A 2012 Excavation In Turkey Revealed A 2,000-year-old Mosaic That Features A Super-chill Skeleton Reclining

I'm sitting in the waiting room, about to complete the first step in my mental health journey, so this video could not have come at a better time haha Probs gonna watch as soon as I get home

“Monday With Matt: Dealing With A Diagnosis”

Still feeling sore, but the show must go on!

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week, so for @ravishlydotcom, we thought it would be a good idea to try and approach the vast and complicated topic of mental health by focusing on a singular, small, yet important aspect of getting to know your own mind a little better.

Today we talk about dealing with a diagnosis, and how learning about your mental illness can be more of a blessing even if it seems like a curse.

Like, Subscribe, and Reblog if you enjoy it!

Sleepy Thoughts #2

Friday, May 20, 2016 1:33 AM: Took a sleeping pill two hours ago and yet my mind still doesn’t want to go to sleep

I just saw a video on Facebook about a very obese cat who was learning to swim in an effort to lose weight and it made me feel very sad for the cat. Like, is the cat so fat that it can’t do things that cats do? I’ve heard of cats that get so fat that they can’t groom themselves properly, or be as agile as they used to be, and doesn’t that make them feel sad? Can cats feel sad? I have two cats, one is fat, and when he’s stealing the leftover pizza crust and doritos from my desk, does he realize that he’s only contributing to his downfall? Or is the emotional joy that he gains from eating these treats, and stealing the food from my much smaller cat, simply too enjoyable for him to stop? Do cats feel joy? Do cats realize the basics of cause and effect? The world may never know.

Everytime I looked at her, my stomach would always drop like it did the first time I saw her. That’s how I knew. That’s how I knew she was mine forever.

(via thingsiwishitoldher)

Sleepy Thoughts #1

Sunday, May 15, 2016

2:03 AM: Not sleeping anytime soon

You know that feeling when you watch way too many episodes from way too many TV shows, in way too short a timeframe?

And you become unhealthily obsessed with plot, setting, and characters, and all you want is to pass through your laptop screen and join your friends in their quest?

But you know this isn’t possible, so you instead spend every waking moment daydreaming about what your life would be like in their world.

And the knowledge that you would never meet them, because the actor is not the same as the character, makes you want to curl up into a ball and cry because the real world has no magic?

So as you’re crying in the fetal position, you press play on the next episode in hopes of escaping the dreary reality in which we’re all stuck.

push yourself to get up before the rest of the world - start with 7am, then 6am, then 5:30am. go to the nearest hill with a big coat and a scarf and watch the sun rise. 2. push yourself to fall asleep earlier - start with 11pm, then 10pm, then 9pm. wake up in the morning feeling re-energized and comfortable. 3. get into the habit of cooking yourself a beautiful breakfast. fry tomatoes and mushrooms in real butter and garlic, fry an egg, slice up a fresh avocado and squirt way too much lemon on it. sit and eat it and do nothing else. 4. stretch. start by reaching for the sky as hard as you can, then trying to touch your toes. roll your head. stretch your fingers. stretch everything. 5. buy a 1L water bottle. start with pushing yourself to drink the whole thing in a day, then try drinking it twice. 6. buy a beautiful diary and a beautiful black pen. write down everything you do, including dinner dates, appointments, assignments, coffees, what you need to do that day. no detail is too small. 7. strip your bed of your sheets and empty your underwear draw into the washing machine. put a massive scoop of scented fabric softener in there and wash. make your bed in full. 8. organise your room. fold all your clothes (and bag what you don’t want), clean your mirror, your laptop, vacuum the floor. light a beautiful candle. 9. have a luxurious shower with your favourite music playing. wash your hair, scrub your body, brush your teeth. lather your whole body in moisturiser, get familiar with the part between your toes, your inner thighs, the back of your neck. 10. push yourself to go for a walk. take your headphones, go to the beach and walk. smile at strangers walking the other way and be surprised how many smile back. bring your dog and observe the dog’s behaviour. realise you can learn from your dog. 11. message old friends with personal jokes. reminisce. suggest a catch up soon, even if you don’t follow through. push yourself to follow through. 13. think long and hard about what interests you. crime? sex? boarding school? long-forgotten romance etiquette? find a book about it and read it. there is a book about literally everything. 14. become the person you would ideally fall in love with. let cars merge into your lane when driving. pay double for parking tickets and leave a second one in the machine. stick your tongue out at babies. compliment people on their cute clothes. challenge yourself to not ridicule anyone for a whole day. then two. then a week. walk with a straight posture. look people in the eye. ask people about their story. talk to acquaintances so they become friends. 15. lie in the sunshine. daydream about the life you would lead if failure wasn’t a thing. open your eyes. take small steps to make it happen for you.

