Bro is holy as hell

I never thought Tumblr would be around long enough for me to be an elder on the platform, but here we are. Good to see the new generation paying their dues

Long winded reply to a small post, but final thoughts are this: if you or your loved ones feel strained in communication rn, lead with compassion for yourself and those around you. Give each other space to feel, take a break if you need to. (Also ily and I can't wait to see you today)

Feeling when I am non-verbal, honestly showing that to people I trust; all this has been vital to feeling truly understood. Knowing when I need space for thought has been imperative in creating healthy communication in my life for people I love. It began with centering kindness to myself. (5)

It was painful to speak, but I was so focused on the pain of being misunderstood. Centering my own comfort and understanding now, i know that communication is two-directional. Good communication starts with understanding myself, so I can better show up for those who do want to know what I think (4)

Instead, my journey coping with mutism has been figuring out the intricacies of the internal experience. Too often, in my past, I would go into these bouts where i would start yelling because I felt so frustrated that I couldn't make others understand me. (3)

I wanna insert a disclaimer bc this is my partner, and I'm not going to diagnose anyone feeling this way. I'm saying these things here bc I wish I knew them sooner (2)

With selective mutism, this is one of my number one clues that I'm having a nonverbal slump. People explain mutism in its most nuclear form too often, and it gives us the impression that if you *can* speak, you are not experiencing it. (1)

This shit was so GOOD. In case you missed it, let me break it down: we have vegan garlic & herb pizza dough (excellent crumb) stacked high with garlic and parmesan tomato sauce, fresh mozz, shredded chicken, minced onion and portobello, and fresh rosemary(so fragrant!). Truly, a magnum opus.