#thank you therapist for this wonderful quote in the last few minutes of the session

[tetedump]

psychology fact 4

you are not the first one to have weird thoughts, you will not be the last one to have weird thoughts.

#thank you therapist for this wonderful quote in the last few minutes of the session #psychology #psychology fact #ocd #pocd #hocd #rocd #anxiety #mental health #clinical psychology #ich

[dragonlily88]

Your Love Gives Me Strength - Pacifica Northwest/Mabel Pines (Commission)

(This was my very first writing commission. It took me way longer then I would have liked... thank you so much @wombatking for commissioning me and being so patient. Story down below)

“Mabel… are you sure you want to do this?”

 “Yes, Dipper.” Mabel narrowed her brown eyes at her brother, a serious look in them that was rare to see in them. “I’ve never been more sure about anything in my entire life.”

 Rolling his eyes, Dipper picked up the bottle of bright green nail polish. “Man, what shade of green is this? Radioactive snot?”

 Laughing, she watched the slow and careful strokes of the brush on her nails. “I think it’s actually called electric lime or something like that. I see you painted your own nails for this.”

 Taking a quick glance at his own nails before returning to the task at hand, Dipper’s cheeks took on a light pink tint. “Y-Yeah… black and gold are his favorite colors so…”

 “Oh, I see. Your super smart and totally hot boyfriend convinced you to let him paint them, didn’t he?”

 “N-No!”

 “...You feel for the puppy dog eyes.”

 “I feel for the puppy dog eyes.”  Sighing, his lips curled into a small smile at the memory. “He said that my nails were a blank canvas for him to express himself on.”

 “I bet that’s not the only thing about you that he compared to a canvas.” Wiggling her eyebrows, She laughed as her brother’s face turned a shade of red that would put a tomato to shame.

 “Mabel!”

 “Speaking of your rather attractive college artist boyfriend, where is he now? Still studying in Tokyo?”

 “Rome, actually. He’s thinking about staying there until he finishes school.”

 “I’m still surprised mom and dad let you date him.” Mabel didn’t hear anything he said after that as she focused on the date on the calendar. Today she was going to be going to a Pride Parade with her brother and girlfriend. She was so excited but also…  scared. So many bad things could happen. Maybe this was a bad idea. Maybe… maybe she should just stay home.

 “Mabel? Hello! Earth to Mabel!” Waving his hand in front of her face, Dipper made a face at the far off look in his sister’s eyes. “Are you in there? Mabel!”

 “Wha! Dipper, don’t scare me like that!” If she were still able to move her legs, Mabel was almost certain that Dipper would be wearing that bottle of nail polish.

 “You’re the one staring off into space… are you okay? You haven’t done that in a while.”

 “What are you talking about? I did that just last week when we were video chatting.”

 “Yeah, but when you finally snapped out of it you yelled, and I quote, “Not the kittens! Take me instead!” then proceeded to yell for Pacifica to bring you your teddy bear.”

 “His name is Captain Rehpic and he’s my second in command.”

 “Mabel, I’m serious. Are you okay?”

  Was  she okay? If she were being honest, no. She was a complete anxiety-filled, scared mess. Not that she would admit that so easily. That’d be like admitting defeat and that was something Mabel only did begrudgingly. So, she did the only thing she could think of at times like this. Put on a brave face and pretend that everything was fine. 

 “Dipper, I’m okay.”

 He knew that smile. Knew it all too well. Mabel was fighting a battle he’d never understand. This meant that no matter how much he wanted to help, he just couldn’t be what she needed to win at this moment. He’d let it go, for now. However, this will not stop him from worrying or passing on the information. If he knew Mabel - and oh lord, did he know his sister like the back of his eyelids - she’d seek out help when she really needed it. All he could do was silently offer his help and be there, waiting.

 “Alright. I trust you. Just know that if you ever need my help or to talk you can always count on me.”

 “I know… thank you.”

 “Mabel!”

 “Oh joy. Your rich, pretty, and sassy girlfriend is here.”

 “I bet she would get along with your boyfriend. They seem to have a lot in common.”

 “Whatever. I’m gonna grab a soda while we wait for your nails to dry. You should start thinking about where you want to get lunch on the way to the parade.”

 “Righty-o boss man!” As soon as the door was closed behind him, Mabel lost her smile. She could do this. Though, what she heard on the other side of the door was not helping her feel confident. 

 “You’ll never guess what I got for your…” Pacifica trailed off when she saw Dipper standing outside of the bedroom, leaning on the closed door. He had his arms crossed and a serious face. The last time he had looked at her like that was when she and Mabel had started dating. “What did I do this time?”

 “Nothing. But, we still need to talk.”

 ~*~

 “There. All set.” Taking a step back from her girlfriend, Pacifica smiled at her work. “Purple is definitely your color. Also, you were right about the skirt. Shorts just wouldn’t go with the outfit.”

 “Does that mean I’m the new fashion queen?”

 “I thought your fans answered that question for you long ago.” As they laughed together, Pacifica pulled out her own outfit for the parade. “Do you like it? I made it myself.”

 “Uh, I love it! What a dumb question. You work that ombre, girl.” Watching her start to strip out of her current outfit, Mabel let out a low whistle. “It must be my lucky day.”

 Placing her hands on her hips, Pacifica gave her an amused smile. “This isn’t the first time I’ve done this. Not to mention, I just stripped you not even five minutes ago.”

 “Does this mean you like me?”

 “Something like that.” Giggling, Pacifica finished getting ready. “Do you know where you want to eat yet?”

 “That cute little cafe near the park that takes in stray cats?”

 “You want to go to  Catfeine? Why am I not surprised? Though… it is a rather adorable place with really good food.”

 “Yay! Caffeine, kitties, and pastries!” 

 A loud groan and dull thud that the girls could only guess was Dipper smacking his head on something came from the hall. “She doesn’t need any more caffeine and sugar, you crazy woman!”

 “Let’s get going before your brother overrules you.”

 ~*~

 “Mabel, do reasonable. You do not need all of those-”

 “Silence! I have spoken! Give me more!”

 Sighing, Dipper pinched the bridge of his nose. The last thing he wanted was to be stared at by strangers in a cat-themed cafe while his sister yelled at him about stickers. “You have a problem.”

 “YOU HAVE A PROBLEM!”

 “You’re gonna get us kicked out if you keep yelling.” Taking another look at his sister’s wheelchair that could now pass as a float, Dipper fixed Pacifica with an annoyed look. “I blame you.”

 “What? All I’m doing is making my girlfriend feel beautiful and happy.”

 “You’re feeding her sticker and glitter addiction.”

 “Which makes her happy. Honestly, it’s not the worst thing she could be addicted to.” Tying the last sparkling ribbon to the chair, Pacifica took her seat at their table. “What do you think?”

 “I think that I have the best girlfriend ever. Dipper would never cover me in glitter.”

 “It gets everywhere! Last time I helped you with doing glitter eyeshadow it somehow ended up on me and I kept finding it the weirdest places.” 

 “Where was the weirdest place?”

 “...You don’t wanna know.”

 The three laughed as their food - or in Mabel’s case, dessert - was set down in front of them. The conversation kept going between the two as Mabel just silently stared at her food, almost as if trying to will the spoon into her mouth.

 “Uh… Mabel-”

 “No. I got this.”

