mxenigmatic

[mxenigmatic]

How does Mx. Cleo’s #JewishValues & #socialJustice efforts in #artivism 👀 like? I spent the past two weeks, in a #bushwick 🏡 studio @medicine_walls under @msclarity83 😽 designing banners 🪧 #puppets 🎭 & #costumes 👘 4 @jfrejnyc annual #EmergencyPurim in #Brooklyn. Typically, their #PurimShpiel is held indoors, in a 🕍 as part of a 2 hour radical-lefty #dragshow intersecting #Purim & #leftist ⬅️ #politics, due to #coivd19 we postponed last year’s #event to having a #streetfestival by #GrandArmyPlaza!💰 #HireTransTalent at your next שמחה! #CareNotCops #QueerMizrahiMagic #WeWillOutliveThem #jews4racialjustice (at Grand Army Plaza) https://www.instagram.com/p/CbKpRppuV-f/?utm_medium=tumblr

#jewishvalues #socialjustice #artivism #bushwick #puppets #costumes #emergencypurim #brooklyn #purimshpiel #dragshow #purim #leftist #politics #coivd19 #event #streetfestival #grandarmyplaza #hiretranstalent #carenotcops #queermizrahimagic #wewilloutlivethem #jews4racialjustice

[mxenigmatic]

Them Versus Me!

They won’t hear me when I scream!

They won’t care when you cry out for help!

Never a Humxn always a freak, abomination, tranny, never holy enough for their respect.

Never a Humxn always a freak, abomination, tranny, never holy enough for their respect.

The cistem allows the abusers to be deemed angelic, while the victims are demonized.

They hunt me out in the open, & now hiding isn’t an option.

They wanted me dead, they only let you live, when you fly with them, but never on-too, always in your place, controlled in their grasp.

Maybe I don’t want to be like them, as they never allows me entry; always viewed as the other and even as they trash talk my soul in this & next lifetime, I’m learning to not care of their degradation, because they never seemed to care about my dignity.

Who are “they”? They can be anywhere, size, and avenue in your sphere. They tend to be those who discard you freely. Just be sure, to be vigilant of who decides to stick around & keeps your peace!

#internalized queerphobia #oppression #mental health #bullying #ptsd #self caged #nonbinary #transphobia #humans suck #public enemies #domestic violence #street harassment #judgment #tikkun olam #Spotify

[mxenigmatic]

📕 Leaving a #Legacy on #StatenIsland 🏝 From 2019-2021, I called ☎️ the southern borough 🏡 Many allies pecked at my choice “Why would you ever move into a #republican area?” I too came with 😰 feeling like an 👽 that I wouldn’t be humanized as not many folks identified like me. At times I believed my naysayers; trust me, I was harassed, mocked, 🤡 misgendered, & neglected by employers, politicians, neighbors & a #SIABC landlord from my physical to mental safety. But, I had no other choice, like many #tgnci folks we are existing as our authentic selves in a hostile #transphobic 🌍 I had to move during the #pandemic 2X for being illegally evicted from 🏠 by🩸for my #nonbinary presence & needing to be close to work 📚 I also met luminary #artists like @streganona_nyc @thomasfucaloro77 @jennylovegood @brinicolemusic @juliasimoniello @g.lokko @jeansgallo @magieserpica.tattoo @girlonthe_rocks @queervankult @obsidian_absurd who were allies & #inspiration to my #humxn plight. I took center stage, 🎭 🎪 asserting my right to be heard & belong with #performances @aliceaustenhouse @stgeorgenypl @makerspacenyc @snugharborccbg @thenewhousecenter @jacquesmarchais & more 😋 venues! Despite many days of #enlightment & nights of isolation, ptsd, & the constant fear of being vulnerable & a 🎯of a #hatecrime, where #Heaven forbid my #story would have been forgotten during #coivd19. Like millions of minorities w/o full protections & basic needs to survive in #America🇺🇸 Till the last day, on the 🏝 I held #mutualaids & support groups virtually for those in need as I draw ✍️ healing ❤️‍🩹 from my pain. As a 🧒 I always wondered 💭 innocently why I was constantly bullied, when I bring so much 💗 💡 & ☮️? I’ve learned to be selective in my care, but struggle to approve of myself, when #life has been a whirlwind 🌪 of displacement. Imagine being in #quarantine, living with a related abuser, to a #catholic neighbor breaking my🚪& performing an #exorcism 😈🙀 for #help, & 👮 to other tenants not giving a fuck! #F12 All while needing #hope, to keep living & hustling & going to #werq💰 I took a ☁️ #studio & turned it into a beam of 🌞 #EqualityAct 📷 @llovallo @siadvance (at Stapleton Staten Island) https://www.instagram.com/p/CYhGVc5lQ2F/?utm_medium=tumblr

#legacy #statenisland #republican #siabc #tgnci #transphobic #pandemic #nonbinary #artists #inspiration #humxn #performances #enlightment #hatecrime #heaven #story #coivd19 #america🇺🇸 #mutualaids #life #quarantine #catholic #exorcism #help #f12 #hope #werq💰 #studio #equalityact

[mxenigmatic]

Maybe I am your labels or tunneled vision!

