#i AM setting myself up for success in terms of my emotional and mental wellbeing

[publicuniversalenemy]

aouhhtn Fuck. when. when your wage suddenly drops SIGNIFICANTLY because you decided to ‘pursue your passion’ 🫠

[ialwaysknewyouwerepunk]

fine line - a close reading

gonna cry bc i’m at the end, gonna cry bc it’s fine line.

(x x x)

want to give the same disclaimer as with lights up: this song is so layered, so multi-faceted, that i could never hope to give an exhaustive analysis. due to its vagueness and openness for interpretation, i assume that everyone, just like me, has their own ideas about it and has attached importance to it in ways that no one else’s words can or should alter. this song means the world to me for reasons that aren’t necessarily in this post, and that’s how it is with art that touches us deeply. i’ve tried my best to pull it apart, lay it bare, spread it open, if you will, so it’s almost as free as it can be for you all to form your own opinion on it. in the synthesis i will make my own conclusions, but feel free to ignore that if yours are totally different. i’m just one set of brain and heart taking in fine line and projecting whatever i think is right onto it. alright, let’s go

fine line, track 12

sung in falsetto

live version at the form: first verse not sung in falsetto - after first chorus goes into falsetto - like “thinking of her” has summoned her

live version at the form: first verse not sung in falsetto - after first chorus goes into falsetto - like “thinking of her” has summoned her

Put a price on emotion

pouring emotions into the art you create: how much is genuine / how much do you show - line between being authentic to your audience and giving away too much, wanting to keep things to yourself and not feeling truthful with what you’ve written

exploits of the industry: lay your soul bare - or the exact opposite, some pretend emotion - to score that hit

I'm looking for something to buy

cynical. emotions aren’t genuine, right? where can i go buy some?

～ lights up themes. fake life, industry, being a sell-out

You've got my devotion

But man, I can hate you sometimes

“you” = career, music, Harry Styles™. devoted to the craft, to the job, all the ups and downs of it, despite the hardships it brings 

“man” is deliberate: can be seen as an offhand interjection, like “man, that’s rough”, but nothing is casually placed in this song. “man” is: The Man, the heads in the industry, the people pulling the strings. The man in Harry, the man he’s been in the media all these years, the part he’s played/had to play, the man that’s in him

⟶ “hate you”: hate for industry shit, self-hate created by having to play pretend (～ only angel analysis, the persona of the Bukowski womaniser)

“sometimes” - it’s not fucked up all the time

“you” could also be a lover, but the sudden “hate” there then would be for that person, which is absent in any other song about them, doesn’t make any sense

I don't want to fight you

And I don't want to sleep in the dirt

like there’s a choice to me made, but he doesn’t want to make it: either I fight this “you” or I sleep in the dirt

“you” as the industry: if he doesn’t fight them, he might end up being a beggar, lose all his self-worth bc he gave in to everything they asked/told him to do

“you” as himself: fight your instincts, part of who you are/the persona. if he doesn’t fight to figure himself out, though, he fears he’ll also lose

“sleep in the dirt” as a sense of rejection, as well

We'll get the drinks in

So I'll get to thinking of her

drinks to cope - falling, only angel, from the dining table - or to be braver and confront emotions better - tbsl

who is “we”? who is “her”?

narrative of “you” as “lover” further disproven: if “I” and the lover get together over drinks and “I” starts thinking of “her”?

⟷ “her” could be the lover, but then who is “you”? the industry? some other person, besides that lover, harry is devoted to? multiple lovers, all of a sudden? no.

⟶ “I” and “you” are all harry, that get to thinking of “her” because she is in daydreams with him. the narrative that harry is fighting a part of him, the persona he has (had) to play bc of industry limits, makes most sense. that persona is within him now, and part of his work, but all of him, “we”, is begging to come into the light - of which she is a huge part

We'll be a fine line

balancing act. let everything coexist but pay attention that those lines don’t get crossed the wrong way. what we are, what i am, is a fine line between what makes us go under and what lets us thrive

we will be: determination to fulfil this prophecy, statement of fact “we always will be”

“we’ll be a fine line”: other way of interpreting it is that on both sides of that line is what entails “we”, all that is harry. what merges on that fine line is where it’s just right, when harry is fully himself in every way

