On getting by vs. 100% or nothing
I was really pleased to read Susie Bright's interview with Kate Bornstein about the book Hello Cruel World: 101 Alternatives to Suicide for Teens, Freaks and Other Outlaws. I was pointed to this by someone but I'm not sure who anymore.
It's a really good look at what one has to do sometimes in order to stay alive. In short, if there's a choice between cutting yourself or killing yourself, cut yourself. If there's a choice between soulless fucking and killing yourself, then get some soulless fucking. Doing what you need to to get by is important. This is so much better, to my mind, than the talk about "getting right with God" or "talking with friends or parents". Those might work but if they do, then you're likely most of the way out anyway. Sometimes when it comes to dealing with life and its "complications", sometimes you need a shock to get out. Sometimes you need something to carry you through the rough times and pick up the pieces later. It's all about doing what we can do rather than doing everything perfectly.
It's a really good look at what one has to do sometimes in order to stay alive. In short, if there's a choice between cutting yourself or killing yourself, cut yourself. If there's a choice between soulless fucking and killing yourself, then get some soulless fucking. Doing what you need to to get by is important. This is so much better, to my mind, than the talk about "getting right with God" or "talking with friends or parents". Those might work but if they do, then you're likely most of the way out anyway. Sometimes when it comes to dealing with life and its "complications", sometimes you need a shock to get out. Sometimes you need something to carry you through the rough times and pick up the pieces later. It's all about doing what we can do rather than doing everything perfectly.