thoughtcatalog--2020-04-30--Even When It Feels Endless, Please Remember That This Will Pass

While you ’ re in the middle of a dark night , it feels like the dawn is an impossibility when it is , in fact , an inevitability .
Even when it feels endless , please remember that this will pass , in the same exact way that everything else that has temporarily cast a shadow over your life has passed .
This will pass and some things will be better .
Some will be worse .
This will pass and the world will be different , but it is always changing .
This will pass and we will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we once knew it , but the way we know it now .
This will pass because we will adapt , we will change , we will find a new normalcy .
We will find our rhythms .
We will get used to the shifts that have upended us now , and we will settle into them .
We will find calmness again , we will find joy again .
We will hug the people we love again .
We will gaze at the night sky and feel awe again .
We will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ build beauty and seek wonder again .
Right now , the unfamiliarity of it all is compounding our stress .
It ’ s not just that life as we knew it is gone ; it ’ s not just that we ’ re isolated ; it ’ s not just that there ’ s no one clear path forward , it ’ s that this is all unprecedented in our lifetimes .
What this means is that it will be hard to feel at place , especially right away .
Anything new , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uncomfortable .
This will pass not because the world is returning to what it was , but because we will adapt to what it is .
This will pass because next time , we will be ready .
This will pass because in the future , we won ’ t be so shell shocked by social distancing and sanitation and standing six feet apart .
This will pass for the exact same reasons humanity has continued to survive and grow and evolve despite the darkest and most unlikely circumstances .
This will pass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
All together , and each one of us .
There are no promises about tomorrow : what it will look like , or feel like .
There are only the guarantees we can make based on what we know , which is that the human psyche is malleable , the resilience we have deep down is immeasurable , and our ability to readjust and reacclimatize is as unprecedented as any challenge in front of us .
When you are so certain that the darkness will never fade , please remember : it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it always will .
Even if you can ’ t see it right now .
Be patient with yourself while you find your footing .
Be easy on yourself while everything is in flux .
Our new lives are waiting on the other side .
We will rise to greet them .

While you’re in the middle of a dark night, it feels like the dawn is an impossibility when it is, in fact, an inevitability.
Even when it feels endless, please remember that this will pass, in the same exact way that everything else that has temporarily cast a shadow over your life has passed.
This will pass and some things will be better.
Some will be worse.
This will pass and the world will be different, but it is always changing.
This will pass and we will resume life again, maybe not as we once knew it, but the way we know it now.
This will pass because we will adapt, we will change, we will find a new normalcy.
We will adjust.
We will find our rhythms.
We will get used to the shifts that have upended us now, and we will settle into them.
We will find calmness again, we will find joy again.
We will hug the people we love again.
We will gaze at the night sky and feel awe again.
We will get into routines again.
We will build beauty and seek wonder again.
Right now, the unfamiliarity of it all is compounding our stress. It’s not just that life as we knew it is gone; it’s not just that we’re isolated; it’s not just that there’s no one clear path forward, it’s that this is all unprecedented in our lifetimes.
What this means is that it will be hard to feel at place, especially right away.
Anything new, until familiar, is going to be uncomfortable.
This will pass not because the world is returning to what it was, but because we will adapt to what it is.
This will pass because next time, we will be ready.
This will pass because in the future, we won’t be so shell shocked by social distancing and sanitation and standing six feet apart.
This will pass for the exact same reasons humanity has continued to survive and grow and evolve despite the darkest and most unlikely circumstances.
This will pass because we will find a way through.
All together, and each one of us.
There are no promises about tomorrow: what it will look like, or feel like.
There are only the guarantees we can make based on what we know, which is that the human psyche is malleable, the resilience we have deep down is immeasurable, and our ability to readjust and reacclimatize is as unprecedented as any challenge in front of us.
When you are so certain that the darkness will never fade, please remember: it always has, it always does, it always will.
Even if you can’t see it right now.
Be patient with yourself while you find your footing.
Be easy on yourself while everything is in flux.
Our new lives are waiting on the other side.
We will rise to greet them.


thoughtcatalog--2020-04-30--What It’s Actually Like Being On The Front Lines Of The COVID-19 Crisis

“ Code blue ” echoes through the hallways as nurses , PAs , respiratory therapists , doctors , custodial workers , and PCAs scurry through the halls in paper scrubs , blue hair caps , N95 masks , and face shields .
That ’ s five code blues since 9 a.m .
I make a mental note as the clock teeters on the 9:45 marker .
Being on the front line at a hospital is something I ’ ve never seen before , something I couldn ’ t even imagine as I marched up to snag my diploma just a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something I ’ ve only seen in movies .
Nearly every unit in this massive hospital located in New York , now known as the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic , is a designated COVID unit , and just a few hundred patients shy of becoming an exclusively-COVID hospital .
These patients are in a non-breathing limbo , where tubes inflate their chests and nurses and doctors do everything they can to keep them alive ; admittedly , it ’ s just not enough sometimes .
Meanwhile , these medical professionals are struggling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hot air in their masks and the compression on their cheek bones as they push through their 12- to 16-hour days .
A mess of numbers indicative of patients ’ respiratory rates are listed on the windows outside each patient ’ s room , acting as a “ cheat sheet ” of sorts to keep each patient alive .
These men and women who wake up every morning , heads bowed low as they approach what feels like the battleground , are not just hospital heroes—they are world warriors .
They gear up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , running toward the virus , unlike the rest of the world that is sprinting away , mandated to the safety of their own homes .
The irony is poetic , actually , with both sides doing what they can to save lives .
On one hand , American citizens stay home , told they must “ flatten the curve ” , while the medical professionals are simply trying to avoid a flat line .
As a hospital Occupational Therapist , my role is to ensure patients get out of bed , increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to carry out even the smallest tasks on their own—tasks we take for granted , like brushing teeth , combing hair , even putting on socks .
These tasks can be difficult for patients who are cognitively impaired , weak , and sick .
My role is also to ensure patients are moving on to the next level of appropriate rehabilitation and care so they can reach their highest potential and return to their lives .
I go to work for the patients who still need me , regardless of a worldwide pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seems to have stopped , theirs hasn ’ t .
No one ever thinks about what happens to these patients after they ’ re deemed medically “ okay ” .
They ’ ve been in bed , unable to breathe , let alone move , for two , four , sometimes six weeks .
For these patients , they appear to have won the battle but begin to feel like they ’ re losing the war .
They come to learn that their arms and legs don ’ t work the way they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they woke up from such a dream but somehow opened their eyes to a new nightmare .
That ’ s where we come in : the Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists on the front lines .
As patients become ready for rehabilitation , the therapists look at each other with a blend of eagerness and apprehension .
We ask ourselves , “ How are we going to get these people to sit at the edge of the bed on their own , let alone walk back into their normal lives ?
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patient ’ s bed with his entire body weight leaning against me because he could not support his own .
Why ?
So he could remember what it feels like to simply sit up .
I was kneeling in the bed of a patient who newly tested negative after weeks in the ICU suffering from COVID-19 .
In that moment , I was suddenly so aware of how honored I am to be a therapist during this pandemic .
He leaned against me and tried , with all his strength , to sit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was so proud of this stranger who was pressed up against me .
Against all odds , he made it .
Despite the fear , the illness , the strain to hold on , he survived .
And it ’ s not just the traditional doctors and nurses on the frontlines .
It ’ s not just the therapists like myself .
Since families are unable to visit their loved ones and show support , they connect via FaceTime and pictures .
This means that social workers are putting in their overtime too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heartbeat in the Intensive Care Units .
That day , a COVID-19 survivor sat up for the first time in a month , and because of our other frontline workers , his family got to see it too .
Each day I don my protective gear , and I see COVID patients of varying medical statuses .
Some can breathe with minimal oxygen , while others are struggling each second .
I assist them into sitting at the edge of the bed and stand up just so they can remember what it feels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they used to do before all this happened at the start of a new day .
A day full of possibilities as the sun rose in the sky .
The loudspeakers send a sweet tune to the ears of hospital workers these days as Here Comes the Sun plays when a patient is extubated .
As a patient breathes air in on their own .
The sun is certainly rising .
A light shines even in the dark .
As I drive home after a physically and mentally exhausting shift , grateful for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take in , I peer out the window at gentle reminders that come in a split second and flood my heart with appreciation .
I see signs on house windows that read “ Stand Strong NY ” and “ Healthcare Heroes , we love you.
” My heart aches .
I wish I could do more .
I wish I could ’ ve held my patient ’ s wife ’ s hand when she was told he passed .
I wish I could ’ ve hugged my other patient ’ s baby girl @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made them suffer less ; I wish I could ’ ve made his family understand he was loved by each person who came in contact with him .
They were not alone .
The evening hours remind me that for what might be considered a grumpy city , there is so much love and depth of feeling behind the claps and cheers that ovate the hospital workers at shift change here in New York .
In a time of anguish , uncertainty , and sadness , may we remember that all of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isolated , our hearts beat as one .
Stand strong , New York , my city , and stand strong every other city in every other state that is battling COVID-19 through the flames .
There will be a time this will be a memory , a page in a history book , and we will appreciate those moments of stillness—because at one point , that was all we had .

