Editions of Me

"If someone talked to you, the way you do to you, I'd put their teeth through. Love yourself." - IDLES As a teacher, I've found that it's very easy to be compassionate about other people's differences, but it's difficult to extend that grace to myself. And this is not because I'm being disingenuous about other people, but because I have a tendency to gaslight myself (probably because I've been gaslit somehow by someone else). Something that might be a reason  for someone else is an excuse  for me, because it's easier for me to believe that I'm just failing at life, rather than someone who might also need compassion or even accommodations. Case in point: I have long believed that I might have inattentive ADHD. I know, I know, the internet is not a substitute for an official diagnosis, but the fact that I so strongly identify with everything I have read about the condition, and that I remember exhibiting many of these symptoms from a young ag...

I've been taking Sew Liberated's series of Learn to Sew courses , and I've been busy!!  Sewing makes me feel... complete. Like, even though so far I can only make four things (a top, bottoms, a skirt, and a dress), I now possess the skills to make an entire outfit. (I mean, YES, I could've knit myself pants or a skirt or a dress, but I'm not that much a fan of knit bottoms.) I love that sewing is a lot faster than knitting, so it really is great for my instant-gratification needs--things go from "materials" to "ready to wear" SO quickly! And I'm learning a lot about garment construction, fabric, and how to make alterations for myself, both before and after sewing. Moreover, as I said in a previous post, sewing and knitting give me a sense of peace. When I'm working on projects, I'm not scrolling on social media. I might listen to podcasts or audiobooks, but I'm not otherwise putting myself in a position to feel aggravated, stresse...

Recently on an episode of The Maintenance Phase , one of my favorite podcasts, hosts Aubrey Gordon and Michael Hobbes had queried their listeners about fad diets they had tried, and not at all to my surprise, I recognized every single one. And it got me thinking about all of my different attempts at weight loss as well, some of which I've even chronicled on this blog: Slim Fast (and other meal replacement diets, including the Special K Diet) Weight Watchers Jenny Craig Nutrisystem Whole30/the Paleo Diet Intermittent Fasting the Change One diet (I could be remembering the name wrong) the Abs Diet (I could also be remembering the name wrong, but I think it had a bright orange cover) a number of different diet pills/diet pill regimens plus any number of nameless meal plans recommended in various magazines and fitness athletes I'm sure there are some I've forgotten. I also tried being vegetarian for a month, just for health reasons, but that didn't work.  And where did they...