me listen to your lungs."

Freedom to go places.
I was thinking earlier that I need to get a new computer chair because mine's busted. But then I was like, oh right, pandemic, never mind. I dunno how many times I've done that in the past month. Once this is all over it will be really nice to be able to just say, "Oh hey, I need to run out and get this thing" without it being this huge life or death deal like do I really need to step out of the house. Do I really need to subject myself to people and them to me?

Normal grocery shopping.
It's just the worst right now. Lines to get into the stores, tons of stock outs, trying to stay 6 feet away from people in these tiny aisles, face masks and gloves littering the parking lots. It's like the biggest reminder right now that we're in the middle of a pandemic and every week or two when we have to go to the grocery store it's just anxiety-inducing. Then for several days after all I can think about is how I'm waiting for us to show symptoms because we surely picked the virus up or the whole apartment is contaminated now because the packages were brought inside. I can't wait to just go to the grocery store at night like I normally do and have it be empty and fully stocked.

No news = Good news.
Can you imagine when we look at the news and they're just talking about some basic irrelevant bullshit? Like, I know there are things happening in the world other than the virus, but that's all I've heard about for weeks. It'll be nice when we turn on the news and the top story is like, I dunno, the president wore a tan suit. Remember those days?

This is your life, there's no way to run from it
The doubt in your brain, or the pain in your stomach

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