Who here is fortunate enough to not have to deal with MAGA family today?

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132. It was interesting to read about everyone's different situations.

Last edited Fri Nov 28, 2025, 06:43 AM - Edit history (1)

I was alone and my feelings about my own situation are mixed. I struggle with feelings of self-loathing because of culturally-ingrained ideas that say being alone on holidays means that you are worthless and/or you really screwed up your life.

On the other hand, due to my mental health issues, I can't handle intense human interaction anymore. If I had been invited to dinner with my MAGA-adjacent brother's family, the stress would have exhausted me.

To keep self-pity at bay, (because I believe that character and attitudes matter even when you do have legitimate mental health problems), I puttered around with little projects in my apartment. I shifted some shelves that I had set up the day before, and that led me to re-do my gallery wall.

What you are looking at, (I hope)*, is a collection of photocopies of small abstract paintings that I have done. The "someday" Big Project will involve having the original paintings framed. Then, I will install picture ledges on the wall so I can switch out the paintings, because I have a lot of them.

Doing little things to bring order and beauty to my immediate environment brings comfort and a sense of control-- something that I don't feel in crowded, intense social situations with loud people who see the world in very different ways. It's not about being intolerant towards people who don't agree with me; the sensory stimulation wears away at my nerves and I start to fall apart.

Sometimes, it is hard being alone. But often it really is the better option.


* Editing this because I can't figure out how to post a personal picture from my computer. My attempts to do so end up with a lengthy link that I don't want to annoy anyone with. Sorry for the "tease", but I didn't want to self-delete the entire post as I did before, because I worry that the self-delete message on the screen makes it seem like I originally posted something terribly offensive and then chickened out. (Yeah, I know. I think too much. But that's what it's like inside my head. Be grateful that you don't have to live there.)

Anyway, Happy belated Thanksgiving everyone. Stay safe during the holidays.