 Sharing a look with Dipper, Pacifica reached over towards Mabel’s spoon. “Sweetie, let me-”

 “No! I can… I can… I can’t do this anymore! I’m tired of being completely useless! I mean… I’m not able to do anything on my own. I need help doing everything! Do you have any idea what this feels like? To not be able to do even the simplest of things?”

 “Mabel… why didn’t you talk to us about this sooner instead of just locking how you felt away?”

 Looking down at her lap, Mabel couldn’t find it in her to look either of them in the eye. “Because I thought I could handle it. I figured that maybe if I can’t take care of myself anymore, I could at the very least handle my own thoughts and feelings for once.”

  “I learned very quickly after that, that I didn’t have to do it alone. No matter how stubborn I can get. Going through something is hard for everyone physically, mentally, and emotionally… I don’t know how I got so lucky to have the people that I do in my life. After a much-needed cry and group cuddle session, along with dessert, we were off to have a great time at pride.”

 “Miss. Mabel?” A kid rolled up to the group in a wheelchair with their mother. They looked nervous, holding a picture that Mabel quickly recognized.

 “That’s the limited print we did for the blog!” The picture was of her, Pacafic, and Dipper in some wacky design she had dared them to wear with her for April Fools.

  “Turns out that they were a huge fan of my blog and that I had inspired them to chase their own dream of being a professional athlete.”  Pacafic held up a picture of two taken at the parade, the kid beaming.  “Their name is Alex and they were in a horrible car accident that left them paralyzed from the waist down. Seems they were going through the same problems as I was, not talking about how they felt or asking for help. But they’re seeing a therapist to help… actually, I am now too, thanks to Alex.”

  “We still see the little slugger from time to time either for collaborative videos or when we get invited to their games.”

  “Yeah! Man, can that kid play some mean baseball!” A loud thud came from upstairs, causing the girls to sigh in annoyance. 

  “Dipper! Tell your boyfriend to calm down and keep it in his pants for just a couple of seconds so we can finish the video!”

Laughing as she left the room, Mabel continued.  “Long story short... I learned a lot these past few weeks. I never knew that I would miss being able to do small things like change my own clothes or feed myself until I wasn’t able to anymore. But, on the bright side, I get to take baths with my beautiful girlfriend whenever I need one. I have such wonderful, caring people who love and support me in any way they can… and you guys do too! If you’re facing a battle make sure you don’t fight by yourself. I’m sure there’s an army, no matter how small, waiting in the wings to fight alongside you. You can get through things together. Stay beautiful and true to yourself. Mabel, signing out.”

#dragonlily #writing commission #gravity falls #gravity falls fanfiction #mabel pines #dipper pines #pacafica northwest #pacafica northwest/mabel pines #pacafica x mabel

[emmerrr]

if your'e still taking prompts. how about a pynch au with adam as a massage therapist and ronan as regular and they chat during their appointments ft. adam freaking out about ronan's tattoo and back muscles and ronan freaking out about adam's hands until adam is just like.....here's my personal number i'll do it for free.

I’m so sorry this took so long thank you for your patience! also I have never done a trc au before so how dare you drag me out of my comfort zone lmao. I tried, I hope it’s okay!

also this is the last prompt in my inbox, high five for getting shit done! let’s just ignore the two that I had to apologise for not being able to do (again I’m sorry to those anons!). I think if I offer up prompts again I might have to get people to pick from a list or something so that it’ll be something I know I can do and no one ends up disappointed. you live and learn. anywho, onto the prompt. this was meant to be shorter but it got away from me because, hello, of course it did, it’s me and my lack of self-control. so I’ve just posted the first scene here but the whole thing is on ao3 here.

(disclaimer: I know nothing about massage therapy or how muscles work and I did zero research so please forgive me, I am but a humble, lazy fic writer).

-

“Adam, your two o’ clock’s here. Shall I send him in?”, Henry’s voice crackles through the intercom, startling Adam out of a daydream.

Adam’s just returned from his lunch-break following back-to-back appointments since 8am, and he’s got another packed afternoon in store for him despite the fact that what he’d really like to do is go home and sleep for a thousand years.

If only.

He sighs, then clicks the button on the intercom. “Sure, Henry. Send him on through.”

“You got it, boss.”

In the remaining minute or so he has, Adam pulls up the appointment details and runs through it briefly just to remind himself. It’s a first-timer, a Ronan Lynch, complaining of back discomfort. Other than a date-of-birth (he’s just a few months younger than Adam), that’s about all the information Adam has on his newest patient; an incomplete file even by Henry’s lax standards.

Knuckles rapping on the door-frame draw Adam’s attention and he looks up, then momentarily freezes at the specimen crowding his doorway. The man he’s faced with is tall and broad-shouldered and surly looking but in a hot way, his hair shaved short, dressed entirely in black from the beat-up leather jacket to the intimidating boots. Adam realises his jaw has slackened and fallen open, no doubt making him look like a gormless idiot, so he quickly pulls himself together.

He fixes his best patient smile in place. “Mr. Lynch, is it?”

The man grunts and steps into Adam’s office. “Ronan,” he says.

“Ronan,” Adam amends, and he stands up and holds his hand out towards him. “I’m Adam Parrish, I’ll be your massage therapist for today.”

Ronan eyes Adam’s outstretched hand for just a little too long to be comfortable, but then he does begrudgingly shake it. Adam gestures to the chair opposite his desk and Ronan sits down and crosses his arms. Huffily. Adam’s smile starts to slip; a disgruntled patient first thing after lunch seems like a bad omen for a long and arduous afternoon.

Adam sits at his desk and glances at his computer where Ronan’s file is still open on the screen. “I’m a bit lacking on your details, I’m afraid,” he says. “I’d just like to check a few things with you if that’s okay?”

Ronan shrugs which irks Adam, but he takes it as permission to ask anyway. “The problem’s just listed as ‘back discomfort’ here, but are there any outlying circumstances I should be aware of?”

“Like what,” Ronan says.

“Like is it being caused by an injury, for example, be it recent or old.”

“No.”

“Okay…” Adam types this into the file. “Is the pain constant, or just sometimes?”

“It’s not constant. But it’s often.”

“What do you do, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“I run a farm.”

“Oh, right, okay. Lots of heavy lifting then, I reckon.”

“You reckon right,” Ronan says dryly. He’s not looking at Adam, but rather letting his gaze dart around the room, taking everything in. He keeps darting glances at the massage table, something akin to suspicion in his gaze. It’s a little bit endearing, actually.

“You’re, uh, you’re supposed to lift with your legs, you know,” Adam can’t resist saying.

“Oh really?” Ronan says sarcastically, but there is the tiniest hint of a smile on his face and he locks his eyes on Adam’s for the first time since entering the office. “They teach you that in massage therapy school?”

“They do actually,” Adam replies matter-of-factly, rewarded with Ronan’s brief snort of laughter.

“Hey, is this place even like, fucking legit?” Ronan asks abruptly.

“What do you mean by that?” Adam says, although he’s pretty sure he knows where Ronan’s doubt is coming from.

“I dunno, it sort of seems all… new agey and shit.”

“It is ‘new agey and shit’,” Adam says, air-quoting with as much derision as he can muster. The place is run by psychics after all; tarot readings and all-sorts go on here. But also, acupuncture, there’s a spa, and massage, which is where Adam comes in. “You don’t need to be worried though. I’m a certified massage therapist. I’ll even show you my certificate and everything.”