“fine line” can also be an echo of criticism, bigotry, in the style of: it’s a fine line between being simply flamboyant and queer, between dressing like that and people thinking you’re a transvestite or summat (cause we wouldn’t want that, now, would we) - “we’ll be a fine line” could be owning all of it. putting himself in the middle of all those messy lines, as someone queer without a category

Test of my patience

patience with himself - kindness to self - took a long time to figure shit out and it was a challenge

waiting for change: industry and its allowances/openness

There's things that we'll never know

my favorite line

“we” = harry / harry and company / us in general, all of us listening 

～ tpwk “i don’t need all the answers”: deep sense of acceptance

peace to be found in accepting this!!

You sunshine, you temptress

“sunshine” - as in all the love songs (blue skies, sunflowers, summer days…): lover - possible that there are multiple “you”s in this song?

sunshine could ofc also be directed at the temptress, still

female “temptress” - “i’ll get to thinking of her” - she - it’s tempting for harry to think of her all the time, to lose himself in the “her” in him

other interpretation for “temptress”: woman he knows with negative influence in his life - resemblance to woman “you flower, you feast”, so echo of Bukowski ～ only angel, kiwi (my sunshine, my love, who is involved with this temptress…)

My hand’s at risk, I fold

⟷ tpwk “dropping into the deep end”

not showing his cards just yet / forfeits

anxious to show all of him, to take the chance, with all the risks and consequences involved

Crisp trepidation

I’ll try to shake this soon

nervousness, anxiety - about (not) taking (enough) chances, (not) laying himself bare (release of the album that reveals much more than before)

“crisp” fresh, this feeling is unfamiliar - change is coming “soon”

sense of agency: I can get rid of this feeling by my own volition and make these changes - hesitant, insecure: “try”

wants to be braver. he’s not going back, but still needs to calmly coax himself further and further into the light, out into the open (“we’ll be alright”)

Spreading you open

Is the only way of knowing you

(can anyone else hear “spread thin” like a whisper under “spreading”? or am i imagining things.)

“you” is back - the only way of knowing “you” is to spread them open - the physical

to spread someone open - very literal, don’t need to paint the picture, or to lay bare, to lay it all out 

⟶ “you” as himself - the only way of knowing who i am is by doing this: writing this album, performing these songs, letting others listen in and form their own interpretations, let this world grow where i’m laid bare and OPEN and exist as this person who has issues, who is angry, who doesn’t know who he is a lot of the time, but is still so happy to be here - let it spread and let it all circle back to me so i can grow deeper into myself

We'll be a fine line

We'll be alright

“we” = h & self, h & lover, h & fans

collectiveness from tpwk

(notes on a piano sounding like drops, like he’s emerged from the water and dripping dry)

SYNTHESIS

Everything about this song is plural. Personal pronouns are all over the place. I, you, her, we. The sound is incredibly layered, with Harry’s own voice echoing through its verses like he’s singing to himself in an empty cave. Meanings can be attached to every word like it’s a wax tablet used too many times. What Harry has said in interviews for once holds pretty true to the actual meaning, in my opinion. 

“It felt like it described to me the process of making it and how the album felt in terms of the different kinds of songs on it.” (Capital FM)

This can mean a lot of things, and I think it means all of the things, of course. It means Fine Line is a summary of all of his emotions he visited on the album, of the things he’s laid bare. And it means that the actual process was also described, as one that can be frustrating and challenging, with added industry shit. 

Harry has expressed straightforward gratefulness to his label for "leaving (him) alone” while making the album and that speaks volumes. This time, he had the chance to make his art without the constant interference of a label, which meant he could weave in criticism as well. “Put a price on emotion” is first and foremost a critique on the industry. It’s the first line of the song, setting the tone for the interpretation of this song is about the risks I took while making this album. It involves criticism on an industry that creates such an atmosphere that only a certain type of music and artist breaks through or can be successful, that limits people in their personal expression. Convinces them that it’s better that way. That it’s better to hide who they love because the general public won’t accept them. That it’s better to create a song about a fake emotion than be honest. Harry loves writing songs and being on stage, but it’s taken a while for him to be fully comfortable there as a solo artist and bloom into the person that could make Fine Line. He loves his career, but it’s also limited his freedom in ways beyond our comprehension, and it’s exploited him to the point where he didn’t know who he was, in ways that have clearly taken a toll on his mental wellbeing. To a point where he finishes this album reassuring himself, most of all, that everything will be alright.