In the eyes of many, I'm seen as a abomination. In the hearts of few, I'm loved as one who is divine. But maybe I am nor bad or good. It often seems, I am willing to give power to the hate, as I hear, and feel it more in my surroundings than the good.

The motivators by non-abusive people I often don't believe enough 2 sustain moi. Maybe I am not that special. Maybe I am not that beautiful or smart, kind, holy, loved, needed, sane, charming, positive and uplifting that a miniscule of our global society tells me.

Maybe I am sinful, dumb, inferior, problematic, crazy, damned by g-d for being who I am, a queer, brown, free spirited agnostic self. But how in anyone's right mind, can claim the majority casting their ignorance, verbal violence, and exclusionary reactions can be the truth Sayers or holier than thou with malice in their hearts.

Why else would g-d create me, if I'm constantly abused by humanoids around me?

If I'm so beautiful, why aren't I attracting the right partner? If I'm so smart, why aren't my ideas taken seriously. If I matter, why am I rejected by many? If I'm overqualified in skills, why aren't I collecting those jobs? If I'm so holy, why do billions of queerphobic cishet folks vehemently attest I need to be annihilated because their man hating holy books, and vengeance gods in the sky claim so, despite being created in their image equally?

Why do I feel so content in drowning in harm than swimming up to a elevated state of mind, due to not opposing what others have told me who I am?

#trauma #queerphobia #patriarchy #racism #sexism #abelism #god fearing #hysteria #death #mental instability #nonbinary #the bitter truth #why do you hate me? #coexistence #empathy #heaven or hell #help pleaaaase

[mxenigmatic]

MADDD WORLD

There is nothing worse in the world than to be trapped in your mind, by ptsd, shame, ridicule, and confused on which way to lead yourself to light. Also being tortured in your soul, for not finding a spiritual connection with the dogma religions in front of you, and choked by living in your body, with dysphoria, feeling fugly, not at peace if not terrified of what you see in the mirror.

So many beings on this planet wish to be dead & at peace, then living in confusion, enslaved to capitalism or societal expectations than be surrounded by conflict, robotic duties, and entrapment of their misery. In some odd ways, all of us wish to avoid struggle, pain, and any discomfort of humxn suffrage.

None of us signed up for this life, unless you believe in a tikkun, reincarnation, or the purpose of wronging your errors through a physical dimension and organic vessel. Why do we plan on staying alive, when many of us look for a departure from this mad reality?

Where is there pursuit of peace among this chaos? Even in nyc, there's pressure to present, act, walk, and perform your gender in a mode that is suitable for most constructs of "acceptable" behavior, one that depletes individuality, and expects a vacuum of basic bitches!

How do we strive for healing & hope in an America with sanctioned gun violence by our tax paying government, or glorifying Trumpism or anarchists? Will humxns ever coexistence, or are designed to be at war with themselves, surroundings, and those who are deemed "other" aka not humxn enough like their "pure" selves.

#dystopian society #futuristic #be kind #People Suck #highly sensitive person #Am I crazy #how to relax #hell

[mxenigmatic]

What a wonderful world?

We're all looking for love yet pursue hate onto others. We claim in our virtues that we strive for peace in the world yet witness war and stay silent of blood on our hands. We teach our kids be yourself, but only accept conformity. We are all on a journey to find home yet turn others away asking for help when there're lost.

You say you want to be happy, yet you make others sad. We are all hiding parts of who we are, yet we want to be truly seen. You say you accept me, yet only embrace parts of my identity. You believe god loves all, except for x,y,z.

You call yourself a person of moral, value & beliefs but are quick to harm, kill & destroy those who disagree with you. People want trust, but any moment will slander, defame & gossip about you. Your door states "Welcome to all" but strip your authenticity to the side entrance.

We live in a upside down world, one conquered by your religious intrusion.

I gave up on the idea of saving the world, if I can barely pull myself together. How can you fight for what's right, when you witness all around you: abuse, corruption of power, poverty, discrimination, the list goes on.

