Quick note to let you know 4 things that are happening around here (and there) pretty soon! 

1) Annual Melee Of Kindness
(click to visit the site)

Basically, it's 2 days of pure kindness. Yes, we should be kind every single day but the entire purpose of running AMOK is to make an extra effort! 

It can be something small. Pay it forward when you get your morning coffee. Buy bottles of water for that guy spinning a sign on the corner. Personally, I've made up a bunch of anonymous notes with inspirational things written in them that I plan to leave all over my city this weekend! 

So go out, be kind for a change!


2) My birthday! 

That's right. I'm turning 28 next week! The next two weekends are for fun times and I'm excited. Late 20's has been, well, difficult. Maybe I'll do a drunken rambling video here soon about that....


3) Camp Nanowrimo

For those that have been my friend for the last few years, you know I participate in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) each November. 

Camp Nano is a more laid back version that happens twice a year. You're put in a "cabin" with people (you can also stock your cabin with friends), you get to set your own goals (can only write 20K? Working on a screenplay or poetry? Revising? It's all good). Basically, it's just another excuse for me to hunker down and not talk about anything but my book for more months out of the year. 


4) My kid's birthday.

My oldest son will be turning 6 this year. SIX. When did that happen? We've decided on a Spiderman theme at the park. (His original idea was to go walk around the mall so it's an upgrade)


I'm also hoping to start making videos again. We'll see how that goes (stop laughing)

So make the next 2 months awesome!!!

Did you know that someone out there has it worse?

Worse than what?

It doesn't matter!!! Someone out there has it worse so be grateful for what you have! 

You know what?

I'm ungrateful.

I'm not going to talk about how much I hate the idea that we're supposed to love all parenting moments. Because I've already done that. Many times. 

No. I want to talk about that phrase. 

I hate it. So much. 

Someone will always have it worse. There will always be someone with less support, less money, or (God forbid) loss in the family. 

Don't let that invalidate how you feel. 

Your feelings are valid. You're allowed to feel upset. You're allowed to vent about. It's okay to cry over "the little things" and feel horribly upset about "first world problems." 

It's NOT okay to tell someone to suck it up because "someone has it worse."

So the next time you're venting about your kid not finishing their kale smoothie that you painstakingly prepared and someone says "Chill out. At least you can afford kale. Some people can't. Be grateful." 

You have my permission to punch them in the mouth and then tell them to "be grateful" you didn't break their nose instead.*

Just don't be offended if I hide your post. 

If taking time to express your feelings means that you're ungrateful?

Then I'm ungrateful.

And that's okay.

*Disclaimer: blog owner does not actually encourage violence and will not take the blame should you interpret her permission as serious. 

These are supposed to be YouTube videos but I'm much better with the written word so mine is, obviously, a blog post. 

If you're not familiar with the movement/assignment, women are being encouraged to make videos (or write letters) to their teenage selves. 

My letter will encompass everything from 13-18. It will probably sound vague in parts and that's okay because I'm doing this for ME. I just happen to be sharing it with you. 

Dear Me,

I'm sorry. I'm sorry you're miserable right now. You're not crazy. You're not damaged. You have moderate to severe depression and anxiety. You should probably be on medication and I'm deeply sorry you're not. 

He doesn't love you. No, it doesn't matter which "he" I'm talking about...you know which ones to whom I'm referring.
He doesn't care about you at all. 
Stop letting him push you around. Stop letting him talk to you like that. That's abuse, not love. 
You deserve better.

Write. Keep writing. Pour the things you can't SAY out on the page and then light it on fire just to watch it burn. Don't say it in your skin. You'll look back on those marks as battle scars and have so many mixed feelings. 

You deserve to live. You do not break everything you touch. Tell that voice in your head to go straight to Hell. You are more than your inner demons. Don't let them define you. 

Someday you'll find someone that makes you feel on top of the world. He will love you despite your flaws. He will love you FOR many of the things you view as flaws. He will support you and hold your hand while you cry. He won't make you feel guilty when you slip up during recovery. You won't feel the need to hide your sarcasm, your weirdness, or your intelligence. 

You're still not the popular kid, but that no longer matters. Your closest friends are geeks and nerds. You will slowly become more comfortable in your own skin. 

It gets better. Not immediately, but eventually.