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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 FivetricksterTreats

FORUM

JAFBG

(XGC)
Because real life isn't always roses and sunshine...
#2094931 by Elisa, Stik-or-Treat

[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:

👀intu the Darkness

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

Waltz in the Lonesome October

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.

Elisa, Stik-or-Treat

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.

November 20, 2019 at 12:27am

#970079

Let's be friends

Artist: White Stripes
Song: We're Going to be Friends
[Embed For Use By Upgraded+]

Prompt via "30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" : Do you remember your first friend? Under what circumstances did you become friends? Are you still in contact with them or any of your other childhood friends?

I shuffled through friends quickly in school. I had a core group of friends I would hang out with, but I went back and forth between schools and didn't really stay in touch with people very well. Once I got to middle school, I started hanging out with a group of much older kids and thought kids my age were 'lame' because I was dumb.

My point is, I'm not very good at being friends with people. Even now, I just cycle through friends depending on what's convenient. I have incidental friends because we happen to be in the same place at the same time frequently.

I do remember my first 'friend' though. I don't remember his name, but I know it started with a 'C'. Craig? Chris? Something like that. We were in daycare together for a short period of time before I started kindergarten.

The only reason I remember him is because I absolutely hated the concept of staying in a weird place with strangers. Whenever a situation like this arose at that age, I would be completely standoffish and quiet forever. Adults would always say stuff like, "Oh, he'll warm up!" It never happened. I could go to a daycare for months (and did) while refusing to speak to or acknowledge anyone because I was so uncomfortable.

Anyway, being my antisocial self, I was swinging alone in the backyard of the daycare (which was really just some random woman's house) probably 3 or 4 months after I started attending. Chris or Craig or whatever came up and asked if he could swing with me, to which I moodily shrugged and motioned for him to take the swing next to me.

Obviously, I quickly realized that Craig or Chris wasn't a nefarious person within 5 minutes of him talking to me about everything from his favorite tv shows to the trampoline he had at home to what he had for dinner the night before. We spent the entire afternoon hanging out, playing with each other, and talking.

I remember this so fondly because I thought something like, Oh, my parents are going to be really happy that I finally opened up and made a friend here.

But when my mother picked me up after work, the head of the daycare told her, "Charlie has been playing with Chris or Craig all day. I'm surprised they get along because Craig or Chris is such a troublemaker and Charlie is the most well-behaved, quiet kid we have here."

I thought it was so bizarre because Chris or Craig had done literally nothing to indicate that he was a 'bad' kid and I'd been hanging out with him all day. I had no idea what she was talking about and I got really offended on behalf of this kid who I'd known for a whole 4 hours. I was really worried getting into the car that my parents were going to say that I couldn't be friends with him anymore because he was a troublemaker.

Luckily, they didn't do that at all.

They were just happy that I was finally being social with someone and encouraged me to keep talking to him by asking before dropping me off the next morning, "Are you excited to see Chris or Craig?"

So that's the story of my first friend and no, we lost touch immediately after I started kindergarten because shockingly 5 year old me was even worse at keeping in touch than 27 year old me.

We did play together every day the rest of the time I was at the daycare, which was just a few more months.

And, in case anyone is wondering, he was kind of a troublemaker, but not in any serious way that would explain warning another kid's parents about him. It was just usual 5 year old kid stuff, like sneaking an extra cookie at snack time or scaring people with a bug or something.

We will rest upon the ground
And look at all the bugs we found
Safely walk to school without a sound

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