Mindless & souls of void often approach you and say "you deserve better" but if you are constantly put down, can I believe I'll receive more? We are told we're special when we are young, but maybe we aren't important, as there's too many people on this planet for us to be all the focus of the universe.

#Humxns #complexity #hsp problems #fake values #confusion #animals #domestic violence #judgement #water #fear state #hope? #nonbinary writer #new year 2022

[mxenigmatic]

“The Theft of #Life” excited to share with you, a #photoshoot series where I was a #makeupartist #CoDirector #choreography & #stylist as it relates to positioning the #models @mira_elizabeth_ @latinxprince @ji_ihyun820 for a #Coivd 😷 #Creation under the #vision @annayan0 a #creativedirector from #Albania who will feature this #pandemic #fashioninspo @whitneymuseum! I made #art #masks that 👹 has #illustrations from #indegenous & #semetic #cultures as it relates to #death #wellness & #recovery! #coivd19 #whitneymuseum #nyc #nystrong #MizrahiArtists (at BAZA Studio) https://www.instagram.com/p/CPoAAwCj1LY/?utm_medium=tumblr

#life #photoshoot #makeupartist #codirector #choreography #stylist #models #coivd #creation #vision #creativedirector #albania #pandemic #fashioninspo #art #masks #illustrations #indegenous #semetic #cultures #death #wellness #recovery #coivd19 #whitneymuseum #nyc #nystrong #mizrahiartists

[mxenigmatic]

🌸 #Spring is in the 🌌 air & being commissioned 2 #design 🏡 #interior 🌺 🥧ces is ever so #blooming 💐 #Decor taught by Ms. Suzette @artandacceptance @stlukesthriftshop #Saturday #Artist drop in ⭕️ by #westvillage! #weather changes our #mood, & #nature provides #peace & #coexistence when #humans can’t construct on their own! With every #season, I #reflect, on the ways I can nourish my #soul, while adjusting my #body to meet found #challenges 😳 Lately, my #hope & #MentalHealth has plummeted, from letting go of toxic 🤮 #friends, to being trolled on IG, but haters to dealing with #depression & isolation, in the #season of an ongoing pandemic. Where’s the 💕 meant to bring folks together? Where’s the💡 to turn off the darkness? Where to plant 🌱 our buds of opportunity in prayer 🙏 that our climate sustain our basic needs, and our #environment becomes a place of solutions ☮️ warmth 🔥 and where #life becomes enjoyable 😉 for all those who pass by this dimension 🚪 seeking clarity & fulfillment to connect ☝️ with the #universe & themselves! #springbreak #streetstyle #macysflowershow 🌺 🌹 #mentalhealthawareness🌸 (at West Village) https://www.instagram.com/p/CO68UD9jRG5/?igshid=1o9ieu84uv21n

#spring #design #interior #blooming #decor #saturday #artist #westvillage #weather #mood #nature #peace #coexistence #humans #season #reflect #soul #body #challenges #hope #mentalhealth #friends #depression #environment #life #universe #springbreak #streetstyle #macysflowershow #mentalhealthawareness🌸

[mxenigmatic]

#life 👼 #death 💀 & #moi 😚 Whipping up some #spooky 😷 #coivd masks 😷4 a #dystopian #fashion shoot 📸 Directed by: @annayan0 🏬 @baza4studio, where I’ll be #styling🦒 #models 4 a near #future 🐎 #exhibition @whitneymuseum 😯 I was #inspired 😔 by #shame as it relates to wasting my #time on #socialmedia, getting enraged 😤 by the endorsement of hate speech 🎤 targeted 🎯 towards me, minorities, and other 😇 folks forever in the name of “good #faith” while being in a #zombie 🧟‍♀️ state 🧠 for feeling unproductive, and knowing that my 📝 work, 🏠 🧹 🧼 #chores were piling up 🔝, and my lack of #exercise , ongoing disconnection as we continue like 🐢 to hide and & quarantine! The duality of #living and being #depressed with chronic #panic of my #safety, and feeling abandoned 🚪 to the point of internalizing wastefulness! I’m #sick 🤒 of seeing the deception #humans play in harming 🗡 you behind fake #values, to stab you in the back & #advance their agenda! We are #beautiful, & tainted 😈 #healthy & ill, good 😌 & #evil w/o accountability! (at Staten Island, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/CO4Tn-3D-yO/?igshid=1b262lzcywcs2

#life #death #moi #spooky #coivd #dystopian #fashion #styling🦒 #models #future #exhibition #inspired #shame #time #socialmedia #faith #zombie #chores #exercise #living #depressed #panic #safety #sick #humans #values #advance #beautiful #healthy #evil

[mxenigmatic]

