#hope any of this helps…..jeez and this was me trying to SIMPLIFY things…

[nymphacae]

I really hope this doesn’t come off as a weird question, but do you have any advice for socializing in online spaces? You seem to be really good at interacting with people. /gen

This isn’t a weird question at all! It's actually an honor that you consider me qualified to answer this question, bc a year ago I Definitely wouldn’t have considered myself someone who’s sociable! (still not, tbh, social media is terrifying in a different way than reality is, lol)

I’m coming at this as someone who gained a following through….recognition, i guess? I hopped on really late into the game, so by the time i was on social media, the community kinda already knew who i was. And I’m glad for that opportunity! It’s a unique situation, sure, but i understand the feeling of being bogged down by ‘oh god am i doing this right’ ajskajsk

So yea, being sociable online is HARD, but I’ll ATTEMPT to narrow down how I approach it:

Be respectful! The golden rule!! You don’t know what the other is going through, what they’re going to say, the duration of the conversation, who they even really are, etc. but that doesn’t mean you can’t be considerate. Do no harm, take no shit

Be open-minded – you’re gonna meet folks from all different walks of life, and there’s absolutely no shame in stepping back and just listening! You learn a lot this way and it keeps conversations innovative and new ! share your perspective and realize your story/worldview/opinions are not End All, Be All. it’s way more rewarding than it might sound, or maybe i’m selling it well, who knows!

Be sincere! Reach out to those in a genuine effort to be friendly, and try to remember some tidbits about the people you’re with! Personalized messages are a great way to let folks know you care about them, just think about how YOU’D wanna receive a message from somebody — we’re all just people behind a screen, shrug

And also, maybe I’m just old and grew up on scary Stranger Danger PSAs, but I think another thing that’s lost is: Know When To Step Away!!! It’s SO easy to get sucked into the wormhole of social media. One thing to remember is: if you’re online, you have an online persona, and if you have followers or FANS of that online persona, you can form parasocial relationships. IE: I have a responsibility to ensure I’m not subjecting anyone to anything they didn’t sign up for; as someone who tends to discuss darker, more mature topics I try and keep a fair distance away from my younger viewers and let them know WHY. I talk with/follow some teens, sure, but they’re not my immediate friend group, i’m probably not in their notifs very often; that’s just how I’M comfortable online

Establish boundaries!!! Be upfront! YOU curate your own space online – and in turn, Please remember you’re not responsible for the image people make of you in their head, don’t let blocking/unfollowing or anything like that destroy you, sometimes you just won’t Vibe with someone; you don’t Vibe with everyone either, yknow? you can only ever be yourself, and that’s a blessing or a curse, whatever way you wanna consider it

Again, these are just tools that help me, and I’m still learning! Just test out the waters; it’s that first step in making an account and getting to talking that’s the scariest, but once you find your Group a lot of things are gonna come naturally, i PROMISE you. And you’re already Taking a big step in reaching out to ask this! I’d get so nervous submitting questions on anon back in the day….honestly, we’re ALL just freaking out on the other side of the screen, if that’s any consolation, haha

[sanguinesprout]

A new year, a new-ish start and the same old me? but better! Yeah! (Some updates and bit and bobs)

This year ended and began with me and my family being totally ill but I would say that other than that, it’s been pretty okay-ish :D I wonder what I’ll be able to accomplish this year, I hope it is a lot or at least something that means a lot! My birthday came and went already, I still don’t feel like an adult yet though, still got lots to do before I get that feeling... or maybe it’s just ‘cause I’ll just stay young forever, young at heart, that kind of thing hoho~ feels bad man... I’m no good at adulting or responsibilities... ;;

I had my face to face assessment for the benefits thing the other other day... my sister kindly came with me even though she was still feeling ill, much love <33 I overthunk... overthought it again, I mean I got this letter and leaflet explaining the process all formal and stuff but when I actually got there and did my assessment it just felt like... really casual and whatever and the person I had typed pretty slowly and was pretty engrish-y, not to be mean but I feel like I could do their job...but maybe even better..! Shocking words, but it’s true, I do think I could do it, I could get a job!! What a realisation... I’ve had this feeling before quite a bunch of times... but I never really believed in myself... I...I can do it!!

