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Chatterbox: Down to Earth
Care Packages
Care Packages
This is an idea I've had for a while, and this thread is going to be something of a test run for it…
Similar to the "Comments for Compliments" thread a while back (but hopefully one that will work better?), this thread is where all you have to do is leave a comment, and you'll get a "care package" - there might be advice, song recommendations, book recommendations, written picturings, compliments, whatever you're in need of.
Comment telling me a bit about yourself - maybe your taste in music, how you've been feeling (and why you've been feeling it), whatever you like, and I'll respond with a "care package."
I don't know how this is going to work out, but making people happy makes me happy, so I'll see what I can do. Like I said, this is a test run, and this might end up being a bad idea that crashes and burns - I just like the opportunity to bring a smile to someone's face, and want to try something new.
submitted by Periwinkle, age Pi, Somewhere in the stars
(February 25, 2023 - 5:46 pm)
(February 25, 2023 - 5:46 pm)
This is a really sweet idea, Peri! Thanks for always being here to try to brighten someone else's day! It's so inspiring to see you always working so hard. <3<3<3
The only thing I think I need right now are prompts... Maybe some calm song recommendations will do? Something mellow akin to Birds and Boats by Gregory and the Hawk, perhaps.
(February 25, 2023 - 7:37 pm)
Sure! Here's a few calm songs that Boats and Birds reminded me of:
Casimir Pulaski Day - Sufjan Stevens (this one's actually very very sad, but beautiful)
Ready Now - dodie
Love Like You - from Steven Universe
Change Your Mind - from Steven Universe (this one's kind of sad but also has an important point of view that I think is really special)
We Fell in Love in October - girl in red
Sleeping In - The Postal Service (one of my favorites, and I think you'd actually really like this band in general)
100,000 Fireflies - The Magnetic Fields
I hope you enjoy these!
(February 25, 2023 - 8:02 pm)
This is really sweet, Periwinkle -- I really appreciate your kindness and thoughtfulness and how you always try to make someone smile. It's really admirable, how you do things like this. :)
Okay, so this might turn into a bit of a rant, so be warned -- I've been feeling really lonely lately. I don't really have any (irl) friends (that go to my school), and I feel really disconnected from my peers, because I'm not very talkative, for one thing, and I don't really play video games or have social media (aside from the CB, I guess) or do/like a lot of the things people my age are expected to? I'm also pretty smart and do really well in school, and last year, the first year back in person, I used to be really quiet (much more than I am now) and I guess I built my identity around being smart? but now that's all I am, at least in the eyes of my classmates, and it feels like people just look over me, don't see me as a real person, don't realize any other aspect of my identity besides my intelligence. I tell myself that once I get to high school, I won't be just the smart kid and I'll actually have friends, but that just seems so far away.
I should say my music tastes I guess -- I enjoy music that's calmer, probably what would be classified as alternative/indie, indie folk, or pop. Some of the artists I like right now are Daughter, Gabrielle Aplin, Billie Marten, and Sara Bareilles.
(February 26, 2023 - 4:21 pm)
Aw, I'm so sorry, pangolin. You're such an amazing, interesting person, and you deserve to feel like you have friends and people around you who understand you. I will say I relate - I'm often caterogized as "the smart one" too. I'm still figuring out to escape the fact that that is my entire identity for some people, too, so unfortunately I don't have much advice. I will say, though, that making friends got ten times easier for me when I started doing stuff. When I joined the school musical, I made friends. When I joined the school band, I made even more friends. Doing things I wanted to do and trying new things was a HUGE help in getting to know people, and is a great way to practice talking to them. It's okay to be quiet, and I always want you to be yourself (because a real friend wouldn't want anybody but who you really were, right?) but I have learned that you have to do some talking to make friends. I know that's hard and scary, but you regret the things you don't do more than the things you do - I spent a lot of time being scared of talking to people, only to discover they were actually really cool and if I'd only talked to them, we could've become friends faster. Do your best to be bold! Think of this like an adventure. People are weird and strange. Go explore the weird and strange!
Apartment 402 - girl in red
seven - Taylor Swift
willow - Taylor Swift (honestly, if you don’t listen to her, you should really give her a shot - I think you’d really like folklore and evermore, and she’s a popular artist, so if you do like her, it might be a way to connect to others and make some friends? Not saying you have to like her, but she’s famous for a reason, and her music really is good)
Liability - Lorde (another singer you should definitely try if haven’t already. She’s got an amazing voice and this inexplicable powerfulness to her)
I hope you enjoy these reccomendations, and wish you the best of luck making friends. For what's it's worth, I think you're a really cool, talented, kind person, and I can't imagine not wanting to be your friend.