“Code blue” echoes through the hallways as nurses, PAs, respiratory therapists, doctors, custodial workers, and PCAs scurry through the halls in paper scrubs, blue hair caps, N95 masks, and face shields.
That’s five code blues since 9 a.m. I make a mental note as the clock teeters on the 9:45 marker.
Being on the front line at a hospital is something I’ve never seen before, something I couldn’t even imagine as I marched up to snag my diploma just a few years ago. It’s something I’ve only seen in movies.
Nearly every unit in this massive hospital located in New York, now known as the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic, is a designated COVID unit, and just a few hundred patients shy of becoming an exclusively-COVID hospital.
These patients are in a non-breathing limbo, where tubes inflate their chests and nurses and doctors do everything they can to keep them alive; admittedly, it’s just not enough sometimes. Meanwhile, these medical professionals are struggling to breathe, too, through the hot air in their masks and the compression on their cheek bones as they push through their 12- to 16-hour days.
A mess of numbers indicative of patients’ respiratory rates are listed on the windows outside each patient’s room, acting as a “cheat sheet” of sorts to keep each patient alive. These men and women who wake up every morning, heads bowed low as they approach what feels like the battleground, are not just hospital heroes—they are world warriors. They gear up in their PPE and charge into battle, running toward the virus, unlike the rest of the world that is sprinting away, mandated to the safety of their own homes.
The irony is poetic, actually, with both sides doing what they can to save lives. On one hand, American citizens stay home, told they must “flatten the curve”, while the medical professionals are simply trying to avoid a flat line.
As a hospital Occupational Therapist, my role is to ensure patients get out of bed, increase their strength, and relearn the ability to carry out even the smallest tasks on their own—tasks we take for granted, like brushing teeth, combing hair, even putting on socks. These tasks can be difficult for patients who are cognitively impaired, weak, and sick. My role is also to ensure patients are moving on to the next level of appropriate rehabilitation and care so they can reach their highest potential and return to their lives. I go to work for the patients who still need me, regardless of a worldwide pandemic. While the rest of the world seems to have stopped, theirs hasn’t.
No one ever thinks about what happens to these patients after they’re deemed medically “okay”.
They’ve been in bed, unable to breathe, let alone move, for two, four, sometimes six weeks. For these patients, they appear to have won the battle but begin to feel like they’re losing the war. They come to learn that their arms and legs don’t work the way they used to, and they wonder how they woke up from such a dream but somehow opened their eyes to a new nightmare. That’s where we come in: the Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists on the front lines.
As patients become ready for rehabilitation, the therapists look at each other with a blend of eagerness and apprehension. We ask ourselves, “How are we going to get these people to sit at the edge of the bed on their own, let alone walk back into their normal lives?”
The other day, I kneeled in a patient’s bed with his entire body weight leaning against me because he could not support his own. Why? So he could remember what it feels like to simply sit up. I was kneeling in the bed of a patient who newly tested negative after weeks in the ICU suffering from COVID-19.
In that moment, I was suddenly so aware of how honored I am to be a therapist during this pandemic. He leaned against me and tried, with all his strength, to sit, just sit, up. I was so proud of this stranger who was pressed up against me. Against all odds, he made it. Despite the fear, the illness, the strain to hold on, he survived.
Some people are surviving.
And it’s not just the traditional doctors and nurses on the frontlines. It’s not just the therapists like myself. Since families are unable to visit their loved ones and show support, they connect via FaceTime and pictures. This means that social workers are putting in their overtime too, in an attempt to revive a heartbeat in the Intensive Care Units. That day, a COVID-19 survivor sat up for the first time in a month, and because of our other frontline workers, his family got to see it too.
Each day I don my protective gear, and I see COVID patients of varying medical statuses. Some can breathe with minimal oxygen, while others are struggling each second. I assist them into sitting at the edge of the bed and stand up just so they can remember what it feels like to be human. A thing they used to do before all this happened at the start of a new day. A day full of possibilities as the sun rose in the sky. The loudspeakers send a sweet tune to the ears of hospital workers these days as Here Comes the Sun plays when a patient is extubated. As a patient breathes air in on their own. The sun is certainly rising. A light shines even in the dark.
As I drive home after a physically and mentally exhausting shift, grateful for the deep breath I finally get to take in, I peer out the window at gentle reminders that come in a split second and flood my heart with appreciation. I see signs on house windows that read “Stand Strong NY” and “Healthcare Heroes, we love you.”
My heart aches. I wish I could do more. I wish I could’ve held my patient’s wife’s hand when she was told he passed. I wish I could’ve hugged my other patient’s baby girl. I wish I could’ve made them suffer less; I wish I could’ve made his family understand he was loved by each person who came in contact with him. They were not alone.
The evening hours remind me that for what might be considered a grumpy city, there is so much love and depth of feeling behind the claps and cheers that ovate the hospital workers at shift change here in New York. In a time of anguish, uncertainty, and sadness, may we remember that all of our hearts beat together.
Though we are isolated, our hearts beat as one.
Stand strong, New York, my city, and stand strong every other city in every other state that is battling COVID-19 through the flames. There will be a time this will be a memory, a page in a history book, and we will appreciate those moments of stillness—because at one point, that was all we had.
Stay safe.


thoughtcatalog--2020-04-30--A Regular Girl’s Guide To Shopping For A Liquid Foundation

Foundation is the , um , foundation of your makeup look .
I guess that ’ s probably why they call it that .
Anyway , foundation truly can make or break your look .
It can make you look flawless , or it can make you look like the lighting in your house may not be so great .
So let ’ s talk about the basics on how to make the base of your face basically perfect .
The Shade Of It All The riskiest part of buying foundation is what color to get .
Each brand has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so you should always check to make sure you are getting the right color .
The best place to swatch test is actually on your neck .
Your face gets more sun exposure than the rest of your body , so by testing there , you won ’ t have to worry about your face not blending with the rest of your body .
Also , foundation gets a little darker when it mixes with the oils on your face .
If you have pink undertones , go for a cooler color @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go for a warmer color .
If you ’ re not sure , there ’ s usually a neutral option .
Remember you may need to get different shades for different times of the year depending on how your skin reacts to sun exposure .
You can even mix shades to get a customized color .
You can go with a tinted moisturizer or BB cream if you want a barely-there look , or you can go up to a full coverage foundation .
It all depends on what look you are going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hide .
Makeup can be a double-edged sword for your skin ; you wear makeup to cover up imperfections , the makeup makes you break out , then you have to wear more makeup to cover the extra breakouts , etc .
The keyword you are looking for when you are shopping for foundation it “ noncomedogenic.
” This term means the makeup was specifically made to not clog your pores .
Another way to make sure you ’ re not packing your pores with pimples is using a wax-based foundation .
Wax-based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in your pores while water-based foundations sink to the bottom of them .
Foundation can have properties that actually help your skin .
There are foundations with SPF , salicylic acid , and/or moisturizers to make your skin flawless on the inside as well as the outside .
Foundations have different types of finishes to regulate different types of skin .
Matte finishes are great for oily skin , while dewy finishes are great for dry skin .
The wrong finish can accentuate the exact features of your skin that you are trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be adding blush , highlighter , bronzer , powder , etc .
on top of your foundation , so it will look a little crazy when you put it on by itself .
But when you finish , you will see how choosing the right foundation can make you look effortless .
Even if it took a few hours of trying and intermittently watching YouTube tutorials to complete .

Foundation is the, um, foundation of your makeup look. I guess that’s probably why they call it that. Anyway, foundation truly can make or break your look. It can make you look flawless, or it can make you look like the lighting in your house may not be so great. So let’s talk about the basics on how to make the base of your face basically perfect.
The Shade Of It All
The riskiest part of buying foundation is what color to get. Each brand has different names and numbers of each shade, so you should always check to make sure you are getting the right color. The best place to swatch test is actually on your neck. Your face gets more sun exposure than the rest of your body, so by testing there, you won’t have to worry about your face not blending with the rest of your body. Also, foundation gets a little darker when it mixes with the oils on your face. If you have pink undertones, go for a cooler color. If you have yellow undertones, go for a warmer color. If you’re not sure, there’s usually a neutral option. Remember you may need to get different shades for different times of the year depending on how your skin reacts to sun exposure. You can even mix shades to get a customized color.
Calculate The Coverage You Crave
You can go with a tinted moisturizer or BB cream if you want a barely-there look, or you can go up to a full coverage foundation. It all depends on what look you are going for and how much you want to hide.
Keep Your Pores Happy
Makeup can be a double-edged sword for your skin; you wear makeup to cover up imperfections, the makeup makes you break out, then you have to wear more makeup to cover the extra breakouts, etc. The keyword you are looking for when you are shopping for foundation it “noncomedogenic.” This term means the makeup was specifically made to not clog your pores. Another way to make sure you’re not packing your pores with pimples is using a wax-based foundation. Wax-based foundations sit on top of the water in your pores while water-based foundations sink to the bottom of them.
Look For Bonus Features
Foundation can have properties that actually help your skin. There are foundations with SPF, salicylic acid, and/or moisturizers to make your skin flawless on the inside as well as the outside.
Finally, Find A Finish
Foundations have different types of finishes to regulate different types of skin. Matte finishes are great for oily skin, while dewy finishes are great for dry skin. The wrong finish can accentuate the exact features of your skin that you are trying to improve.
Remember, you will be adding blush, highlighter, bronzer, powder, etc. on top of your foundation, so it will look a little crazy when you put it on by itself. But when you finish, you will see how choosing the right foundation can make you look effortless. Even if it took a few hours of trying and intermittently watching YouTube tutorials to complete.


thoughtcatalog--2020-04-30--11 Addictive Books With Shows You Can Stream After You Finish Reading

