Happy Canada Day! Featuring Captain Canada, First Without And Then With Catchphrase. Also Robin Sparkles.

It's been one of those very busy weeks of vacation, filled with family and amazing adventures (and more stress than I need at some points, tbh). So, today, we're slowing things to a crawl and are going to recharge by the pool, me with a new book to crack open. When your cup is empty, you have nothing left to offer others. #rechargemybatteries #fillmycup #vacationfrommyvacation (at Paia, Hawaii) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bub9SwmB5Pp3ihY8jE5P5Op3eZx0OoAMwM71zo0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ifbehluih4zi

Don't try to be the person who you or anyone else thinks you are 'supposed to be'. Just do your best at being who you actually are. #bekindtoyourself #healingjourney #wholesomememes https://www.instagram.com/raistlinsghost/p/CXEEodtrl6f/?utm_medium=tumblr

Some Avengers memes just in time for tonight. Don't worry, they are spoiler-free. And funny and/or sad. #spoilerfree #assemblealready https://www.instagram.com/p/BwsJx3CB47pAvcNNgp_DQA-mLE3RDukWbFbTtA0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1ers9iu769mhb

You people know who you are... Lol. #itstooearlyforthis #thegrinchismyspiritanimal https://www.instagram.com/p/CWgdIk2r4x-/?utm_medium=tumblr

So it's the end of the year, and as everyone's feeds flood with gratitude and year end or new year resolution posts, my contribution is my 2019 Good Things Jar. I've been filling one of these jars each year for a couple of years now. I'm not as good at tracking all of the good things as I would like to be. But this post and the exercise itself isn't about beating myself up. Exactly the opposite, actually. When I think about something worth noting that happens to me, whether a once in a lifetime occasion or a moment of daily trivia that just hits me, I do my best to write it down and stuff it in the jar. Reading through these little notes is awesome for reflection for me. For helping me get some much needed perspective, when I'm writing the notes, and when I take the time to look back. So I'll keep doing these jars. I would encourage anyone who hasn't done something like this to try it out, or something else like it. It helps. We can all too easily get caught up in the things that stress us, that we consider our failures, our losses, and lose sight of the beauty, the small victories. The things that make it worth it. #perspective #practicinggratitude #jarsformentalhealth #sothatwas2019 https://www.instagram.com/p/B6w1JbbhkSN3DycwpUcxAVqYK4NlkUqtxYWxgs0/?igshid=swg0yactkzkq

Can confirm, this is exactly how I feel.

So June is migraine awareness month. Because every day, week, month is taken up for awareness for something now. And just to be a pain in the ass, I woke up with one that lasted for 2 days, morning of June 1st. Timely. People with migraine disease typically have periods of high frequency attacks that taper to lower, and then back. Cyclical, so doctors have told me. I haven't gone more than 2 weeks without one in over 6 months, and mine last for days. They're hard on my loved ones, impact my ability to do my job and function at home, and no picnic to deal with. I'm ready for them to tick back to less often again anytime now. But a cure, or a treatment that actually prevents them. Or even some of them. That would be nice. Endrant. Now, who doesn't like memes, right? For migraineurs, I think you'll appreciate these. For others, here's a sortof funny glimpse into what it's like for us. #migrainelife #funnyandtrue #brainfog #allitalkaboutareinvisibleillnessesnow https://www.instagram.com/p/CA-TV0RHYLO2eOD1fAA18p_eSg0fcJwvSwPHtk0/?igshid=j6gxq3bxyfzz

Omw to pick up my young Avenger and head to #FANEXPOCanada I've been taking her for years and it's one of the things we both love doing together. In spite of all the things we lug around in our bags of hammers, maybe (just maybe) sometimes all it takes is a fingersnap, and some gratitude for the good things. @officialfxc #fanexpocanada2019 #fanexpo #gratitude https://www.instagram.com/p/B1gd5YLBMcp/?igshid=2xiwkyhijzfk

What do you do on Endgame Eve? You eat junk food and you re-watch Infinity War for like the 30th time, that's what. #avengersendgame #mykidisthecoolest #notamcdonaldsad https://www.instagram.com/p/Bwp3ARdBuIHUN3u8JC_fY88ka9vMB4WG5KT03U0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1h3hff8an6rz7

We often see what we want to see, and we all have our own inherent bias and pattern recognition. That said, I went in cold turkey to the movie Thunderbolts* when my daughter and I went to see it recently. I didn't watch any trailers, avoided spoilers, etc.

And what I saw was me.

Here's My Short Spoiler-Free Review:

I was not at all expecting the amount of depth the story has

There are some very authentic-feeling portrayals of living with mental illness

It was fucking awesome

And My Slightly Longer And Still Not Very Spoilery Review:

As a person who lives with mental illness, I got to see A LOT of what I feel, have felt, have experienced reflected in a certain character's own experiences. And their journey isn’t just an inclusivity checkmark; it’s the core of the movie. I think a lot of people will see themselves reflected here, and by not explicitly stating this character’s diagnosis, they allow the story to include anyone who lives with mental illness, addictions, trauma.

And all of the thoughtful and nuanced handling of mental health notwithstanding, this is just a great movie all around. You should go see it.