(February 26, 2023 - 6:23 pm)
Thank you so much, Peri. I'll definitely do everything you mentioned -- "explore the weird and strange," that might be my new motto haha :)
I do listen to Taylor Swift, actually -- I love willow but haven't heard seven in a while, and I've never listened to Liability or Apartment 402, but I really like them, so thanks! :D
And again, thank you, that means a lot :)
(February 27, 2023 - 5:15 pm)
Peri <33 This is a really cool idea and I think it would be really helpful for a lot of people!! (me included, haha)
I guess I'm feeling really overwhelmed. I was just sick for two weeks, and I have a ton of school work to catch up on, but I've barely done any of it. I'm going back for the first time in a while tomorrow, and I'm really nervous? For some reason? Yeah. I also have a ton of creative projects I need to be working on- my novel series, a TV show idea I still need to hammer out, making content for one of my other social medias. Not to mention the AE Diaries thread... I have about 3 conversations going right now, while 1 was already a commitment for me, and it's just causing a ton of extra stress. AND- I've been in a ton of pain, physically. Not to be gross, but my bones have been out of place and my neck and my back are just constantly sore. I'm going to PT, but it's still uncomfortable. Which is elevating my anxiety for school tomorrow- walking around my school for the first time in weeks isn't going to fun.
Anyway, uh. Sorry about that little rant :\
As for music taste, I like a lot of stuff- soft indie, hyperpop, showtunes, etc. I don't really mind :]
ty!
(February 26, 2023 - 8:24 pm)
Ugh, that's awful! Being sick for even a day or two is no fun, but for two whole weeks?! Brutal. It totally makes sense that you'd be nervous to go back to school. I usually get nervous to go back to school, too, so I get it. I would mostly say, just try and take it slow for the first few days back. Don't stress yourself out or overwork, but do try to get some work done. I have trouble getting motivated to sit down and actually finish homework, but here are some tips that have helped me:
-Pick a comfy spot where nobody's going to bug you. My personal favorite is the floor of my bedroom with pillows and stuffed animals surrounding me, but whatever floats your boat.
-Have a water bottle near you. It's important to stay hydrated, especially if you're prone to headaches!
-Motivate yourself with small rewards when you finish each task (for example, I really like chocolate, so I once had a bite of a chocolate bar each time I finished part of my homework)
-If it helps, you can listen to music. I'd recommend lofi, just something calm and preferably without any singing in it (it can be distracting). This one works for me, but it might not work for you if you need quiet to do homework.
-You don't have to do it all at once! If it helps to break it up, break it up. Don't rush yourself.
Creativity is, in my opinion, something that's supposed to be fun, not a chore or something you "need to be working on." There's not really a rush (unless you're actually on a deadline or something, in which case, see the above tips). If you can't find inspiration, don't push it. It tends to come on its own. Also, you don't need to be feeling pressured by the AE Diaries thread! We can have Ronin and Callum (Ronum for a ship name? Callrin? Idk whatever you want I just like making ship names XD) talk later. There's time. I'm so sorry if I was making you feel like you had to do that, but you really don't. I understand if you're stressed and tired, and so does everyone else. You need a break, just say the word.
Ah, neck and back pain! Been there. Have you tried taking a bath? It's really good for tense/sore muscles. And to avoid extra neck pain, I reccomend sleeping on a 2-3 pillow stack. I don't know why, but it helps.
Also: go to bed early tonight. As in, don't stay up late. Try to go to sleep. You need sleep.
Aaand here's some song reccomendations (you actually might know some of these - we have similar taste in music)
Dizzy (ft. Thomas Headon and Alfie Templeman) - chloe moriondo
Honeypie - JAWNY
Quarterback - Wallows
No Time to Explain - Good Kid
Her Name - Pamelo
Bubble Gum - Clairo
October Passed Me By - girl in red
And that's about all I got! I hope things get better for you, Writing, and that all goes well at school tomorrow. Good luck :]
(February 26, 2023 - 9:21 pm)
Sorry that you've been in pain :( I feel you there. Not exactly, obviously, but I have weird pain issues too, and it's not fun. I'm going to give some advice even though I don't know much about your situation. Just take what you can and disregard what isn't useful. If nothing else, just read the last paragraph.