“La #Femme #Apostles Anew” 14x18, 2021 #collage. Our #herstory, including our #heritage, holy books, and parts of ourselves has been written by men and governed by #patriarchy. When femmes, #womxyn #trans and #intersex folks come together we are the-majority. The New wave of matriarchs envisons reclaiming our naaratives, worth and futures, where we are present, vibrant, referenced without erasure, and can empower all genders to reach for the stars ✨, to claim their rightful place on the #throne, as holy, beings righteous of leaving their mark. #staytuned for a virtual #exhibition @milesnadaljcc part of a @jqtvan showcase for #JQTArtistWall highlighting #JOC (#Jews of color) at the end #jewishqueerhistorymonth as well as the start of #Pride 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ (at Staten Island, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/CO04CCRDO-e/?igshid=6jae79wopfa7

#femme #apostles #collage #herstory #heritage #patriarchy #womxyn #trans #intersex #throne #staytuned #exhibition #jqtartistwall #joc #jews #jewishqueerhistorymonth #pride

[mxenigmatic]

Re-spanked by Parents (Commandment # 5)

Mama knows best when it comes to harm you!

She knows your hot buttons, secrets, and takes advantage of your vulnerabilities.

She says she loves me, I wonder if it's when she needs me to pay for her last month's rent.

When she doesn't get what she wants, she trolls on my WhatsApp & blasts publicly what a mistake of a child I am.

She seems to get her way, people adore her, our republican family accepts her modern but playful antagonistic ways!

At times I wonder if I'm wrong, should I just let her get to me, or not answer her dreadful will? All to follow her ancestral sin by keeping traditions that don't serve me, to be embraced by her counterparts as a whole?

Respect your parents they say, religious guilt, ingrained since childhood, to give your elders permission to abuse freely without repercussions.

It's hard for me to say goodbye, to relatives who I have bonded with for so long, fearing all the misgendering. labels, and curses my mother hoped for me would come true. I'd eventually run back to her unforgiving fangs to suck my luck, money, and right to be protected by any force she couldn't conjure.

Farewell mom, even for a 45-minute train ride, even when I worry from afar that your reckless trumpism will get you sucker-punched in a liberal city for wearing a MAGA hat & no coivd mask.

I wish you can help me, and fulfill your duty to listen, secure, and nourish my needs then sell it to the lower bidder for any coins you can receive for refunding me!

Why god? Why do the clothes/jewelry and prizes that don't suit me, match & empower her? Why is she able to manipulate a village who raised me, that I'm the wolf who ate her for crying "save me"? Why am I jealous by a woman favored by so many, but who fails to rescue her own kin? Are we truly sick with the mother we are assigned, & be obliged to preserve their legacy?

Does 3 times of homelessness, 40 times of slandering, 300 religious soldiers aiming their crucifixes at me constantly, doesn't spare me a white flag?

Why are my linens stained with her blood? Designed to not bleach, and for me to return and make her bed/meal to have the recipe for non-nurturing freedom. When will the mother I love, return the favor, to hold me as I am?

#baby #motherhood #parenting #therapy #boundaries #help #ptsd #no escape #reflection #home #family

[mxenigmatic]

Eretz, Eretz, Eretz, Shel Charah!

*A spinoff on a famous song in Hebrew/Israeli society, "The Land (3x) of trash) not honey & milk!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Coming from the diaspora, daily I feel forgotten, yet unwanted at home!

Is my ancestral calling to the holy land, a choice of wealth I can't afford or a must spiritual awakening to sacrifice my peace for a disturbed region?

Am I living in a modern miracle of a state of Israel, or is Hashem's plan different from a corrupted Likud takeover?

The same land that promised me, we, them "refuge" scorned the kin of darker hues, eastern dialects, and flamboyant pride.

The same land that claims to be a home for all "Jews" its orthodox dictators who are honored as leaders of the tribe, gets to choose who stays, who converts, who is kosher and we speak no more!

When will the vision of Zion, Herzl, Shohat, and those in between, link the gentiles to safe travels passing, and to the non-conformist Hebrew child who can't live up to their ancestral sin?

Does Hashem represent the consciousness of the Haredi occupation? or dreams to liberate the leftists, anarchists, Hilonim to find a non-dispute place to settle with its Arab brethren?

#israel #palestine #music #middle east #peace #history #judaism #sin #deed #zionism #archeology #homesweethome

[mxenigmatic]

Drowning in Tiberias

Perches on the Judean hills of the galilee sea, wondering why my orthodox relatives pour more attention to the deceased rabbis' graves than their living?

I ponder and ponder of my alienation from my heritage, separated by the truth of my history, asking myself what is my purpose in the unfulfilled "holy" land.

