Right. It is even more infuriating when you stop to consider that she says that her depression and suicide were the result of her abuse by her rapist.

At this point I have zero hope of anyone finding this comment, but what the hell...

Sigh. I yearn to be able rock any kind bangs. My super round face with cheekbones that threaten to take over America will not allow them. So no questions asked when I see a woman who can wear them well does.

You forgot, "I'm objectively above average/or not at all hideous, yet due to years of emotional abuse will not talk about or admit to it but to a few."

We could probably spend a weekend deconstructing these myths and story lines, and it would be exhausting, but not as exhausting as following the endless amounts of things that are suggested we do order to perfect and loved. I don't know if the original commenter is right about it being a generational thing though,…

I am in your age range, and similar to you in my perfectionist drive, or at least was. Somewhere along the line I let go of it. It took a lot of personal work for me to start recognizing that my need to be perfect was connected to a feeling that somehow I would be unlovable if I was not, and that this felt like an…

Hell yes to this. This article had me wondering if the author had ever been in a truly loving relationship before.

Ha, that was my first thought too, beat me to it.

One word. Weed. Weed can make great sex happen on a consistent basis in your twenties. Then, once you get the hang of good sex while high, you transition off it(if you want). I don't smoke anymore, because I don't like it anymore, but I'm certain that it helped me learn about how to have good sex.

Not to rain on your parade or anything, but the whole seven years thing has nothing to do with Americans, it is a very long practiced general rule for at least one sect(I think Nyingma). It's not about getting taken seriously, it is a period of time in order for a teacher and student to find out if the teacher is the…

Okay, you might not want to hear this, but it sounds like you aren't surrounded by supportive relationships. On the one hand your family of origin is castigating you for something that is totally normal, and honestly, even if it weren't, things like that should not preclude you from having a relationship with them.…

Oprah was named after Orpah, I can't recall the exact details, not being an Oprah aficionado, but her parents had meant to name her that and somehow it got screwed up. I still think it counts as being named for an obscure biblical figure.

Indeed, that Oprah gal is veritable font of subversiveness. I have known at least two people named Yael. Why on earth would someone name their kid for a person who plunged a tent spike through a dude's head while he was sleeping?

Do not fight your labor pains, try and just feel them without tensing up around the pain. Focus and see if you can locate the epicenter of the hurting. Whenever possible take deep, slow breaths. At least, that is what I did, and it seemed to work, I kept falling asleep between contractions.

I think that efficient, high output people are seen as the "valuable" ones. There are those who naturally run that way, but most people aren't put together like that, many people process at a slower rate, they're not as social, etc. Some people are prone to stress, but everyone wants to feel valued, and for a…

I have always thought that gray hair, groomed well, was pure class; especially when you compare it to most dye jobs. For me, gray hair isn't about "who gives a FUUUCK" attitude, it is simply one way to acknowledge one's inherent dignity.

What I don't understand is why we don't teach people to wash their hands before going to the bathroom as well, the first times is to protect yourself, the second is to protect others. I'm not a germaphobe, a neatnik, or anything like that, it just seems like common sense.

I don't entirely disagree with you, in fact I think this generally the right attitude about parenting, and indeed I always thought that I would not raise a picky eater because I wouldn't allow them to eat anything other than what I served(which was how I was raised). I have since been humbled. My son will starve…

We all know what a fake and canned laugh is like, that's what we use to politely laugh at someone's bad pun. That is not what I'm talking about.

Having just looked it up to confirm, yes, the ability to laugh *genuinely* on command is uncommon.