Nefara

Yes, he said he didn't like feeling like a kid next to me 🤷‍♀️

Found it really funny that in a green text meme post that was basically "-want to be a woman -don't have dysphoria" that when someone said they had the same sentiment as OP there was instantly someone in the comments saying they might be trans.... as opposed to, you know, just already being a woman 😂

Gratitude, even for little things. A purposeful and deliberate focus on things I'm happy to enjoy in my life and taking moments to really acknowledge them and soak in that feeling.

I'm proud of how I handled my anger over current events.

I got sick of just complaining on the internet and feeling powerless, so I volunteered for town government. It's an unelected position, unpaid, but it's in something I'm passionate about. It's tedious and slow, but we're making incremental changes to make things better. I have real influence now on my immediate area and it's helping me keep my sanity(?).

It's pretty common to want to be a woman and not have gender dysphoria. I'd bet something like half of all humans experience this.

I think the easiest thing to do is just look and see if it has a stamp on it. Very often it'll just tell you. Look for "full grain leather" and be wary of "made with leather". Another thing you can do is to really acquaint yourself with what a full grain leather belt looks and feels like and then you'll have a feel for the weight, stiffness and finishing. You can also look for ones that look a bit worn, with slightly deformed holes, a little warping, scuffed edges or tooling etc. If it looks worn, it's already withstood the test of time, and real leather can be re-dyed and reshaped. Obviously don't buy something that looks like it's falling apart though, cracking and rips aren't worth the hassle if it's not something sentimental. You won't necessarily find a good leather belt every time you go to a thrift store, but it's definitely something to keep an eye out for and you never know.

You can also always buy a bigger belt, because full grain leather can be cut and the edge finished with hobbyist crafting tools.

I had some unhealthy eating habits in the first year I had a kid, and I seem to be able to maintain the same size easily but getting smaller is hard. I actually don't mind what I see in the mirror, I think my shape is nice and I'm healthy enough to do all the things I enjoy, but what really bothers me is I can't fit into my favorite clothes 😭 I love clothes, I love playing dress up, and in the decade prior to having a baby I had found some amazing second hand finds that brought me joy and delight. I have a panoply of pretty things that helped define my personal style, but now only a small fraction of my wardrobe fits me. I can still wear some pieces, and I've found a couple new things for my current size, but I look in my closet with longing to wear my beautiful clothes again.

Hey I get it though, bike lanes are expensive new infrastructure. So pro-bike, anti bike lane just means all roads are now for bikes, cars not allowed. Ban cars and you don't need expensive new infrastructure! Sounds great!

You can still find them for $5 in thrift shops, just need to be able to tell the difference between the good stuff and the crappy stuff.

Apparently black clothes, when worn loose with a big skirt like that, can create a chimney effect and increase airflow underneath

I used to have a very low opinion of the capabilities of kids younger than 5, and genuinely had no idea what they were really like. I remember having similar thoughts about parents grieving babies, because for milennia we as a species had to deal with children dying all the time, to the point of not even naming them before certain ages. I have a toddler now and boy did I underestimate them. Did you know some speak in full sentences by two and a half? We taught our kid sign language when he was 8 months old so he could tell us what he needed, and by ten months he was telling us he loved trucks, had a surprisingly high tolerance for hot sauce and was a major cuddle bug who had a different favorite color every day (but mostly yellow and blue). He's three now and knows how to crack jokes, build block castles, can do forward and backward floor somersaults, and even can even do some basic rock climbing. I have parent friends with kids similar ages, one has their kid writing already, another has their kid riding a bicycle, all under 4 years old. They come out of the gate with very distinctive personalities, and every kid is different. I think if you actually knew a toddler well enough to get to know them, you'd realize just how quickly they become a fully realized person.

I've been impressed with my set of bamboo blend underwear from Boody, specifically the underpants. I bought like 8 pairs over a decade ago, and when I bought another set a few years ago and mixed them into the old pairs it was hard to tell the difference. I machine wash them and air dry them and they've held up extremely well. They're so soft and comfortable I can't really feel them when they're on, which is remarkable because I have trouble filtering sensory things.

They've held up so well after hundreds of wears I feel good recommending them to others. They ARE very simple, but they come in a variety of fits and colors.