#friend

I know the perfect character for a book—my close friend @binghem ! If I were to write a story, she would be the star because she's always full of incredible ideas and has an adventurous spirit.

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07:09
Krakow – September 18, UTC +2

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Once upon a time in a magical forest, there lived a brave girl named @binghem . She had the unique ability to talk to animals and understand their thoughts. One day, while exploring a hidden glade, she discovered that the forest was in danger from a dark cloud that threatened to steal its colors and happiness.

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Fairy Tale:

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Determined to save her friends—the wise owl, the playful fox, and the gentle deer— @binghem set off on a quest to find the legendary Rainbow Crystal, said to restore joy and light to the land. Along her journey, she encountered various challenges, but with her creativity and determination, she outsmarted each obstacle.

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With the help of her animal friends, she finally found the crystal in a forgotten cave guarded by a grumpy troll. Instead of fighting, @binghem used her kindness and clever words to convince the troll to let her pass, showing him the beauty of friendship and laughter.

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In the end, she returned to the forest, and as she placed the Rainbow Crystal at the heart of the glade, vibrant colors burst forth, bringing life back to all creatures. The forest celebrated, and @binghem became known as the Guardian of Colors, reminding everyone of the power of friendship and bravery.

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My most memorable field/study trip was actually for physics class. 😂

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When I was in trade school, I didn’t really have field trips, honestly. Like, yes, there were opportunities to sign up for and do various things outside of the school, but it wasn’t a class trip! It was like 2 or 3 people doing something together. And sadly, I didn’t really take any of the opportunities that popped up… Which is a big regret of mine now. I honestly wish I hadn’t let those slip by, cause some of them were really cool. 🥲

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Anyway, back to physics class, we had this huge project that involved physics of rollercoasters, which meant we spent ALL DAY at an amusement park for “science.” 🥳 It was an absolute blast, and we didn’t have to stay together as a class either, the teacher let us go and be with whoever we wanted. So I paired up with someone I had barely talked to leading up to that point, and we had such a great time, talking, laughing, filling out all the information we needed in between rides, etc.

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It was like having a best friend for a day (considering after that, we basically never spoke again, no real reason, just didn’t have a chance to 😅😂). But, we ended up walking like 25k steps that day, and completed the homework before we left, so we had a whole weekend to just relax afterwards. 😌

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(Please excuse the low quality photo, this was from AGES ago). 🙈

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I think the biggest difference in my reality vs other people is how I’m able to function (or not) day to day. Like, as a chronically ill person, my reality looks basically the opposite of most people I know who are around my age.

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Many people I’m friends with for example, have so much going on all the time, jobs, school, social life, relationship, travels, etc. I don’t really have that, and if I do, it’s like one or two of those things, not all of them. 🥲 My body really doesn’t handle excessive stress or transitions well, so I have to balance out my energy by forgoing many more opportunities than I’d ideally like, just so I can have somewhat of a chance of feeling okay. 😅

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It’s certainly not how I envisioned my life playing out, but I’ve been dealing with this reality for so long that this really is my normal, and likely will be forever. 🤷🏼‍♀️

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One thing I won’t do though, is hold unrealistic expectations that my reality should look like anyone else’s… I’ve done that too many times and it always deeply upsets me. 🥺 Yes, I still have my bad days, and days where I compare myself to others, but instead of allowing those thoughts to spiral, I try to approach things from the same perspective that I would with a friend or family member. Aka, show grace, compassion, and understanding for my own feelings.

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Also, I remind myself that my reality doesn’t have to be black and white, and it isn’t. I can be both upset that this is where I’m at, but also deeply grateful to have the current life that I do. I love aspects of my reality, I can remind myself of why, when all I’m focusing on is how much better everyone else’s is. There’s so much nuance to everyone’s reality that may not be visible to you, and I think we have to remember that before we compare ourselves. 😯

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Chris Cornell and Chester Bennington were more than iconic frontmen; they were close friends with a deep bond. They often visited each other’s homes, played with their kids, and went on family outings, creating a friendship that transcended music.

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On May 18, 2017, Cornell was found dead in his hotel room, his death ruled a suicide. The tragic circumstances left Bennington shattered, as he knew that the bond they shared was irreplaceable.
The following day, Bennington led Linkin Park in a raw and emotional tribute, performing "One More Light" and saying, “In light of our dear friend Chris Cornell passing away, We love you, Chris.” Bennington cried out at the end,

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"Who cares when someone's light goes out... Well, I do."

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Tragically, on July 20, 2017, just two months later and on what would have been Cornell’s 53rd birthday, Bennington was found dead in his home, also ruled a suicide. Conspiracy theories suggested foul play linked to their involvement in the documentary "The Silent Children" to expose child trafficking. Well both cases have since been closed, and we may never truly know what happened on those horrific nights.

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Even still, the world lost two incredibly talented musicians whose impact will never fade. Though they are no longer with us, their music remains a lasting reminder of the light they brought into the world, despite the darkness they faced.🥀

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