Balance
Something I've been thinking a lot about lately is finding balance in both satisfying my AB/DL needs and pursuing my hopes and dreams. As much as we'd all like to be adopted by someone and padded daily for the rest of our lives, do we still take the time to think about what else we want to do?
I just turned 20 and am in college, so having bi-weekly existential meltdowns should come as no surprise to all the full grown folks out there. Lately it seems like all the flowers have wilted away and the brick wall of reality has stacked itself all around me. And so as I retreat into my little side to get away from things, I actually learn something about myself and this cool community.
As I read through all the fun stories and AB life hacks on blogs like abysitter's or see all the adorable pictures on minimaxkiddo's page (not to forget all the drawn artwork on deviant), I'm reminded that so many of us are artists. It takes a special mind to be able to retreat into a childlike state of purity and calm instead of falling on more destructive vices like drugs and alcohol. Shouldn't we have an advantage over other people for that reason?
There's a balance to be found in existing as a little. There's both a good way and a bad way to take advantage of who we are. The bad way is to always retreat into our little side, taking a fearful approach to all that life throws at us. But on the other hand we can use our littleness to catch our breath, find comfort when the going gets rough, and then emerge from within ourselves and do great things. We can go out into the world and express the skills we have to make ourselves a community of creators, problem solvers, and doers.