The Blogging Platypus

Remember you are water. Cry. Release. Flow. Although the views may be changing, showing emotions openly in society is still a bit of a taboo. When we are young, crying is one of our main methods of communication, as our verbal ability takes a while to develop. We are trained, in a way, that through using our voice, we will eventually get our desired outcome. As we grow older, our cries morph into words and language, but the goal remains the same. As we mature to adulthood, our voice becomes stifled by society and the norms by which we are expected to adhere. However, this also includes part of what makes us compassionate and empathize with our peers and family members. When we are told to refrain from crying or are told that doing so equates with weakness, we prevent an integral aspect of who we are. We feel deeply, yet are told to only show surface feelings. Don’t even get me started on the effect society’s need for stifling emotions has on violence and toxic masculinity… There i...

Illustration by Veronica Grech/For The Times) The relief that washes over you when you sink into a warm tub can be even more therapeutic! From beauty stores to big box superstores, there seems to be a plethora of bath accessories, including bath salts. No, not the kind that will make you want to eat the face off of your favorite person, but rather the kind that can help to relieve stress and feel your pain begin to become more manageable. There are just about as many bath products out there as there are cute doggos, and that’s a lot! Some of the things I look for in a bath soak is that it is cruelty-free, smells good, and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. But if it did cost an arm and a leg, that would be fewer body parts that require a soaking! I jest, but it’s true. Sometimes I am limited by the products from which I get to select, as I can be a little picky at times. I know what I like. One of my favorite fragrances is the combination of spearmint and lemongrass. Everything in ...

Have you ever felt like you caught a vibe, feeling, or energy from someone as easy as some people catch colds? If you enter a room where there was an argument between two people, can you pick up on that emotion? It has been suggested that these sensations could indicate that you are a highly sensitive person, or HSP. It can be really easy for highly sensitive people to become overwhelmed with not only what’s going on in their lives due to a deeper processing of information, but also the emotions and energy of others. The differences in processing information also means that those who identify as HSP are often more creative and empathetic. You can’t have a blessing without a curse, right? Self-care is an integral part of our overall health. However, due to the high levels of stress that HSPs experience, self-care is an essential step. Fortunately, there are some self-care steps HSPs can take to combat the emotional and physical effects of living with the stress and energy of othe...

The term self-care seems to have taken over social media over the past few years. This buzzword is easy to find, from product packaging to social media influencers touting the need for this thing called self-care. But what is it and why has it spread like the floating island of plastic trash in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch? If you were to ask me five years ago about self-care, I would not have an inkling about what it is, what it entails, and why I should practice it on a regular basis. I was attending graduate school and working as a freelance writer, hustling for as much work as possible. I had no time to even think about such a thing as self-care. Little did I know at that time, but in a few years, self-care would be an integral part of my life. These days, self-care happens each day, in different ways. Being kind to yourself counts as self-care. Treating your body with the care and respect it deserves and needs counts as self-care. Relaxing in a warm Epsom salt bath counts...