PrttySweet Distractions

It's easy to see toxic traits in other people's relationships, friendships, and family dynamics. However, tempered with our own kindness, toxicity seems more nuanced in our own reality. We keep giving the benefit of the doubt and making plausible excuses. Maybe, we should listen when someone points out those toxic traits we are too close to see. 

Many of us have treasured items inherited from or made by people we love: Grandma's quilt, the sweater your mom made, the trinket box your uncle made you, the ornaments you made with your Aunt, a custom scarf from a cherished friend. Is it the item, the memories, or the love that turns it into a treasure? What is it about items made with love that elevated them in your heart? 

From harmless chatter to reputation-shattering rumors, we all have something to say. From expert advice to sarcastic wit, how do our words hit with our families and friends? How do our own words land to others? Grab some sweet tea- let's head out to the porch swing and chat. Because Everybody Talks Shit.

At one point or another, we've all wondered how we got in a situation. It's easy to search for others to blame. It's not our fault this happened, it can't be. But, oh, Sweetie, sometimes, it's our own doing. Can YOU name the times when it's your own damn fault?

An empty vessel, a blank page, a notebook ready to capture dreams, emotions, art, or thoughts... words want to purge, sometimes, they just can't. Whether it's a new beginning or making space enough to breathe, what does a blank page represent to you?

The crushing weight of unchangeable choices, the silence after a storm of words, the empty chair, the final glance, or life rewritten in the ink of regret the unbearable cost of what could have been. We all contemplate what could have been... if only.

We all have those little things that always seem to make us smile. At times, the warm and fuzzies can be hard to come by. Whether it's those infamous whiskers on kittens or the smell of your favorite smile, what are some of those favorite little things that brighten your day, lift a mood, and birth a smile? 

We've all heard the old wives' tales about predictions. Are they true or truly un reliable? Whether it's size or other predictions, can we foresee the inforeseeable? Do we really want to? Does it even matter at all?

Intelligent life isn't always easy to come by, but we can't be alone in the unknowns of the universe. Do you believe in alien abduction? What if Earth is just a tourist destination for extra terrestrials? Let your imagination run wild.

Negative self-talk can feel like a heavy, chaotic load to carry. It's crazy how crushing and overwhelming those internal critical thoughts can feel. Pushing through is difficult, but we can find a new way to process without beating ourselves down. 

Summer love, no school, daily adventures with friends; Summer can be amazing. Unfortunately, it can also be cruel. Sweltering heat, boredom, and bad decisions can make for interesting stories. Everyone is welcome to call in and tell their stories of a cruel Summer.

Love rewires our brains by releasing oxytocin, lowering physical stress. It can help us live longer or shorter; it can be a bitter pill to swallow. Ultimately, love acts as both a mirror and medicine. How has love shaped you?

Everyone needs a safe place to purge pain, a place without outside judgement. For some it's sports, for others art. Then there are poets. It's the beauty of words that weave the tapestry of the human condition. This is a safe place to purge in the whispers and screams in beautiful words.

It seems that doing something because it's the right thing to do, just because, or out of kindness has fallen out of favor in this instant entitlement society where everything feels transactional and everything has a price. Whatever happened to kindness? 

Though it may not always be the kindest option, no means no. It doesn't mean ask later or ask again in a different way. If you ask me if I want something from the store and I say no, let it stand. If you ask me if you look fat, and I say no, let it stand. While there may be an exception to every rule, no is a complete sentence.

You're awake, still feeling the fingerprints of last night's dream on your skin. You can't shake it. All morning your head wanders, wondering which reality you're living in. When dreams feel so real, they linger.