Care of the Self
February 2011
10 posts
“On that day I say, “Yes, all you people wound us when you reject us. Rejection strips us of our self-worth; Our vulnerability exposes us to shame. It is our innate identity you find wanting. We are ashamed that we need your good opinion, that we need your acceptance. We can no longer camouflage our needs, can no longer let defenses and fences sprout around us. We can no longer withdraw. To rage and look upon you with contempt is to rage and be contemptuous of ourselves. We can no longer blame you, nor disown the white parts, the male parts, the pathological parts, the queer parts, the vulnerable parts. Here we are weaponless with open arms, with only our magic.”
—Gloria Anzaldua - La Conciencia de la Mestiza: Towards a New Consciousness (via sabbbb)
“Lignin, the stuff that prevents all trees from adopting the weeping habit, is a polymer made up of units that are closely related to vanillin. When made into paper and stored for years, it breaks down and smells good. Which is how divine providence has arranged for secondhand bookstores to smell like good quality vanilla absolute, subliminally stoking a hunger for knowledge in all of us.”
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Why secondhand bookstores smell good
Perfumes: The Guide (via YMFY)
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instead of denying feelings like anger, irritation, fear, or reluctance. articulate the other person’s point of view. In other words, Make people happier by acknowledging that they’re not feeling happy.
Sounds easy, right? Wrong. I had no idea how often I contradicted other people’s assertions of their feelings until I tried to quit. “You always have fun when we go.” “You should be thrilled, this is great news.” “It won’t be that much work.”
” —Make People Feel Happier by Acknowledging that they’re Not Feeling Happy - Gretchen Rubin @ The Happiness Project blog
Ten Things to Do When Feeling Hopeless →
utne.com
Hey, it’s all hopeless. So how you gonna deal?