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Mon, Oct 27, 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 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.

July 31, 2019 at 12:07am

#963473

One-sided? No thank you.

Artist: Daughter
Song: Youth
[Embed For Use By Upgraded+]

Prompt via "JAFBG" : Relationships don't work when they're one-sided. Tell us about a relationship or friendship where you have to make all the effort. Why do you continue to do so?

I couldn't break my July blogging streak! Gotta get that last day in.

Luckily, I have my JAFBG back up prompt.

If you're looking for something to do in August, you'll find me and several other participants from this month's "30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS"

over at

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#2146101 by Not Available.

My first thought on this prompt is, fuck that.

I've luckily managed to gain enough self-esteem to stay out of these types of relationships for the most part. I don't want to be friends with you (or anything else) if I have to do all the work. If I have to be the first one to make contact with you every time, if I have to travel to you every time, if I have to keep every conversation going, if I'm being used in some way... just no.

100% not interested.

That being said... there are exceptions.

Professional contacts. Networking absolutely sucks. But you need to have professional contacts and references. I've gained several through university and community outreach. Not all of them, but probably 80% of them are people I'd never chill with in real life. They're either super uptight or just stuck up acting.

But see, those people have nothing to gain from knowing me. I've not even graduated yet. They're well into their careers. They don't really get anything out of connecting with me and keeping in touch. That's a situation where I feel comfortable putting more effort into the relationship, because I'm doing it to get something out of it. They know it, I know it. It's just a game you have to play. It's not like a have pure intentions. "I just wanna be your friiiiiiend.

"

Nah, like, when a future employer contacts you, I want you to tell them I'm chill. That's the extent of our relationship.

Family. This is the big one for me right now. I put forth all of the effort with my family. They don't contact me much at all. I'd say I contact them first at least 75% of the time. As far as actually seeing each other, I'm the one that travels to visit them 100% of the time. I do this now because my brothers both have babies and I figure traveling is probably inconvenient for them. My grandfather isn't comfortable driving long distances. My parents... yeah, I've got nothing there.

But I doubt I'll do this forever. Once I'm working a strict 9-5 schedule, I seriously doubt I'm gonna spend my weekend traveling to visit so that people can make me feel guilty for not doing it more frequently.

I do have a soft spot for family though. No matter what anyone tells me about you choosing your own family or whatever, it just doesn't sit with my life well. There's no way I could ever just be like well, you guys aren't my family anymore and these guys are family to me now. Too much catholic guilt for that.

If I fucked up. Pretty much self-explanatory. If our relationship is fucked up because I fucked it up, I have no problem putting forth all the effort to fix it. There's nothing wrong with having a little bit of humility and showing that you're worth another chance.

Also, I hate when people refuse to do this with me. Like, they completely fucked up, they admit they completely fucked up, and their response is like, "K, sorry. Forgive me now or I leave forever." What kind of bullshit is that?

Apologizing is like the absolute bare minimum you could possibly do and you can't even do that sincerely?

Like I said, 100% not interested.

Shadows settle on the place that you left
Our minds are troubled by the emptiness

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