Places to Chat
Chatterbox: Chirp at Cricket
6-Month Check In!
We are almost six months into 2024, and I thought it would be a good time to check in with everyone. How are you doing this year? Have you been striving towards whatever goals you might’ve set at the end of 2023? Or maybe your goals have changed.
Here’s a check in for you. At the end of this year (if I remember), I will link the original thread from 2023 and this thread on a new “Look Back to Look Forward” thread for 2024. If you participated in my end of 2023 “Look Back to Look Forward” thing, check back and look at what you put there. If not, you can still do this, you just may need to skip some questions. Here's the link: http://www.cricketmagkids.com/chatterbox/chirpatcricket/node/560851
Not moving towards the goals you set? Don’t panic! There’s still over six months left in the year to do so. Remember that sometimes plans also change - maybe what mattered to you back in December just doesn’t anymore, and that’s okay. This post isn’t to make you feel like you aren’t doing enough (although I am making it in part due to my fears that I’m not doing enough for you all so take that with a grain of salt /hj); in fact, it’s to hopefully do the opposite.
Fill out this form. You can skip questions or add whatever you want! This should reflect you as much as possible :]
Name:
Something I’ve achieved this year is:
Something new I’ve tried this year is:
Something brave I’ve done/will soon do this year is:
So far, the best book I’ve read is:
Right now I’m most prioritizing my (choose one and delete the other two): mind, body, spirit
This year, I’ve been pursuing these goals:,
I’ve been/am planning to leave my comfort zone by:
I’ve been kind to myself this year by:
I will continue to be kind to myself by:
A habit I have built/want to build later this year is:
Something I like about myself right now is:
Remember that everyone will interpret this differently, and there are no wrong answers! Have fun!
submitted by Periwinkle, age 14, Somewhere in the stars
(May 21, 2024 - 7:31 pm)
(May 21, 2024 - 7:31 pm)
:) ty for making this, peri!
Name: Moon Wolf
Something I’ve achieved this year is: academic excellence award (for getting 4.0 gpa all year)
Something new I’ve tried this year is: participating in a piano competition
Something brave I’ve done/will soon do this year is: creating a ski lodge and entering into cricket contests
So far, the best book I’ve read is: for these past six months, Spark by sarah beth durst (seriously go check it out)
Right now I’m most prioritizing my (choose one and delete the other two): i think mind or spirit, but probably more mind
This year, I’ve been pursuing these goals: writing more poems, making more coding projects, working on stories, entering contests
I’ve been/am planning to leave my comfort zone by: making new friends (still planning)
I’ve been kind to myself this year by: reading in the mornings
I will continue to be kind to myself by: reading in the mornings and also being proud of my accomplishments
A habit I have built/want to build later this year is: closing computers properly (not just closing it), and I want to build a better habit of exercise and drinking water
Something I like about myself right now is: my poetry
(May 21, 2024 - 8:46 pm)
(May 22, 2024 - 5:47 am)
OMG OMG OMG SPARK WAS MY FAVORITE BOOK FOR YEARS AND SARAH BETH DURST IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE AUTHORS
EEP
*desperate fangirling*
Also your habits are so relatable that is literally meeeeeee
Anyway hello how was your day?
(May 30, 2024 - 10:00 pm)
Name:GloomyBear
Something I’ve achieved this year is:Coming out as Genderfluid to my friends, and Omni to my grandparents.
Something new I’ve tried this year is:Skateboarding.
Something brave I’ve done/will soon do this year is:Tell my crush I still like her...or alude to it.
So far, the best book I’ve read is: Six Crimson Cranes.
Right now I’m most prioritizing my (choose one and delete the other two): body
This year, I’ve been pursuing these goals:, Gaining more art knowledge, getting better at math, social skills and controling my anger better.
I’ve been/am planning to leave my comfort zone by: Wearing clothing I want to wear, but usually wouldn't.
I’ve been kind to myself this year by:Allowing my self to sleep later.
I will continue to be kind to myself by: SLEEPING AND EATING PROPERLY.
A habit I have built/want to build later this year is: Eating a proper breakfast on weekdays.
Something I like about myself right now is: Uh, my hair...I like it.