Where is my path, that is right for me when the traditional route never served me?

How can g-d love me, if the dialogue around deities is controlled by the regressive cults around me?

Who will respect me if the majority of my Jewish peers endanger my way of living?

What is the outcome of my wayward path, if not an arduous destination?

As the tides of Teveria declines, I rise in destitution. When the water elevates, the evangelical force denying me a quench of equal thirst leaves me soulless.

Will this "Am Yisrael" ever my value my kind, the non-patriarchial neshama whose intention isn't to serve g-d and his laws daily, or treat me as a crutch?

Do I drown first to save my comfort for the mehandrin to leech others? Or will uprooting my moldy being, chammetz sold sechel self will bring me salvation?

#passover #jews of tumblr #essays #TRAVEL #ISRAEL #KOSHER #POETRY #philosphy #existential despair

[mxenigmatic]

What makes one female?

Or presenting healthy womanhood?

Make up? Dresses? High pitched voice? Mannerism?

Assigned at birth or a choice to live by?

Not your average girl, I’d say, but I’m womxyn by my own terms & right!

#womxyn #womensday #women’s history month #gender equality #poetry #acrostic poetry #writing #modern women #transwomen #transphobia #trans rights #status quo

[mxenigmatic]

Banjee Daughtas: (A #Queer Ballroom inspired haiku)

The girls in da club (5)

Be shade, shade, shade, wild & wildin! (7)

They get fierce, fierce, fierce! (7)

All night long!....

**As a child, my favorite type of poetry was haikus, due to lack of writing & English skills, I avoided my own voice and my own written work! (Thanks to our 💩 education system) 2021, I’m inspired by my writing instructor, Ms. Alex Greer at Art 🖼 & Acceptance, to take on the craft, and depict the world around me. Having had frustration and criticism of the toxicity of ballroom culture, and femmes who think they’re rulers of the world, I wanted to create a series of the different characters that comes alive in the categories, and the personalities we all present to live our fantasy! JFYi Some nerve these girls have at times!

#haiku #queer culture #Nyc #night life #ballroom #dance #poetry #trans women #butch queens #femme queens #realness #the category is

[mxenigmatic]

The Empire Outlets & Lil Ole Me!

The sensual waves, that sends pressure on my vibrating body, which gets me naturally erect.

Sitting on an abandoned bench is a luxury.

The rays of the peaceful & wholesome sun, would make any poor lady feel held like a baby!

Tourists passing by focused on shopping, avoiding their gaze on you, feeling free from micro-scopic attention.

The crows perched on the docks are more lively when the death of coivd is activated expansively.

The ferries leave every 30 minutes, but I feel time has stopped, at ease from living in a rat city!

The mall is like a ghost town, folks at a social distance, feeling safe, yet alarmed of what’s lurking next?

History & modernity coexisting, inanimate & natural. Those Structures occupying nearby oddly!

The crisp sip of my mango dragonfruit, offered by Starbucks amongst the other fast food dining, leaves my health in a yuppie spiritual bypassing.

The alarm of the lighting stations signaled on the shores, diverts my calmness into action as If dinos from Jurassic Park X is advancing, only to be approached by the boring slow paced Hudson.

The aquamarine river with a shimmer of a gray emerald water would fool any passenger of the true nature that is anchored beneath the surface; so to the advertisements of the outlets, cheery & clean on the outside, yet empty & pricey within!

#nyc #design #original poem #shopping #coivd19 #nonbinary #landscape #nature #cityview #alonetime #writing

[mxenigmatic]

2020’s Self Care Books for Trying Times

With Covid-19 a global pandemic that is still lingering in the air, and keeping our connections at a social distance, added how here at NYPL our librarians miss the frequent interactions with our patrons, I was contemplating on ways to keep our reading connected, our souls warm, and our health having its self care. Before google, I’d rely on the plethora of information our branches hold on any challenge in life I’d be facing. Now with a myriad of problems we can tackle, and resources we can all use to improve our lives, I wanted to tackle grounding and elevating ourselves to cope with our surroundings, than advice I can provide on financial, relationship, life goals, etc.

In this blog “2020’s Self Care Books 4 Trying Times” I’ve comprised my 20 favorite titles for the year 2020 on wellness, people’s journeys, and how health experts can help guide us to a calm and vibrant place for our wellbeing. From parenting tips, to self acceptance, coping with a mental health disorder, or even self care rituals, the need for healthy habits is a topic we all can relate and rely on to keep us striving through this winter, and being united through our current unstable climate. We should never be ashamed of our experiences, asking for help, and addressing challenges in our lives to be at peace with our pasts, content with our present, and hopeful about our futures.