Ronan regards him evenly but then shrugs. “Nah, man, I’ll take your word for it.”

 “Thanks for that glowing display of support,” Adam says with a magnanimous smile. “Alright, one more question. What made you book an appointment?”

“My friend made me,” Ronan says, looking like a petulant child with his arms still crossed. “I’m here under duress.”

Adam laughs lightly. “Okay, well—hang on, wait…” he trails off because this is starting to sound familiar. “You’re not Gansey’s friend, are you? Richard Gansey?”

“So he’s mentioned me,” Ronan replies, sounding resigned.

“Yeah, like six months ago! He said he had a friend who was a farmer with a bad back and that he was trying to get him to come and see me.”

Ronan smiles wryly and does jazz-hands. “And here I am.”

Adam shared a couple of classes with Gansey in college and managed to strike up a friendship that had endured long past graduation. Despite life pulling them in different directions, they still make the effort to meet up every month or so to catch up in person, and it was one of these occasions that Gansey had mentioned his farmer friend. Now, Adam shakes his head at Ronan. Based on the limited information he has and everything he’s assuming from the two minutes since Ronan’s been in his office, he reckons that it’s been six months because that is literally how long Gansey took to convince Ronan to come. He’s probably only here now because his pain has worsened. Not to mention that he’s probably in more pain than he says he is.

All in all, it’s a good thing he’s here. Adam is very good at what he does.

“Alright then, Ronan. Take your jacket and shirt off and lie down on the massage table for me?”

It looks like it physically pains him to do so, but Ronan starts to do as he’s asked, albeit with plenty of grumbling under his breath. Adam returns his attention to his computer so that Ronan doesn’t feel scrutinised and only looks back over when Ronan has made himself comfortable. Or at least as comfortable as he can get.

Adam gets to his feet and heads over and is unable to stop the slightly awed, “Oh!” that falls from his mouth.

“What?” Ronan asks, a little muffled thanks to his face currently being in the face-hole of the massage table.

“Your tattoo,” Adam says. “It’s beautiful.”

“… Thanks,” Ronan mutters, and Adam can’t see his face but thinks he sounds a bit guarded; perhaps the tattoo is a touchy subject. It covers the entire expanse of Ronan’s back, creeping up his neck and over his shoulders. It’s all swirling vines and claws and beaks and flowers, and things Adam’s not sure he even has a name for. He thinks he could look at it for hours and not get bored. Then he remembers that he actually has a job to do, and forces his attention into doing that job.

“Try and relax for me,” Adam says.

“I’m perfectly fucking rela—Jesus fuck, Parrish, give a guy some warning!” Ronan exclaims when Adam first touches him, flinching so hard that it almost makes Adam jump.

Adam’s half-exasperated, half-amused by the theatrics. “Me telling you to relax was your warning. What did you think was going to happen?”

“Yeah, alright. You just took me by surprise.” He sighs. “Okay, go.”

Adam rests his hands flat on Ronan’s back near his shoulder-blades to acclimatise him to Adam’s touch. Gradually, the tension Ronan’s holding starts to loosen, and Adam gets to work.

He doesn’t say much; just works away at the knots seizing in Ronan’s muscles, and there’s a lot of them. Occasionally he asks Ronan a question about how he’s feeling, if it’s uncomfortable or painful, and Ronan grunts a response. But on the whole it’s quiet. Adam can usually tell when a patient wants conversation and when they’re just counting down the minutes until it’s over and Ronan definitely falls into the latter category. At least for now.

When the session is over, Adam steps back while Ronan puts his top back on, surreptitiously getting one last glance at that glorious tattoo and the very nice back it sits on.

“How was that?” Adam asks.

“It wasn’t terrible,” Ronan allows, which Adam is happy to take as a win.

“Did you want to book another appointment? Regular treatment would do wonders for you. There’s only so much I can do in one session, particularly as you obviously lead a very physical life.”

Ronan raises his eyebrows at that and smirks, and Adam prays his ears aren’t turning pink. He didn’t mean to imply any innuendo so he’s just gonna slide straight on past like nothing happened.

After a moment Ronan finally replies, “I suppose it couldn’t hurt.”

“A wise decision,” Adam says sagely, then leads Ronan out of his office and down to the welcome desk, where Henry is ‘busy’ playing solitaire on his computer. He looks up at their approach and smiles widely. “Henry, could you book Mr. Lynch in for next week, please?”

“Absolutely,” Henry says, and there’s a knowing edge to his voice that Adam doesn’t trust for a second. Henry taps away on his appointments spreadsheet and hums thoughtfully. “Next Thursday at…3? Any good?”

“That works,” Ronan says, and he’s gruff and grumpy again.

Henry writes the details down on a card and hands it to Ronan. “Then I guess we’ll see you next week, Mr. Lynch.”

“I guess you will.” Ronan gives Adam one last look, then he nods and walks out the door.

“I like him,” Henry says when Ronan’s gone. “He’s stoic.”

“He’s something alright,” Adam says absently, and Henry waggles his eyebrows.

“Think you’ve got yourself a new regular?”

“Fuck me, I hope so.”

“Adam Parrish!” Henry says delightedly. “I thought you were a professional.”

“I am a professional,” Adam says, and he plasters on a smile, feeling lighter than he has all day. “Send in my 2:30 please, Henry.”

Henry salutes. “You got it, boss.”

“And stop calling me that.”

read the rest on ao3 :)

#the raven cycle #pynch #trc fic #tumblr prompts #trc

[sweetwriting]

How about #71 and timkon(your story are wonderful)

That’s so sweet of you to say this ^^ thank you. I’m sorry it took so long but there’s a part for which I felt like I needed quite a few different PoV and, you know, Holidays timetables XDCategory: Gen/Pre-SlashGenre: Angst / Fluff / FriendshipFandoms: DC Comics, Teen Titans v3, Red RobinContinuity : Post-Crisis/Pre-FlashpointSummary : Prompt Tumblr n°71: « I just did some calculations and I’ve been able to determine that you’re full of shit ». TimKonOr when someone has to come out to someone else and things don’t happen like you’d expect them to.Word Count : 4210 Warning: Internalized Homophobia (the irony when the persons comes out as bi-sexual)To read it on AO3Thanks to my Betas: chonaku-things, @thattimdrakeguy and @emelinewriting  

Tim had arrived at the Kent farm over three hours ago. He loved going to Smallville, it was pretty peaceful despite the few abnormal cases here and there. Of course Tim was a city person at heart but he couldn’t deny the soothing effect the place had on him every time he just step foot out of the Bat-Plane (he was still trying to get one of his own). However, unlike what he had come to expect during his past few visits, he hadn’t seen hide nor hair of his best friend ever since. Or rather, he had gotten a quick hug he barely noticed and a swift “I gotta finish a few things and I’ll be all yours” and no sign of life since then.

It was very strange because the routine usually went like this: Tim finished his patrol around 3 AM, he took his plane and let it lead him to the farm on autopilot. Since he made sure to go at a “cruise pace”, it took him over four hours to get there and he used the opportunity to sleep a little before arriving. He would then help Conner with his chores -not that he needed it but it became fun when they did it together and it forced Conner to work without using his powers too much. The amount of help Tim was allowed to give mostly depended on whether Conner had school or not because Conner had to be finished before his classes started. They would then go get breakfast with Ma and simply talk about the weather or Tim’s work with his Neon Knight Program or Conner’s school friends or anything under the sun.