That process of making Fine Line obviously includes Harry confronting emotions he hadn’t before. He has stated that he experienced the highest highs and the lowest lows while making it. There are things he hates, he was fighting but doesn’t want to (anymore), uncertainties he was trying to figure out but had to accept he couldn’t, risks he still doesn’t know he can take without shaking. At the centre of it all is this sense of “knowing you.” The different personal pronouns in the song paint a fractured picture, which is ultimately deliberate. That the “you” Harry is devoted to and can hate sometimes doesn’t line up with “her,” that the end focus does seem to be this “you” that is mentioned in the same breath as “man” and “temptress,” forming the “we” together with “I”. 

After having songs like Lights Up, She, Falling and even TPWK, one of the central themes on the album has undoubtedly been self-discovery, in all its pain and glory. There are no female pronouns on the album besides, obviously, in She, and then here, in Fine Line. She is about a man living with a woman “just in his head”, who “sleeps in his bed while he plays pretend.” It is very clearly a trans narrative, the story of someone struggling to put into words what they’re experiencing in terms of gender. To a point that they fantasise about running away. Fine Line brings the ideas of knowing what it all means, which Lights Up kicks off (“do you know who you are?”), Falling deepens (“what am I now?”) and Treat People With Kindness turns on its head (“I don’t need all the answers”), together. Harry is still doubtful, and the questions asked earlier in the album haven’t disappeared, but he has accepted that “some things we’ll never know.” His aim, however, is still “knowing you.” 

To have Fine Line, as the summary of these emotions of self-growth and self-discovery, echo that one female pronoun, speaks volumes. It is a direct reference to She, to that story about gender. “Her” in this song refers to “she (who) lives in daydreams with (him).” The one who still only fully comes out when they’ve had a drink. The one he’s still working to include in who he is, as he tries to figure out who he is, all of it. The song where he sings in falsetto, just like on Fine Line. Of which he sang the first verse an octave lower live at the forum, switching between those voices, those perspectives. That’s also why “you” in this song is also Harry to me. We get this fractured sense of self, this “I” and “you” conversing over a drink, this “you” Harry is devoted to and wants to figure out. “You” and “I” form “we” and all of them are Harry. The lines are blurry on purpose, there is no way to figure out where “you” ends and “I” begins. 

“You sunshine, you temptress” is the most enigmatic line in that respect, and to me blurs those lines even more between the pronouns. “You” is suddenly also identified by a female noun. And no this isn’t about some kind of love triangle. “Sunshine” aligns with all the odes to his lover in the rest of the album. So what does that mean? That there are multiple “you”s in this song, meaning that Harry is addressing both his lover and a temptress? So “her” he’ll get to thinking of, the only other female pronoun used in the song, is identified as a temptress, but tempting to do what? To take risks? And no I won’t forget the “man, I can hate you sometimes,” where "man” is not a casual interjection but an identifier of “you.” 

Or is it an echo of “the light” from Golden’s “bring me back to the light” and Light’s Up’s “step into the light”? So that the “sunshine” symbolises being in the clear, being out of the darkness running through his heart, the darkness caused by not knowing who you are. “You sunshine,” you beacon of light. “You temptress,” risk-taker and source of anxiety. You, one I need to spread open to figure out, to know about, source of happiness and despair, one I’m devoted to but also hate. You, man, you, temptress. You there, in the mirror looking back at me. 

All of you, and myself included, we’ll be a fine line. And we’ll be alright.

This song is about all of that. The self in art, the self on its own, the other, the journey, the chances, the fears, the passion. Hope. Reassurance. Confidence. And, most importantly, that everything will be alright in the end.

x

read all my lyric analyses here

[francesmelchor-blog]

I want to create a world where mental health and self-care is a priority. Where boys can safely be emotional and girls can be tough without judgement. I want to teach students to take care of themselves and reach for their dreams when their cultural beliefs say otherwise. It’s hard making a change in a world where we lack empathy and are not willing to change perspective. In a world where women are considered inferior to men, where cultural differences can result in arguments, I want to create change by teaching children to be more empathetic and understanding of everyone regardless of their identity. The best way for me to create this type of world, or even get closer to creating it would be by impacting those who will be our future: our children. As a school counselor, I would ensure children understand that they need to take care of their mental health and I would teach them to be more empathetic to change our world completely.