I don't know exactly what's going on, but your school should allow you to sit down or take a break as necessary (if they don't, that's their fault and you absolutely should complain). Maybe you could bring a portable cold/hot pack or something similar if there's something that helps? And since you're going to PT - ask your therapist. They might have good ideas, or be able to refer you to someone who could help in other ways. Since you're saying it's neck and back pain, I'd suggest you see if someone else can carry your stuff. Even if that doesn't usually make it bad, you probably don't want to add extra strain, especially because pain can make it extra hard to focus as well. (Although your base focus ability is probably better than mine XD) You might be able to find ways to not do as much walking, too - ask about eating lunch in the classroom you'll be in next, maybe.
Just in general, ask people to help and make things easier on yourself. If reaching up is hard for you, maybe a teacher can help you get things that are too high. And there are other things you can do for yourself - organizing things to be easier and hurt less, like (keeping with the reaching up hurting example) keeping things in your locker in the middle as much as possible. And like I said, I don't know what you're going through. There are going to be things I mentioned that won't help. And you'll probably have other strategies. But no matter what, don't be afraid to ask people and expect them to help. I know people are very often jerks. You can't help that. But Writing, you deserve to have people respect you. And we're always here for you! *hugs if you want them*
(March 1, 2023 - 2:34 pm)
This is a really cool idea Peri! Let's get ready for! This!...thing that I'm about to talk about...
*cough* Ok.. Lately I've been feeling lonely, and I honestly don't know why. But I think it might be..because of my lack of friends. Other than CB and my small friend group..I don't know many peole. And that's really frustrating. I will be going to a class in a couple weeks..so that might help. But other than that, I have no idea what to do. And to make matters worse ...I have frikin social anxiety.
There has been two major changes in my life. First off, I now know that Im Omni. Feels right. Feels good. BUT HOW WILL DOTH PARENTS REACT?! That one of my biggest worries. That my parents will treat me different. Almost all my friends know...not all of them..but most. But the real problem....is when I tell my extended family...hoo boi.
Secondly...Another problem I have about : Honesty . I'm in a relationship...with a girl. My parents don't know. They think were just REALLY! Good friends..
But..I have godmoms. I grew up around gay people!!! It was inevitable.... I just...nnngh. This is so frustrating!! And I don't know what to do ahhanaa.
Written picturing...compliments? Either is fine.
(February 26, 2023 - 11:48 pm)
Omni buddies!!! >:D
(February 27, 2023 - 2:25 pm)
Really?! Yaaas!
(February 27, 2023 - 6:23 pm)
I'm sorry you've been feeling lonely! You mentioned a small friend group - I have one of those too! Well, had - it's a lot bigger now. I would recommend trying to expand the friend group a bit using friends of friends. Do any members of your friend group have friends outside the friend group who could potentially join the friend group?
(February 28, 2023 - 8:37 pm)
Hi Peri!! You're so thoughtful, doing this <3 (Btw I promise I'll respond to our chat thread soon, but I only have ten minutes til I have to go to class and I want to have more time, sorry!)
Today is the first day back to school after a week of February break, which was super great! But now I'm being hit with a lot of work, including a ten minute speech I have to write and preform in the span of time of about a month. Plus the history AP. I guess I'm just a little stressed about school right now, and also am worried that I'm not being productive enough out of school, mostly with my writing. I'm writing a lot more than 2022 (it was my new years resolution), but it still doesn't feel like nearly enough. Ahh, this has turned into a rant, sorry for the negative vibes!
I hope you're doing good, and I'm so glad that you're still actively seeking to spread happiness to other people! :)
(February 27, 2023 - 1:38 pm)
Oof, that does sound stressful (also, what is February break? I didn't know school gave breaks in February). Coming back from a nice, relaxing break only to be hit with a whole bunch of work is the worst feeling. I can understand why you're feeling stressed, and I'd say this is a spot where you need a good balance of work and relaxation. You should definitely being doing your homework, but make sure you're also resting enough. Maybe try working on your speech a bit every night (or however often you need) for a certain amount of time, then doing something calming like going for a walk or listening to music, then doing some more work? Like work-relax-work-done for the night. Just an idea, I don't know how well that would work for you, but mostly I'm saying, try to make sure you get your work done without overworking, if you know what I mean.
I feel the writing one, though. I've been trying to do some more writing lately too (just started a new story today, actually!) but it can be hard. I think it's less fun if treated like a chore, though. Try not to tell yourself you're not writing enough and instead focus on the quality of your writing and how much fun you're having actually writing. In the end, it should just be something you're doing because you love to do it, not because you're making yourself do it.
And no pressure with our chat thread! Take as much time as you need, I'll be here :)
(February 28, 2023 - 8:46 pm)
(March 1, 2023 - 7:30 am)