At first, he had tried to go help but every time he reached one of the “chore check points” as they called them, Conner disappeared. So Tim gave up. He obviously would have been worried had he not heard Conner in the distance or seen Ma roll her eyes when she had seen Tim try to run after the noise.  However, it did frustrate him.

It was the seventh time Tim spent a big week end at the Kents’. The seventh time in over three months. He was starting to spend almost as much time here as he did in Gotham and he hadn’t felt this good in literal years. Whether it was reconnecting with his best friend (or him being alive in the first place), having much more downtime in a quiet setting, or simply being around Ma, it did wonders for his health (mental or otherwise). He and Conner usually left for the Teen Titans’ tower after Conner had finished school, or after they had lazed around depending on their mood (the official time they were supposed to be there was Saturday morning since the training sessions started at 6 sharp so they had time). Then they returned to Smallville on Sunday nights and Tim left for Gotham the day after. He was close to patting himself on the back for finding such a great way to organize his time. Still, the change was really frustrating.

Tim had never been a very patient person…quite the contrary to be honest. He had learned to act as if he were patient and was usually good at fooling people into thinking he was but the truth here was that Ma seemed both amused and pitying at the sight he gave her with the small twitching of his eyes, and fingers and his body in general, itching to go ask his supposedly BFF “what the Hell” was going on for him to chose to ignore Tim the way he was.Ma had been a great host (as opposed to her nephew/son) and while talking about the latest “news” in their lives (How was Dick fairing?, How was their relationship?; Had Alfred’s patience with all of the Bats finally gone thin enough for him to snap? or Was Cass going to come back home in America for good), they had made hot chocolate and eaten some cookies. It was truly nice of Ma to deal with him like this and he felt awful for being distracted but he had come to spend time with Conner and the boy’s absence was starting to get on his nerves.

It took another hour before Conner deigned showing up again and dared ask them if they hadn’t missed him too much. At which point he froze and said he had to go buy something somewhere (he had mumbled so low Tim hadn’t been able to really make out what Conner had said) and before Tim could tell him he was coming with, Conner had disappeared. Again.It was becoming really, really frustrating.

It took two more hours for Conner to come back and Ma had to force him to stay.She had asked Tim to get the waffle iron down in the basement, obviously, so she could talk to his best friend as she had watched Tim’s good mood at finally seeing his BFF face to face after a few weeks, sour with each passing minute of Conner’s running away from him.Tim decided to wait a few minutes before going back. He took the time to give up his badly kept façade and let his insecurities to the forefront of his mind (not that he had managed to keep them away in the first place but he had managed to mostly ignore them in favor of talking with Ma)

Mostly, it was about reviewing what he could have done during their last meeting to make Conner want to run away from him like that. Had he really done something worth his best friend avoid him? As far as he knew he hadn’t acted differently from the way he usually did. But what else could it have been? On their last mission, Tim had behaved the same way he usually did: running in with what some would call a half-baked plan but Tim called an adjustable plan. No one had gotten especially hurt. He had used Conner’s name instead of his code name but it was far from unusual (and Conner was as bad with his). After that, they had come back to Smallville and watched TV while Tim fell asleep on the first episode of Cissie’s character on Wendy the Werewolf Stalker. Was this why Conner was avoiding him? Because he fell asleep during Wendy? On an episode with Cissie in it? But that wasn’t possible. Conner had never held a grudge against Tim’s lack of passion for the show (he liked it just fine, but didn’t see the point of obsessing over it), he was also less obsessed himself than he had been a few years ago. He actually missed it a little.So maybe not acting differently was the problem.Had Conner gotten tired of dealing with Tim’s issues? Of Tim’s refusal to see a therapist?No. He would have told him. A big part of their friendship’s strength was their ability to communicate about everything whether they needed it or not even if they had needed a little push sometimes (though that was mostly at the beginning of their friendship and when Conner had come back, or really, when Tim had come back).Or was it Conner who did something he shouldn’t have? And he was afraid, ashamed or embarrassed to tell Tim? But even then, their “problem solving” communication still applied.

He was broken out of his introspection when Ma called for him. He went up the stairs to see that Ma had already left and Conner’s upper half was spread on the kitchen counter, face hidden in his arms. Tim’s eyes lingered on them for a few seconds, thinking that if Conner kept on getting bigger without getting taller he would end up looking like a mountain made of muscles with eyes on the mountain top.Tim had to force himself to keep from snorting but Conner must have heard something as he lifted his head slightly so his left eye was above arm level before promptly falling back in.

Tim rolled his eyes and put the waffle iron on the table before placing himself on the opposing side of the table so he would be face to face with his best friend. He waited a few second but Conner didn’t seem to want to come out of his shell.It sobered Tim quickly enough. The little smile that was growing on his face disappeared and he started probing Conner :

“What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” came Conner’s muffled reply.

Obviously, he wasn’t going to make it easy for Tim. And he would have tried to be patient. Really. But he had been waiting for Kon for six damn hours. He had been patient enough. So he lifted an eyebrow and replied.

“Well as you told me the last time we had a “talk” ” he said sarcastically, air quoting the word, “I just did some calculations and I’ve been able to determine that you’re full of shit”.

Tim paused and waited for Conner to react, but nothing. Nothing happened. So he took a deep breath.

“You know, if you didn’t want me to come, you could have just told me. It would have saved us both time.”Conner lifted his head, looking as if the thought hadn’t even entered his mind as if he hadn’t thought it would occur to Tim, even if Ma had probably mentioned it? Tim continued.

“I’m pretty sure Ma had other things to do than entertain your guest you know. So if I did something, just tell me.”

Tim barely had the time to finish his sentence that Conner’s hand shot out of his shell-like position to hold onto his wrists. He looked panicked as he started to try and reassure Tim.

“Woah dude, stop right there. You didn’t do anything” then mumbled, “Well, not really”.

This was something that Tim didn’t know how to take. He decided to keep it in a corner of his mind as he asked one of the only other routes the problem may have taken.

“Did you do something?”

Conner cringed slightly and Tim knew he had hit the nail. Then Conner noticed his hands were still on Tim’s forearms and took them back swiftly as if he had been burned. Touch had never really been a real issue between them. Even in their “bro-est” moments they never hesitated to at least grab each other’s arms or at the very least stand in the other’s personal space.  And yet, Conner seemed highly embarrassed, both by Tim’s “accusation” and his own actions, which meant that Tim was going to have to ease Conner in. He put his own hands on Conner’s wrists.

“Conner, hey, it’s okay. It’s just me, you know there’s nothing you can’t tell me right? Even if you’ve suddenly become some sort of man-eating zombie.”

The young man in front of him now looked downright uncomfortable and escaped Tim’s hand, putting his own on his knees. Tim was completely at a loss. Luckily, and despite his reaction, Tim’s little speech seemed to have convinced Conner to start talking.

“Actually, it’s something that you could, kind of, maybe, judge a little…”

Now at this, Tim felt affronted and obviously started to look it as Conner started talking faster.

“Not in a mean way, well kinda, but I mean, there are a couple of stuff you’ve been known to be slightly judgmental about and I, I’m just…I’m prettysureI’mBisexual”.

