i a m g r o o t

It’s often very difficult for us to receive love. Perhaps our past has taught us that it’s never genuine – or love is not reliable, and won’t last in the end. If this is your experience, it’s understandable that trusting love is scary, and a step that’s hard to take. Below are some steps that can help you with this.

1. Believe people when they say they love you. Whether it be a partner, a good friend, or a family member, it is crucial that we accept those words as being true and genuine. For If you’re continually doubting and pushing them away, then you’ll hamper them proving that they truly do love you.

2. Stop being terrified of loss. It’s normal and common to hold back from trusting love if your heart has been broken, or your love has been betrayed. Why would you want to experience that again! However, if you don’t take a chance on a person who seems true, you’ll spend your whole life running, and be captive to your fears. And there are people who are safe, and who will genuinely care. So trust your intuition, and push past all that fear.

3. Love yourself. For some this is the hardest step to take. However, if you don’t love yourself then you cannot receive love – as deep down inside you don’t believe you deserve love. If this is true for you, take the time to figure out the reason why you feel you’re not worthy of being loved. Then, work on challenging and replacing this belief. (Perhaps with the help of a counsellor.)

4. Begin to take down the walls and to risk being vulnerable. Being authentic is scary as you feel so vulnerable. But you can take a few small steps, and can practice being real. Decide it’s not OK to be cynical and tough, and choose to be more open, and let others get close.

This makes me MAD

A tiny town with a smaller population than some high schools has contaminated water, so Michigan declares a state of emergency, supplies residents with bottled water, and is dumping all the contaminated water in preparation of hooking the town up with a clean water supply.

MEANWHILE nobody gives two shits about Flint, a MAJOR CITY with OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND RESIDENTS.

Spot the difference!

pisces: “stop trying. take long walks. look at scenery. doze off at noon. don’t even think about flying. and then, pretty soon, you’ll be flying again.” - kiki’s delivery service

aquarius: “no matter how many weapons you have, no matter how great your technology might be, the world cannot live without love!” - castle in the sky

capricorn: "they say that the best blaze burns brightest when circumstances are at their worst.” - howl’s moving castle

sagittarius: "you’re wonderful. there’s no need to rush. please take your time to polish your talent.” - whisper of the heart

scorpio: “deny death, and you deny life.” - tales from earthsea

libra: “life, as they say, has its ups and downs. at times, the waves may taunt you, tossing you in their swells. but take heart. it’s hard to stick with it and make it on your own. but even a couple of losers can survive most things if they’re together.” - my neighbors the yamadas

virgo: “you’ll do the right thing. i know it. you’re very smart. sometimes we need to take a leap. be brave. you can do it.” - ponyo

leo: “always believe in yourself. do this and no matter where you are, you will have nothing to fear.” - the cat returns

cancer: “life is suffering. it is hard. the world is cursed. but still you find reasons to keep on living.” - princess mononoke

gemini: "everybody, try laughing. then whatever scares you will go away!” - my neighbor totoro

taurus: "the earth speaks to all of us, and if we listen, we can understand.” - castle in the sky