Anyways, I digress..! I was expecting them to ask me about everything like super extra crispy grill mode and even get me to physically do some movements, but they just kind went over the stuff I already wrote in my application maybe stopping to ask some minute details in between that weren’t actually as hard to answer as I thought they might... it went okay!! It was relatively quick and painless..! I survived! Now all I have to do is wait for the higher up assessor people to respond and either grant me support or tell me I’m not applicable..! I really feel it may be the latter... negativity aside... idk maybe I’m overthinking it again but I’ve read all sorts where people have things really bad and they didn’t get approved, makes me feel like I’d have no chance... but who knows... and anyways even if the outcome is nothing, at least I tried and now I know things and that’s what’s important. If the outcome is no good I can try something else, take a different route, it’ll work out some way or another! ^^

Recently I had quite a nice time with my family, playing some small games and watching bits of movies, going shopping. It was only a few times, rather brief and it would’ve been nice if we could have done this on other occasions too (besides being super ill together), but I’m happy about it regardless! I hope my family gets better soon, it tough seeing them all ouchy and exhausted, but I kind of like that they inadvertently gave themselves a break from work, seeing them being able to relax and sleep more, it’s something I really think they needed but wouldn’t allow themselves normally, but they really deserve it! Financially things are a shambles, especially in my case but I’ll figure it out! Then the pieces will fall into place, my parents wouldn’t have to work so hard etc etc... hoo boy...

I feel kind of bad... while stressing about the benefits thing all this while, I kind of forgot about my need to go out and get some work experience... volunteering and all that stuff... I avoided it (unconsciously or semi-consciously)... ahhh! .__. It’s a new year and I’ve had time to laze around and think things through... or maybe not but uh... I have no real excuses! Need to get my skates on and get zooming out there... any time now... aw jeez why does it have to seem so scary!!? >< aaaack!

I haven’t posted or done any further art-ing either... I kept giving myself mini deadlines and not meeting any of them... I keep hesitating and losing faith in myself and idk... it’s tiring... but my mind never gets tired of making a mess of things. I keep worrying about the small things, like the name thing and trying to categorise things... like seriously... again... seriously!! I’m so frustrating and frustrated! I’ll never ever get anything done at this rate!! @A@ I just need to get things sorted once and for all stick to it!! Imma hurry and do that right right nao!! D:< Or just go a little at a time, simplify things and sort them later? Oh man I think I already tried that approach, it only helped a little while and then I got all confuzzled again, I guess that won’t do... hmmm... I’m pooped all ready T^T

I think lately I was brave quite a good hand full of times in the case of interacting, at many times I didn’t even give myself time to think and just went for it, talked to staff and relatives, gave it my all even though I was having a mini panic inside with all of them... things went fine, it was okay... I was okay... c’: Things really do start to become second nature the more you do them and the worries really do begin to fade into the background when you’ve set your focus on the right things, it’s great!

I actually almost fainted in public the other day, whether it was because of one of my interactions getting me worked up or some of my physical illnesses acting up or a mix of both, it was real scary, but my sis was with me and literally supporting me and I fought through it and although I’m shaken about it I can’t let it scare me from going to places and trying again! I’m strong hoo hah! I can get through anything! Imma believe in myself even more this year, fight fight fight on me!

Again, I’m really grateful again for my sister, my family and my doctor, who all look after me and support me, I want to be able to return some of their kindness, but I feel I don’t have much to offer, maybe reciprocate their efforts by trying my best to support them back and by maybe making them proud? That seems like something I could accomplish! I hope it really happens! I gotta try a lot more!

This post is kind of vague... short... not really exciting and not how I planned it to be, but it’s okay! I did it at least! It’s okay if things don’t go as planned! I need to apply this feeling to everything and just yolo it and go ahead instead of hesitating and trying to plan and control things unnecessarily! My new years resolution is to be more healthy and happy and productive! To not let my enemy, overthinking, get the upper hand anymore! To what degree this’ll happen, who knows! But Imma try for reals this time! ^^

Go go me! I can do it! I believe in you!

It’s time to step out of the rain and into the sunshine! Let’s go!!

Have a super evening! :3