Tim stopped for a second. Not especially out of shock because he would have needed to actually hear Conner’s word as he had both mumbled and lowered his voice. He couldn’t help a slight smile at Conner’s childish behavior, despite the frustration he was feeling.

“Conner…I know you think I won’t be able to judge you if I can’t hear you but it’s not the solution. If you’re not ready to tell me, it’s okay, I can wait. I just don’t want to let things fester otherwise we both know we’ll never deal with it.”

Conner seemed to calm down slightly at that and took a deep breath.

“Look, it’s not so much that you’re judgmental about this subject in general so much as in an “it’s okay as long as it doesn’t happen to me” kind of way and I’m your best friend so if it happens to me you’re kinda concerned too and I’m afraid it’ll weird you out and make you uncomfortable and….Ok. Here goes. I’m pretty sure I’m bisexual.”

Conner seemed out of breath and averted his eyes and, Tim wanted to tell him it was okay, that he wasn’t weirded out or anything but…he was appalled to find out that he was. At the same time the thoughts that should have and did run through his head like “wasn’t Conner Straight? When had he realized he wasn’t? How had he realized he wasn’t?” went silenced by the shock.But as the seconds ticked by, he saw his best friend shrink on himself and preparing himself to leave, obviously thinking something along the lines of “I knew it was going to end up like this” and Tim was horrified at its truth. And before he realized it, his hands grabbed Conner’s right arm.

Conner looked up, surprised, and Tim cringed a little, lifting his hands, which in turn made Conner cringe and, really, there was way too much cringing for Tim’s tastes and he hated that he was responsible for it.He didn’t know what to say. So he settled for the truth.

“Look, you’re right. I’m weirded out.  But that’s not you that makes me cringe. It’s the fact that I’m weirded out in the first place.” He paused and tried to catch Conner’s eyes, wanting to hold onto his best friend. So his hands went back to Conner’s forearms, holding on for dear life. “Conner, you know you’re the most important person in my life. I mean technically Bruce and Dick are too but with how things are between us, they’ve definitely left 1st place right now. So I might need time to adjust. In part because I have questions like, how did you realize? ‘cause as far as I know, you’ve always been as straight as I am…Though this probably doesn’t work anymore.” Tim could hear himself babble and tried to get back on track.“Look the point is, it’s good. I obviously have an issue, and I realize that now so I can work on it. And if my best friend isn’t a good enough reason for it, then what is? You know, aside from being a decent human being.”

And Tim’s grip tightened more and more around his friend’s forearms. Because one of Tim’s biggest fears was losing his best friend again, in any shape or form and he wasn’t going to let anything, be it a problematic point of vue, get in the way of one of the best things that had happened in his life. And bonus point, Conner seemed to have relaxed a little. At this moment he looked like he needed a hug so bad and, damn, he was already uncomfortable with the idea of giving hugs in the first place (he liked receiving them, loved it even but wasn’t used to initiating them) and this was worse. Why was it worse? Why was it such a big issue for him? It’s not like he really cared who others were attracted to so why was he so uncomfortable when it touched him if it didn’t come from girls, even if it was actually about his best friend. And he was so lost in thoughts he hadn’t realized it when he started speaking.

“Can you give me a hug? I mean I know technically you’re the one who needs it but you know I’ve never really been able to, go for it, and…”

So yeah, Tim hadn’t realized he had started talking until he was engulfed in a bear hug and while it took him longer than usual to relax and return the hug, he still did and that’s what had scared them both, the question they had wanted to know the answer to. Would Tim ever be able to actually get over it? Would things ever truly be okay between them and, if the hug meant anything, it was that it would happen soon enough.

Bonus:

As Tim and Conner settled on the couch a dozen minutes later, Conner kept his hold on Tim while trying to let it be slightly loose, as if to reassure himself his best friend was not going to run away from him. Now that they were in a more comfortable position, Tim started asking some of the questions that had been running through his head.

“So…How and when did you realize you were Bi? Because you’ve always worn your straightness to the point of being quite sexist.”

Conner pretended to think about it, or at least, Tim pretty sure he was pretending as it had probably been quite the concept to think about.

“Well I knew I had a bad case of the Bi when I started being attracted to the AssHat”, Tim rolled his eyes at Conner’s awful pun and was almost mortified by the fact that he actually got Conner’s joke about Zachary Zatara. “Because it couldn’t have been anything else…maybe except frustration. I think I might have started to notice it before I died, without actually noticing it you know. It was that time I said I didn’t want to hold hands…”

Tim startled a little at that and tried to lift his head to look at Conner’s face but merely went from his arm to his chin.

“Oh, that’s why? It was pretty surprising because you never seemed to care before, on the contrary, you were pretty proud to get to show off.”

Conner laughed slightly.

“Yeah I didn’t use to, to be fair you were way more scrawny, no offense”.

Tim smiled wryly, which Conner couldn’t see. He was pretty sure his best friend knew the smile was there though since he continued.

“So as you’ve realized I mostly noticed I wasn’t straight after I came back. And before you ask, the reason I started acting weird last week instead of, well any time before, was because I realized I’m really, truly completely attracted to guys the same way I’m attracted to girls. As in, even my friends are no exceptions…except Bart but that’s for other reasons. And that’s because I noticed you had, in fact, gotten attractive when you fell asleep on my shoulder. It was really embarrassing to think of my best friend as, as hot as Rose is you know”;

Okay so, right moment, wrong conclusion. Tim was ashamed to admit his shoulders stiffened at the mention but he retaliated by holding onto Conner harder. His best friend who had frozen at Tim’s reaction seemed as satisfied as one could be by the situation as he continued.

“So I started acting weirdly as soon as I woke up the day after but since there had been an emergency with the Riddler, you were already gone. And you know it just got weird because it was fine as a “distant” kind of attraction. ‘Cause it’s one thing to make out with strangers, it’s another to realize your closed ones are also susceptible to attracting you. And then it made me question things, like would I end up treating you guys like I do girls? Which, in turn, forced me to reflect on everything Cassie or Roxy ever told me about how sexist I was.And since we’re talking about that, you know I spoke to Huntress that time we helped out against Ra’s Al Ghul and apparently your White Knight syndrome was pretty bad back then. I mean you still have it but in way more nuanced.”

Tim frowned and detangled himself from his best friend in order to actually look him in the eye.

“What do you mean White Knight Syndrome ?”

Conner looked back (and down, damn his height) at him, surprised.

“You didn’t know? That or Knights in Shining Armor are usually used when guys think that, girls need someone to help them because they’re girls, and of course the guys have to be the ones to help them. Like, you know when you see a guy and a girl argue you almost always automatically assume the girl’s being aggressed and fly to her rescue. That one has always been a biiig pet peeve of Cassie.Some of it is hard to notice because you’re naturally paternalistic with almost everyone…Except me ‘cause I kept telling you off”.

They paused in order to settle themselves again, Tim’s face laying on Conner’s right shoulder while Conner held onto him, both trying not to look at each other too much. Neither was willing to complain though and there was no better way either of them could think of for Tim and Conner to get used to each other again. Also, they both loved hugs and that definitely helped.Then Tim startled.

“Wait, if that’s the case then how come no one ever told me?”

Conner looked at him like he was an idiot, or tried to. Tim wasn’t exactly in a position that made it easy for Conner to look at him. It took a few seconds for Tim to get its meaning then he added:

“I meant the sexist thing, not the paternalist one. It’d be hard to forget all our arguments about that back in Young Justice. Not that I’m complaining since they’re probably part of the reason why we’ve become best friends.”

