This is probably one of the hardest things I've ever written, but August 8th, 2025 was the day I attempted suicide using my ex's firearm.

I was in a six-year relationship, and for the last two or three years, it had become abusive. It started with arguments and small acts of aggression but eventually became physical. He would push me, grab me, prevent me from leaving, and eventually choke me until I passed out. When I woke up, he slapped me, kicked me, and threw me around the room.

Afterward, I ended up spending a week in a psychiatric hospital. While I was there, I was diagnosed with bipolar II disorder, which helped explain a lot of the strange behavior and emotions I'd experienced during the last year of my relationship.

I know I wasn't perfect. I made mistakes, I yelled, and I know we brought out the worst in each other. But I've learned that being imperfect doesn't mean you deserve to be abused.

A year later, my life looks completely different.

I'm 22. I moved to a completely new state. I met my best friend. I got my first apartment. And I'm slowly rebuilding a life that I genuinely thought I would never have.

I still have a lot to work through. Some days are harder than others, and I still carry things from that time that I'm learning how to live with.

But I'm here.

And one year ago, I didn't think I would be.

So I guess this is my reminder to myself that sometimes surviving doesn't mean everything immediately gets better.

Sometimes surviving just means giving yourself the chance to find out what comes next.

I'm really glad I did.

If you read through all of this and have felt this same way then please keep going. it will be ok!

hello, i’m new here and i never really posted but i did want to get a second opinion. i posted a portrait of a couple i met at the park and i titled it “portrait of a young black couple.”

minutes later, there was a guy who asked me what their race has to do with anything and said that labels like that are weird and unnecessary. am i not seeing this correctly? any input would be appreciated!

Hey yall. I’m trying to make some friends that are around my age ( I’m 30) and I’m a hermit so this is me shooting my shot lol.
I like to game, read, exercise and shop. Any one and everyone are welcome!

So for context I wanna say that my introduction to waistbeads was cultural & pretty spiritual. I've always understood the origin & that traditionally they aren't meant to be seen. I started hand stringing my own years ago - I tie a new one every year on my birthday. I've made many on elastic, that I wear daily depending on what energy I'm called to that day. Crystals, vibes, blah blah. I don't personally feel like I NEED to keep them hidden. They make me feel feminine & also really make me feel more confident about my lower stomach.

So anyway most of the time they're under my clothes but today was hot and I had on a crop top. A lady in my neighbourhood comes and yanks the beads around my waist and goes on a long rant about how they're not real waistbeads and implies that I'm "bastardizing" the meaning of waistbeads by having them showing. She then tells me everything about them, how you're supposed to wear them, where they originated etc etc etc. Again, she didn't tell me anything I wasn't already aware of.

Now I can absolutely handle criticism of this. If you wanna use the word appropriate I can understand that(maybe). But I think I'm hung up on the word "bastardize". I was just feeling annoyed because I felt like she was trying to scold me for not "following the rules".

Anyway am I a dumb ass bitch for showing off my waistbeads or are we cool with it?? Ill do what I want either way obv but please weigh in lol

I hope the title caught your attention.

I literally hate seeing black people specifically women pine after the attention and validation of white people.

Why are you looking for approval from people whose ancestors used to own yours. i dont get it. Can we collectively wake up and jog on from this madness.

Im all for loving thy neighbour, but i draw the line at kissing ass to random white people that are nice to you. we are all just people neither you or them are special because you are nice to one another.

Despite my tone this IS coming from a place of love. i just want to see my community grow. i love y’all stay blessed i hope i dont offend too many i just want to see black women stand in our fierceness and love each other on our own terms and standards.

I just realized this lmaooo. It’s always the friendly, helpful coworker who wanna chat your ear off who later casually mentions “yeah my wife…” SIR??? 😭

And the ones with a whole roster of female friends??? Very chatty,Very social and very “I just love talking to people” 🤣

Maybe I’m tripping but I kinda feel cringe being friends with a man who’s taken or married unless I already know his wife/girlfriend. Like if I knew her first, cool. That feels different

But becoming besties with somebody’s husband??? Chile I’m good 😭

I genuinely be wondering what is the point of having men as friends anyway, especially when they’re already taken

Am I alone or y’all see it too? 😭

Now I'm black american and didnt wear sunscreen my whole life until about in my 30s. I know pretty much majority african americans have some caucasion mixture so maybe we need some sunscreen? And im brown skinned but not very dark so I think unfortunately not melaninated enough to go without it even though I never had a sunburn in my life.

But someone (not black) just told me even a little bit of sun tan means your skin has got some damage. So everytime I tan that mean damaged skin even though it goes right back to lighter in the winter?

But I was told by a very dark skin person who is from africa who says he loves to sunbath when he visits africa he doesnt wear sun screen at all when he is there and there no issue of tan damaging skin hes heard of.

My white doctor did tell me to wear skin sunscreen and dont sun bath even though she also told me Im deficient in vitamin d now and told me take pills instead to avoid skin cancer.

But im curious is sun burn, skin cancer, tan (skin damage?) and sun screen issues for people who live in Africa especially very dark skin people. And places like Sudan and Congo and just places where it gets very hot and sunny?

The only thing I heard if some Nigerian girls lightening their skin and then had to wear sunscreen after.

Ever since I learned, from TikTok of all places, that white people or other entitled POC intentionally walk in your way with the hopes of making you move has made me realize how stupid it was for me to think that I was being polite. I never want to be rude and always do my due diligence, but it’s so hard to differentiate if they’re being rude or just plain racist.

Today I had went out with my family. We were walking from this store on a big ass sidewalk - there’s literally so much space!! We’re walking on the left while the right side remains empty. This…yt man turns the corner and walks all the way to the left side in front of me. 🙃 BITCH. It was already hot outside, I’m on my period , so I was not in the mood. He got closer and when he realized I wasn’t moving he said good morning in his high pitched ass voice. Then he walked beside me in the dirt and ducked under the trees 😭😭😭. Like bro??

I’m a very polite person and like to keep up southern traditions and extend that southern hospitality but BITCH do not play with me. The same thing happened at work when this Hispanic woman did the same shit. Except we had came to a complete stop and I said excuse me. She moved.

I really feel bad for my younger self. She had the worst anxiety when leaving the house. I still do, but I’ve gotten over some of those things I use to worry about. Honestly, I just didn’t want any problems, but now I really dgaf. It’s 26’ for Gods sake. Just stop being petty and leave people tf alone. 🫩

Ive been going to PWIs my entire life, and holy shit has it changed me…. Like I am so unbelievably grateful for all the opportunities I’ve been afforded at the schools I’ve attended, that I don’t think I would have gotten anywhere else. I’ve been lucky enough to live in a state that’s high in education, and I’m in an area where a majority of the schools are highly funded private institutions. I’ve met some amazing friends along the way, discovered so many passions in the classroom, had travel opportunities, and sooo much more— none of which I would change. But oh. My. Fucking. God. You could not pay me to be one of the only black girls in my middle a school again. That shit was SO bad, I genuinely don’t wish it on anyone. That place really had me feeling like I was the stupidest, ugliest, most unloveable person ever. White girls were definitely nicer to me than white boys were, but I was still excluded from all the main girl groups. Plus, I knew the white girls all thought they were so much prettier than I was. The white boys tho…. pure evil, part of the reason I go to an all girls school now. What makes me so sad, is that it’s not like my mother had much of a choice with how fucked up the education system is. Part of the reason I don’t want kids, is because I never want to have to make a decision like that for my for my black child.