“ When a beautiful , aspiring writer strides into the East Village bookstore where Joe Goldberg works , he does what anyone would do : he Googles the name on her credit card .
There is only one Guinevere Beck in New York City .
She has a public Facebook account and Tweets incessantly , telling Joe everything he needs to know : she is simply Beck to her friends , she went to Brown University , she lives on Bank Street , and she ’ ll be at a bar in Brooklyn tonight—the perfect place for a ‘ chance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obsessively takes control of Beck ’ s life , he orchestrates a series of events to ensure Beck finds herself in his waiting arms .
Moving from stalker to boyfriend , Joe transforms himself into Beck ’ s perfect man , all while quietly removing the obstacles that stand in their way—even if it means murder.
” “ Connell and Marianne grew up in the same small town , but the similarities end there .
At school , Connell is popular and well liked , while Marianne is a loner .
But when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ electrifying—something life changing begins .
A year later , they ’ re both studying at Trinity College in Dublin .
Marianne has found her feet in a new social world while Connell hangs at the sidelines , shy and uncertain .
Throughout their years at university , Marianne and Connell circle one another , straying toward other people and possibilities but always magnetically , irresistibly drawn back together .
And as she veers into self-destruction and he begins to search for meaning elsewhere , each must confront how far they are willing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So the armies of Good and Evil are amassing , Atlantis is rising , frogs are falling , tempers are flaring .
Everything appears to be going according to Divine Plan .
Except a somewhat fussy angel and a fast-living demon—both of whom have lived amongst Earth ’ s mortals since The Beginning and have grown rather fond of the lifestyle—are not actually looking forward to the coming Rapture .
And someone seems to have misplaced the Antichrist… ” “ Fresh from a brief stay at a psych hospital , reporter Camille Preaker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ return to her tiny hometown to cover the murders of two preteen girls .
For years , Camille has hardly spoken to her neurotic , hypochondriac mother or to the half-sister she barely knows : a beautiful thirteen-year-old with an eerie grip on the town .
Now , installed in her old bedroom in her family ’ s Victorian mansion , Camille finds herself identifying with the young victims—a bit too strongly .
Dogged by her own demons , she must unravel the psychological puzzle of her own past if she wants to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Following their father ’ s gruesome murder in a violent home invasion , the Locke children return to his childhood home of Keyhouse in secluded Lovecraft , Massachusetts .
Their mother , Nina , is too trapped in her grief—and a wine bottle—to notice that all in Keyhouse is not what it seems : too many locked doors , too many unanswered questions .
Older kids Tyler and Kinsey aren ’ t much better .
But not youngest son Bode , who quickly finds a new friend living in an empty well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that offers hours of spirited entertainment .
But again , all at Keyhouse is not what it seems , and not all doors are meant to be opened .
Soon , horrors old and new , real and imagined , will come ravening after the Lockes and the secrets their family holds.
” “ Geralt is a Witcher , a man whose magic powers , enhanced by long training and a mysterious elixir , have made him a brilliant fighter and a merciless assassin .
Yet he is no ordinary murderer : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vile fiends that ravage the land and attack the innocent .
But not everything monstrous-looking is evil and not everything fair is good…and in every fairy tale there is a grain of truth.
” 7 .
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng “ In Shaker Heights , a placid , progressive suburb of Cleveland , everything is planned—from the layout of the winding roads , to the colors of the houses , to the successful lives its residents will go on to lead .
And no one embodies this spirit more than Elena @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the rules .
Enter Mia Warren—an enigmatic artist and single mother—who arrives in this idyllic bubble with her teenaged daughter Pearl , and rents a house from the Richardsons .
Soon Mia and Pearl become more than tenants : all four Richardson children are drawn to the mother-daughter pair .
But Mia carries with her a mysterious past and a disregard for the status quo that threatens to upend this carefully ordered community .
When old family friends of the Richardsons attempt to adopt a Chinese-American baby , a custody battle erupts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Elena on opposing sides .
Suspicious of Mia and her motives , Elena is determined to uncover the secrets in Mia ’ s past .
But her obsession will come at unexpected and devastating costs.
” “ A murder… A tragic accident… Or just parents behaving badly ?
What ’ s indisputable is that someone is dead .
Madeline is a force to be reckoned with .
She ’ s funny , biting , and passionate ; she remembers everything and forgives no one .
Celeste is the kind of beautiful woman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but she is paying a price for the illusion of perfection .
New to town , single mom Jane is so young that another mother mistakes her for a nanny .
She comes with a mysterious past and a sadness beyond her years .
These three women are at different crossroads , but they will all wind up in the same shocking place.
” “ Are you made fainthearted by death ?
Does fire unnerve you ?
Is a villain something that might crop up in future nightmares of yours ?
Are you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ porridge upsetting to you ?
Vicious threats ?
Hooks ?
Uncomfortable clothing ?
It is likely that your answers will reveal A Series of Unfortunate Events to be ill-suited for your personal use .
A librarian , bookseller , or acquaintance should be able to suggest books more appropriate for your fragile temperament .
But to the rarest of readers we say , ‘ Proceed , but cautiously . '
” “ Quentin Coldwater is brilliant but miserable .
A high school math genius , he ’ s secretly fascinated with a series @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a magical land called Fillory , and real life is disappointing by comparison .
When Quentin is unexpectedly admitted to an elite , secret college of magic , it looks like his wildest dreams have come true .
But his newfound powers lead him down a rabbit hole of hedonism and disillusionment , and ultimately to the dark secret behind the story of Fillory .
The land of his childhood fantasies turns out to be much darker and more dangerous than he ever could have imagined… ” “ The Handmaid ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the reader will be unable to forget its images and its forecast .
Set in the near future , it describes life in what was once the United States and is now called the Republic of Gilead , a monotheocracy that has reacted to social unrest and a sharply declining birthrate by reverting to , and going beyond , the repressive intolerance of the original Puritans .
The regime takes the Book of Genesis absolutely at its word , with bizarre consequences for the women and men in its population .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Offred , one of the unfortunate Handmaids under the new social order .
In condensed but eloquent prose , by turns cool-eyed , tender , despairing , passionate , and wry , she reveals to us the dark corners behind the establishment ’ s calm facade , as certain tendencies now in existence are carried to their logical conclusions .
The Handmaid ’ s Tale is funny , unexpected , horrifying , and altogether convincing .
It is at once scathing satire , dire warning , and a tour de force .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ”

1. You by Caroline Kepnes
“When a beautiful, aspiring writer strides into the East Village bookstore where Joe Goldberg works, he does what anyone would do: he Googles the name on her credit card.
There is only one Guinevere Beck in New York City. She has a public Facebook account and Tweets incessantly, telling Joe everything he needs to know: she is simply Beck to her friends, she went to Brown University, she lives on Bank Street, and she’ll be at a bar in Brooklyn tonight—the perfect place for a ‘chance’ meeting.
As Joe invisibly and obsessively takes control of Beck’s life, he orchestrates a series of events to ensure Beck finds herself in his waiting arms. Moving from stalker to boyfriend, Joe transforms himself into Beck’s perfect man, all while quietly removing the obstacles that stand in their way—even if it means murder.”
2. Normal People by Sally Rooney
“Connell and Marianne grew up in the same small town, but the similarities end there. At school, Connell is popular and well liked, while Marianne is a loner. But when the two strike up a conversation—awkward but electrifying—something life changing begins.
A year later, they’re both studying at Trinity College in Dublin. Marianne has found her feet in a new social world while Connell hangs at the sidelines, shy and uncertain. Throughout their years at university, Marianne and Connell circle one another, straying toward other people and possibilities but always magnetically, irresistibly drawn back together. And as she veers into self-destruction and he begins to search for meaning elsewhere, each must confront how far they are willing to go to save the other.”
3. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
“So the armies of Good and Evil are amassing, Atlantis is rising, frogs are falling, tempers are flaring. Everything appears to be going according to Divine Plan. Except a somewhat fussy angel and a fast-living demon—both of whom have lived amongst Earth’s mortals since The Beginning and have grown rather fond of the lifestyle—are not actually looking forward to the coming Rapture.
And someone seems to have misplaced the Antichrist…”
4. Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
“Fresh from a brief stay at a psych hospital, reporter Camille Preaker faces a troubling assignment: she must return to her tiny hometown to cover the murders of two preteen girls. For years, Camille has hardly spoken to her neurotic, hypochondriac mother or to the half-sister she barely knows: a beautiful thirteen-year-old with an eerie grip on the town. Now, installed in her old bedroom in her family’s Victorian mansion, Camille finds herself identifying with the young victims—a bit too strongly. Dogged by her own demons, she must unravel the psychological puzzle of her own past if she wants to get the story—and survive this homecoming.”
5. Locke And Key by Joe Hill
“Following their father’s gruesome murder in a violent home invasion, the Locke children return to his childhood home of Keyhouse in secluded Lovecraft, Massachusetts. Their mother, Nina, is too trapped in her grief—and a wine bottle—to notice that all in Keyhouse is not what it seems: too many locked doors, too many unanswered questions. Older kids Tyler and Kinsey aren’t much better. But not youngest son Bode, who quickly finds a new friend living in an empty well and a new toy, a key, that offers hours of spirited entertainment. But again, all at Keyhouse is not what it seems, and not all doors are meant to be opened. Soon, horrors old and new, real and imagined, will come ravening after the Lockes and the secrets their family holds.”
6. The Witcher by Andrzej Sapkowski
“Geralt is a Witcher, a man whose magic powers, enhanced by long training and a mysterious elixir, have made him a brilliant fighter and a merciless assassin. Yet he is no ordinary murderer: his targets are the multifarious monsters and vile fiends that ravage the land and attack the innocent.
But not everything monstrous-looking is evil and not everything fair is good…and in every fairy tale there is a grain of truth.”
7. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
“In Shaker Heights, a placid, progressive suburb of Cleveland, everything is planned—from the layout of the winding roads, to the colors of the houses, to the successful lives its residents will go on to lead. And no one embodies this spirit more than Elena Richardson, whose guiding principle is playing by the rules.
Enter Mia Warren—an enigmatic artist and single mother—who arrives in this idyllic bubble with her teenaged daughter Pearl, and rents a house from the Richardsons. Soon Mia and Pearl become more than tenants: all four Richardson children are drawn to the mother-daughter pair. But Mia carries with her a mysterious past and a disregard for the status quo that threatens to upend this carefully ordered community.
When old family friends of the Richardsons attempt to adopt a Chinese-American baby, a custody battle erupts that dramatically divides the town—and puts Mia and Elena on opposing sides. Suspicious of Mia and her motives, Elena is determined to uncover the secrets in Mia’s past. But her obsession will come at unexpected and devastating costs.”
8. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
“A murder… A tragic accident… Or just parents behaving badly? What’s indisputable is that someone is dead.
Madeline is a force to be reckoned with. She’s funny, biting, and passionate; she remembers everything and forgives no one. Celeste is the kind of beautiful woman who makes the world stop and stare but she is paying a price for the illusion of perfection. New to town, single mom Jane is so young that another mother mistakes her for a nanny. She comes with a mysterious past and a sadness beyond her years. These three women are at different crossroads, but they will all wind up in the same shocking place.”
9. A Series Of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snickeet
“Are you made fainthearted by death? Does fire unnerve you? Is a villain something that might crop up in future nightmares of yours? Are you thrilled by nefarious plots? Is cold porridge upsetting to you? Vicious threats? Hooks? Uncomfortable clothing?
It is likely that your answers will reveal A Series of Unfortunate Events to be ill-suited for your personal use. A librarian, bookseller, or acquaintance should be able to suggest books more appropriate for your fragile temperament. But to the rarest of readers we say, ‘Proceed, but cautiously.'”
10. The Magicians by Lev Grossman
“Quentin Coldwater is brilliant but miserable. A high school math genius, he’s secretly fascinated with a series of children’s fantasy novels set in a magical land called Fillory, and real life is disappointing by comparison. When Quentin is unexpectedly admitted to an elite, secret college of magic, it looks like his wildest dreams have come true. But his newfound powers lead him down a rabbit hole of hedonism and disillusionment, and ultimately to the dark secret behind the story of Fillory. The land of his childhood fantasies turns out to be much darker and more dangerous than he ever could have imagined…”
11. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
“The Handmaid’s Tale is a novel of such power that the reader will be unable to forget its images and its forecast. Set in the near future, it describes life in what was once the United States and is now called the Republic of Gilead, a monotheocracy that has reacted to social unrest and a sharply declining birthrate by reverting to, and going beyond, the repressive intolerance of the original Puritans. The regime takes the Book of Genesis absolutely at its word, with bizarre consequences for the women and men in its population.
The story is told through the eyes of Offred, one of the unfortunate Handmaids under the new social order. In condensed but eloquent prose, by turns cool-eyed, tender, despairing, passionate, and wry, she reveals to us the dark corners behind the establishment’s calm facade, as certain tendencies now in existence are carried to their logical conclusions. The Handmaid’s Tale is funny, unexpected, horrifying, and altogether convincing. It is at once scathing satire, dire warning, and a tour de force. It is Margaret Atwood at her best.”


