Just realized I somehow completely skipped over how the mental symptoms played a major role in my college journey. Made the already hard enough college transition x100, kinda "fell off the grid" from family & scared them through my depression so much that my grandparents bought me a train ticket to force me to come home for the weekend (was the best thing & finally learned important tricks for depression like NEVER just stay in your room), that depression can change, forcing myself to somehow kinda become an extrovert 😱, FUN story of 1st public panic attack at TSwift's concert, etc. So for a future ep!

I don’t even know if I explain it well enough, but this will just have to do for now to start explaining what happened. Stick around, I will expand on the details and experiences in future podcasts. Let me know if there’s anything you’d especially want more info about. This was recorded March 2nd into the 3rd, 2023; added notes in the beginning from around September 10, 2023. Finished editing September 17 & 19, 2023.

Shoutout to my dad opening a Coke Zero in the background of the beginning notes (what happens when I actually record during the day… hence the scratchy low voice—also because I had just woken up lol). 😂

Tried a new thing. Thought the topic(s) could use some uplifting by some great background music in the first and last ten minutes. The 1st songs are beautiful covers by Leon Alex (“Skinny Love” and “I’m Just Ken” [lol] 😌). Here’s a shorter and possibly even more romantic version—it’s just gorgeous: https://open.spotify.com/track/7recXytpGLyZRl4KJ0oT0d?si=7baa0873d20c43f6 Editing glitch at the end, supposed to be Where Are You Now instrumental not silence oops 🙃

Intro/Outro Song: Until We Get There by Lucius (yes, from New Girl 🥰). Please check out the song in its actuality!

Mod’s dairy free cheese is at Target! It’s called Daeya. Update, just saw this hours ago may explain some things too idk at least brings awareness. Mold exposure’s effect on health needs to be looked into even more: https://kfor.com/news/there-needs-to-be-some-sort-of-accountability-former-ou-student-sues-university-over-mold-exposure/

Listen to the next one to hear the rest of that “thought” I mention around 41:00 😬 Texas IS failing me. 😔 Checkout Justin Baldoni’s Man Enough (and he definitely is THE dream man so take his advice 💯).

Ironic talking about that special moment with MyMy and losing her (also tend to sing “my my my my my” from Skinny Love all the time) because I’m uploading this on the fourth anniversary week of unexpectedly losing her. Almost did on the very day, but had to get other things done before working a wedding. (Let’s just say, I especially hate Friday the 13th—sorry Blondie, I don’t find them to be lucky 💔.)

I wish I knew what I was saying at the very end too but that’s when my laptop died on me lololol. It was like, “okay nope you’re done, go to sleep” 🤪 Something about being able to see the issues, or maybe even benefit, myself?? No clue probably ended up being an important reflection, just my luck 🙈

Speaking of health, this is a helpful page (as always, double check info with RELIABLE NOT BIASED sources): https://www.instagram.com/unbiasedscipod/

Let's keep the conversations going: https://discord.com/channels/1089109562260459611/1089109562872844311

xoxo, lizzie 💕

I'll probably come back to edit this description again later, but for now: feel free to speed it up, but I decided to leave most of these 2 "episodes" more raw. It's hard to put it into words as it is let alone figure out how to coherently edit it, so I'm just going to show y'all the natural progression of trying to get my health story out there and all the emotion that goes into it. Keep all of that in mind for Part 2 especially. 😅

Speaking of health, a random lil tip I've been discovering this year for anyone else with fibromyalgia symptoms/anyone else in general: exercising can be extra painful for us so believe me, I understand the difficulty to get motivation but it does eventually help if you keep it up! Take advantage of the pool, if you can, while we still can! As crazy as this sounds, any aerobics even "dancing" (especially latin & belly dancing--just take my word for it) with strength training exercises in between in the pool is a great way to train balance for doing it on land (lol). And it makes you feel like a water bender! 😉 🌊 😂 But for real, it's probably the most gentle for inflamed joints and practically forces meditation so I highly recommend just giving it a try. Especially for my fellow water elements. 🧘🏼‍♀️ Like with singing, practice means PROGRESS, it does not have to be perfect--that just gets you stuck in your head & the best art of any kind is when you let go not overthinking it! As long as you're doing ANY of it YOU'RE ON YOUR WAY TO IMPROVEMENT (singing example: at least humming the notes to get closer to the right pitch, etc). Anywayssss... I told y'all this is as random as it gets. I wasn't exaggerating. :)

Intro/Outro Song: Until We Get There by Lucius (yes, from New Girl 🥰). Please check out the song in its actuality!

Recorded: March 2, 2023 and finished September 5, 2023

Let's keep the conversations going: https://discord.com/channels/1089109562260459611/1089109562872844311

xoxo, lizzie 💋

I will definitely be working on my anxiety (some of my random laughs 😅), the "yups" (a subconscious effort to confirm I'm listening but don't realize until listening back, I'm actually talking over y'all--I'm so sorry!), and any other mishaps as I get used to this whole podcasting stuff. There's a lot more to it than I realized! 😳 But, I'm so glad starting this gave us an excuse to get together to talk about these important topics I don't think we've ever even thought to talk about before and share them with y'all! Let's keep the conversations going: https://discord.com/channels/1089109562260459611/1089109562872844311Sierra & Cherrish -- I loved getting to reunite and laugh with y'all [virtually] again! Until we can in person 😊

Intro/Outro Song: Until We Get There by Lucius (yes, from New Girl 🥰). Please check out the song in its actuality!

Recorded: February 4, 2023.

xoxo, lizzie 💕