#RealDeal: Living on both ends of the spectrum (Learning To Cope)
Life Jen Friel Life Jen Friel

#RealDeal: Living on both ends of the spectrum (Learning To Cope)

The most common response to revealing my bipolar disorder to “the world” has been from people who don’t understand mental illness. People who haven’t encountered enough people struggling with their sense of identity, and sanity. These people say things like “just think happy thoughts” or “you should just go out more.” I wish I could take such advice (and that such advice worked on any practical level, beyond letting the speaker feel good about themselves), instead I’ve always coped in much more damaging ways.

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#RealDeal: An understanding of value while riding in a Gulf stream jet
Dating, Life Jen Friel Dating, Life Jen Friel

#RealDeal: An understanding of value while riding in a Gulf stream jet

Now, the title of this search starts with a "b" and is also indicative of the amount of money this person has. Having seen who this matchmaker deals with, I thought even having that word in the title for the search was all wrong. Nothing against the matchmaker at that to be honest, but you have to think about what you are going to highlight and who is going to respond and why. You have to think like a marketer!!

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#Question: Does this make me insane? Or is this just another "breakthrough?"
Life Jen Friel Life Jen Friel

#Question: Does this make me insane? Or is this just another "breakthrough?"

I don't think we ever know the "right" decision, I say back to her. We just keep making a series of choices, but I do believe in listening to that inner guidance. You have to follow your gut, you can't be self-sacrificial to your now husband just because he asked first. You need to figure out what YOU want. (Thank you Drama of the Gifted Child.)

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#ThatAwkwardMomentWhen: You discover the hard way that nobody messes with the Jesus
Life, Dating Jen Friel Life, Dating Jen Friel

#ThatAwkwardMomentWhen: You discover the hard way that nobody messes with the Jesus

The process over the last few weeks has been maddening. I catch myself crying randomly all over the place as I am feeling vulnerable for the first time in my adult life. Being vulnerable as a child taught me that I was going to be attacked either verbally or physically. I quickly learned to compartmentalize all of my emotions to appear "stronger" than whoever came at me, and even learned how to box when I was being stalked physically. (Hence also why I didn't even bat an eye at pulling the knife on that dude when he broke into my parent's condo. You just "know" how to be prepared.)

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#RealDeal: Coding your subconscious & learning to close the end tag
Life Jen Friel Life Jen Friel

#RealDeal: Coding your subconscious & learning to close the end tag

I need to grow up. I've been living life by the seat of my corporate sponsored pants for the last 3 years and it's shit or get off the pot time in adding structure and developing an exit strategy. No one prepares you for the moment where you realize you have become everything you wanted to be, but you have to know when to let go so you can creatively grow in other manners.

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