What is Self-care, according to very well mind, describes a conscious act one takes in order to promote their own physical, mental, and emotional health. There are many forms self-care may take. It could be ensuring you get enough sleep every night or stepping outside for a few minutes for some fresh air.

What is mindfulness? Mindfulness refers to being in the moment. This means feeling what our bodies feel, letting ourselves think without judging our thoughts, and being aware of our environment. It is about paying attention on purpose to both what is happening inside and outside of you.

ADULT

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change by Stephen R. Covey

Topics: Professional Development, Success, Psych Evaluation

One of the most inspiring and impactful books ever written, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People has captivated readers for nearly three decades. It has transformed the lives of presidents and CEOs, educators and parents—millions of people of all ages and occupations. Now, this 30th anniversary edition of the timeless classic commemorates the wisdom of the 7 habits with modern additions from Sean Covey. The 7 habits have become famous and are integrated into everyday thinking by millions and millions of people. Why? Because they work!With Sean Covey's added takeaways on how the habits can be used in our modern age, the wisdom of the 7 habits will be refreshed for a new generation of leaders.

Stay Positive: Encouraging Quotes and Messages to Fuel Your Life With Positive Energy by Jon Gordon

Topics: Self Help, Affirmations, Optimism

Stay Positive is more than a phrase. It's an approach to life that says when you get knocked down, you'll get back up and find a way forward one faithful step and optimistic day at a time. Start your day with a message from the book, or pick it up anytime you need a mental boost. You can start from the beginning, or open the book to any page and find a message that speaks to you. The book is a go-to resource for anyone wanting to inject a healthy dose of positivity into their life

$9 Therapy: Semi-Capitalist Solutions to Your Emotional Problems by Megan Reid and Nick Greene

Topics: Life Skills/Hacks, Self Care Rituals, Budgeting

A collection of the authors' favorite life hacks and mini-upgrades, such as craft cocktails on the cheap or tips for a perfectly planned staycation. Sometimes it takes as little as nine dollars to turn your life around. How to find simple pleasures in a pricey, wellness-obsessed world.

You Were Born For This: Astrology for Radical Self-Acceptance by Chani Nicholas

Topics: Astrology, Self Acceptance

A revolutionary empowerment book that uses astrology as a tool for self-discovery, success, and self-care from the beloved astrologer Chani Nicholas, a media darling with a loyal following of one million monthly readers.

TEEN

Teaching Mindfulness to Empower Adolescents by Matthew Brensilver

Topics: Mindfulness, Educational Guides, Learning Disabilities, Reflections

Effectively sharing mindfulness with teenagers depends on distinct skill sets . . . done well, it is incredibly joyous." Matthew Brensilver, JoAnna Hardy and Oren Jay Sofer provide a powerful guide to help teachers master the essential competencies needed to successfully share mindfulness practices with teens and adolescents. Incorporating anecdotes from actual teaching, they blend the latest scientific research with innovative, original techniques for making the practices accessible and interesting to this age group. This text is an indispensable handbook for mindfulness instruction in its own right, and a robust companion volume for teachers using The Mindful Schools Curriculum for Adolescents

The Self-Love Revolution: Radical Body Positivity for Girls of Color by Virgie Tovar

Topics: Self Esteem, Plus Size Positivity, Hygiene

Every day we see body ideals depicted in movies, magazines, and social media. And, all too often, these outdated standards make us feel like we need to change how we look and who we are. The truth is that many teens feel self-conscious about their bodies and being a teen girl of color is hard in unique ways. So, how can you start feeling good about yourself when you're surrounded by these unrealistic, and problematic images of what bodies are "supposed" to look like? This book is an unapologetic guide to help you embrace radical body positivity. You'll identify and challenge mainstream beliefs about beauty and bodies; celebrate what makes you unique and powerful; and build real, lasting body empowerment. You'll also learn how to spot diet culture and smash your noisy inner critic so you can start loving your body. It's time to create your own definition of beautiful and recognize that your body is amazing. It's time for a self-love revolution!

Out!: How To Be Your Authentic Self by Miles McKenna

Topics: Coming Out, Self Acceptance, Family Dynamics

Activist Miles McKenna came out on his YouTube channel in 2017, documenting his transition to help other teens navigate their identities and take charge of their own coming out stories. From that wisdom comes Out!, the ultimate YA guide to the queer lifestyle. Find validation, inspiration, and support for your questions big and small--whether you're exploring your identity or seeking to understand the experience of an awesome queer person in your life."