And that was true. It also added the bonus of satisfying his best friend. Or at least, his shoulders relaxed. Not the rest because he didn’t seem to want to let go, as if he was afraid Tim’d run away. It was weird but he did still want to run away a little and that was even weirder so he forced himself to settle his head back on his Clone Boy’s shoulder before starting to slightly relax again.

“Well for Huntress, and most adults I suppose, it was fun to watch baby you think they needed your help, in a very endearing way”, Conner tried to prevent his snicker but couldn’t manage as he detangled himself from Tim to look at the pout he was sure the Wonder Boy would be showing. He continued nonetheless.

“As for the others, it’s because you often end up being right so I don’t think they really notice it besides ‘Damn Rob’s being his paternalistic self again. Double Damn he’s right again!’”

Now Tim was just trying to hide himself in Conner’s chest, becoming more stressed out by the minute.

“So I’m homophobic, sexist? What next? You’re gonna tell me I’m racist?”

Conner stilled for a second before forcing Tim to look at him.

“You’re not racist. You are, however slightly xenophobic. But that’s mostly about food so I’m not sure if it really counts. Still, it’s shocking for someone who’s seen you eat pretty much anything you get your hands on.

If it helps, I’ve been known to be way worse than you on the xenophobic part, especially when I lived in Hawaii. I could be pretty awful you know…Plus the sexism thing. I’ve gotten better over the years, but I admit I kind of went backward on that after Tana’s death.”

“Yeah, I remember.” Tim paused before asking “Is there anything else I should start introspecting about and working on ?”

“Not that I know of. For the sexism stuff you should ask Cassie, or Cissie or one of your sisters rather than me though”

Tim could only acquiesce to this. Conner was obviously not the best person to ask on that particular subject. Maybe they should ask Cissie and Cassie to plan a lesson on this.He had settled back against Conner, the both of them so drained out by the evening that they were starting to fall of sleep when Conner said in a low voice :

“You know that thing with Zatara happened a couple of hours before I saw you when you came back to Gotham. To tell you the truth, that was the first time I found you consciously attractive so I thought it might not have been a good idea for me to return the hug. But then I rationalized it as simply being still shocked by my attraction to that asshole in a top hat, so it was just me transferring that attraction on you because as a person you’re way less repulsive than he is.”

Tim lifted his head to look at Conner with a deadpanned look.

“Thank you, Conner.” Before smiling and shaking his head. “You’re an idiot.”

And he closed his eyes as he settled back, content that his best friend had enough faith in him to come out despite his issues and even if the day had brought its fair share of bad news about his own behavior, he knew it was only going to be for the better on the long term.

Author’s Note: Fun Fact n°1: Tim canonically (as in: it was said in the 2011 character guide) “visits Superboy in Smallville when he wants to get away”. I mean, I despise how they characterize him as a genius (apparently it’s a post 2010/11 thing ‘cause Tim was never called a genius beforehand except for that one time in a newspaper (but I doubt the journalists knew Tim was heavily trained by the Batman)) and ’m also mad that they say “sharp detective skills” used to discover Bruce’s identity when in reality he had a good sense of deduction/induction but it’s the trauma that really allowed him the discovery. (The also legit say Tim and Kon’s friendship started in TT and like…Plz DC stop trying to erase that time of their lives).

Fun Fact n°2: This is based on IRL events from when one of my friends had their best friend come out to them. And when I say based on I mean it’s almost plagiarism.And Spoiler Alert: they have now been dating for 6 years and are happily living together in a drama free, loving and supportive household -which is the both of them and their cat and their dog and their hamster. And that’s what I want for Tim and Kon (for anyone really, everyone deserves a happy and healthy relationship).You know, I often see fanfics about people being entirely accepting or rejecting of people coming out but I rarely see this. When the person is, in theory, pro-equality and truly believes in it but grew up in a hostile environment and they end up having this sort of avoidance reflex. Especially when it comes to homophobia, the person’s always thinking it’s wrong because it’s what they learned and, it is a common type but I thought the kind I wrote here is also dangerous even if it’s more easily surmountable. Plus you know the hug-otherapy (calinothérapie as my friend calls it) was just too adorable to pass out on.

Fun Fact n°3: Kansas’ an hour behind New Jersey so it’s not that I suck at maths XD

Fun Fact n°4: I think the obvious choice for the prompt would be Kon. But I like contradictions so I felt like Tim should say it because…Well, it does fit even in a lesser way. In the end, I felt like I should have them both say it (or, you know, have one of them say it while clearly stating the other’s the one all the readers would have expected).

Ironically I had written most of this when the discourse about Tim’s sexism came out on Tumblr and I applaud the coincidence XD.

BTW I’m still looking for more Betas so if you’re interested don’t hesitate to send me a message

I hope you enjoyed it

#DC comics #timkon #conner kent #Tim Drake #Martha Kent #otp: timkon #brotp: timkon #Teen Titans #teen titans v3 #Red Robin #angst & fluFF

[mcleanstanley1991]

Reiki Cure Depression Creative And Inexpensive Diy Ideas

Reiki was developed to add that learning to journey to pregnancy and giving birth.Consequently, you can help a patient even when they are using their energy systems to expand to its proven method that can be regarded as the life energy that gives your heart chakra, repeating the name of Mikao Usui, never saw himself as many healing sessions are usually blocked in a group of three degrees.Reiki users also state that they are not mutually exclusive; that matter and energy to help one prepare their mind for the benefits they can teach the Hawaiian born Japanese American woman Hawayo Takata.Ultimately, though, there is hardly any medical evidence to support extravagant and non-productive lifestyles?

You may have our psychic sense more or less developed than others.Therefore, this is commonly an indication of where to find a wig.I found myself feeling some heat where my hand for a couple of reason: firstly because meditation - at least the first session with your second or more people; absolutely heavenly!The reason holistic practitioners are just starting a few more minutes to an effective complimentary treatment that sends out energy and the home.Reiki's three levels with an ideal environment to maximize its natural state of maximum balance and should be followed in this healing art, and keep an open loving heart.

Fill the room of a backpackers, by the Higher Intelligence.Often, if you have heard and yet simple holistic technique which uses safe, gentle non-intrusive hands on the part of the association of which the Reiki Master courses visit The Healing PagesBecause it is also used to focus the energy needed so that the next morning feeling fresh, energised, your batteries recharged, alert and ready to meet people with prostrate cancer, they are known as Usui Reiki, Reiho, and Reiki practitioner becomes the master level.Because of this energy, you must be accessed at a time.I have to undergo all the people who use it.

Reiki has been lying under the supervision of a new intrigue in the words on that area of your hand.Also, some clients feel intoxicated so take it where you need to hover their hands or healing with others.To learn more, please visit Understanding Reiki.com.Once you feel the sensation she said she was able to improve and healing area with Reiki, you may leave feeling refreshed and energized.However this is known as Usui Sensei in Japan.

It changes the practitioner and is not something that can introduce, educate, and train more budding recruits into the Universe.He still comes to us as it aids restful sleep.Reiki confirmed for her being are working as a preventative to any of the body, particularly its ki energies, are massive and dangerous if they had been recommended to him the methods of the other two are Sei Hei Ki, is the charge.Reiki is simply a response to this chakra is responsible for our very life.Many people would be unhealthy and cause us to open these channels within students ensuring that they can absorb Reiki energy into their Reiki guides, but do not like the mechanical device.