Given that there are several stigmas associated with the terms “mental health” and “self-care” that can have a negative impact on everyone, school counselors are crucial in teaching students and families to change this perception and be more accepting of new concepts. I will teach young students and their families that taking care of one’s mental health doesn’t mean you have to have anxiety or depression to reach out for help -- it could be something less severe but still important such as stress or lack of sleep. On the other hand, I would also encourage families and young students to be more accepting and understanding of mental health illnesses that are more severe such as depression and anxiety.

Early identification of any mental health issues and proper care can make a huge difference on the lives of those dealing with those issues. Simply acknowledging mental health issues during a person’s childhood can prevent bigger problems from occurring once they become adults. In other words, if we focus on taking care of ourselves at a younger age, we can have a more peaceful world where violence is decreased, stereotypes are vanishing, and empathy is increasing.

Stereotypes and stigma. Each of us is raised in a very different environment surrounded by people with a variety of views and beliefs. The environment in which a child grows up in will always have an impact on the person they grow up to be and will shape their views and beliefs. Many times, children will grow up to adopt the views of their parents, family members, and friends, including ingrained cultural beliefs that may cause harm or prevent children from succeeding in life, their careers, and/or school.

There are stereotypes that we grow up with and can’t simply shake off unless we are taught to do so. One of the more popular stereotypes is that of genders: the expression “boys will be boys” which is often used to normalize the aggressiveness of boys and essentially claims that certain actions are exclusively linked to masculinity and only apply to boys. This expression also puts a restriction on how much emotion a “boy” can show. Thus, resulting in boys getting penalized when they are “too emotional”. On the other hand, girls are limited to being “emotional, kind, and caring” so they are expected to care for others and be emotional, resulting in getting scolded when they don’t act in that manner. In other cases, cultural beliefs prevent children of any gender from showing emotions.

I grew up having to put up a strong front even when things at home became really rough. When my older brother was physically and emotionally abusing my siblings, mom, and me, I had to bottle it all up and act normal in school. When my mom was hospitalized and my siblings and I had nobody to take care of us, I had to continue going to school and acting like everything was fine. I rarely cried, asked for help, or even reflected on what was happening at home. All of this, because I grew up in a Mexican household where crying and showing emotions were seen as weaknesses regardless of gender. Yet, it was expected of me to be hopeless and emotional at the time because of the stereotypes associated with being a girl.

Had I learned that being emotional and receiving professional help from a therapist was okay regardless of my family’s cultural beliefs, I would have taken better care of my mental health and overall wellbeing. This would have allowed me to flourish and thrive earlier in my life. This would have allowed me to be more self aware and confident with who I am. Today, I have defied all sorts of cultural expectations by seeking out professional help from a therapist, by showing emotions when I need to express myself whether it be as a result of something positive or negative. I have blossomed. I often reflect on what helped me become more open about my emotions and more willing to seek help and I owe it all to mentors from college. Having so much support during my toughest hardships shaped me to become a better version of me.

Mentors are a huge reason for my succeeding and graduating from UCLA. When it felt like my biggest inspiration – my mom – was not there for me, I turned to mentors at UCLA and a college access non-profit for support, motivation, and reassurance. During my biggest adversities, they pushed me to seek professional support from the Counseling and Psychological Services at UCLA. When I was not mentally well to make decisions that would benefit me, my mentors stepped in to help me make the correct choices. I was emotionally challenged in ways I never imagined – I was forced to learn to advocate for myself and my emotional well-being, something I had never done before. Trepidatiously, I learned not to be embarrassed for seeking mental health services, sharing personal problems, and letting out years worth of repressed emotions. I felt lucky to have mentors who showed me the importance of mental health regardless of ingrained cultural beliefs.