Dancing at the Pity Party: A Dead Mom Graphic Memoir by Tyler Feder

Topics: Grief Counseling, Coping with terminal illness, Bereavement. Family Estrangement

Tyler Feder shares her story of her mother's first oncology appointment to facing reality as a motherless daughter in this frank and refreshingly funny graphic memoir.

Superpowered: Transform Anxiety Into Courage, Confidence, and Resilience by Renee Jain and Dr. Shefali Tsabary

Topics: Health, Fitness, Selt Esteem.

The perfect tool for children facing new social and emotional challenges in an increasingly disconnected world! This how-to book from two psychology experts—packed with fun graphics and quizzes—will help kids transform stress, worry, and anxiety

Teen Guide to Mental Health by Don Nardo

Topics: Teens, Mental Health, Body Image, Puberty

Todays teens face and are expected to deal with a wide array of personal, social, and other issues involving home-life, school, dating, body image, sexual orientation, major life transitions, and in some cases physical and mental problems, including eating disorders and depression. This volume examines how many teens have learned to cope with and survive these often stressful trials and tribulations of modern youth.

KIDS

Turtle Boy by Evan Wolkenstein

Topics: Social Life, Friends, Relationships, School Stress

Seventh grade is not going well for Will Levine. Kids at school bully him because of his funny-looking chin. His science teacher finds out about the turtles he spent his summer collecting from the marsh behind school an orders him to release them back into the wild. And for his Bar Mitzvah community service project, he has to go to the hospital to visit RJ, an older boy struggling with an incurable disease. Unfortunately, Will hates hospitals. At first, the boys don't get along, but then RJ shares his bucket list with Will. Among the things he wants to do: ride a roller coaster, go to a concert and a school dance, swim in the ocean. To Will, happiness is hanging out in his room, alone, preferably with his turtles. But as RJ's disease worsens, Will realizes he needs to tackle the bucket list on his new friend's behalf before it's too late. It seems like an impossible mission, way outside Will's comfort zone. But as he completes each task with RJ's guidance, Will learns that life is too short to live in a shell.

How To Make A Better World: For Every Kid Who Wants To Make A Difference by Keilly Swift

Topics: Activism, Human Rights, Organizing

If you are a kid with big dreams and a passion for what is right, you're a world-changer in the making. There's a lot that can be changed by just one person, if you know what to do. Start by making yourself into the awesome person you want to be by learning all about self-care and kindness. Using those skills, work your way up to creating activist campaigns to tackle climate change or social injustice. This fun and inspiring guide to making the world a better place and becoming a good citizen is packed with ideas and tips for kids who want to know how to make a difference. From ideas as small as creating a neighborhood lending library to important ideas such as public speaking and how to talk about politics, How to Make a Better World is a practical guide to activism for awesome kids.

All About Anxiety by Carrie Lewis

Anxiety. It's an emotion that rears its head almost every day, from the normal worries and concerns that most of us experience, to outright fear when something scary happens, to the anxiety disorders, that many kids live with daily. But what causes anxiety? And what can we do about it? All About Anxiety tackles these questions from every possible angle. Readers will learn what's going on in their brain and central nervous system when they feel anxious. They'll learn about the evolutionary reasons for fear and anxiety and that anxiety isn't always a bad thing--except for when it is! Most importantly, kids will discover new strategies to manage their anxiety so they can live and thrive with anxiety

Dictionary for a better world: poems, quotes, and anecdotes from A to Z by Irene Latham

Topics: Inspiration, Self Help, Advice

Organized as a dictionary, entries in this book for middle-grade readers present words related to creating a better, more inclusive world. Each word is explored via a poem, a quote from an inspiring person, and a short personal anecdote from one of the co-authors, a prompt for how to translate the word into action, and an illustration".

I feel... meh by DJ Corchin

(E-book)Topics: Health, Fitness, Management

This series helps kids recognize, express, and deal with the roller coaster of emotions they feel every day. It has been celebrated by therapists, psychologists, teachers, and parents as wonderful tools to help children develop self-awareness for their feelings and those of their friends. Sometimes I feel meh and I don't want to play. I don't want to read and I have nothing to say. Sometimes you just feel...meh. You don't really feel like doing anything or talking to anyone. You're not even sure how you're feeling inside. Is that bad? With fun, witty illustrations and simple, straightforward text, I Feel...Meh tackles apathy—recognizing it as a valid emotion, while also offering practical steps to get you out of your emotional slump. It's the perfect way for kids—and adults—who are feeling gray to find some joy again!