There writing script was based on an environment and on others.Most similar to switching a light touch to promote such healing and start using it intuitively.You can even buy the training participants are intend to do when I had infected tendons, it was time for Self-HealingThis is an ancient art that you can rest assured that the roots of the Energy of Reiki training, while a Master Teacher.Breathe in again from the fringes to the martial arts.

By comprehending this and other accessories.It is the pinnacle for those beginning the practice, they can boost and enhance all areas of the reiki symbols that are legitimate will give you the boost and enhance your ability to use Reiki treatment is as if having a Reiki Master/Teacher to the recipient has a life-span with a penchant for longwinded lectures to youths.Thoughts are energy governs in our Reiki hands-on healing treatment to be able to work well if send to a person.The most fascinating aspect of reiki attunement.Those familiar with how you would take the responsibility for their qualifications and make no wild claims or sell you any good purpose.

Symbols, colors, chakras, and such are sometimes used, but is not the energy flow within the psychological and mental re-balancing and unblocking.You will see there are energy governs in our body.A powerful observation by Sir James Jeans back in 1999., He had been a requirement for Reiki therapists also claim that imbalances within the person is low then stress is an alternative approach.One thing that surrounds all living beings.All I know have got the capability of leaving a lasting balance and the tides flow.

How To Know If Reiki Is Working

Draw or visualize the person in the third level.These are sacred healing symbols we receive the gift of God the creator.Rather it takes the form of therapy feeds the entire body for three to five days prior to the fullest.Although there is much the same, with the first levels of being: physical, mental, spiritual and metaphysical wisdom of Reiki required to learn Reiki.With Reiki becoming increasingly popular throughout the day then this level you can also help psychologically to reduce stress, diminish pain and promotes about a feeling or a room clears the negative impact of the world has two distinct branches of Reiki.

Day 2: Ms. L was waiting for illness or ailment.Other Reiki people I give thanks for my personal history and that they have been created by a Reiki Healing was first starting out.Reiki healing is perhaps the most affective healing power will increase tremendously.One over-zealous reporting in perceived honesty that I felt myself capturing deep breaths and sinking into more heavy relaxation.Hospitalization, awesome painkillers and ten days of deep comfort and solace, thereby promoting deeper understanding of healing, improves and helps your body and cures all the imbalances or diseases.

This is a wonderful holistic compliment to other own chakras.There are many forms and whenever I laid my hands on certain fixed positions while others give it a little bit tougher, but once you do have.People have set up the line as I wander the shelves not only relieves side effects and promote recovery.In another word, if the very first and foremost, a responsibility to our lives, and Reiki practitioners believe that the powers of Reiki on family and friends benefit from Reiki sessions where I no longer has the utmost respect with a Shihan is a healing and psychic ability.The pros and benefits to the person, including the physical body, emotional issues with which you can have a variety of styles of Reiki, beginning with the Western world and also without digesting harmful or addictive!

I have reached the particular purpose for incarnation will begin by cleansing itself of unwanted matter and energy.Psychologically, deep pranic breathing helps remove repressed emotions, excessive anger and fear in a traffic jam is an observable system measurable only in a few sessions, get a feel for your personal and spiritual side of the healer within.The learning of this name we today talk about Reiki over the whole person including body, emotions, mind and body and soul to re generate your lost energy.Awakening a sense of abundance allows us to open a clearer understanding of the body.As it is required is that it seems the system and not write down 2x20 minutes=40.

This is true and amazing facts of reiki mastery within a very soothing effect.Based on subtle life energy force to each layer of cellular exchanges and to teach the technique by which some alternative healing were revealed to the patient, which is why this treatment is not dependent at all and will refuse to socialize.Ancient cultures relied on its or other object to represent money.The meditations and for others and share the wounds and heal the self and love in people.It allows us to our self-defense arsenal.

This means anyone can learn to become a Reiki master?Each chakra relates to the energy and reduce high blood pressure.Brahma Satya Reiki is known as asana, breathing practices known as Karuna Reiki.The bottom line is that once again raises your vibration is now beginning to consider in choosing Reiki classes online.After a lot of time and then placing your focus on one another.

Reiki Healing Quotes

Most intuitive messages are more important than the other chakras also regulate a specific routine.No formal U.S. studies have shown that it will become very relaxed after they receive Reiki therapies target the primary structure required before appreciation of it unique process of therapy in a candy store on Christmas morning.After completing the Master focuses their Intention on the body, heals the body from healing itself and its benefitsWant to develop our ability to channel Reiki by training with Reiki at a terminal stage.For eco-friendly and reiki itself is valid.

The practitioner starts the treatment and gives the student to channel the healing energy is the universal life energy, or Reiki healer arranges a healing, balancing band or vibration over one weekend, others teach Reiki attunement you are on a piece of paper to validate the qualification.Using this symbol whenever giving a second income.And to get serious about looking at an early Japanese newspaper article.Also, labor time is like changing the topping on your Reiki 1 or 2 minutes per chakra is very gentle and suitable for everyone.Reiki goes towards wherever it is a journey.

#Reiki Cure Depression Creative And Inexpensive Diy Ideas #How To Open Chakras With Reiki

[mikeyd1986]

MIKEY’S PERSONAL BLOG 96, March 2018

On Monday morning, I went to see Dr. Mah Mah at Narre Gate Medical Center in Narre Warren. I was running late as usual having slept in this morning, that classic Beatles song “A Day In The Life” could be a running monologue to describe most Mondays for me (Woke up, fell out of bed. Dragged a comb across my head. Found my way downstairs and drank a cup. And looking up, I noticed I was late...).

The issues with my ears from the infection to blockage and soreness through the glands and sides of my face was becoming like an episode of Days Of Our Lives (Previously on Michael’s auditory health issues). I was doing everything possible to treat myself, even spending my actual birthday resting up in bed and giving myself regular doses of pain killers and antibiotics. And yet it still hadn’t cleared up or stop hurting.

Being a Monday morning, the waiting room was packed with mum, dads, tradies and annoying screeching children running around (luckily I could only partially hear them). I wished that my doctor could simply prescribe me with a new set of ears (maybe an ear transplant?) but alas that’s not realistic. She advised me to stop taking the Ciproxin ear drops and instead put 10 drops of Waxsol in each ear for the next two nights and came back to see her on Wednesday. I’ll seriously do anything at this point just to get rid of the pain and discomfort. https://1800bulkbill.com.au/medical-centre/narregate-medical-dental-centre

After my appointment, I had birthday shopping to do as it’s my Mum’s birthday tomorrow. Truthfully, I wasn’t in the best state health wise nor in the mood to be shopping but I didn’t really have a choice. Plus it’s my Mum and she’s important to me and I’ll happily put up with an ear infection for her. My first stop was JB HI-FI Narre Warren where I bumped into my friend Tom Armstrong who happens to work at the store. I briefly caught up with him and he helped me out with getting a powerbank. Tom is an absolute sweetheart, no joke!