(May 22, 2024 - 9:09 am)
Name: anastasia
Something I’ve achieved this year is: i got chosen to go to a selective one-week rowing camp in vermont! only five people get to go from my team so im really happy :)
Something new I’ve tried this year is: sewing
Something brave I’ve done/will soon do this year is: idk lol
So far, the best book I’ve read is: tress of the emerald sea by brandon sanderson
Right now I’m most prioritizing my (choose one and delete the other two): mind
This year, I’ve been pursuing these goals: reaching out to others more, being more active, not stress-eating
I’ve been/am planning to leave my comfort zone by: kinda silly, but this is something i rly struggle with--asking specific people to hang out that intimidate me
I’ve been kind to myself this year by: taking a month to stop chasing after people who don't care about me, realizing that i need to stop spending all my time and energy pursuing friendships that are really one-sided
I will continue to be kind to myself by: not beating myself up about being myself
A habit I have built/want to build later this year is: waking up early to work out
Something I like about myself right now is: i can be really bubbly and energetic sometimes and i like that
(May 22, 2024 - 10:44 am)
(May 22, 2024 - 12:50 pm)
aah thanks for doing this, Peri :D and WHAT how is the year almost halfway over already i SWEAR it was just January-- *panic*
Name: pangolin
Something I’ve achieved this year is: hmm we did a mock trial for A Separate Peace in English class, and i partly wrote and delivered the opening statement for the defense team - and we ended up winning :D
Something new I’ve tried this year is: several different art mediums - watercolor, printmaking, charcoal, scratchboard :D
Something brave I’ve done/will soon do this year is: survive my English class poetry performance project ToT
So far, the best book I’ve read is: hmm let's go with The Shepherd's Life by James Rebanks
Right now I’m most prioritizing my (choose one and delete the other two): mind :D
This year, I’ve been pursuing these goals: i want to get a 95 or higher on my chemistry and geometry Regents :D and i'm also trying to finish my ski lodge and some other writing projects but who knows if that'll happen haha
I’ve been/am planning to leave my comfort zone by: applying for a head editor position for my school's literary and art magazine :D
I’ve been kind to myself this year by: not stressing *so* much about my grades
I will continue to be kind to myself by: allowing myself to have fun without worrying about schoolwork :D
A habit I have built/want to build later this year is: getting enough sleep and exercise, and setting aside time to write :D
Something I like about myself right now is: umm my writing style?
Favorite song at the moment: "Find The River" by R.E.M. or "American Teenager" by Ethel Cain :D
(May 24, 2024 - 3:52 pm)
This is my third attempt at finishing this form... the last two times I ran out of time lol
Name: CelineBurning Bright/Celine
Something I've achieved this year is: well, starting a new school I guess. Today's first day of summer for me!!
Something new I've tried this year is: uhh football/softball maybe? Both are actually really fun. And volleyball too!! Which I find so funny because last year I was SO opposed to volleyball, but Ig it's fun when you're just playing with friends and not in an official game.
Something brave I've done/will soon do this year is: ...m a y b e e coming out?? Um but no guarantees lol :)
So far, the best book I've read is: wait I'll get back to you later!! :D
Right now I'm prioritizing my (choose one and delete the other two): spirit
This year, I've been pursuing these goals: trying to be more extroverted :(, trying to be more true to myself, trying to care about my appearance more which is soo hard because one of my biggest worries is that everyone will think I'm stuck-up if I care even a little bit about my appearance, trying to become more mainstream while still keeping my less mainstream side and while not falling into the mainstream trap that it feels like all my new-school classmates have fallen into (like, WHY. Why why why. I don't get half of your jokes and the ones I do get are either so inappropriate or so stereotypical or so just like what is the point?!? And ughh I feel so super bad because I had to explain "rickroll" to my BFF yesterday and now that's one less spot of innocence in this world.). Why do I want to be more mainstream? I don't really. But some of my interests are more mainstream (btw whenever I say mainstream just put quotation marks around it), like The Owl House is anime Ig?? That's what it says. So. I want to open myself up to new options and not just deem every new thing instantly bad just because a whole lot of people like it. Blech but I really hate my parents 'cuz they're always projecting their own feelings onto me and that is NOT OKAY I'm a different person okay don't make those pity faces and tell me "you're missing out you should try more you're lying to yourself I'm just looking out for you you have to stop being so stubborn" just because I was the only one who didn't on the rollercoasters even though all my friends from my new school did -- aHEM if all your friends are jumping off a bridge, would you too? I can't help it if they love rollercoasters and I scream and cry on "kiddie rollercoasters"!! And