thoughtcatalog--2020-04-30--What Each Zodiac Sign Will Discover In May 2020

You will discover you need to reevaluate your priorities and your plan for the future .
You will discover you @ @ @ @ @ yourself credit for .
You will discover you aren ’ t as anti-social as you @ @ @ @ @ you have a hard time sitting still , doing nothing .
You will discover you @ @ @ @ @ , you like to be setting the rules .
You will discover your pessimism is @ @ @ @ @ will discover you have plenty of time to reach your goals , so you shouldn @ @ @ @ @ You will discover your goals aren ’ t actually that far out of your reach @ @ @ @ @ are the type of person who prefers a set schedule .
You will discover you @ @ @ @ @ you thought you would .
You will discover you never give yourself enough of a @ @ @ @ @ recharge .
You will discover who your real friends are .

Aries
You will discover you need to reevaluate your priorities and your plan for the future.
Taurus
You will discover you are stronger than you give yourself credit for.
Gemini
You will discover you aren’t as anti-social as you thought.
Cancer
You will discover you have a hard time sitting still, doing nothing.
For the person who is always googling astrological compatibility when they meet someone new. How You’ll Do Everything Based On Your Zodiac Sign includes an exhaustive analysis of each sign’s personality. You’ll learn which high school clique represents them (Pisces are the cool art kids), who would get eaten first in a scary movie (Gemini, obviously) to how each sign prefers to say ‘I love you’ (for Taurus, it’s with good food). Alternating between silly, sweet, and serious, this book is filled with deep dives into the mind of everyone whose birth chart you can get your hands on. Buy now
Leo
You will discover you like to be in control, you like to be setting the rules.
Virgo
You will discover your pessimism is only hurting you.
Libra
You will discover you have plenty of time to reach your goals, so you shouldn’t rush yourself.
Scorpio
You will discover your goals aren’t actually that far out of your reach.
Sagittarius
You will discover you are the type of person who prefers a set schedule.
Capricorn
You will discover you miss certain people more than you thought you would.
Aquarius
You will discover you never give yourself enough of a break, enough time to recharge.
Pisces
You will discover who your real friends are.


thoughtcatalog--2020-05-04--What Your Boyfriend Wishes You Would Compliment Him On, Based On His Zodiac Sign

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How You’ll Do Everything Based On Your Zodiac Sign includes an exhaustive analysis of each sign’s personality. You’ll learn which high school clique represents them (Pisces are the cool art kids), who would get eaten first in a scary movie (Gemini, obviously) to how each sign prefers to say ‘I love you’ (for Taurus, it’s with good food). Alternating between silly, sweet, and serious, this book is filled with deep dives into the mind of everyone whose birth chart you can get your hands on.


thoughtcatalog--2020-05-04--The 30 Meanest Possible (PG-Rated) Things You Can Say To Someone

1 .
If there was a competition for failures , you would get second place , because you can never win .
3 .
You are an inspiration for birth control .
5 .
I ’ m jealous of people that haven ’ t met you .
6 .
You ’ re the kind of person that history forgets .
7 .
I don ’ t hate you , but if you were on fire and I had a bucket of water , I would drink the water .
8 .
If God doesn ’ t create ugly people , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hope your internet gets cut off .
10 .
Your birth certificate was an apology letter from the condom factory .
12 .
I don ’ t have crayons or a sheet to explain it to you .
13 .
When you get home , I hope your mom runs out from under the porch and bites you .
14 .
You ’ re the result of an empty bottle of tequila and a broken condom .
15 .
You have a good face for radio .
16 .
My only luck in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I have seen better looking heads on boils !
18 .
I ’ ve forgotten more than you know .
19 .
Your grades say marry rich but your face says study harder .
20 .
May all your steps be plagued by the sharp pain of a Lego brick .
21 .
You will die of irrelevance .
22 .
Your opinion is so worthless , I do not care enough to even be offended , as that would require a shred of respect .
23 .
You are an appendix @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re causing trouble , and we ’ re all just fine without you .
24 .
I thought Neanderthals were extinct .
Archaeologists will be thrilled to hear about you .
25 .
You have delusions of adequacy .
26 .
You ’ re the reason your mom swallows now .
27 .
Oh honey , you ’ re not pretty enough to be this stupid .
28 .
Mr. Rogers would be disappointed in you .
29 .
Every time you talk , I hear your parents disappointment .
30 .
@ @ @ @ @ @

These insults from Ask Reddit are brutal.
1. If there was a competition for failures, you would get second place, because you can never win.
3. You are an inspiration for birth control.
4. It’s impossible to underestimate you.
5. I’m jealous of people that haven’t met you.
6. You’re the kind of person that history forgets.
7. I don’t hate you, but if you were on fire and I had a bucket of water, I would drink the water.
8. If God doesn’t create ugly people, who created you?
9. I hope your internet gets cut off.
10. Your birth certificate was an apology letter from the condom factory.
11. You’re an oxygen thief.
12. I don’t have crayons or a sheet to explain it to you.
13. When you get home, I hope your mom runs out from under the porch and bites you.
14. You’re the result of an empty bottle of tequila and a broken condom.
15. You have a good face for radio.
16. My only luck in life was not being you.
17. I have seen better looking heads on boils!
18. I’ve forgotten more than you know.
19. Your grades say marry rich but your face says study harder.
20. May all your steps be plagued by the sharp pain of a Lego brick.
21. You will die of irrelevance.
22. Your opinion is so worthless, I do not care enough to even be offended, as that would require a shred of respect.
23. You are an appendix: nobody thinks about you unless you’re causing trouble, and we’re all just fine without you.
24. I thought Neanderthals were extinct. Archaeologists will be thrilled to hear about you.
25. You have delusions of adequacy.
26. You’re the reason your mom swallows now.
27. Oh honey, you’re not pretty enough to be this stupid.
28. Mr. Rogers would be disappointed in you.
29. Every time you talk, I hear your parents disappointment.
30. You are in my league.


thoughtcatalog--2020-05-04--30 Seemingly ‘Nice’ Habits That Are Accidentally Making You Look Like A Total Asshole