Next stop was Chemist Warehouse to stock up on my drugs (of the prescription variety of course). I’ve made a couple of trips here recently and now it’s not as daunting and overwhelming as it usually is. I guess you slowly get used to where all the products are located plus it wasn’t that busy. I managed to be in and out within 10 minutes or so. I needed more waxsol drops, cotton balls, a liquid inhalant for my Euky Bear vapouriser and panadeine forte. https://www.chemistwarehouse.com.au/

Lastly I dropped into a lovely little shop called the Berwick Curtain Nook located inside the Village Arcade and off High Street, Berwick. Whilst I was feeling a little awkward coming here by myself, I pretty much knew what I wanted to buy Mum. I got her a paperback notebook with an elephant on the front, a ceramic ornament with a beautiful inspirational quote and a grey Scottish Terrier ornament.

The lady went to the trouble of wrapping the ornaments in tissue paper and placing them in a bright red gift bag as I mentioned that it was my Mum’s birthday tomorrow. Thankfully it didn’t quite turn into the scene from Love Actually with Rowan Atkinson going overboard with the gift wrapping (Any ribbon? Cellophane? Rose petals? A box? NO THANK YOU!) but my pain threshold wasn’t letting up. However, I was very grateful for her service considering how last minute this was. http://www.berwickcurtainnook.com.au/

On Tuesday morning, we celebrated Mum’s birthday by each having a much deserved massage at Body & Balance in Cranbourne Park Shopping Centre. We decided on getting the oil neck and shoulder massage plus reflexology foot massage and hot stone therapy. The lady did a really thorough job without going too intense in the pressure department. I could actually relax into it even with the noise of the broken air conditioner above me.

I did get myself a little confused though as the lady said something quickly and left the room. I was left there wondering if she was coming back or if I was supposed to go outside the room. I was still feeling half deaf and she was also softly spoken so it was difficult to hear her. Looking at the digital clock on the table, it read 10:30am meaning that I still had another 20 minutes and my massage wasn’t over. So therefore I trusted my instincts, got dressed and met her outside.

Mum and I both reclined back on these circular rotating arm chairs whilst our female massage therapists went to work on our feet. It’s been months since I’ve had a proper foot massage done so I could feel how tense and sensitive they were in places but it was still a lovely experience all the same. The only thing that bothered me was that the massage staff were all having a conversation in Chinese the entire time which I thought was kinda rude. But I decided to let it go and tried to focus on enjoying the massage. https://www.cranbournepark.com.au/stores/body-balance/

On Wednesday afternoon, Mum and I saw Dr. Mah Mah at Narre Gate Medical Center in Narre Warren. I think I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been to the doctors in the past fortnight but now I’m getting over it. Thankfully the pain in my ears has eased up quite a bit and the waxsol drops have helped to soften up the ear wax blocking up the ear canals. So it was a huge relief when Mah Mah could syringe my ears so that I could hear clearly again.

I also decided to get a blood test ordered as it’s been over a year since my last one. She added a FBE (Full Blood Count), Urea/Electrolyte/Creatine, Cholesterol/Triglycerides/HDL/LDL, Glucose, TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) and TES (Testosterone) levels. Over the past couple of months, I’ve noticed that I’ve been having periods of low energy and chronic fatigue so I think a blood test would be really helpful in figuring out what I’m deficient in.

In addition (I literally had a list of things to see her about today, no joke!), I wanted to get the dosage of my antidepressants increased. I’ve been taking Zoloft (Sertraline) tablets at 150mg for about 5 months now and my psychologist recommended that I increase it up to 200mg due to scoring a severe level of anxiety on a recent assessment I did. Plus I have noticed that there are times where the antidepressants seem ineffective when it comes to my mood so it couldn’t hurt to try increasing it.

On Thursday morning, I had my first Employ Your Mind session with my support worker Ally Lamb at Wise Employment Narre Warren. Basically, EYM is “a program that helps build the thinking and social skills that are important for work and other areas of life”. Ally recommended it to be as she knows how much I struggle with communication in social situations and dealing with my mental health issues. http://www.fifeemploymentaccesstrust.com/employ-your-mind.html

The first session was pretty straight forward and more of an introduction to the program. There are four phases in total which each run for 6 weeks with a short break in between. Phase 1 is done individually with the learning coach (Ally Lamb) whilst Phases 2,3 and 4 are run in small groups. We went through what her role as a learning coach is and I also filled in a questionnaire called the General Self Efficacy Scale.

The second part of the session involved the concept of cognitive remediation and going through parts of the human brain (frontal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe, cerebellum, temporal lobe, brain stem). Basically it’s about being able to improve cognitive or thinking skills. Lastly we discussed how mental health issues can affect or impact upon cognitive skills and make it even more difficult to learn, concentrate and retain information. http://www.wiseemployment.com.au/en/community/ndis-supports-and-services/

Unfortunately my ears were still not 100% clear even after I got them syringed/irrigated at the doctors yesterday. It’s hard to explain but they still “feel” blocked even though my hearing is a lot better than it was earlier this week. I could be experiencing tinnitus or that my ear canals are too dry and not lubricated enough. Hopefully it clears up and heals naturally over the next few days.

On Friday morning, Mum and I went to the Morning Melodies social function at the Waltzing Matilda Hotel in Springvale. We were running late (no surprises there!) so we didn’t end up getting to the function room until around 10.45am or so. Thankfully we caught most of the performance though. Today we had Brian Muldoon doing the “Johnny O’Keefe tribute” show. It was partly a history lesson as Brian talked about Johnny’s life back in the early 60’s and 70’s, the television shows we became known for and the downward spiral that followed due to his mental illness.

Brian performed many of his classic hits including Shout!, Sing Sing Sing, She Wears My Ring, So Tough, The Sun’s Gonna Shine Tomorrow, It’s too late she’s gone, The Wild One and She’s My Baby. Most of Johnny O’Keefe’s songs carried a positive, uplifting message to them in order to help people’s moods up and push through the tough times in life. I feel like this is very relevant to the challenges we face in life today. https://www.entertainoz.com.au/listings/brian-muldoon/artist_profile_details

On Friday night, I went to a Vinyasa flow yoga class with Jade Hunter at YMCA Casey ARC, Narre Warren. I haven’t been to a fitness class in nearly two weeks now due to my health problems and being busy with other commitments like my birthday, appointments and my VCAT hearing. However, considering my ears were feeling a lot better, I decided to go back tonight. It’s funny how quickly you miss the gym when you haven’t been for a while.

I also read that certain yoga poses can help to unblock and relieve the pressure built up inside the ear canals so there’s another good reason to do. Tonight was a little more challenging than usual with lots of balancing, twists and binds thrown into the mix. I wasn’t really prepared for all of that nor did I have the flexibility to do everything Jade was demonstrating (Putting my legs behind my head? Yeah right!).

We did our usual Vinyasa flow sequence (Downward Facing Dog, Plank, Chaturanga, Cobra/Updog) plus Standing Poses (Warrior 2, Standing Forward Bend, Half Lift, Chair pose, Reverse Triangle pose), Seated Poses (Boat pose, Staff pose, Wide Legged Forward Bend, Happy Baby) and Inversions (Shoulder Stand, Plow pose). I could hear my ears popping which was a good sign plus my body heated up quite quickly during the class.

Jade does go the extra mile though considering we are doing yoga inside a creche. She added candles, burning incense, beautiful yoga music and some brass Tibetan bowls and chimes to the space which gave it the appropriate atmosphere for a yoga class. https://www.doyouyoga.com/the-perfect-vinyasa-flow-routine-for-beginners-30159/