the strange is beautiful

“You Can be Broke and Self-Care” Exhibit Sept 21-26

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"You Can be Broke and Self-Care" Exhibit Sept 21-26
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About

“You Can Be Broke and Self-Care” is The Strange is Beautiful’s photo and interview project featuring 13 people in LA with mind obstacles (that’s what we call mental illnesses) practicing alternative self-care in their home or space. 

Expect to see polaroids, digital prints, 1-4 quotes of each of the 13 people interviewed, 3-5 journal prompts for each one, and self-care community events.

Visit it between September 21 and September 26 at Nous Tous Community Gallery for $5-$30 sliding scale donations (donate only if you’re able). Donations go to The Strange is Beautiful.

Sadcore Sundays: “Somedays (I Don’t Feel Like Trying)” by The Raconteurs

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Sadcore Sundays: "Somedays (I Don't Feel Like Trying)" by The Raconteurs

My boyfriend played me The Raconteurs’ new song “Somedays (I Don’t Feel Like Trying)” in the car and he said it reminded him of me lol. ACCURATE. I feel like this so much, too much throughout my life. It’s so easily relatable. My favorite lines are:

“But somedays I just feel like crying
And somedays I don’t feel like trying”

And

“I’m here right now
I’m not dead yet.”

Those last two lines really get me. It reminds me of pushing through all the bullshit life throws at me, pushing through the pain that my own body gives me, and pushing through any challenges and obstacles to remember that hell, I’m fucking alive. I’m ALIVE. I’m still here, I exist, and that’s something to celebrate. Yeah it’s hard for me to get out of bed sometimes, yeah I sometimes cry and give up on everything, but I’m not dead yet, so that means I can’t give up. I have to keep trying. Thank you The Raconteurs for accurately singing my feels. I hope they comfort you tonight and give you the strength to just be, to just live in this present moment, no matter how shitty it is right now, because you’re not dead yet, and you shouldn’t die yet because the universe still needs you and loves you.

Latina-American Teens With Depression Don’t Need DNA Testing, They Need Cultural Connection: “Some Girls” Documentary Review

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Latina-American Teens With Depression Don’t Need DNA Testing, They Need Cultural Connection: “Some Girls” Documentary Review

While scrolling through Instagram, I came across “Some Girls” documentary. I was excited to finally find a film that focused on depression in teen Latina-Americans, something I wished existed when I was in high school with depression. That day I texted Kelly Duarte, The Strange is Beautiful’s media and pop culture contributor, and we met up to watch it together for free on Kanopy, a video streaming service for public libraries. Though the documentary has a lot of great things about it, such as bringing awareness to this under represented and under researched issue, we were disappointed because it ignored many root reasons of why Latina-American teens are more likely to get depression, and disagreed with the creator’s choice to use DNA testing as a means of healing – especially because they claim it helped them, yet they never had depression.

Sadcore Sundays: “Bring Me to Life” by Evanescence

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Sadcore Sundays: "Bring Me to Life" by Evanescence

I’m surprised I haven’t featured Evanescence before today because Amy Lee, their singer, was my ultimate goth girl idol in middle school. She inspired my black lace vintage dresses and combat boots style back then. The music video is sooooo 2009 it’s amazing haha. If you’re going through a breakup and feel empty and unable to function without them, “Bring Me to Life” will be there for you.

Lyrics to “Bring Me to Life” by Evanescence:

Sadcore Sundays: “The One” by Jorja Smith

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Sadcore Sundays: "The One" by Jorja Smith

It’s a weird balance to love someone and ask for their help, and conversely, to not run to them each time. Even though it is human to need company when we’re feeling sad, it can be scary to be vulnerable. If you’re struggling with this balance, Jorja Smith’s R&B pop song “The One” will soothe you when you choose to take care of yourself, and understand when you have trouble being okay with having a loved one be there for you. The choice is yours, and any choice you make is the right one.

Lyrics to “The One” by Jorja Smith: