#THEY ARE HEALING

[just-a-little-kreature]

Okay i know we’ve all noticed the many, many parallels between Jean and Neil but do u ever think about how Jean and Andrew, after being having their boundaries violently crossed so many times, both found someone who will respect their boundaries at any cost?? do u???

[faithfulcat111]

Stonathan Sunday

"If this is gonna work, you're going to have to trust me."

Jonathan glared down at his boyfriend. He could tell that Steve was trying not to smile, hand still outstretched towards him. "This is your fault, you know," Jonathan muttered.

"I just want some Christmas spirit, is that really so bad, Byers?" Steve lost his fight then, the grin spreading across his face.

"No last names in this house," Jonathan reminded him, finally waving for Steve to crouch down. He supposed he couldn't completely blame Steve. Their coffee table was just too short and they had very quickly discovered a few months back that the chairs in the kitchen could not be stood on. But Jonathan was maintaining that it was completely Steve's fault for getting a tree this tall.

He wasn't expecting for Steve to get completely caught up in the Christmas spirit the way he did. He didn't know why, but Jonathan supposed it came from just never really being around Steve for the holidays. But with the apocalypse averted and the two of them finally living together, once the November anniversaries had passed, Steve dove head-first into the holidays. Playing Christmas records, digging out Christmas classics that Jonathan had carefully recorded back in '84 for El, making hot chocolate for them in the evenings after they got out of their respective jobs or classes.

And that cumulated in him dragging Jonathan out to pick out a tree that morning. One that was quite a bit taller than both of them. One that Jonathan, now very carefully perched on Steve's shoulders, was going to have to somehow trim just enough to get the star on top and hope it didn't scratch the ceiling.

It was worth it though. Jonathan had a growing appreciation for the holidays himself. First with Will coming back, then spending the last two with getting to teach El about different holiday traditions. They missed last year with everything. And that led to everyone appreciating it that much more this time around. And, once he was finally back on his own two feet, he allowed himself to lean into Steve's side, his arm carefully wrapped around him, as the white lights and tinsel twinkled in front of them. "We need ornaments, you know," he pointed out.

"Shhh, just appreciate it, Byers."

[bloodfreakpropaganda]

brain empty. only sastiel's little cabin by the beach thoughts.

[vanilla-poisons]

IM SO PROUD LOOK PROGRESS HE HE HE

[alexeithegoat]

i’m so happy i have compression socks now 💜

[renboob]

i will not be mean to llyr i will not be mean to llyr i will not be mean to llyr i will not be mean to llyr i will not be mean to llyr i will not be mean to llyr i will not be mean to llyr i will not be mean to llyr i will not be mean to llyr i will not be mean to llyr i will not be mean to llyr i will not be mean to llyr i will not be mean to llyr i will not be mean to llyr i will not-

[dozen-reasons-in-this-gun]

girl help I am crying because the bands I listened to when I was a depressed teen are coming out with new music and they are so hopeful and love what they do and are happy and have families and it can get better

[sunsbleeding]

[jesusinstilettos]

I’m about to save you thousands of dollars in therapy by teaching you what I learned paying thousands of dollars for therapy:

It may sound woo woo but it’s an important skill capitalism and hyper individualism have robbed us of as human beings.

Learn to process your emotions. It will improve your mental health and quality of life. Emotions serve a biological purpose, they aren’t just things that happen for no reason.

1. Pause and notice you’re having a big feeling or reaching for a distraction to maybe avoid a feeling. Notice what triggered the feeling or need for a distraction without judgement. Just note that it’s there. Don’t label it as good or bad.

2. Find it in your body. Where do you feel it? Your chest? Your head? Your stomach? Does it feel like a weight everywhere? Does it feel like you’re vibrating? Does it feel like you’re numb all over?

3. Name the feeling. Look up an emotion chart if you need to. Find the feeling that resonates the most with what you’re feeling. Is it disappointment? Heartbreak? Anxiety? Anger? Humiliation?

4. Validate the feeling. Sometimes feelings misfire or are disproportionately big, but they’re still valid. You don’t have to justify what you’re feeling, it’s just valid. Tell yourself “yeah it makes sense that you feel that right now.” Or something as simple as “I hear you.” For example: If I get really big feelings of humiliation when I lose at a game of chess, the feeling may not be necessary, but it is valid and makes sense if I grew up with parents who berated me every time I did something wrong. So I could say “Yeah I understand why we are feeling that way given how we were treated growing up. That’s valid.”

5. Do something with your body that’s not a mental distraction from the feeling. Something where you can still think. Go on a walk. Do something with your hands like art or crochet or baking. Journal. Clean a room. Figure out what works best for you.

6. Repeat, it takes practice but is a skill you can learn :)

[recomvery]

One of the most dangerous things in the world is not being able to say no to people because you don't want to upset them or dissapoint them. This will completely ruin your life in every way possible, at work, in your private life, your sex life and your friendships. It's a way of removing your own consent in your own decisions and go against your wishes, it is always a crime against yourself. Let yourself have a say. Upsetting people is better than traumatizing yourself.

[thelove-rs]

STOP THINKING THERE IS A DEADLINE. THERE IS NO DEADLINE. TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND TAKE YOUR TIME.

[flowerytale]

Celeste Ng, Little Fires Everywhere

[doccywhomst]

[slfcare]

I used to hate it when people said the trick was to just do it until ‘do it scared’ started going around, because that’s truly it. Life didn’t start changing until I applied for jobs with one hand in front of my eyes and a trembling hand navigating my computer mouse. Or until I said everything on my mind (in moderation) with my fists clenched and my legs weak. Or until I refused to accept that I’d ‘just’ be shy forever while also kind of being nauseous at the idea of trying to be the opposite. Two things can coexist and that’s exactly the point of believing that you can do anything.

[recoverr]

i don't know who needs to hear this, but guilt, self-hatred and shame are not sustainable sources of growth and healing. you can't hate yourself into feeling better, or being better. you can't repeatedly punish yourself for your flawed humanity and expect wholesome results.

[hansoeii]

look at you, you're gorgeous!