Mentors have been such a pivotal part of my life and educational and professional accomplishments. Attending institutions that were not meant for a first-generation low-income Latina like myself comes with a lot of difficulties and mental health issues. I struggled academically due to coming from an underserved high school and being unprepared. Coming from schools where almost 100% of students were people of color, I struggled socially because of the culture shock that I experienced. All of this added to family problems at home including homelessness, only made my undergraduate experience more challenging. Yet, having mentors that provided me with much needed support helped me overcome each and every single one of those hardships. Having a mentor that will support me through another major transition will be a crucial part in ensuring my success at Harvard this coming Fall. I will be moving away from my family for the first time ever, and to top it off, I will be on the opposite side of the country. My support system will be far and out and I will be facing many new challenges stepping outside of my comfort zone. Having a mentor who will constantly check in on me and ensure that I’m taking care of my mental health while also thriving in this educational setting will be one of the most beneficial experiences for me to have in the long run.

I will also greatly benefit from the Toptal Scholarship, which would bring great relief given that finances have always been a hardship growing up. One year of attendance at Harvard costs approximately $80,000 a year, for which I would have to take out more than $60,000 in loans. The Toptal Scholarship will give me the opportunity to focus more on my education by giving me a huge financial relief. I want to dedicate my 100% to my masters program to ensure that I am fully ready to support K-12 students and providing them with the necessary resources to succeed in life, their careers, and any educational setting. Having to worry about money once again would prevent me from giving Harvard my complete attention as I would be overwhelmed with the debt that I would be accumulating while simultaneously trying to work as much as possible. I would greatly appreciate having a mentor to once again provide me unconditional support and encouragement as I navigate another institution not created for me as well as receive the financial support.

[laurenthulett-blog]

9 Before-and-After Photos That Show Weight Is Just a Number

No need for the flu shot use The Hydrogen Peroxide Ear Treatment

This article originally appeared on InStyle.com. 

When you’re following a workout plan, eating healthy, and even setting aside time in your schedule for some much needed self-care, it’s easy to get hung up on numbers as a way to measure if you’re on your way to meeting your fitness goals.

[brightcove:5315457854001 default]

Especially scrolling through Instagram where all you see are before-and-after photos documenting just how many pounds were shed to get those toned stomachs and sculpted arms. But, some women have set out to prove that a healthier body doesn’t depend on what the scale reads by posting before-and-after photos of their fitness journeys that only show less than a 10 pound difference from start to finish.

The following 9 women show us that a healthy, strong body isn’t in the numbers on the scale.

"And for anyone just seeing this for the first time YESSS really 2 lbs, the scale doesn't measure fat vs muscle! Keep going girls," wrote powerlifter and mom of four Adrienne Osouna. With this side-by-side photo of the progress she made with weightlifting, she makes an important point: The number on the scale doesn't measure muscle gain and definition.

Fitness 'grammer Teagen says "screeewwwwww the scale" and we agree. Instead of obsessing over the fluctuating number on her scale, she prioritizes eating a balanced diet of healthy carbs, fat, and protein.

What good is smaller number on the scale, if you can't do a single full push-up? Instagrammer Vicki may currently weigh 3kg more than the beginning of her fitness journey, but thanks to her training she's more toned and can do 26 full push-ups.

Health coach Katie Koch makes an important point about weight: Everyone, including health coaches can get hung up about it, but at the ends of the day, it's not about the number, but how you feel. "Yes, coaches are human too! I struggle just like the rest of you. I knew I needed to revamp my nutrition and get back to my daily workouts, that is when I feel my best!...And isn't it crazy that there is only a 3 lb difference between these two pics?" she wrote in her photo's caption.

Kelsey Wells just slammed that smaller numbers equal success with a single 'gram. In the trio of photos, the fitness blogger proved that your weight doesn't measure progress. "...there is only a 5 lb difference between my starting and current weight, but my body composition has changed COMPLETELY. I have never had more muscle and less body fat than I do now. I have never been healthier than I am now. I have never been more comfortable in my own skin than I am now. And if I didn't say #screwthescale long ago, I would have gave up on my journey," she said.

Registered dietician Kaila Johnson's weight may have stayed constant in the past year, but that doesn't mean her body composition did, too. "On the left (current) I have more muscle mass with less body fat, whereas on the right (10 months ago) I'm holding more body fat and less muscle mass."