1 .
Someone holding the door for you when you are too far away so you have to either start jogging or make them stand there an extra 10 seconds and seem like a dick .
2 .
If you think someone is upset about something and you ask them and they tell you they aren ’ t then just leave it alone .
I understand you mean well but insisting that someone “ tell you what ’ s wrong ” when there ’ s nothing wrong is a sure fire way to make something wrong .
The correct response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thank you ’ .
It is not to say shit like ‘ oh it ’ s nothing ’ or ‘ it ’ s not that good ’ .
Saying things like that makes the person complimenting you feel stupid and makes people who can ’ t or haven ’ t achieved what you have feel inadequate and useless .
No one likes a show-off , but there ’ s a level of over-modesty that comes round to seeming boastful again , as if you ’ re above your achievements and so also above @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compliments , brushing them off is a shitty thing to do .
4 .
Unsolicited advice on my mental health conditions or chronic illness .
Trust me I tried yoga , water , vitamins , exercise , etc .
I know you want to help but unless I ask I don ’ t want to talk about it , my life already revolves around it .
5 .
Saying bless you to someone after the 4th-5th sneeze and do on .
If the person keeps sneezing you don ’ t have to keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so on .
6 .
When a guy ( usually an older gentleman ) swears then looks at you and says sorry as if you ’ ve never heard a fucking swear word in your adult life as a woman .
I usually respond by saying don ’ t fucking worry about it .
7 .
When someone uses your name too often while talking to you .
Dude , I know what my name is .
8 .
Putting someone else on the phone .
This happens ALL the time with my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aunt to chat and she ’ ll hand the phone to my cousin to ‘ say hi ’ .
My cousin on the other side of my family does it too .
If I had wanted to talk to that person I would have called them directly !
9 .
People who constantly say “ be positive , stop thinking negative !
” or overly optimistic individuals baffles me as a way of being “ encouraging ” — it just shows that you ’ re either being disingenuous towards what the other party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unrealistic , or all of the mentioned .
Not saying the opposite is any better ( I get annoyed with overly pessimistic individuals just as much ) , but pretending that problems don ’ t exist isn ’ t a feasible way to handle them .
10 .
Saying « hi » only to women you find attractive and calling that being polite .
11 .
People who practically force you to eat and drink when you visit them , to the point where they take it as a slight against them if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t like people getting food for me , without asking .
I totally appreciate the good intentions , I just wish they wouldn ’ t do it .
13 .
Trying to arrange socialization for someone moving to a new city .
“ Oh , you ’ re moving to bumblefuck ?
My sister ’ s hairdresser lives there , I ’ ll put you guys in touch !
” 14 .
Forcing your help on someone .
Like : “ Here , let me help you with that box.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15 .
Telling women that they look better without makeup .
I don ’ t wear makeup because I think I ’ m ugly , I wear makeup because the process is very soothing to me and I love embracing my natural features .
Also , don ’ t tell me how much makeup I need to wear and how I “ wear too much ” .
You don ’ t see me pointing out the things I don ’ t like about your appearance and making back handed compliments about it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
” every five minutes .
17 .
Super specific , but being asked a question and then getting the “ are you sure ?
” after you answer is my number one pet peeve .
I used to be stressed out to high heavens when I was a kid over making decisions .
Like , to the point of tears sometimes .
Because of that , I ended up being someone who makes decisions in a split second and forces myself to stick to them .
I get it , everybody does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and make sure you ’ re happy with whatever you decided .
That ’ s my weird thing , but that doesn ’ t mean it doesn ’ t drive me insane whenever I hear it .
Just because everybody else pussyfoots around whether or not they want to eat shitty pizza or shitty Chinese every fucking Friday doesn ’ t mean that I will .
I overcompensate from my dumb childhood trauma by knowing exactly what I want , always , forever .
It ’ s bordering on a character flaw at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
18 .
When someone tries to pay for something for you and insist when you say , “ No thanks.
” 21 .
When the store employee follows you around constantly asking , “ Can I help you with anything ?
” 24 .
When you ’ re upset and someone notices and asks you what ’ s wrong in public in front of other people .
Like I get that they ’ re trying to be helpful but asking me to talk about what ’ s bothering me in front of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that I ’ m not ok is just terrible .
Pull me to the side and privately talk to me PLEASE .
25 .
When you have horrible acne and people feel the need to stay stuff like , “ It will get better .
Have you tried drinking more water ?
” 26 .
When you ’ re sharing an appetizer or whatever with someone you ’ re supposed to do the “ no you have it ” dance over the last bite .
If you tell me to go ahead , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I don ’ t wan na deal with any pouting/stink eye .
27 .
Never making a decision or having an opinion .
28 .
When parents insist that their kids give you a hug .
Even if you know the parents well , the kids might not feel comfortable hugging you and the whole situation just becomes awkward and uncomfortable for them .
I adore my nieces and nephews , but if they say no when I ask for a hug I ’ ll respect that , it should be their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on in traffic when they have the right of way .

According to Ask Reddit, it doesn’t always pay to be nice.
1. Someone holding the door for you when you are too far away so you have to either start jogging or make them stand there an extra 10 seconds and seem like a dick.
2. If you think someone is upset about something and you ask them and they tell you they aren’t then just leave it alone. I understand you mean well but insisting that someone “tell you what’s wrong” when there’s nothing wrong is a sure fire way to make something wrong.
3. Over-modesty.
The correct response to being complimented or congratulated is ‘thank you’. It is not to say shit like ‘oh it’s nothing’ or ‘it’s not that good’. Saying things like that makes the person complimenting you feel stupid and makes people who can’t or haven’t achieved what you have feel inadequate and useless.
No one likes a show-off, but there’s a level of over-modesty that comes round to seeming boastful again, as if you’re above your achievements and so also above the achievements of others.
Take your compliments, brushing them off is a shitty thing to do.
4. Unsolicited advice on my mental health conditions or chronic illness. Trust me I tried yoga, water, vitamins, exercise, etc. I know you want to help but unless I ask I don’t want to talk about it, my life already revolves around it.
5. Saying bless you to someone after the 4th-5th sneeze and do on. If the person keeps sneezing you don’t have to keep going until the 12th fucking sneeze and so on.
6. When a guy (usually an older gentleman) swears then looks at you and says sorry as if you’ve never heard a fucking swear word in your adult life as a woman. I usually respond by saying don’t fucking worry about it.
7. When someone uses your name too often while talking to you. Dude, I know what my name is.
8. Putting someone else on the phone. This happens ALL the time with my family. I’ll call my aunt to chat and she’ll hand the phone to my cousin to ‘say hi’. My cousin on the other side of my family does it too. If I had wanted to talk to that person I would have called them directly!
9. People who constantly say “be positive, stop thinking negative!” or overly optimistic individuals baffles me as a way of being “encouraging” — it just shows that you’re either being disingenuous towards what the other party is feeling, apathetic, ignorant, unrealistic, or all of the mentioned. Not saying the opposite is any better (I get annoyed with overly pessimistic individuals just as much), but pretending that problems don’t exist isn’t a feasible way to handle them.
10. Saying « hi » only to women you find attractive and calling that being polite.
11. People who practically force you to eat and drink when you visit them, to the point where they take it as a slight against them if you say no.
12. I don’t like people getting food for me, without asking. I totally appreciate the good intentions, I just wish they wouldn’t do it.
13. Trying to arrange socialization for someone moving to a new city.
“Oh, you’re moving to bumblefuck? My sister’s hairdresser lives there, I’ll put you guys in touch!”
Please don’t.
14. Forcing your help on someone. Like: “Here, let me help you with that box.” Takes box without waiting for response.
15. Telling women that they look better without makeup. I don’t wear makeup because I think I’m ugly, I wear makeup because the process is very soothing to me and I love embracing my natural features. Also, don’t tell me how much makeup I need to wear and how I “wear too much”. You don’t see me pointing out the things I don’t like about your appearance and making back handed compliments about it.
16. Asking “are you ok?” every five minutes.
17. Super specific, but being asked a question and then getting the “are you sure?” after you answer is my number one pet peeve. I used to be stressed out to high heavens when I was a kid over making decisions. Like, to the point of tears sometimes. Because of that, I ended up being someone who makes decisions in a split second and forces myself to stick to them.
I get it, everybody does that because they want to be polite and make sure you’re happy with whatever you decided. That’s my weird thing, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t drive me insane whenever I hear it.
Just because everybody else pussyfoots around whether or not they want to eat shitty pizza or shitty Chinese every fucking Friday doesn’t mean that I will. I overcompensate from my dumb childhood trauma by knowing exactly what I want, always, forever. It’s bordering on a character flaw at this point. I’M SURE.
18. When someone tries to pay for something for you and insist when you say, “No thanks.”
19. “Thoughts and prayers.”
20. Tapping on someone’s shoulder.
21. When the store employee follows you around constantly asking, “Can I help you with anything?”
22. Over-complimenting.
23. People who say, “Smile!”
24. When you’re upset and someone notices and asks you what’s wrong in public in front of other people. Like I get that they’re trying to be helpful but asking me to talk about what’s bothering me in front of others and alerting others to the fact that I’m not ok is just terrible. Pull me to the side and privately talk to me PLEASE.
25. When you have horrible acne and people feel the need to stay stuff like, “It will get better. Have you tried drinking more water?”
26. When you’re sharing an appetizer or whatever with someone you’re supposed to do the “no you have it” dance over the last bite. If you tell me to go ahead, I’m gonna eat it and I don’t wanna deal with any pouting/stink eye.
27. Never making a decision or having an opinion.
28. When parents insist that their kids give you a hug. Even if you know the parents well, the kids might not feel comfortable hugging you and the whole situation just becomes awkward and uncomfortable for them. I adore my nieces and nephews, but if they say no when I ask for a hug I’ll respect that, it should be their choice.
29. Giving people pets as gifts.
30. Somebody waving you on in traffic when they have the right of way.


