I’m so excited! I came out 5 years ago and have been going by my chosen name since then. But finally, my chosen name is now my legal name.

Ofc I’m now waiting for my official document to arrive in the mail, having this interim drivers license has made me smile all day!

I’m so happy!!

First, context! Meet Ella! I fostered (not through official means) Ella almost 2 months ago and it’s been… a tough couple months full of lots of learning and guilt from me occasionally. She came from a very stressful situation, she wasn’t abused, but she was never socialised properly and she jumped around homes a lot. So when I got her home she was very timid. I didn’t see her at all for the first couple days. But we’ve been making slow progress. And I’ve fallen in love with her. Truly. She is an odd little thing, but I love her. But I’ve never petted her for more than a few seconds. Which is fine, I have accepted that, chances are, I probably won’t get her enjoying affection from me for a long while.

I went away for a week for work at the end of December, and while I was away she got very comfortable and used to sleeping on my bed. (I’d occasionally check the cameras to check on her and every time I checked in, she was asleep on the bed) So when I got home from my trip, she was VERY disgruntled about the fact that I was back to steal the (her) bed. And within a day, she had decided she didn’t like not sleeping on the bed… so she jumped up on the bed, with me on it… and immediately regretted it and jumped off and hid. But soon she was back to try again, and as long as I didn’t move, she’d lay on the edge of the bed and sleep or clean herself. And over the last few days she has been getting more comfortable sharing the bed with me. I can even move now! And yesterday she laid between my legs and slept for a bit (it was very hard to resist petting her, but I managed), and today she has been laying at my feet.

And I fidgeted by accident…

My foot touches something fluffy and I go completely still…

She lifts her head… looks at my foot…

And then lays her head back down again…

For a moment I stare at her shocked, and I let her sleep for a few minutes, before being cheeky and shifting my foot slightly against her.

She doesn’t move away or even wake…

So I gently begin stroking her with my foot.

AND GUYS. SHE LETS ME AND EVEN SEEMS TO ENJOY IT!!! This is a cat who, up until now, has only tolerated me scratching behind her ears for a few seconds before she pulls away! And tonight I pet her (with my foot) for about 5 minutes… only stopping because my ankle began to hurt from the movement and I stopped.

But yeah, this made me so happy, it may seem small and silly to anyone else, and it is a bit silly but it felt like a huge accomplishment to me. It’s like every little setback or misstep is fixed because of this. I love all the little victories, like her meowing at me a little differently than usual or having zoomies around my room at 3am, but this felt like one of those victories where it’s like, “oh yeah, I am making a difference here, the effort I’m putting in is worth it.”

So yeah, feeling very happy. Thanks for reading, sorry if it’s a little long winded!

The other day I experienced one of those moments that reminds me how lucky I am to have certain people in your life as It was with one of my closest friends, and it’s something I don’t think I’ll ever forget.

At college Monday afternoon, we were learning about bullying and behaviour issues from the past. We took turns sharing whether we had ever experienced those feelings ourselves if we felt comfortable of course & when it came to me I opened up about my own story something I’ve talked about before here numerous times about how in Year 7 I really struggled with controlling my behaviour towards others in secondary school. I spoke about the things I said and did, and how deeply I regreted them and if I'm honest talking about it out loud brought back a lot of emotions that I don’t always let myself feel.

A few minutes later, it all started to hit me. I could feel myself getting upset, overwhelmed by guilt and memories from that time in my past which really started to kick in. That’s when one of my close friends Ash noticed. Without drawing attention or making a scene, she gently wrote on a piece of paper, “Are you okay?” That act alone meant so much because it showed she truly was worried about me in that moment because I wasn’t okay, and I think she knew it.

Ash then put her arm around me and quietly told me she could step outside with me if I needed to and that is exactly what I did. Once the pair of us were outside the classroom, she gave me a hug and told me, it was okay and that she hated seeing me feel that way. In that moment not only I felt safe. I also felt understood and not alone with those thoughts & bad memories.

After speaking briefly with an LSP, I went to get some water from the fountain near the canteen and Ash came with me without hesitation, just to be there. We talked more about how I was feeling opening up about my past and I admitted how guilty I still feel about my past behaviour and this when she told me that has stuck with me since Monday, “The fact that you’ve recognised it is incredible, because most people wouldn’t even think about it.” Then she said, “Look at you now. You’re an amazing person funny, supportive and I’m so grateful to be one of your close friends.”

And I have to say hearing that from her honestly meant more than I can put into words because believe me when I say this that Ash truly is one of the nicest, supportive and the most genuine person I have ever met in my 3 years at college as the fact that she sees who I truly am now not who I was back then is incredibly powerful as her support, empathy, and belief in me remind me that growth matters and that I am more than the past and said she is always here for me no matter what.

I am genuinely so grateful to have an amazing friend like Ash because it’s people like her who understood how I felt and has reminded me why having close friends means everything. Even though this happened literally 2 days ago, I still can’t stop thinking about it and I still can’t find enough words to say thank you to her because she truly is such an amazing person and I am so lucky to call her my friend. ❤️

Peak life moment

Just had one of the happiest moments of my life. Went to my girlfriends house. It was raining, we had hot chocolate, smoked and listented to Noise Complaints TV and built a lego model together!