"I weighed myself this morning out of curiosity and guess what? I GAINED 1kg since I last checked during my regular check up, which means there's only 1kg difference between the two pictures: the left is the day I started #BBG and the right is today after 71 weeks of @kayla_itsinces kicking my butt and eating better. But in terms of strength, mental and emotional wellbeing, happiness and body composition, there's a massive difference between the two. This goes to show, once again, that the number on the scale is not a real measure of the progress we've made in our journeys." Preach Asphaire.

Throughout her fitness journey that she documents on Instagram, Katie Lolas has shown us that progress doesn't depend on the scale.

"Although I haven't lost significant inches, I'm still happy with my progress. I've completely transformed my body and mindset, and that's a win in my book!" We agree, Ashley!

[Read More ...]

This feed powered by Look Within

9 Before-and-After Photos That Show Weight Is Just a Number was originally posted by Health Nutrition And Strange Science News

[marisdoner]

9 Before-and-After Photos That Show Weight Is Just a Number

No need for the flu shot use The Hydrogen Peroxide Ear Treatment

This article originally appeared on InStyle.com. 

When you’re following a workout plan, eating healthy, and even setting aside time in your schedule for some much needed self-care, it’s easy to get hung up on numbers as a way to measure if you’re on your way to meeting your fitness goals.

[brightcove:5315457854001 default]

Especially scrolling through Instagram where all you see are before-and-after photos documenting just how many pounds were shed to get those toned stomachs and sculpted arms. But, some women have set out to prove that a healthier body doesn’t depend on what the scale reads by posting before-and-after photos of their fitness journeys that only show less than a 10 pound difference from start to finish.

The following 9 women show us that a healthy, strong body isn’t in the numbers on the scale.

"And for anyone just seeing this for the first time YESSS really 2 lbs, the scale doesn't measure fat vs muscle! Keep going girls," wrote powerlifter and mom of four Adrienne Osouna. With this side-by-side photo of the progress she made with weightlifting, she makes an important point: The number on the scale doesn't measure muscle gain and definition.

Fitness 'grammer Teagen says "screeewwwwww the scale" and we agree. Instead of obsessing over the fluctuating number on her scale, she prioritizes eating a balanced diet of healthy carbs, fat, and protein.

What good is smaller number on the scale, if you can't do a single full push-up? Instagrammer Vicki may currently weigh 3kg more than the beginning of her fitness journey, but thanks to her training she's more toned and can do 26 full push-ups.

Health coach Katie Koch makes an important point about weight: Everyone, including health coaches can get hung up about it, but at the ends of the day, it's not about the number, but how you feel. "Yes, coaches are human too! I struggle just like the rest of you. I knew I needed to revamp my nutrition and get back to my daily workouts, that is when I feel my best!...And isn't it crazy that there is only a 3 lb difference between these two pics?" she wrote in her photo's caption.

Kelsey Wells just slammed that smaller numbers equal success with a single 'gram. In the trio of photos, the fitness blogger proved that your weight doesn't measure progress. "...there is only a 5 lb difference between my starting and current weight, but my body composition has changed COMPLETELY. I have never had more muscle and less body fat than I do now. I have never been healthier than I am now. I have never been more comfortable in my own skin than I am now. And if I didn't say #screwthescale long ago, I would have gave up on my journey," she said.

Registered dietician Kaila Johnson's weight may have stayed constant in the past year, but that doesn't mean her body composition did, too. "On the left (current) I have more muscle mass with less body fat, whereas on the right (10 months ago) I'm holding more body fat and less muscle mass."

"I weighed myself this morning out of curiosity and guess what? I GAINED 1kg since I last checked during my regular check up, which means there's only 1kg difference between the two pictures: the left is the day I started #BBG and the right is today after 71 weeks of @kayla_itsinces kicking my butt and eating better. But in terms of strength, mental and emotional wellbeing, happiness and body composition, there's a massive difference between the two. This goes to show, once again, that the number on the scale is not a real measure of the progress we've made in our journeys." Preach Asphaire.

Throughout her fitness journey that she documents on Instagram, Katie Lolas has shown us that progress doesn't depend on the scale.

"Although I haven't lost significant inches, I'm still happy with my progress. I've completely transformed my body and mindset, and that's a win in my book!" We agree, Ashley!

[Read More ...]

This feed powered by Look Within

9 Before-and-After Photos That Show Weight Is Just a Number was originally posted by Health Nutrition And Strange Science News