On Finding A Quote That Sears

Last week, while attempting to relax and lull into sleep, I perused Pinterest and ran into this quote. It was already late-ish, like 11:00 pm here, and I knew... you're not supposed to be on your phone... but I was and here we are. Taking a screenshot, I posted it onto the other Animal-Themed-Social-Media place with a sentiment I'd been feeling for a while, then read my book for a bit, and fell asleep. 

Waking up the next morning, my phone was jammed with notifications. 

Someone even replied with a link to the book from which this quote originated (and it seems it was translated from possibly German?) 

After fully waking up and reading the notifications and replies; I felt way less alone. It's not that I don't have people to commiserate with over the current horrors taking place here, it's that there are too many who'd rather not discuss the things that are important to me, personally: health care, politics, immigration rights. Human rights. They'd rather just pretend it's not happening and continue on with their daily lives, post their veneer lifestyles on Facebook and Instagram. I don't have the patience for that right now. It takes too much energy to make these people feel comfortable. It's among the many reasons I left the main social media platforms. 

It's not my responsibility to make others feel comfortable and happy with their own ignorance. 

I don't type (say) this harshly.

I am a photographer that captures what unfolds in my community and in my life. It's rarely "pretty."

I am a zine maker that cuts and glues words and photos together, then makes photo copies and drops them all around town in random places.

I love true crime shows and books. 

I can never find anything in my handbag. 

I'm a bit of an insomniac. 

I deal with severe depression and anxiety. And I need people in my life to be able to hear me say this out loud. 

I love deeply. 

This is just me. 

My social circle is smaller nowadays, intentionally, and by doing this I have way more energy and room to think clearly. To create.

This quote has completely redefined what loneliness means to me and I'll be forever grateful that at 11pm on a random weeknight I was on my phone and read Carl Jung's words via a social media platform best known for casserole recipes. 

Thank you to all the people that replied with their own experiences of feeling "lonely".  

Keep creating.

xo