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Shanel Anderson's avatar

I struggle with guilt over my dedication to quiet introspective time! We NEED this time to be better not only for ourselves but to replenish so that we can be present friends, siblings, parents, partners etc. ❤️

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alex b.'s avatar

Agree🎯

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Badiana Badio Eckstrom's avatar

I totally agree with this!!

I use my walks with my dog as my moment of peace and tranquility (wait does my Pup 🐶 not count as completely alone?)

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alex b.'s avatar

Fur babies are fine😊

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Badiana Badio Eckstrom's avatar

You win so many points with me for calling her my fur baby. I am wild about this 38 lb pandemic tiny puppy that I road tripped to the South to adopt.

I call her my familiar 😂 (Sabrina the Teenage Witch reference) - which is usually a small household pet that serve as a witch's companion. According to legend, familiars are sort of like guides, who take the form of an animal on Earth. They are loyal guardians and protectors to witches, who are sent to assist them with magic 🪄.

My love for her runs deep 😂

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alex b.'s avatar

Oh I love that she's your familiar. Yes, I watched Sabrina from the 90s and the Netflix series. Did she choose you or you chose her?

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Badiana Badio Eckstrom's avatar

I also watched both Sabrina’s 90s and Netflix one - did you have a preference?

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alex b.'s avatar

I like the 90s version but the Netflix series is more suspenseful and personal. Also, it saddened me to see that Chance Perdomo that played Ambrose passed in March.

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Badiana Badio Eckstrom's avatar

I actually did not know that. I just looked it up. In a motorcycle 🏍️ accident. Saddening indeed.

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Badiana Badio Eckstrom's avatar

What a gorgeous question Alex B!!

Oooohh that’s like the question “did the chicken or the egg that come first!”

Umm my first thought was to say I chose her but I think that was ego since I’m her caretaker but let’s be real she offers me sooo much and then some. I try to take her everywhere 😂. My husband is like you would take her into surgery and I said yes I would if these medical folk would allow it because I don’t trust them but I trust HER and her presence would help their hands do right by me. (Side note - I have trauma with the medical system in the states/malpractice etc)

I’m going on a tangent ok back to the point, I would say both. I found her photo online in my search to adopt a dog RANDOMLY. She was a tiny pup with gangly long legs and the sweetest face I had ever seen. I was captivated by her. I had to have her. But on the flip side who is to say she was not the one orchestrating that pic to land in front of my face to begin with? One will never know. So my vote we were drawn to each other like magnets 🧲, which pure luck I even was able to get her because that was at the height of everyone ‘wanting’ a dog in the Northeast so they were hard to come by and also like real estate so many people were putting in applications for the same animals. That period in time was insane.

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alex b.'s avatar

Love it! She sounds like the perfect companion that completes you. We'll have to talk about the medical system another day 😕. Your familiar would definitely needed to be there lol.

I used to have dogs and a cat and but unfortunately my landlords don't allow all pets. During that time, we had to make some quick moves and it deeply saddened me that I had to put my babies in new homes. My husband likes fish so we have two fish tanks. We're in the process of closing on our first home so maybe I can get another cat someday. I like to consider cats as my spirit animal.

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Badiana Badio Eckstrom's avatar

OMG I understand the landlord pet situation! I am so excited for y’all to close on your home. That’s beautiful Alex B. Feel free to DM all the details because I love this stuff. finding, purchasing, the settling in, all of it is a moment in one’s life.

I love that you said cats are your spirit animal. I assure you, one will find you when it’s time in the new home and I can’t wait for you to tell me when it happens

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Maiah's avatar

Thisss. Even 10 minutes outside can do a lot for your mood.

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alex b.'s avatar

Agree! Catch a quick 10 minutes outside for those busy days.

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Corinna Ren's avatar

Yeeeees! This is why I walk 1-2 hours per day! It’s time to myself!!

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alex b.'s avatar

Yes! I enjoy my walks at the park so much. I'll listen to some music, paint or a lil bit of writing.

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A Dope Black Girl With Anxiety's avatar

Being alone - just you, yourself, and your four corners - no matter how massive or tiny - is essential. If I could own a field just to scream in… life would be grand 😆

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Ashe's avatar

I do this and also have my husband do the same. You run the errands while I sit in the backyard. Or vice versa. It’s just us two so we have to be mindful. Can’t get too complacent or next thing you know we’re getting snippy at one another. So I go hang out with the girls and he stays home alone. Doing his thing. Few weeks later I say, “ain’t you tired of looking at me? Go to game night at your friend’s house, me and the cat be just fine.” 😂

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Jul 9, 2024
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alex b.'s avatar

Absolutely! I was telling my bestfriend this the other day. She has a newborn and a total of five kids. I suggested that she starts with at least an hour to herself. I understand with parents of small kids and getting that time away can be hard. But starting with an hour can really make a difference.

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