(via aureat)

Museum of Living Statues Pt. 4

TRIGGER WARNING: Character death, manipulation, and creepy ending.

This was my final project for my creative writing class, and I was pleased with how it turned out, so please enjoy!

(This is a little longer than the other parts, but I couldn’t find a good place to stop it, so there will only be one other part after this)

“Perfect, dear, you’re doing great! Now, as soon as I flip this switch the molding material will fill your mouth. Don’t panic now, breathe through your nose and you’ll be just fine!”

Before I could say anything, they pulled me roughly to my feet and lead me to a large, intimidating iron door. The door had a complicated-looking mechanism that they pulled right open and I found myself in a room that very much resembled a dungeon. At that moment, my body was screaming at me to get the hell out of there as fast as I could, but all I could do was tremble.

“U-um…” I managed to squeak out, “I’m not so sure about this anymore…” Their face changed to one of sadness.

“Well, I’m sorry dear, the paperwork is already filled out. Besides, with your looks and stature I think it’s clear that this is what you’re meant to do.” They leaned in and kissed me on the cheek while squeezing my shoulders reassuringly, and I felt the knot in my stomach loosen a bit as I managed to give a small smile in return.

“That’s the spirit, handsome. Now, if you’ll just come right over here I’ll get you situated with the casting machine.

“T-the what? I thought I would just be standing there or something while an artist, like, made the statue?” I asked in confusion.

“Oh, don’t worry dear, we have our own unique way of doing things. This allows us to create the lifelike statues that we have become renowned for. If you’ll just follow me over here I can show you!” They led me over to a large sheet of metal leaning back at a slight angle, and I noticed immediately the hand and ankle shackled that were built in to the stand.

“Why are there handcuffs?” I asked, my brain numb.

“Well, we wouldn’t want you to fall out, now would we?” Their laugh was music, and I felt compelled to obey the sound. I hesitantly, and awkwardly, stood on the bottom platform and leaned back so that I was reclining back against the board. The receptionist fastened the buckles securely, perhaps a little too securely, I thought as I felt the thick leather digging into my wrists and ankles. I glanced up to see a large round bucket positioned over my head. The next thing I noticed was the steam rising out from it and my heart began to pound again. The receptionist seemed to sense my concern.

“Don’t worry handsome, we’ve done this thousands of times and we’ve never messed up once.” They reached out to stroke my cheek, and gave me one more kiss which made the butterflies in my stomach relax. “Now, this next part might feel a little strange or uncomfortable, but you’ll just have to bear with me!” They walked behind my stand and grabbed a large canister with a hose coming out of it.

“This is what we’re going to be using to take the mold of your mouth,” She held up the end of the hose, “open up your mouth nice and wide for me dear, we need to make sure to get those pearly whites as accurately as possible! It’s best to close your eyes if you’re nervous dear.” I swallowed all of my fears and shut my eyes tightly as they placed the tube into my mouth.

Sister of Terence Crutcher, who has become another victim of the police brutality says she wants justice. She demands charges pressed against the officer, who killed her brother in cold blood. Please, welcome, Betty Shelby.

She is on paid leave now. She is on paid vacation for killing a black man for nothing. 

We demand justice for Terence Crutcher.

Read more at BlackMatters

Sleepy Thoughts #6

Friday, August 4th, 8:20 AM: I don't want to go to work You ever have a dream that's just so lovely and comfy and just feels so right, that when your alarm goes off you lay there for an extra 10 minutes trying to get some more of it back?

As a taller than average girl (5'10"), I definitely struggle with this notion A LOT. It's not that I would mind dating a shorter guy, but I just can't deal with the stigma surrounding it, especially the judgment from others. The idea that girls need to be cute and petite, neither of which I am, is a source of the majority of my physical insecurities and it just sucks royal ass.

*sources (1)(2) - view in high resolution