Here's to Us

February is Boost Self-Esteem Month

What is self-esteem:

It’s a confidence and satisfaction in oneself.

What influences self-esteem:

1. Your thoughts and perceptions

2. How other people react to you

3. Experiences at home, school, work and in the community

4. Illness, disability or injury

5. Age

6. Role and status in society

7. Media messages

Benefits of healthy self-esteem:

1. You can be yourself

2. You accept disagreements

3. You accept new challenges

4. You are more resilient

5. You don’t need other’s approval

6. You don’t feel the need to be perfect

Is your self-esteem too low:

You focus on your perceived weaknesses and faults. You believe that others are more capable or successful.

How to boost your self-esteem:

1. Think about what is affecting your self-esteem

2. Avoid negative self-talk

3. Connect with people who love you

4. Learn to be assertive

5. Set yourself a challenge

6. Focus on your positives

7. Take care of yourself

Do you ever just stop and think:

When you thought men been hit rock bottom but they prove you wrong

me @ the Thai ladies

*bans porn*

*makes it’s site literally 3 shades darker*

Good news: This is a legit rescue, carried out by Tigers in America. This organisation rescues tigers from horrible situations like this.

MONEY. WE WANT MONEY. MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY. WE CAN DO SO MUCH WITH IT. WE HAVE ACCESS TO DEALS YOU COULD NEVER. MONEY

That aside.

 I’m only going to talk about food items but if your food bank takes personal items, a lot of times diapers, feminine hygiene products, etc, are very very welcome. 

1) Canned chicken and beef 

looooooove this stuff. It’s expensive, it lasts forever, it tastes good and it can be used a variety of ways. This stuff is fucking catnip to food banks, it’s so hard for us to provide proteins. 

2) Fancy nut butters

Peanut butter is a standby for food banks as a shelf-stable inexpensive protein, but if we have a family with a kid with a peanut allergy that’s not going to work. Non-peanut butters are expensive and it’s something we hardly ever see donated. (we also like peanut butter, but that’s easier for us to buy ourselves than non-peanut butters)

3) Canned or packaged tuna

You may notice a trend here in shelf-stable proteins. And yeah. That’s basically it, so I’m not going to keep harping on it. But this stuff is a godsend. 

4) Easy breakfast things for kids (Granola bars, instant oatmeal, and the like) 

Whatever Donald Trump tells you, most people who get food from food banks are actually working their asses off and so they have to leave Obama to raise their baby or whatever, and they don’t have a lot of time in the morning. Things like this that kids can make for themselves are expensive. (Another trend you may be noticing–donate shit that costs a lot of money. That helps us more than all the shitty green bean cans in the world) But they are so helpful for busy working families where the parents may not have a set schedule and sometimes little Amanda is making her own breakfast before she runs off to school. Don’t let kids go to school hungry. 

5) Shelf-stable juice

cooking dinner with the one you love while they wrap their arms around you. taking quick kiss breaks in between folding fresh laundry. washing each other’s hair in the shower. giggling and rolling around in the fresh sheets you both just finished putting on. dusting while showing off your latest dance moves and having your sweetheart show off their vocals.

“…let’s consider this more carefully. Most of these gifts remain unopened or have been used only once. Admit it. They simply don’t suit your taste. The true purpose of a present is to be received. Presents are not “things” but a means to convey someone’s feelings. When viewed from this perspective, you don’t need to feel guilty for parting with a gift. Just thank it for the joy it gave you when you first received it. Of course, it would be ideal if you could use it with joy. But surely the person who gave it to you doesn’t want you to use it out of a sense of obligation, or to put it away without using it, only to feel guilty every time you see it. When you discard or donate it, you do so for the sake of the giver, too.”

(The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, page 108 - emphasis hers)