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Tue, Oct 28, 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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#2030442 by Not Available.

and

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#1974611 by Not Available.

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.

September 1, 2020 at 12:15am

#992003

My love letter to WDC, or how your actions matter.

Artist: Green Day
Song: Brain Stew
[Embed For Use By Upgraded+]

"30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" Prompt: I know this is cheesy, but I have to do it... In your entry today, write about what you love about Writing.Com. How have you grown as a writer? How are you (as a writer) different from how you were when you first joined this site? Thank the members who helped you get where you are today.

I just couldn’t stay away!

I figured if I’m going to be social and reading blogs in September, I might as well write a few of my own. For those who haven’t kept up with me in August, the reason I didn’t keep up with you is because, I went through back-to-back a dissociative episode and then a second oral surgery.

It was just... a very difficult month. I’m sure September will be more of the same. But trying to stay positive and hopeful that I’ll heal properly this time. I just had surgery last week so it will be a several weeks of recovery before healing fully. I still have stitches and all that.

Alright, so, the prompt...

I love writing, but I can write alone. There are tons of writing sites if I just want to get feedback on my writing. We all know that what makes WDC so great is the people. Genuinely from the beginning of my time on the site, I’ve felt welcomed and accepted, even though a lot of things about me generally aren’t socially acceptable. I would have never stayed here so long if it weren’t for the great community. Not everyone in the community is great and I do think there are some of the more “social media” aspects that detract from the writing aspects, but generally speaking, it’s the nicest place on the internet that I’ve been to.

As a writer, I’ve grown into someone who is comfortable showing the vulnerable side of my writing. I still have a long way to go. I could take more risks and my insecurities stop me sometimes from trying new things or entering contests, but before WDC, I didn’t share any of my writing with anyone. Ever. So in that sense, I’ve grown a lot.

I’m also comfortable with giving honest feedback, which I wasn’t at the beginning. Most of my early reviews are pretty much sugarcoated because I didn’t want to rub any of the established site members the wrong way. Once I became more comfortable with my position on the site and the purpose of reviewing, I became a lot more direct and honest in my reviews. Someone must agree that I’ve grown in that area because I did get Best Reviewer in the most recent Quills.

My thank you list would be endless and I hate to start naming people. Certainly lizco252isback got me into the site with her initial Soundtrackers challenge. FivetricksterTreats

, A Warped Witch I Be

, Elle

, Cinn

, ~Minja~

, Joy's busy haunting

, ♥OctOGre tHiNg♥

, Pol-TIGGY-st

, Whispering Ghost of C.St.Ann

, and so many more people kept me around year after year. Patrick

got me into serious reviewing. Gaby

, iKïyå§amhain

, and Jeff-o'-lantern 🎃

with their numerous activities kept me engaged in the site.

Throughout the years, I’ve met soooo many people that make the site worth staying on. I won’t start listing people because it would be like a 500-person list.

But for starters, I owe a thanks to everyone involved in hosting, judging, and participating in 30DBC. You’ll know I’m talking about you when you read this without being tagged.

I’ve met so many great people through blogging and I continue to meet new people every time I participate. That’s the aspect of the site that keeps me engaged now. All the people who comment on my entries and whose entries I comment on keep me around.

On top of that, I have my mental health crew from "Invalid Item"

and the other people who check on me in month’s like August when I was really just losing it frequently. Logging in and seeing a message titled “Just checking in” reminds me that people here do actually care about each other, even privately without the expectation of anything in return.

As I said in the beginning of this entry, it’s the community that keeps you locked in. The community helps you and you help the community. By writing a review, entering a challenge or contest, liking a newsfeed post, crediting a review, hosting or judging an activity, commenting on a blog entry, answering a question, welcoming a newbie, and just generally being around for the ups and downs that everyone experiences.

It’s the caring community that has kept WDC active for 20 years.

Happy 20th birthday, WDC!!

Enjoy your celebration.

I'm having trouble trying to sleep
I'm counting sheep but running out

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