stop making me feel bad for sitting alone on the bus and texting my best friend forever instead of sitting with these people from my new school who are sort of inconsistent friends and who half of the time talk about stuff so inappropriate I just CAN'T and did you know that sometimes I'd just rather talk to my BFF who is the awesomest ever instead of talking with people I don't share a whole lot of interests with and who sometimes drive me crazy. And the worst part is that my parents are always like "we're introverted too we know exactly how you feel" and maybe you are and do but if so why do you keep making me do things that make YOU happy but make ME cry myself to sleep every night?!?? And when I try to do my own thing instead, you call me stubborn (as if I don't even try) and use pity tones with me because you're still stuck thinking I'm not brave enough to stand up for myself and get the things I want!! I mean, I get you're my parents, but. Why can't I play with stuffies anymore? Why can't I not want to drink soda like all the other kids? Why can't I want to be myself?? The only kind of peer pressure I've ever had to deal with are from my parents and the adults in my family who are always warning about peer pressure (the latter is not about my parents btw). Kinda ironic lol :/
plus my parents are always tossing phrases like "depression" and "OCD" and "[insert random Japanese phrase they don't even know how to say but think is cool to use because wow Japan is so cool and let's generalize everyone who lives there and/or who is Japanese into one big clump and forget about Tai Wan entirely (*sobs* I love Tai Wan) and have misinformation yayy!!]" (idk maybe doing that is okay but sometimes it just makes me angry and the thing is I don't know if that's okay or not and I'm not Japanese so I don't know if I can say anything). Or also they have really strict gender concepts (well mostly one parent who was sorta raised that way Ig) and they are openminded when I correct them but... sometimes it just gets at me like they're always surprised at how I do certain things 'cuz I'm a girl, and they think boys can't like princesses, and they're always asking me what actors I think look good (like. Guys. I'm lesbian, okay??) and what actresses my brother thinks look good and can't respect-- okay I've gotta stop I always do some version of this rant every time like every week :// it just really gets on my nerves. :/
and ackk gtg my mom's suddenly asking if we should invite my crush to lunch even though it's only like a 10-minute notice and I'm like, whaa?? And also like NO I CAN'T *panics* lol
(May 25, 2024 - 1:26 pm)
I'm terrible at advice but here's a virtual hug <33 and hope you can be yourself more without being judged irl :)
(May 25, 2024 - 1:59 pm)
that sounds hard... do you think they'd even try to listen if you explained any of it? i'd start with one thing probably - maybe that talking to people you don't like is really draining and hard and making you less happy than if you just talked to your best friend - if you think they'd listen. Maybe you could explain that having to talk to people is making you miserable and you're perfectly happy just talking to your best friend, who you get along with. maybe you could even find some articles about something like introvertedness or how it's not actually good to have a bunch of friends if all of them are draining? the "if all your friends were jumping off of a bridge would you too?" could potentially be a useful analogy.
also do you think there's any chance you could be neurodivergent? mostly autism probably, maybe ADHD too. I'm NOT trying to say that you definitely are, but it could be a thing to at do some research on. Reshinerr is only one example of autism, there's a ton of different presentations. anyway some of what you said sounded like it maybe could be related to masking but i also know nothing about masking (like i just can't understand it even though i've tried), but also a few other things. for instance i think it's more common to like things younger people like (such as stuffies) for longer, and what you said about the backpack on the ski lodge very much could be related to sensory or routines (it is for Reshinerr). also it might be useful in this case to look up stuff specifically about masking or maybe autism in girls (idk if you are a girl or not, but it's not like only girls can have that presentation, it's just more common in girls), since a lot of people find the more official criteria to not describe them super well (but you do have to fit it of course, just it can be different). it's totally possible you're simply introverted, but it could be worth looking into :D
it sounds like you have a lot of standards that you have to live up to... but if you think your parents might listen and wouldn't get that upset if you explained that doing them isn't making you happy, that could be something to look into. you could even write a letter, or a base for what you're going to say. we could look it over if you wanted. you said your parents were openminded when you corrected them about gender stereotypes. do you think it could be similar? do you think they know that it's causing you a lot of distress, or do you think they legitimately think that they're helping you and want you to be happy? it's not always clear or one or the other, unfortunately.