thoughtcatalog--2020-05-05--7 Ways You’re Probably Traumatized By Modern Dating

Connection is obstructed , you ’ re chastised for getting attached , and the sheer availability of an entire sea of dating apps , profiles and potential mates is enough to drive anyone to the edges of their insecurities .
The truth is that the way we date now isn ’ t really healthy .
It ’ s not that we need to return to outdated standards , it ’ s that we need to evolve within the new world we have now .
Here are the top 7 ways you ’ re probably already traumatized by dating in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made to feel as though there is something wrong with you for becoming emotionally attached after having sex with someone consistently .
It means that you were the naive person who misread the signals and got attached even though you weren ’ t supposed to .
This is truly an unprecedented thing to deal with not because we haven ’ t been sexually liberated for a while ( we have ) but because the opportunities to act on that are ( virtually ) limitless now .
It ’ s understandable that some people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
What isn ’ t understandable is the expectation that you might engage in any form of intimacy with a person and are supposed to feel nothing .
It is not crazy to get attached to someone who you have had this kind of relationship with .
It is crazy that the standard expectation is that you wouldn ’ t .
2 .
You are made to feel as though there is something wrong with you for wanting commitment .
Likewise , the path toward a lifelong relationship is just not as clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s not what everyone desires , and that ’ s alright .
It ’ s great that we now have the freedom and relative social acceptability to be in relationships that suit who we are and what we need .
What isn ’ t healthy is the idea that “ talking ” has replaced “ dating , ” and that after an extended period of time opening up to a person and bonding with them , you are supposed to act cool when they sideline you and randomly move on .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is .
3 .
It seems like it ’ s better to be the person who cares less .
Overall , it usually seems like it ’ s preferable to be the person who cares less about the relationship , therefore , positioning you as the person who has all the power .
This isn ’ t just an abnormal dynamic , it ’ s also an unhealthy one .
When the game is “ who can act as though they care less , ” nobody wins .
Nobody wins because nobody is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just obstructing any potential we might have to genuinely connect with someone and calling it a power move .
4 .
The standard for what makes someone a decent partner is shockingly low .
You ’ ve probably seen enough posts with a partner praising their significant other for doing basic tasks .
The standard for decency now is essentially not cheating and being able to care for oneself in simple ways , perhaps even showing affection now and again .
When you see people praising their partners for like , doing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re parents , “ watching the kids ” while you have an “ hour to yourself , ” it really sets up a surprisingly low expectation for what a partner should be contributing to your life .
5 .
Your sense of security is likely disturbed by the knowledge that your partner has such a vast array of potential people they could be dating .
This isn ’ t necessarily anyone ’ s fault , just a fact of the times .
You know why it ’ s so hard to commit ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ wants to miss out .
A few generations ago , your dating prospects were limited to who your family knew or who was within your community .
Today , you can connect to anyone , anywhere , within the right age range and filtered through your top preferences and deal-breakers .
Years ago , you didn ’ t have someone sliding into your partners DMs on any kind of regular basis .
It is understandable that we would all generally feel a little less secure in ourselves .
6 .
You have probably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life trying to turn a f*ckboy into a husband .
If those are the wrong pronouns for your particular situation , please feel free to swap them out — but the point still stands .
You have probably devoted at least some part of your youth in an attempt to turn a person who absolutely was never going to commit to you into the dream partner you wanted them to be .
When you fall in love with someone ’ s potential as opposed to their reality , you end up slighted almost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maintain a real connection in a disconnected world is profoundly difficult .
Do you know what ’ s one of the biggest barriers prohibiting real , genuine connection ?
The fact that everyone comes home from a long day at work and spends the following hours scrolling on their phones .
It is not healthy to lay in bed next to your partner every single night and just stare at screens , not engaging in any way , but it ’ s normal .
It is not healthy to be constantly inundated with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expectations for what your life should be , and yet , it is normal .
The only way we are going to ever achieve the true levels of intimacy we as human beings really need is if we put down the distractions and actually spend time with a person .
Good relationships are not something we find , they are something we build .
That seems to be the piece that we ’ re missing .

Modern dating is extremely traumatizing.
Connection is obstructed, you’re chastised for getting attached, and the sheer availability of an entire sea of dating apps, profiles and potential mates is enough to drive anyone to the edges of their insecurities.
The truth is that the way we date now isn’t really healthy.
It’s not that we need to return to outdated standards, it’s that we need to evolve within the new world we have now.
Here are the top 7 ways you’re probably already traumatized by dating in the digital age.
1. You are made to feel as though there is something wrong with you for becoming emotionally attached after having sex with someone consistently.
In casual sex culture, attachment is a vice.
It means that you were the naive person who misread the signals and got attached even though you weren’t supposed to.
This is truly an unprecedented thing to deal with not because we haven’t been sexually liberated for a while (we have) but because the opportunities to act on that are (virtually) limitless now. It’s understandable that some people would want to take advantage of that.
What isn’t understandable is the expectation that you might engage in any form of intimacy with a person and are supposed to feel nothing.
It is not crazy to get attached to someone who you have had this kind of relationship with. It is crazy that the standard expectation is that you wouldn’t.
2. You are made to feel as though there is something wrong with you for wanting commitment.
Likewise, the path toward a lifelong relationship is just not as clear as it once was.
First, that’s not what everyone desires, and that’s alright. It’s great that we now have the freedom and relative social acceptability to be in relationships that suit who we are and what we need.
But it’s healthy to desire commitment.
What isn’t healthy is the idea that “talking” has replaced “dating,” and that after an extended period of time opening up to a person and bonding with them, you are supposed to act cool when they sideline you and randomly move on.
We need to stop pretending like it is.
3. It seems like it’s better to be the person who cares less.
Overall, it usually seems like it’s preferable to be the person who cares less about the relationship, therefore, positioning you as the person who has all the power.
This isn’t just an abnormal dynamic, it’s also an unhealthy one.
When the game is “who can act as though they care less,” nobody wins. Nobody wins because nobody is even trying — we’re all just obstructing any potential we might have to genuinely connect with someone and calling it a power move.
4. The standard for what makes someone a decent partner is shockingly low.
You’ve probably seen enough posts with a partner praising their significant other for doing basic tasks.
The standard for decency now is essentially not cheating and being able to care for oneself in simple ways, perhaps even showing affection now and again.
When you see people praising their partners for like, doing the dishes once, or if you’re parents, “watching the kids” while you have an “hour to yourself,” it really sets up a surprisingly low expectation for what a partner should be contributing to your life.
5. Your sense of security is likely disturbed by the knowledge that your partner has such a vast array of potential people they could be dating.
This isn’t necessarily anyone’s fault, just a fact of the times.
You know why it’s so hard to commit? Because the possibilities are limitless and nobody wants to miss out.
A few generations ago, your dating prospects were limited to who your family knew or who was within your community. Today, you can connect to anyone, anywhere, within the right age range and filtered through your top preferences and deal-breakers.
Years ago, you didn’t have someone sliding into your partners DMs on any kind of regular basis. It is understandable that we would all generally feel a little less secure in ourselves.
6. You have probably spent at least some portion of your life trying to turn a f*ckboy into a husband.
If those are the wrong pronouns for your particular situation, please feel free to swap them out — but the point still stands.
You have probably devoted at least some part of your youth in an attempt to turn a person who absolutely was never going to commit to you into the dream partner you wanted them to be.
When you fall in love with someone’s potential as opposed to their reality, you end up slighted almost every time.
7. Trying to maintain a real connection in a disconnected world is profoundly difficult.
Do you know what’s one of the biggest barriers prohibiting real, genuine connection?
The fact that everyone comes home from a long day at work and spends the following hours scrolling on their phones.
It is not healthy to lay in bed next to your partner every single night and just stare at screens, not engaging in any way, but it’s normal. It is not healthy to be constantly inundated with new content that sets higher and higher expectations for what your life should be, and yet, it is normal.
The only way we are going to ever achieve the true levels of intimacy we as human beings really need is if we put down the distractions and actually spend time with a person.
Good relationships are not something we find, they are something we build.
That seems to be the piece that we’re missing.


thoughtcatalog--2020-05-05--36 Movies That Were Even Better Than The Books They Were Based On