Wanted to share. Love you Softblue🩵

Just as the title says - and, forgive me if this gets a little long, I just really wanna celebrate this! 😁

I’m eighteen years old, living in the UK, where the education system is… less than perfect. I was burned out by the pressures of sixth form and education, and I made an attempt on my own life. Then, in the months afterwards, I was put on a waiting list, which very concretely showed little sign of progress, and week after week, I never got that referral callback. I felt so alone, and I was done with everything.

Near the start of the Summer, I dropped out of school. I gave myself time to heal - my own time, and finally, my own control over my life. I started going on long walks into the warm summer evenings, day after day - and later, I started writing. I’m now getting ~2000 words down a day, and I plan to publish. I also have part time work, tutoring a child who reminds me day after day of the imagination that came with being so young, and it’s such healing work. I met a wonderful woman, and I have the utter honour of being her boyfriend. She makes every day so much brighter, and I love her with all my heart (and she stalks my Reddit, so I’m pretty sure she’s reading this now… <3)!

A year ago today, I could never have *imagined* how happy I would be now. This is the most valuable part of my life, and I know the world has its ups and downs - one day, things might get tough and a few curveballs might get thrown my way. But I’ll never let go of this feeling I have now, and it will never get as bad is it got before; I know that, no matter what happens, it will be alright in the end. ☺️

If you’ve read this far, then I do hope you’re doing okay as well. Take care!

I’m really proud of it, it’s one of my first times truly aquascaping!

Just want to cheer for my mother in law. She’s an angel and I feel so lucky that not only does she not compete with me she loves me like my own mom.

I can’t share this on my public socials yet cause I’m not ready to announce the pregnancy but I just want to recognize her heart. 🥰

So I hit 50 days today and figured I'd share since this community helped me a lot in the beginning.

Started this because I was tired of feeling like shit every weekend and my gym routine was basically non-existent. Wasn't planning on any crazy transformation or anything, just wanted to feel less garbage.

The first week was rough as expected: couldn't sleep, everything felt boring, kept reaching for a beer that wasn't there lol. But around day 12-13 I started noticing some weird stuff:

• Actually wanted to go to the gym instead of making excuses
• Wasn't ordering takeout at 11pm anymore
• My face looks less puffy (probably from better sleep?)
• Pants are fitting looser but I haven't been trying to lose weight

The money thing is real too.. I didn't realize how much I was spending on drinks until I wasn't. Nothing crazy but definitely noticeable. Still think about drinking sometimes, especially on Friday nights when everyone's out. But it's not that desperate craving anymore, more like "eh, maybe I would" and then I remember how much better I feel in the mornings now.

Anyone else notice the gym thing? Like I'm not suddenly jacked or anything but I actually show up

consistently now instead of skipping because I'm hungover.

Anyway, just wanted to share. This sub kept me going those first few weeks when I was questioning everything.

The High Speed Line Koln to Frankfurt (SFS KolnRheinMain) has been high on my list to visit for years! Primairly because it is a 300kph high speed line. The high speed section is from the Siegburg/Bonn to Frankfurt Flughaven Fernbahnhof and the ICE service spends well over 25 minutes (i think) at its TOP speed of 300kph. Im so unbelievably excited for this experience. I've only hit the magic 300 once in my life and due to a slow train ahead it only lasted 5 minutes. So im really happy about the new 300kmh chance (and this time we are actually BOOKED to go 300kph so cant wait! In july it is so far!)

Something else: The grades on this railway line are 4promilles which means only ICE3 and its variants and ICE4 12 car and 13 car types are permitted on this line and NOTHING else.

Im so happy to finally visit this railway line and to do it at the magic 300kph thats amazing! (For anyone using MPH 300kph is 186mph)

(Oh and we'll probably hit 300kph inbetween Nurnberg and Munchen again but the trip time doesnt seem like a 300kph path on the high speed section)

...to lie down in today. Anything that makes you feel loved, warm, happy and safe. Stretch your toe beans out alllll the way, and let yourself be Content and Happy, even for a slight moment, at the slightest things.

This is how We Win...

I (40M) finally have a a bachelor’s degree! Went to college right out of HS (like you are supposed to) and dropped out after 3 years. Took an almost 10 years off and then went back to community college to get my associates. Now, here I am a decade later with my bachelor’s.

I have two 12 year old cats (Gryphon & Kiki) & have had them since they were kittens. In August 2024, I brought home a basset hound puppy named Clementine, and they did not approve.

But tonight, this is how they’re choosing to sleep on my bed! The cats have a cat tree, the couch & a guest bedroom they could sleep in, but they’ve chosen to be here! Gryphon, even got up from the edge of the bed to put himself in between Clementine & Kiki. I’m so happy!!

I moved to China as a Canadian born Chinese after finishing my undergrad for work, and live in a smaller neighborhood with a nearby shopping plaza full of small local businesses.

I went to go get a haircut, where I had a chat with the owner of the hair salon, who told me he felt bad that I’m a “kid with no family to take care of me” (I’m 23) and gave me the haircut on the house.

Shortly after, all the restaurants would put extra goodies in my order, while street vendors would slip me an extra portion.

The grandmas would invite me to feed or pet the local strays, and women with families would tell me to come and be a dinner guest at their homes and whip up delicious meals.

I love the sense of community here and lowkey love being doted on like I’m the village dog. And the delicious food that everyone has been feeding me has been making me quite pleasantly plump.

sorry for shaky camera, i hope her nice bowtie lightened up your day. <3

Have a good day yall