last thing i can think of. i promise you're not stubborn and missing out just because you don't want to ride on rollercoasters or talk to people. and if that is stubborn, maybe it's not a bad thing. you shouldn't have to do things that make you unhappy, certainly not to the point of crying yourself to sleep. i hope things get better. and please don't start agreeing with your parents - nobody should have to go outside of their comfort zone that much. it can be a good thing - but it can also be really hard, and it's definitely not fair to have to do it because your parents want you to.
oh yeah - also i promise you can play with stuffies and childish things even as a grown-up even with a job, and it's perfectly okay :D
oh! and also do you know anyone irl who you might be able to talk to? Maybe your best friend would be able to understand, and she knows your situation better than we do. or maybe you know an adult, which would be ideal. anyway if you do maybe try to talk to them; if not i'm really sorry and you can always talk to us.
okay that's actually all i can think of but hope things get better! but it's not your fault if they don't either. idk if any of this makes sense i can type rn but uhhh the words don't make sense reading back through them. so if this is completely incoherent i appologize i think it's okay though?? i legitimately can't tell but i've been working on this a long time so i'm not going to not post it (also maybe it'll help idk)
(May 25, 2024 - 3:31 pm)
i forgot to specify - the hugs are completely optional!! substitute them with your favorite cookie and a strawberry costume for Hei Bai and your other stuffies as desired. you get the cookie and costume regardless
(May 25, 2024 - 3:34 pm)
actually i think i misinterpereted part of this - the masking part might not apply. sorry if i did misinterperet, i probably shouldn't have posted that immediatey while reading is iffy
(May 25, 2024 - 4:11 pm)
Wow, I... did not expect responses. Thank you guys. <3
@Moon Wolf, thank you!!
@Bobcat, thank you so much!! You really didn't have to write so much and put so much time and effort into that, and it means a lot that you did. It's definitely all very much coherent! I'll keep that in mind and talk to them next time that happens. I'm not sure they'll listen... they think I don't know what's best for myself I think -- maybe I don't -- but I think it's worth a try. So yeah, thank you <3
And I don't think I'm neurodivergent, more just introverted, but you actually did get me thinking about my mental health a lot more, which is something I don't ever think about because I've always been "fine", and... actually, thanks a lot for that. I think maybe my mental health may not be as... perfect as I've always thought. Like lately I've been feeling a bit more on the verge of breaking -- especially at school because everyone's always so happy around me (and saying "this is the perfect friend group!" and "I found my place!" and "I belong here!" (yes people literally say that. That's like my school's "motto" or whatever)) and I'm sitting next to them feeling so... not. And I'll be crying and no one... notices? Um yeah so thank you for bringing my attention to that? Okay but I feel weird just writing this so yeah I'm hoping it'll be better though now that it's summer break and I'll get to see my other friends more!!
Oh, and also I don't think I'm masking, because I don't care about fitting in, and am at least 98% myself in public, but I do do that thing where I practice conversations and expressions to try to get them right... (more conversations though, the only expression I really practice is smiling. I, like, don't smile when I'm happy. Idk why. I just don't. It's weird. I mean, do people actually automatically smile whenever they're happy?? I honestly don't know. It's weird to think about for me. How would that even work??) I never even realized that was what I was doing until I looked it up. I think it's mostly because I'm a bit socially awkward, but yeah thank you for that too because never really knew that was a real thing (just LE's Emerald Springs, Alex does that I think?)
and yeah, they really do think that that's best for me :/ it's 'cuz this year I transferred to a new private school where I don't know anyone and they don't want me to be friendless. So.
Oh and rereading I totally forgot to clarify that when I say "I really hate my parents", I mean I "really hate" how they project their own feelings onto me, not hate them themselves. I love my parents! They're amazing and really care about me, soo... really sorry for any mix-up that might happen for anyone!!
but um yeah thank you both so much and hehee all my stuffies are fighting over the strawberry costume (currently Indie who's a baby opossum has it on) and I keep trying to tell them there's enough for everybody but they're too caught up to hear me lol <333
(May 26, 2024 - 5:23 pm)