This Thing Saved Me

Welcome to my little corner of the internet. Thanks for coming, grab a tea and get comfy.

This blog is going to be dedicated to the various forms of content that have had a hand in keeping me (reasonably) sane and alive over the past 35 years.

A couple of years ago I suffered from severe burnout that affected my mental health significantly and helped contribute to being diagnosed with PTSD after a workplace assault. Phew, and that's just the cole's notes of the journey.

I have always found myself in words, so its fitting that I dedicate some words to the specific saviours in return.

I'll be talking about moments from movies, books, songs, little things that made me stop over the years and say, "yes that, more of that."

I feel it's important to disclose that while I firmly believe that Taylor Swift's music has been eerily timely ever since I first downloaded Teardrops on my Guitar VERY LEGALLY DEFINITELY NOT ON LIMEWIRE DON'T FACT CHECK THIS. Point being, I will endeavour to at least SPACE OUT the Taylor appreciation.

I'll update this later with relevant tags as I feel out how and what I want to write about. I was originally going to make this all about music, make playlists, yaddah yaddah. But there's also too many moments from the content I've been fed over the years that I didn't want to get into too much of a niche.

Because I'm also late-diagnosed ADHD and Bipolar girl. And the road to those diagnoses were not smooth let me tell you.

But this isn't a BLOG just about mental health. Or maybe it will be. Again, feeling it out. I know from my personal branding class that it's important to know yourself and define your niche.

HOWEVER, my fun little blog (and possible YouTube channel if I feel so inclined to read passages or share clips and talk about them...we'll see) may be a rambly mess because, well hey, that's kind of my brand.

Organized chaos, overly enthusiastic, Gilmore-level talking speeds, that's me. And sharing what I'm passionate about has always made me a happy girl.

And since I can't talk customers ears off at the video store anymore (and it's been 13 years since I could. blech) here I am. Talking to the void about any number of fandoms.

(Insert gif of Jeff Blim saying "Get Excited Everyone" from The Trail to Oregon (YouTube/Team StarKid))

I am also gif girl. I'm going to try and make gifs I can't find if I can find clips for them. Because practising simple internet skills at my age is important. Or so I assume.

Anyway, inaugural ramble over and out. Looking forward to sharing the things I get excited about. <3

I used to secretly hope that I’d have a grandparent come out of the woodwork. Long lost matriarch to pass down stories and wisdom.

I had a great aunt I loved and wish I’d been older when I knew her so I could have known what it was like to be her.

Her house was my dream, old vintage Toronto and packed to the brim with books.

I can still smell the sitting room, tomes and lingering cigarettes. The books are what I remember. The smell of the pages. The dictionary stood proudly on its pedestal.

So many worlds in such a contained space.

In honour of Ari on SNL last night. Another example of “I prefer an artist in showtune mode.”