Why does it always rain on me?

Historically, the spices I have in my cabinet are an embarrassment of riches. I have there a large container of whole black peppercorns which I grate fresh over my food. Multiple containers of cinnamon because I forgot I already had some. Ginger, cardamom, red pepper flakes, whole cloves and ground, nutmeg and turmeric. Kings and emperors have not eaten food so well spiced.

1. Robin Williams making off-the-cuff jokes that are definitely not Sesame Street appropriate.

2. The slow zoom in on Elmo’s face at the end.

Bane:

“I

To everyone who has had to work in retail, healthcare, or other jobs that caused them exposure and who still turned down social engagements that could have given them some deeply needed mental release, because they cared about protecting others.

To everyone who has been able to work from home but suffered financially because of it. To everyone who went months without touching or talking in person to another human being, and whose mental health declined as a result.

To everyone who will continue to do the difficult work of keeping others safe even after they are vaccinated, knowing that asymptomatic transmission may still be possible and that no vaccine is 100% effective.

To everyone who sacrificed something of themselves for the sake of responsible social distancing: you have saved lives. Period.

You’ll never know how many people are walking around who would be in the ground if you’d tried to go about your life as normal, if you’d done as you pleased like so many people have. How many are healthy who would be suffering long term health problems. How many were spared pain, a stay in the hospital, the legitimate fear that they might die. How many have someone they love they do not have to mourn.

I’ve seen this gif going around, and it’s a wonderful visualization of this.

It can feel hopeless sometimes – seeing others act irresponsibly, seeing news reports of the damage the virus is doing. But know that even if you cannot stop the spread on your own, you have kept it from being worse.

Your 30s will be better than your 20s.

ESPECIALLY for those of you who are queer, neurodivegent, mentally ill, or grew up in conservative areas/toxic households. And even if none of those apply to you, your 30s are still almost certainly gonna be better than your 30s. Bc the thing is, you are still hitting major developmental milestones in your 20s. Which means you spend your 20s doing a lot of unacknowledged mental, emotional, and social growth. And make no mistake--that is an INVESTMENT, an investment of time &, effort. And in a few years, once you get into your 30s, the returns on that investment are gonna start really shining through.

I know a lot of us are stressed bc of this idea we've inherited from baby boomers of what we're supposed to accomplish in our 20s. The thing is, that idea--a private home, a career, a life partner--is no longer realistic for most 20 somethings, if it ever was. For so many of us, our 20s are for recovery. Let me reiterate:

Your 20s are for growth and recovery

We are an exceptionally traumatized generation suffering the consequences of back-to-back-to-back economic crises. Throw your parents' expectations into trashcan. Throw the internalized pressure and self-criticism in there with it. You are doing enough. You are losing nothing by approaching your 30s (except hopefully some emotional baggage/old coping mechanisms you've replaced w/ healthier things).