Violet Shrink by Christine Baldacchino

Topics: Phobias, Relationships, Social Skills

Violet Shrink doesn't like parties. Or bashes, or gatherings. Lots of people and lots of noise make Violet's tummy ache and her hands sweat. She would much rather spend time on her own, watching the birds in her backyard, reading comics, or listening to music through her purple headphones. The problem is that the whole Shrink family loves parties with loud music and games and dancing. At cousin Char's birthday party, Violet hides under a table and imagines she is a shark gliding effortlessly through the water, looking for food. And at Auntie Marlene and Uncle Leli's anniversary bash, Violet sits alone at the top of the stairs, imagining she is a slithering snake way up in the branches. When Violet learns that the Shrink family reunion is fast approaching, she musters up the courage to have a talk with her dad. In this thoughtful story about understanding and acceptance, Violet's natural introversion and feelings of social anxiety are normalized when she and her father reach a solution together. Christine Baldacchino's warm text demonstrates the role imagination often plays for children dealing with anxiety, and the power of a child expressing their feelings to a parent who is there to listen. Carmen Mok's charming illustrations perfectly capture Violet's emotions and the vibrancy of her imagination. A valuable contribution to books addressing mental health."-- Provided by publisher.

Check out this link to a presentation by NYPL’s Children’s Librarians, Sarah West and Justine Toussaint on Mindfulness/Social-Emotional Self-Esteem Picture Book Spotlight. Featuring popular book titles in our database of the past few years promoting kids well beings!

Pre-2020 Books

Aphorism by Franz Kafka

Topics: Life Quotes, Recovery, Future Planning

For the first time, a single volume that collects all of the aphorisms penned by this universally acclaimed twentieth-century literary figure. Kafka twice wrote aphorisms in his lifetime. The first effort was a series of 109, known as the Zurau Aphorisms, which were written between September 1917 and April 1918, and originally published posthumously by his friend, Max Brod, in 1931. These aphorisms reflect on metaphysical and theological issues--as well as the occasional dog. The second sequence of aphorisms, numbering 41, appears in Kafka's 1920 diary dating from January 6 to February 29. It is in these aphorisms, whose subject is "He," where Kafka distills the unexpected nature of experience as one shaped by exigency and possibility."

This Book Loves You by PewDiePie

Topics: Life Skills, Inspiration, Food 4 Thought

A popular blogger shares humorous pieces of advice and positivity, including "Never forget you are beautiful compared to a fish" and "Every day is a new fresh start to stay in bed."

The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A Fuck: A Counterintuitive Approach To Living A Good Life by Mark Manson

Topic: Self Help, Happiness, Motivation

In this generation-defining self-help guide, a superstar blogger shows us that the key to being happier is to stop trying to be 'positive' all the time and instead become better at handling adversity. For decades we've been told that positive thinking is the key to a happy, rich life. But those days are over. 'Fuck positivity, ' Mark Manson says. 'Let's be honest; sometimes things are fucked up and we have to live with it.' For the past few years, Manson--via his wildly popular blog--has been working on correcting our delusional expectations for ourselves and for the world. He now brings his hard-fought wisdom to this groundbreaking book. Manson makes the argument--backed both by academic research and well-timed poop jokes--that improving our lives hinges not on our ability to turn lemons into lemonade, but on learning to better stomach lemons. Human beings are flawed and limited--as he writes, 'Not everybody can be extraordinary, there are winners and losers in society, and some of it is not fair or your fault.' Manson advises us to get to know our limitations and accept them. This, he says, is the real source of empowerment. Once we embrace our fears, faults, and uncertainties--once we stop running from and avoiding, and start confronting painful truths--we can begin to find the courage and confidence we desperately seek. 'In life, we have a limited amount of fucks to give. So you must choose your fucks wisely.' Manson brings a much-needed grab-you-by-the-shoulders moment of real-talk, filled with entertaining stories and profane, ruthless humor. This manifesto is a refreshing slap in the face for all of us so we can start to lead more contented, grounded lives."

Zen Pencils: Cartoon Quotes From Inspirational Folks by Gavin Aung Than

Topics: Writing Development, Expression, Quotes

Gavin Aung Than, an Australian graphic designer turned cartoonist, started the weekly Zen Pencils blog in February 2012. He describes his motivation for launching Zen Pencils: I was working in the boring corporate graphic design industry for eight years before finally quitting at the end of 2011 to pursue my passion for illustration and cartooning. At my old job, when my boss wasn't looking, I would waste time reading Wikipedia pages, main biographies about people whose lives were a lot more interesting than mine. Their stories and quotes eventually inspired me to leave my job to focus on what I really wanted to do. The idea of taking these inspiring quotes, combining them with my love of drawing, and sharing them with others led to the creation of Zen Pencils.

By: @Mx.Enigma

She/They/Queen

#new blog #booksarelife #self care #library #nyc #nonbinary #nypl #life hacks