Why does it always feel like it's Sunday evening?

I'll chalk that up to: part "time flies;" part "COVID-time is strange;" and part "checking in with a regular writing practice has an interesting effect. Affect? No—effect, I'm pretty sure.

It's somethign I noticed more with my free-hand journaling: when you write, and just sit alone with your thoughts, you create this...space for yourself. It's like a bubble of safety and respect for that narrator in your head.

The more I keep up a regular practice—meaning both daily journals and this weekly entry—the more outside of time that bubble feels. It's like, when you return to the page (or keyboard), you take a step outside of everyday life. It's just you and you.

I'd like to talk to a neuroscientist about this, because I feel like something happens in your brain. Like...your brainwaves when you're sitting and writing out your thoughts are completely different than at other times in the day. Almost like a different version of yourself emerges.

So when I say, "it always feels like Sunday evening," it's that part of me who only emerges when I write these entries who's talking. To him (me), it is always Sunday evening. He (I) don't exist Monday–Saturday. He (I) am only here now.

Which, as I write that, makes me kind of sad. I like this guy. I like me right now. He's (I'm) a good dude. It's a shame I (day-to-day me) don't invite him out more.

Moving on.

I don't think shorting stocks should be legal. I don't think derivatives should be a thing.

That's all I'll really say about this r/wallstreetbets vs. wallstreet situation.

It's my opinion that you should only be able to invest in the sucess of a company. It's my opinion should you only be able to make money by creating value for society. Winning bets placed on the failures/misfortunes of others does not create value for society.

That's all; simple opinion. If people want to gamble on stocks, you should only be allowed to gamble on market wins. If you want to hedge your bet, invest in a competitor—buy green energy and big oil.

I think that makes sense, but what do I know.

Third topic for the week? The first two were short.

OK. I missed posting on BellLet'sTalk day because I never pay attention to when those are coming up.

But I'd like to talk a bit now.

I don't know exactly what's up with my own brain—meaning I have no clinical diagnoses. But I know I don't have a squeeky clean bill of mental health.

I obviously can't speak to your experience, but I don't think any of us do. I think a certain amount of depression and anxiety are part of being human. Maybe your symptoms aren't severe enough to warrant a label, but they're there.

To me, this is a big part of ending the stigma: acknowledging that mental health "issues" aren't abnormal.

I see it like this:

Everyone has some tight muscles in their back. Everyone's neck gets stiff. Everyone could use a massage here and there. The severity of symptoms range wildly—for some they're debilitating—but we can find a certain amount of..connection in how universal the broad-strokes stuggle is.

Some days are harder than others. Some days we have less energy than other days. Some days we aren't brimming with confidence. I'm sure you can relate. We all can.

Mental health is a universal priority. Some get by without medication or meditation—just like some people get by without stretching—but it's not some rare affliction.

This is life. We all live it. We can talk about it.

Ps: I do plan to share more about my personal mental health. I'd like to tell a story of the last two years—just need to figure out how to do it. Maybe next week!