Zero-waste switches I've made so far :)

Hygiene and on-the-go (except for the detergent soapnuts and tea bag).

Also not pictured in on-the-go is a handkerchief and a food container. The containers I use right now are tubberware that I already owned (because tiffins are expensive!) and I use them when I go out to eat to avoid using Styrofoam take-out boxes (if I can remember to bring them). Hopefully I can get a stainless steal container soon so that I can leave it in a safe spot in my car and not have to worry about forgetting it when I go out anymore. Mostly, for on the go, I've learned that I can often just take things from my kitchen instead of buying zero-waste specific products like eating utensils or coffee cups (as you can see, mine is just a 12oz jar with a sleeve I made).

As for hygiene, there are a few products I have yet to switch to zero waste alternatives. Either because I still have plenty left and I'm not going to throw it away just because, or because it's the best product that has worked for me. For example, I have a skin condition, so I use a special facial wash and prescribed medication for my face. These come in a plastic container, but I'm not about to switch those out for alternatives that can aggravate my condition, especially as mine are prescribed! So I don't switch out products if I have them for a specific sensitive condition/recommended by a doctor, no matter what. This includes changes due to allergies (of which I have many), and vaginal health products.

Making the kitchen zero waste has been a bit of a struggle, as I live with my mom and she has her own way of handling that part of the house. She's coming around though! In the meantime I do my best to avoid packaging by either shopping from no-packaging options or making things myself. I'm working on a lot of ideas there which I'll post about soon!

The point of this is to say: changing to a zero-waste lifestyle is a gradual process that we are all continuously working on, don't feel bad if you still have things that are not ecofriendly. Don't throw away items that still have plenty of use just to switch to zero-waste ones-- that's wasteful! And don't be too quick to buy the expensive zero-waste version of items before checking what you can use around your house and what you can make yourself.

I started writing again. I’m writing a story about a 17 year old girl who gets diagnosed with juvenile fibromyalgia. I suppose it’ll be cathartic. I mean, at least I can take comfort in the fact that I had about 27 good years before I started having symptoms. Not everyone has it this good.

I can’t wait to read it, are you going to release it chapter by chapter or as a complete book?

I am learning to accept that not all “good days” involve feeling happy and achieving everything on the to do list. Sometimes a good day is getting out of bed when it was the last thing in the world that I wanted to do.

Having both physical and mental heath problems can be so annoying especially when doctors play them off against each other.

 If I try to get help for a physical health issue and the doctor finds out I have mental health issues they will tell me my mental health is to blame and that I need to go away and get treatment for those issues if I want my physical health to improve and vice versa. 

 Maybe if they actually worked together to treat both the physical and mental health problems at the same time things may actually improve for their patients but nah it’s easier to just shift the responsibility onto someone else and let the patient suffer in the mean time.

TWO THINGS THAT ARE NOT YOUR FAULT:

1. YOUR DEPRESSION!!!

2. THE RESULTING LACK OF MOTIVATION!!!

(take care of yourself, and ask for help if you need it. this isn’t your fault and you don’t deserve to feel ashamed of it)

Only a couple of weeks until freedom 🙌🏼📚

Being a good person is a choice. Don’t let people fool you into believing that truly good people never have bad thoughts, are never tempted by the easier path, by the low road, never mess up or act out selfishly. Never believe a person can be good without making a conscious effort.

Every single time you do something good, you’ve made a decision to make the world a little brighter.

Goodness is not an inherent trait, it is a choice. Keep making it! I see you, I’m proud of you, and I’m rooting for you!

Caught them spooning

You can both criticise the NHS for failing you and love and appreciate the NHS, acknowledging the fact that we are very lucky to have free healthcare. Those two things aren’t mutually exclusive.

You can both criticise the NHS for failing you and love and appreciate the NHS, acknowledging the fact that we are very lucky to have free healthcare. Those two things aren’t mutually exclusive.