A letter from Nov 23, 2024

Dear FutureMe, You are trying to break the "adulting" code. This letter is for anyone who is just trying to get their life together and feels like they have a bunch of chaos in their life. I will tell you what works for me. How I stay sane in a world of uncertainty. The internet is dead anyway, so I feel like if I am able to do what I want to do, this will serve as a piece of history in how people lived in a certain time period. So, my bathroom, is my most vulnerable space in my home. So, when I feel like there is a lot of chaos in my life, I start with my bathroom. I currently am pretty consist with cleaning my bathroom once a week. I clean the tub, the counters, the toilet. I even clean the back of the toilet once a week. I know that most people do not do it that frequently, but I have learned to have gratitude that I even have access to a toilet of my own. That I do not have to share with others and wonder about their cleaning habits. I am going to hold onto this freedom as long as I can, because I do not know what the future holds. I currently live in a one bedroom apartment by myself with a dog. Consider there is war going on in the world, I am incredibly privileged. I know the world is changing, and I feel like I am watching it happen, waiting for it to hit the people live me who are privileged enough to have access to a private toilet. So, I have a lot of pride in keeping my bathroom clean. I also am trying to make sure the products I use on my body have a purpose. For instance, I am currently working on making my bathroom black owned. I used some products that are not black owned, such as Dove, and when that runs out, I want to be intentional about buying black owned soaps and products. I do not want to support the capitalist structure for as long as I can. Anyway, in my bathroom is where I talk to my ancestors. If I were to ever be in a romantic relationship, that person would see me in my bathroom doing things that I would not show just anybody. That is why I believe it is important to NOT show yourself in the bathroom on the internet. You are inviting so many people to see how you navigate in your most vulnerable space. The art in my bathroom is also a reminder that it is my most vulnerable space. If a person were to use my bathroom, they would see a singular photo and ask "what is this [photo?]" and I would respond with a story about my upbringing, that is not a story I would share with just anyone. This makes me think critically about who I invite into my bathroom, and how much I am sharing on the internet. My bathroom is my most vulnerable space. When my bathroom is in chaos, it is usually an indicator of another problem. I clean my bathroom as a starting point, and work my way out to the bedroom, living room etc. But with the bathroom, I also think about my physical health. If my bathroom is in chaos, it is usually an indicator that I'm not working out, or I have poor eating habits. My bathroom is my most vulnerable space. And when it is out of order, I need to prioritize it, even at the expense of what someone else wants me to do. So, that is the start of the "secret formula" if that is what you are looking for/if that is what you want to call it. It starts in the bathroom. Make sure it is clean and work your way out. I'll keep writing to you as I figure more things out. But I do knot this is step 1. -SJblackphoenix