How to express tenderness towards yourself

treat mundane activities like grocery shopping as adventures

make playlists for every feeling you can feel

give yourself quiet days to read and pass time slowly

keep a journal, a nonperfomative place to express yourself

reduce your screen time; use your screens mostly for inspiration

create more than you consume

have a place where you can run free and feel the wind rushing

do things that make you happy even if they seem childish

I hope you find a cozy home in yourself instead of wishing you were more this or less that. I hope you see something in yourself worth loving and protecting. I hope you find something that brings you comfort and lessens the loneliness. I hope you go on long walks and drink your favourite tea. I hope you have books, daydreams, paintbrushes, music and other escapes to hold on to when you have nothing else. I hope you continue to try even when you’re tired and can’t see the end. I hope unexpected good things come to surprise you. I hope you meet someone who lights up your life and makes up for all the goodbyes and endings that came before. I hope you’re going through your day and feel a sense of lightness all over and wonder to yourself, maybe it’s all going to be alright. I hope you make yourself proud. I hope you make new memories full of warmth and peace to replace the bad ones. I hope your heart will be surrounded with flowers, trees and stars. I hope everything gets better for you.

It’s ok to do things that make you happy. It’s ok to learn a new language despite your parents saying it’s useless. It’s ok to play games if that gives u something to look forward to. it’s ok to do things to relax and calm down even if it’s not “productive”. it’s not a waste of time to doodle flowers or make cookies for yourself or make pretty patterns with washi tape. You don’t need to be productive all the time, sometimes it’s nice to take time to close your eyes and listen to music or look up at the clouds passing by. Your life is yours and it’s not any less worthy if you spend more time doing what makes you happy. Destroy the idea that life has no time for simple pleasures and happy things.

soft reminder: it’s ok if you’re overwhelmed! there’s no need to look too far ahead. ask yourself, what can you do today? even five minutes will be good. slowly but surely, you will get there. every time you try, it will add up more than you even know!! you can do it ✨

you do things despite feeling afraid. you get out of bed when your mind aches. you ask for help when you need it and try not to stay inside all day. you try to talk yourself out of bad choices. you search for the good things and beauty that are hard to notice. you tell yourself that things will get better, despite feeling otherwise. you treat yourself gently, even though you’re never far from wanting to return to square one. you try your best despite feeling tired. you’ve come a long way from where you started. you want to heal and you’re getting there. that’s something to be proud of.

focus on one thing and pour your entire heart into one thing! like learning one single language, or only drawings flowers! you don’t need to do so many things at once or place impossible expectations of yourself! if it makes you happy, it’s enough! and it’s more meaningful to be good at the one thing that makes you happiest! 🌷

A few things about: Loneliness

i. being lonely isn’t bad. we’re hardwired to want touch and emotional connection. being lonely is human.

ii. everyone is lonely. the girl on the bus. the guy who’s posting his amazing life on instagram. the celebrity, the friend, the parent, the popular, the shy, the cat, everybody. yet few people would admit it or even say the word. no one is too good for loneliness.

iii. loneliness isn’t something bad. avoiding it is like avoiding sadness or anger; it will manifest into addiction, desperate attempts at crumbs of connection. feel loneliness in its purest form. maybe it’s an ache, a thirst in your throat, a colour of anxiety. sit with it. mother it.

iv: when you’re lonely and truly have no one, everything will be warmth. everything will be a friend. from the houseplant you’re nurturing, to the chamomile tea in your body, your bed, the guitar in your arms. this too is a full life. a good one. a precious one.

v. loneliness will tell you to reach out. that you’re okay and it’s a matter of timing. or it will tell you you’re repulsive, unloveable and weird. loneliness is a child, an emotion. it tries to make sense of its painful situation with both truth and lies. not everything should be believed. but not everything is unwise.

vi: your needs are important, and if you can’t reach out to a physical being, reach out into an outlet: music, writing, art, nature. make your mugs and pillows your friend. make your books your friend. if it comforts you, have it in your life as much as possible.

soft reminder: you’re enough. improving yourself is amazing, but it can get unhealthy if you feel like you’re worthless otherwise. you’re already enough and worthy and lovable, even now. working on self-love and acceptance is the most important thing. often the dream version of yourself that seems sparkly and inspiring won’t meet your true needs, and it won’t magically make you happy or fix everything. what you need most is love from yourself, and it starts from within. enhance yourself instead of replacing yourself.

a gentle reminder that you just need to make things a tiny bit better for your future self. reading one page, writing one sentence, getting half of a task done, it’s still good.

soft reminder: you’re healing every day. good days will come back, and even when nothing amazing happens, you’ll still be content because you’re at peace with the nothingness and quietness. you’ll grow your own garden and appreciate everything about YOU rather than wish you could be like someone else. you’ll make lots and lots of art, always messy but always meaningful; learn new things and subjects that excite you, and form healthier habits that energize your entire body and make it easier to wake up in the morning. you’ll learn to cope and accept what you can’t change. what feels permanent and heavy now will become lighter and easier to deal with, too. keep going, dear friend ♡

you do belong. you belong in the meadow during summertime. you belong in the soft blankets, cuddling an equally soft cat. you belong in your dream cottage, adorned with flowers and embroidery, with a pond of fluffy baby ducklings. you belong in the arms of a friend you haven’t met yet, in the tender thoughts of people who have loved you, from the moment you entered this world. you do belong.

soft reminder: you’re alive. you survived the worst nights you’ve ever experienced. you picked yourself up when you were at rock bottom. you made it through the worst relapses, loneliness, heartbreak, failure and darkness in your life. when you wanted to disappear you stayed, time and time again. you can make it through anything. you will get through this too.

To the lovely people who are afraid to be themselves 🍓✨

The same trait that one person might not like about you will be the same trait that another person sees as endearing or lovable. For example, a funny and confident person might be judged by a few people as “annoying” or loud, but others will admire your confidence and ability to brighten their day!! Shyness can sometimes be seen as apathetic and “boring”, but others will enjoy your quiet company, and admire your amazing ability to listen & say thoughtful words! If you feel the need to hide and isolate yourself, it might mean you havent met enough people to find someone truly compatible (which is definitely harder if you’re shy because it’s scarier to meet more people!). I hope you keep trying, despite your fears, and I hope you’ll accept that some people will naturally like you more, and incompatibilities are completely normal and not so much of a big deal as you thought! And I hope you make new friends who will make you realize even more that you were always perfectly lovable, too ♡

one day you will feel a warm little blue sky and flower fields in your heart

you can always start over. you can always catch up. you can still be who you dream of being. it’s not too late for you.

I was pleased to stumble upon your flowerais-archive. I miss Alice's blog very much, do you think she'll return to tumblr? I hope she will someday, but mostly just hope she's okay and feeling happy right now. Meanwhile, thank you for the care and kindness you are putting out into the world. Take care!

i hope she will return someday. this little blog is proof that we all miss her very much, and we’d love to welcome her back. thank you angel

❤️‍🩹

hello! do you know if alice is okay?

hii angel i don’t know anything but i really hope she is ok