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Sober Queer Spaces Are Giving LGBTQ+ People a Place to Just Be

  #LGBTQ+  #queercafés #Cuties #VirginiaBauman  #IrisBainumHoule  Across the country, queer cafés, mixers, and stores are providing options that aren't gay bars — and that's revolutionary. On any given day in Los Angeles, LGBTQ+ locals and tourists have few choices when it comes to finding other queer and trans people — at least, in a space that’s not a bar. The go-tos , especially for cisgender gay men of legal drinking age, are gay bars, largely found in the tony city of West Hollywood. But for everyone else who identifies as LGBTQ+, such spaces are less than ideal, and for youth and those who are sober or in recovery, they aren’t an option at all. That's one reason Virginia Bauman and her business partner Iris Bainum-Houle opened  Cuties , a queer-owned, operated, and focused café in East Hollywood. Open daily from mornings into late afternoons, with events often hosted in the evenings, Cuties is an accessible, alcohol-free spot for LGBTQ+ people to just  be —  so

Lalah Hathaway - " Tiny Desk " Live Perfomance - NPR

  #LalahHathaway #LivePerformance #NPR #R&B #RnB #Soul Lalah Hathaway  comes from royalty: Her late father  Donny Hathaway 's voice was crucial for my generation, setting the bar for inspired, old-school soul singing. But living in that kind of shadow can also be a burden, robbing the offspring of an identity apart from that of the famous parent. The younger Hathaway's appearance behind the Tiny Desk pulls back the curtain a bit for a close-up encounter with her powerfully expressive voice. The lower registers always draw me in, and in "Change Ya Life," Hathaway's dusky contralto paints an exciting portrait of blissful cohabitation — but on her terms. "I'm going to teach you how to treat me like I deserve," she sings, adding, "I'll give you the world." She draws on a tradition of romance and sensuality in the best soul music, but with a feminist twist that eschews old-school, male-centric lyrics and attitudes. Lyrics alone do

L.A. Earthquake . . Be Prepared

#Earthquake #BePrepard #DropCoverHold With Southern California deeply seated in “earthquake country,” the Los Angeles County Fire Department urges you and your family to always be prepared. Here are a few tips on how to stay safe and prepared for the aftermath of a major earthquake. If an Earthquake Hits… Drop, Cover and Hold. No matter where you are, take cover under a sturdy desk, table or other furniture and hold on to it until the shaking stops. Avoid danger spots near windows, hanging objects, mirrors or tall furniture. Conduct earthquake drills every six months with your family. Keep Your Hallway Clear. It is one of the safest places to be during an earthquake. Learn How to Shut Off Utilities . Locate and learn how to shut off valves for water, gas, and electricity. P repare to Be Self-Sufficient. In a major disaster, emergency personnel will be inundated and may not be available to you for at least 72 hours or longer. Keep a supply of water, food, medicat

Okay, What Exactly Is Borderline Personality Disorder?

#Health #MentalHealth #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #BPD #Psychology  "It's not something I have, it's something I am." That's how Rebecca Bunch, a character on the CW's  Crazy Ex-Girlfriend , played by Rachel Bloom, described herself after being  diagnosed  with  borderline personality disorder  on the show. That hasn't been the only mention of BPD in pop culture recently. In May,  Saturday Night Live 's Pete Davidson took to Instagram Stories to talk about his own experience with BPD—and how, contrary to what some of his critics think, those with borderline personality disorder can maintain successful relationships. "Just because someone has a  mental illness  does not mean they can’t be happy and in a relationship,” he wrote. “It also doesn’t mean that person makes the relationship toxic. I just think it’s f*cked up to  stigmatize people as crazy  and say that they are unable to do stuff that anyone can do. It’s not their fault and

11 Reasons It’s Hard to Let Go of an Unhealthy Relationship

#Relationship #HealthyRelationship #UnhealthyRelationsip #LettingGo #Attachment #conflict Have you ever looked back at a previous relationship and wondered, “What was I thinking?” It may feel surprising to look back and realize how unhealthy a relationship was and wonder how you endured it for as long as you did. That’s why hindsight is 20/20. Perhaps you haven’t been in an unhealthy relationship yourself, but you’ve wondered why a friend or family member stays in a relationship that is clearly making them unhappy. Similar to a smudged windshield, it can be tough to see what’s right in front of you until the gunk is wiped away. Often, it’s not a lack of awareness that keeps people stuck in unhealthy relationships; deep down inside there is a voice calling for their attention urging them to face the truth but it’s being buried due to underlying fears. If you’re having difficulty letting go of an unhealthy relationship, consider whether any of the following reasons are playing a role: 1.

Four Ways to Turn Negative Body Thoughts Around Practice changing the disparaging things you say to your body into compassion.

#Compassion #Negative #Body #Thoughts  You may have already mastered the art of shutting down body shaming. But if you’re committed to cultivating a healthier body image, you’ll also need to tackle the negative things you say about your body. Sometimes that negative body talk comes in the form of conversations with others in which you badmouth your body, but other times these conversations happen in the privacy of your own mind. Psychologists refer to those unspoken conversations you have with yourself as “negative self-talk.” Consider what kinds of thoughts go through your mind when you catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror. Do you say kind things to your body? Or do you disparage your body for every perceived flaw? It takes practice to learn to catch the negative thoughts you have about your body and re-frame them. But over time, you can change the mental habit of berating your body and learn to think gentler, more accepting thoughts. Try these suggestions to get started.

3 Tips to Improve your Self-Esteem

                                                                                                                                                                       Copyright: Leonardo Patrizi      #Self-Esteem #Empathy #confidence #Identity #senseofbelonging #Resilience   What is Self-Esteem? Self-esteem is the opinion you have about yourself and your abilities. It can be influenced by factors like your confidence, your identity, and your sense of belonging. Self-esteem can be high, low, or somewhere in-between. Low  Self-Esteem Having low self-esteem might mean you aren’t confident in your abilities, your personality, or the value you bring to others in your life. Low self-esteem might be caused by: Not feeling a sense of security in life Doubts about your gender, sexuality, or body Feeling like you don't belong with your family, friends, or colleagues. Good  Self-Esteem On the contrary, having good self-esteem means you have positive beliefs about your abilities and your place