Sarah Addison Allen, The Sugar Queen
Love this book - and this passage.
Reblogged from Books on the Bedside Table
The highly sensitive [introverted] tend to be philosophical or spiritual in their orientation, rather than materialistic or hedonistic. They dislike small talk. They often describe themselves as creative or intuitive. They dream vividly, and can often recall their dreams the next day. They love music, nature, art, physical beauty. They feel exceptionally strong emotions—sometimes acute bouts of joy, but also sorrow, melancholy, and fear. Highly sensitive people also process information about their environments—both physical and emotional—unusually deeply. They tend to notice subtleties that others miss—another person’s shift in mood, say, or a lightbulb burning a touch too brightly.
Reblogged from These hands are meant to hold.
Yesterday
I was not okay.
I had just gotten back from my sister’s house, where I spent the weekend attempting to be strong for my family that was there. The thing was, I didn’t want to be strong. I just wanted to cry and scream and bitch about how unfair the whole situation was.
I didn’t get home until just a few hours before my senior to Alum ritual that was taking place. Those few hours I used to get ready and also to cry. I hugged my boyfriend and I cried. I couldn’t stop.
I managed to pull myself together for the meeting… that is, until it was time for me to give my speech. I stood there in front of a room of girls that I hardly know - but that is my own fault, i’ve distanced myself.
I opened my mouth and said “This is kinda awkward…” and then I said “I didn’t have a chance to prepare words for this because…”
Then I lost it. I started sobbing. Hard core sobbing. I don’t typically cry like that, but I just wanted to not be okay. I just stood there sobbing, and almost fell over with the weight of the weekend pushing me down. Then, two of my lovely sisters stood up and pulled me into a hug.
With their support, I managed to spit out words about what had happened. I continued to sob, and it was okay. It was okay for me to not be okay.
I finally was able to get past this weekend and tell them about how the past four years with the chapter have honestly shaped me. I apologized that I have made myself distant. I was honest. I sobbed in front of girls I hardly know and I was so purely honest.
You know what? It felt good. In a way I freed myself from the cage I had trapped myself in. I always felt the need to be strong for everyone around me, but this weekend I called bullshit on myself.
A year ago I was budgeting time to write honest words and have honest conversations. Since I’ve been back from the internship I’ve moved away from that. I need to get back there. I need to stop closing myself off from everyone I know.
& I will.
Buying books is immensely comforting. Maybe I won’t read them immediately, but they make me feel so much better whenever I’m sad and blue. Just their presence, it’s like having more to look forward to.
Reblogged from These hands are meant to hold.
Gorgeous and Delicious Literary Cakes (via Flavorwire).
From first to last: Assorted titles wedding cake, The Giving Tree, The Very Hungry Caterpillar cupcakes, Chronicles of Narnia, The Night Circus and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
Forks please!
Reblogged from Books on the Bedside Table
Reblogged from Wandering Reveries