1 .
To All The Boys I ’ ve Loved Before .
I watched the movie and loved it so much that I bought the book trilogy .
The movie is beautiful but reading the book made me realize that it ’ s the cinematography and acting that make the movie so good – the actual plotline is really cheesy .
The books are also written in a really simple way , for a much younger audience .
2 .
The Devil Wears Prada .
I have admiration for the people who made the story for the screen , because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movie that came out of a very meh book .
3 .
Shawshank Redemption .
It was part of a four-part novella release by Stephen King .
The story was very short but very well written .
I just feel like the movie really captured the spirit of the story and gave some depth to the characters .
Plus , the acting was great .
5 .
Big Fish .
The movie explores the wondrous world of the father ’ s outrageous stories , but the book lacks all that lavish imagery .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ retelling from spoiled child who thought his daddy didn ’ t love him enough .
6 .
John Hammond from Jurassic Park was much better in the movie .
In the book he was kind of your standard greedy businessman .
In the movie , he was a dreamy idealist with good intentions , which made it so much more heartbreaking when the park inevitably failed .
7 .
The Silence of the Lambs .
It was incredibly drawn out at times and they were right to cut a lot of it out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feels the need to describe the hell out of everything and it gets tedious to read .
8 .
The Notebook .
Rachel McAdams brought flair and charisma that wasn ’ t in the book .
9 .
Trainspotting .
The book is pretty good but the movie is a fucking masterpiece .
10 .
Blade Runner .
The novel was good but the movie perfected the tone and quite honestly I thought Deckard was written better for the film .
11 .
It : Chapter One was great .
Plus it didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ banging Bev like the Stephen King novel .
So it gets my vote !
12 .
The Martian , mainly because the visuals were amazing and it made the story so much better to be able to see everything .
13 .
Jaws , because everyone in the novel is a terrible person , and a lot of the tension in the film is removed because the guys hunting the shark just get to go home every night in the book .
14 .
Kingsmen is better than the comic .
Mainly because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all that much .
15 .
Holes .
I don ’ t know if it was better but damn the movie did the book justice .
One of my favorite childhood books and movies .
16 .
Fight Club .
The book had a better ending , but it was written in such bizarre style it was a chore to read .
And it ’ s a short book too .
17 .
Call Me By Your Name .
The movie was a beautiful study of silences .
In the book you experienced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ old boy ’ s head .
It was manic .
In the movie you had to rely on Chalamet ’ s performance to understand what was going on in his head .
18 .
The Graduate .
The book that this movie is based off of was critically panned , but director Mike Nichols took interest in the absurd source material and directed one of the highest grossing films of all time .
19 .
Les Miserables because Val Jean ’ s inner debate lasts about 100 pages and the opening number is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It just goes on and on .
20 .
No Country for Old Men .
The book is great but McCarthy ’ s style of writing makes it pretty difficult to read and follow the flow of what ’ s going on .
Meanwhile , the movie has you on the edge of your seat , has a very eerie feel to it and the casting is very spot on .
21 .
American Psycho .
The movie did a fine job portraying how insane he was .
There were passages in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down and stop reading it , just too much .
Pure shock value .
22 .
A Little Princess .
The book was OK but it was definitely a children ’ s book .
The movie was absolutely beautiful .
Alfonso Cuaron is an amazing director .
23 .
The Ritual .
The film only depicted the first half of the book , which is great because the book devolves into stupid , incoherent drivel after that .
Seriously , the author had a good thing going for the first 220 or so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chills , but then it got dumb .
The novel should ’ ve stopped where the film did , instead of basically adding a half-assed , nonsensical sequel that nobody asked for as the second act .
Netflix actually did a fantastic adaptation of the book , and the film is far superior to Adam Neville ’ s novel .
24 .
The Secret Garden .
Actually seeing the garden was amazing , and the acting was incredible .
25 .
Slumdog Millionaire .
I feel that it ’ s somewhat cheating ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ films like Slumdog Millionaire , Forrest Gump , and Jojo Rabbit because they aren ’ t even trying to be faithful adaptations .
They take a lot of liberties and go in a lot of different directions than the source material .
So whether it ’ s even the same story as the book Q & A on which it ’ s based is debatable .
But I certainly enjoyed it more .
26 .
Might be unpopular but I think The Princess Bride .
I found Buttercup ’ s character way worse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point where I was like okay dude cut ties you ’ re better off without her and in the movie I never feel that really .
27 .
Children of Men .
The movie was a million times better .
The book had no scope .
28 .
Stardust .
Don ’ t get me wrong , I enjoy Neil Gaiman , and the Stardust book was really good , but the movie was absolutely enchanting .
I mean , seeing Robert DeNiro as Captain Shakespeare ?
Life-changing .
Not to mention a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think Arrival was better , and that ’ s coming from someone who really liked the short story .
The movie is just better at telling that story overall .
30 .
Last of the Mohicans .
Boring slog of a book .
Epic period-piece action movie .
31 .
The Godfather .
I like the book , but the film is phenomenal .
32 .
Schindler ’ s List .
The book was almost unreadable .
Then again I ’ m a dumbass .
33 .
JoJo Rabbit was better than Caging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bleak that it probably wouldn ’ t have been adapted otherwise .
34 .
Forest Gump was way better that the book it was based on .
35. Who Framed Rodger Rabbit .
The book was supposed to be written as film-noir , but it ends up as a disjointed mess .
The characters are there , but they have none of the charm of the movie .
Eddie isn ’ t a good man , who ’ s ruining his life with booze after the loss of his brother ; he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Roger is dead .
Etc… The plot is also different ; the movie took the idea of humans and Toons interacting , and went in a completely different direction .
36 .
Queen Bees & Wannabes mostly known by its movie adaptation name as Mean Girls .
I mean they ’ re basically nothing alike but the book is supposed to be a self-help book .

These books mentioned on Ask Reddit were turned into AMAZING movies.
1. To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before. I watched the movie and loved it so much that I bought the book trilogy. The movie is beautiful but reading the book made me realize that it’s the cinematography and acting that make the movie so good – the actual plotline is really cheesy. The books are also written in a really simple way, for a much younger audience.
2. The Devil Wears Prada. I have admiration for the people who made the story for the screen, because the book is nothing similar. Amazing movie that came out of a very meh book.
3. Shawshank Redemption. It was part of a four-part novella release by Stephen King. The story was very short but very well written. I just feel like the movie really captured the spirit of the story and gave some depth to the characters. Plus, the acting was great.
4. The Mist. Even Stephen King agreed.
5. Big Fish. The movie explores the wondrous world of the father’s outrageous stories, but the book lacks all that lavish imagery. Instead it’s just a bitter retelling from spoiled child who thought his daddy didn’t love him enough.
6. John Hammond from Jurassic Park was much better in the movie. In the book he was kind of your standard greedy businessman. In the movie, he was a dreamy idealist with good intentions, which made it so much more heartbreaking when the park inevitably failed.
7. The Silence of the Lambs. It was incredibly drawn out at times and they were right to cut a lot of it out of the movie. The author also feels the need to describe the hell out of everything and it gets tedious to read.
8. The Notebook. Rachel McAdams brought flair and charisma that wasn’t in the book.
9. Trainspotting. The book is pretty good but the movie is a fucking masterpiece.
10. Blade Runner. The novel was good but the movie perfected the tone and quite honestly I thought Deckard was written better for the film.
11. It: Chapter One was great. Plus it didn’t end with all the kids banging Bev like the Stephen King novel. So it gets my vote!
12. The Martian, mainly because the visuals were amazing and it made the story so much better to be able to see everything.
13. Jaws, because everyone in the novel is a terrible person, and a lot of the tension in the film is removed because the guys hunting the shark just get to go home every night in the book.
14. Kingsmen is better than the comic. Mainly because they didn’t follow the comic all that much.
15. Holes. I don’t know if it was better but damn the movie did the book justice. One of my favorite childhood books and movies.
16. Fight Club. The book had a better ending, but it was written in such bizarre style it was a chore to read. And it’s a short book too.
17. Call Me By Your Name. The movie was a beautiful study of silences. In the book you experienced every thought going through a 17 year old boy’s head. It was manic. In the movie you had to rely on Chalamet’s performance to understand what was going on in his head.
18. The Graduate. The book that this movie is based off of was critically panned, but director Mike Nichols took interest in the absurd source material and directed one of the highest grossing films of all time.
19. Les Miserables because Val Jean’s inner debate lasts about 100 pages and the opening number is about a third of the book. It just goes on and on.
20. No Country for Old Men. The book is great but McCarthy’s style of writing makes it pretty difficult to read and follow the flow of what’s going on. Meanwhile, the movie has you on the edge of your seat, has a very eerie feel to it and the casting is very spot on.
21. American Psycho. The movie did a fine job portraying how insane he was. There were passages in the book that almost made me put it down and stop reading it, just too much. Pure shock value.
22. A Little Princess. The book was OK but it was definitely a children’s book. The movie was absolutely beautiful. Alfonso Cuaron is an amazing director.
23. The Ritual. The film only depicted the first half of the book, which is great because the book devolves into stupid, incoherent drivel after that. Seriously, the author had a good thing going for the first 220 or so pages, some really good characterization and chills, but then it got dumb. The novel should’ve stopped where the film did, instead of basically adding a half-assed, nonsensical sequel that nobody asked for as the second act.
Netflix actually did a fantastic adaptation of the book, and the film is far superior to Adam Neville’s novel.
24. The Secret Garden. Actually seeing the garden was amazing, and the acting was incredible.
25. Slumdog Millionaire. I feel that it’s somewhat cheating (in regards to this question) for films like Slumdog Millionaire, Forrest Gump, and Jojo Rabbit because they aren’t even trying to be faithful adaptations. They take a lot of liberties and go in a lot of different directions than the source material. So whether it’s even the same story as the book Q&A on which it’s based is debatable. But I certainly enjoyed it more.
26. Might be unpopular but I think The Princess Bride. I found Buttercup’s character way worse in the book, even to a point where I was like okay dude cut ties you’re better off without her and in the movie I never feel that really.
27. Children of Men. The movie was a million times better. The book had no scope.
28. Stardust. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy Neil Gaiman, and the Stardust book was really good, but the movie was absolutely enchanting. I mean, seeing Robert DeNiro as Captain Shakespeare? Life-changing. Not to mention a much better ending.
29. I think Arrival was better, and that’s coming from someone who really liked the short story. The movie is just better at telling that story overall.
30. Last of the Mohicans. Boring slog of a book. Epic period-piece action movie.
31. The Godfather. I like the book, but the film is phenomenal.
32. Schindler’s List. The book was almost unreadable. Then again I’m a dumbass.
33. JoJo Rabbit was better than Caging Skies. The book was so goddamn bleak that it probably wouldn’t have been adapted otherwise.
34. Forest Gump was way better that the book it was based on.
35. Who Framed Rodger Rabbit. The book was supposed to be written as film-noir, but it ends up as a disjointed mess. The characters are there, but they have none of the charm of the movie. Eddie isn’t a good man, who’s ruining his life with booze after the loss of his brother; he’s a drunk asshole, just because. Roger is dead. Etc…
The plot is also different; the movie took the idea of humans and Toons interacting, and went in a completely different direction.
36. Queen Bees & Wannabes mostly known by its movie adaptation name as Mean Girls. I mean they’re basically nothing alike but the book is supposed to be a self-help book.


thoughtcatalog--2020-05-05--30 Fascinating Animal Facts That You Can Pull Out On First Dates

1 .
The blobfish looks like a normal fish underwater , but since they are a deep sea fish , the depressurization make it look like what we see in pictures .
2 .
Bald eagles don ’ t sound like they do on TV .
They dub over the call of a redtail hawk .
Actual bald eagle calls sound more like a seagull .
Similarly , lion roars on TV are usually dubbed over with tiger roars , because an actual lion roar is usually too deep to record well so it sounds weak , but apparently is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mosquitoes bite humans for blood .
Males only drink nectar like butterflies .
4 .
Unlike humans , dolphins must actively decide when to breathe .
Captive dolphins have been known to hold their breath until they die of suffocation , which some have suggested amounts to dolphin suicide .
5 .
A horse ’ s teeth take up more space in their skull than their brain .
6 .
Ravens can mimic sounds and speech like parrots can .
7 .
The Greenland shark reaches sexual maturity at 150 years old and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that there ’ s something that can live that long .
8 .
Each ‘ school ’ of clownfish has one female , and a head male and the others ( all males ) .
If the female dies , the head male turns into a female .
9 .
When a specific species of carpenter ant realizes it ’ s going to lose the fight it ’ s having with another insect , it latches onto them and then blows itself the fuck up .
Membranes along the ants body can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Special enlarged glands in its head mean the explosion sends a glue-like substance shooting out that will very likely entrap the previously presumptive brawl victor .
10 .
In a fox couple , if the vixen dies , the male fox will become single for the rest of his life .
Now if the male fox dies , the vixen goes off to find another partner .
11 .
Various species of tarantulas around the world will keep frogs as pets .
The tarantula protects the frog from larger predators while the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as ants .
13 .
Zebras ’ stripes are as unique as fingerprints , and they can tell each other apart .
15 .
Gorillas , along with other primates , can learn sign language to the point where even if they do not know a specific word for a specific object they can use their previous vocabulary to describe the word accurately .
Like for example , Koko the gorilla never learned the word for “ ring ” , so one day she pointed at a ring and signed the words @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can breath through their butts .
17 .
A snail can sleep for three years .
18 .
A hummingbird weighs less than a penny and is the only bird who can fly backwards .
19 .
Giraffes clean their own ears with their own tongue !
20 .
If frogs vomit , they vomit out their stomach , scraping out their contents , then swallowing it up again without dying .
22 .
Sloths sometimes grab their own arms , thinking they are branches , and thus fall to their death .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
They can revert back to a sexually immature polyp to start its life over once it becomes old or sick .
24 .
The word for penguin in Mandarin translates to business goose .
28 .
Caterpillars have over 200 muscles in just their head .
29 .
Owls bob their heads up and down to help improve their depth perception .
30 .
Sperm whales in the Caribbean have an accent .

These animal facts from Ask Reddit will keep a conversation going.
1. The blobfish looks like a normal fish underwater, but since they are a deep sea fish, the depressurization make it look like what we see in pictures.
2. Bald eagles don’t sound like they do on TV. They dub over the call of a redtail hawk. Actual bald eagle calls sound more like a seagull.
Similarly, lion roars on TV are usually dubbed over with tiger roars, because an actual lion roar is usually too deep to record well so it sounds weak, but apparently is terrifying IRL.
3. Only female mosquitoes bite humans for blood. Males only drink nectar like butterflies.
4. Unlike humans, dolphins must actively decide when to breathe. Captive dolphins have been known to hold their breath until they die of suffocation, which some have suggested amounts to dolphin suicide.
5. A horse’s teeth take up more space in their skull than their brain.
6. Ravens can mimic sounds and speech like parrots can.
7. The Greenland shark reaches sexual maturity at 150 years old and lives 300-500 years. Always fascinates me that there’s something that can live that long.
8. Each ‘school’ of clownfish has one female, and a head male and the others (all males). If the female dies, the head male turns into a female.
9. When a specific species of carpenter ant realizes it’s going to lose the fight it’s having with another insect, it latches onto them and then blows itself the fuck up. Membranes along the ants body can be activated that’ll lead to combustion. Special enlarged glands in its head mean the explosion sends a glue-like substance shooting out that will very likely entrap the previously presumptive brawl victor.
10. In a fox couple, if the vixen dies, the male fox will become single for the rest of his life. Now if the male fox dies, the vixen goes off to find another partner.
11. Various species of tarantulas around the world will keep frogs as pets. The tarantula protects the frog from larger predators while the frog protects the spider from smaller pests such as ants.
12. A group of zebras are called a dazzle.
13. Zebras’ stripes are as unique as fingerprints, and they can tell each other apart.
14. Polar bear fur is actually clear.
15. Gorillas, along with other primates, can learn sign language to the point where even if they do not know a specific word for a specific object they can use their previous vocabulary to describe the word accurately.
Like for example, Koko the gorilla never learned the word for “ring”, so one day she pointed at a ring and signed the words; “finger-bracelet.”
16. Turtles can breath through their butts.
17. A snail can sleep for three years.
18. A hummingbird weighs less than a penny and is the only bird who can fly backwards.
19. Giraffes clean their own ears with their own tongue!
20. If frogs vomit, they vomit out their stomach, scraping out their contents, then swallowing it up again without dying.
21. A giraffe’s neck has only 7 bones.
22. Sloths sometimes grab their own arms, thinking they are branches, and thus fall to their death.
23. An immortal species of jellyfish! They can revert back to a sexually immature polyp to start its life over once it becomes old or sick.
24. The word for penguin in Mandarin translates to business goose.
25. A pig’s orgasm lasts 30 minutes.
26. The octopus has 3 hearts.
27. Wombats have cubic poops. They literally shit bricks!
28. Caterpillars have over 200 muscles in just their head.
29. Owls bob their heads up and down to help improve their depth perception.
30. Sperm whales in the Caribbean have an accent.


thoughtcatalog--2020-05-05--6 Dating Games You Might Not Even Realize You’ve Been Playing

1 .
You ’ re always dancing around your feelings .
It ’ s scary to be direct about your feelings , especially when the other person isn ’ t coming out and saying exactly what they want from you , either .
You might even feel like bringing up such a serious topic would ruin your chemistry , destroy your sexual tension .
But it ’ s important to let each other know what you are expecting to get from the relationship .
If you never even hint at the fact you ’ re interested in a serious relationship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re only looking for a fling , you will have no idea that you ’ re never going to work as a couple .
It ’ s best to be transparent as early on as you can .
2 .
You ’ re spending hours crafting the perfect text .
You want to impress your crush , so it ’ s only natural that you spend some time trying to come up with cute , clever answers to each text .
But you don ’ t want to go overboard .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ friends for help figuring out how to answer and rewrite the same message fifty times until it sounds perfect .
You don ’ t want to accidentally slip into a false persona .
You want them to get to know the real you .
You want your personality to shine through your texts .
3 .
You ’ re paying too much attention to timing .
You don ’ t want to calculate exactly how many minutes it took them to answer your text and then wait just as long , if not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Answer when you want to answer .
Don ’ t hold yourself back from having a nice conversation with them because you ’ re worried about looking too eager .
The right person will be excited by eager .
4 .
You ’ re lying about your personal life .
You might not want to admit that you ’ re lounging on the couch in pajamas every time they text to ask what you ’ re doing , but you don ’ t have to pretend you ’ re at crazy parties every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to date somewhere down the line , they ’ re going to see what a normal week is like for you .
They ’ re going to realize the truth .
And honestly , the right person will like you more for being honest with them , for refusing to put up a front to look like someone you ’ re not .
5 .
You ’ re using social media in place of actually connecting .
You shouldn ’ t have to post a cute picture on social media in order to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their attention , you should simply be able to strike up a conversation with them .
It should be that easy .
6 .
You ’ re pretending you care less than you really do .
You shouldn ’ t strive to look like the one who cares less .
You shouldn ’ t want to make someone you like feel bad about themselves in order to play some twisted version of hard to get .
Why would you want to lower their self-esteem ?
Why would you want them to assume you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care about someone , you should let them know it .
You should be honest about your feelings .
The more straightforward you are with them , the more straightforward they ’ ll be with you .

1. You’re always dancing around your feelings. It’s scary to be direct about your feelings, especially when the other person isn’t coming out and saying exactly what they want from you, either. You might even feel like bringing up such a serious topic would ruin your chemistry, destroy your sexual tension. But it’s important to let each other know what you are expecting to get from the relationship. If you never even hint at the fact you’re interested in a serious relationship and they never bother to mention they’re only looking for a fling, you will have no idea that you’re never going to work as a couple. It’s best to be transparent as early on as you can.
2. You’re spending hours crafting the perfect text. You want to impress your crush, so it’s only natural that you spend some time trying to come up with cute, clever answers to each text. But you don’t want to go overboard. You don’t want to ask your friends for help figuring out how to answer and rewrite the same message fifty times until it sounds perfect. You don’t want to accidentally slip into a false persona. You want them to get to know the real you. You want your personality to shine through your texts.
3. You’re paying too much attention to timing. You don’t want to calculate exactly how many minutes it took them to answer your text and then wait just as long, if not longer, to answer their text. Answer when you want to answer. Don’t hold yourself back from having a nice conversation with them because you’re worried about looking too eager. The right person will be excited by eager.
4. You’re lying about your personal life. You might not want to admit that you’re lounging on the couch in pajamas every time they text to ask what you’re doing, but you don’t have to pretend you’re at crazy parties every night, either. If you start to date somewhere down the line, they’re going to see what a normal week is like for you. They’re going to realize the truth. And honestly, the right person will like you more for being honest with them, for refusing to put up a front to look like someone you’re not.
5. You’re using social media in place of actually connecting. You shouldn’t have to post a cute picture on social media in order to get their attention. If you want their attention, you should simply be able to strike up a conversation with them. It should be that easy.
6. You’re pretending you care less than you really do. You shouldn’t strive to look like the one who cares less. You shouldn’t want to make someone you like feel bad about themselves in order to play some twisted version of hard to get. Why would you want to lower their self-esteem? Why would you want them to assume you aren’t interested? If you care about someone, you should let them know it. You should be honest about your feelings. The more straightforward you are with them, the more straightforward they’ll be with you.