Ripples and Rind
P.S. — For AzurePond and @GreenLime3141 only. Kindly skip if that’s not you.
Hey @GreenLime3141!
I was thinking it might be nice to have a little penpal chat to keep in touch — just a place to drop thoughts, randomness or updates whenever.
Only if you're comfortable with it, of course! No pressure at all — feel free to ignore if it’s not your vibe 💌✨
Azure Pond
Azure Pond!
This is great!
Thank you!
Right now I am on vacation!
I have skipped vacation for the last 7 years due to anxiety, but here I am! It’s just 5 days, but I was still really anxious.
Thank you for creating this space!
The internet is not great here, but when I get home again it should be better.
@GreenLime3141 Hey Green Lime
It’s really frustrating not having good internet, but at least I get to go home again.
@azurePond
Sorry I didn’t tag you in the last one.
I’m home!!!
@GreenLime3141 yay! How was the vacation?
Better than I expected.
@azurePond
@GreenLime3141 Yes yes.. vacations are a break that everyone needs...life can get monotonous without them
Yeah the GIF is a bit shocking but also kind of funny haha
@GreenLime3141 
Haha
Do you ever wonder if people do read these even though they are not supposed to?
@azurePond
@GreenLime3141 People might not idk.... but it's usually best not to share anything too personal online. I may have shared a few personal things in pen pal chats but nothing that could identify me or anything I wouldn’t want others to see. If that makes sense. Better to be safe.... the internet can be a wild place.
Also wanted to comment on your very clever title to the chat! :)
@azurePond
@GreenLime3141 oh thank you.. I put a lot of thought on it before I landed on that title..im glad that u like it!
Wow yes! Thank you!
@GreenLime3141 Do you enjoy travelling? What’s one place you’ve always wanted to visit and why?
@azurePond
I don’t really enjoy traveling.
I guess I kind of want to go to Yellowstone Park. My mom went there when she was younger and she really liked it, so that’s why.
But traveling usually causes me a lot of anxiety.
@GreenLime3141 Ohh I see.....I totally get the travel anxiety. But I actually love travelling! And wow!! you’ve been to Yellowstone? That’s amazing. I went through a geography phase once and got weirdly obsessed with hotspot volcanism so I know a bunch of random facts about the Yellowstone supervolcano 😂
How was it? I bet the view was incredible.... unless Google Images is catfishing us!
Oh sorry no I haven’t been to Yellowstone, but it’s somewhere I might like to go. My mom has been.
@azurePond
See message above.
@GreenLime3141 Apologies… I'm really sorry.... I asked that question — you replied to where you wanted to go, right? Yeah.. Yellowstone sounds incredible.
Oh yeah the Northern Lights seem really amazing.
@azurePond
Have you ever seen the movie The Polar Express?
@GreenLime3141 Thanks for your patience, Green Lime. Sorry for disappearing — I was in the middle of sorting some stuff. It’s been a hectic month so… anyway.
@azurePond
It is a children’s animated Christmas movie full of adventure. It has the Northern Lights in it, displayed artistically in its own way.
@GreenLime3141 Ooh.... I’ll definitely check out the movie! And yeah.. seeing the Northern Lights is on my list —would be magical.
How’s your week been so far? Got any favourite hobbies?
Yes, I replied to where I wanted to go.
@azurePond
Hello @azurePond !
Favorite hobbies!!!
Coloring
Journaling
Playing instruments
Listening to podcasts
Listening to music
Mazes
Playing with fidgets
Scratch art
@GreenLime3141 Hey Green Lime! Those are some really cool hobbies. We actually have journaling and listening to music in common! I’m curious....what’s scratch art exactly? And if you don’t mind me asking, which instruments do you play? Also when you said "mazes" did you mean you actually create them?
Scratch art is an art thing where you scratch a coating off a thick piece of paper/board and reveal pictures of colors underneath. It’s a sensory delight haha. And fun visually too.
I play a lot of percussion instruments. They are really easy to learn. But I also played violin for 13 years and even got to be paid to play for multiple weddings. I also played in church by every week up front. But when I had my first major mental health hospitalization in February 2016, I kind got out of playing after I came home. But I’m just enjoying my percussion instruments for now.
I don’t create mazes, but I do enjoy solving ones that someone else created!
@GreenLime3141 Is scratch art the one where you use a pencil-like tool to scratch away black paper and reveal colorful patterns underneath? I’ve seen some ASMR videos like that...just wondering if that’s what it is... ?
Yes it is!
@GreenLime3141 That’s AMAZING!!!! you have such a rich musical journey! Violin for 13 years and even playing professionally at weddings is no small feat. I’m really glad percussion is bringing you joy right now.
I have always wanted to learn violin. But it didnt happen.
My week
Sunday: work
Monday: Therapy, work, meeting with a provider
Tuesday: exercise with a personal trainer, appointment, shower
@GreenLime3141 I see....you like having a structure? I get that. I think it really helps with anxiety. I'm the same way... I love structure so much that my days sometimes feel a bit monotonous. I wake up, work out or go for a run (I never miss my daily run) and I have therapy once a week, plus hospital appointments. I'm actually on a break from my studies right now because my mental health has been declining. So everything else in my day kind of shifts depending on… well, life. But I really miss having that consistent routine—just going to class and coming back. That kind of structure used to help me a lot.
I’m really sorry about your mental health at this time. You always seem so strong and definitely kind in all the forums. I look up to you!
I’d love to hear more about your mental health if you’re willing!
@GreenLime3141 Thank you so much, GreenLime. Your words give me hope... at least that I’m a little better than I used to be. But the strength and kindness you see? They’re not constant. Most days they take effort. Some days I just disappear. Honestly... it took a lot of work to develop patience and kindness. I’ve struggled with anger issues and when insomnia hits I get easily irritable. That’s when I tend to overthink, misread things and unintentionally hurt people with my words or actions. So I step back because I know myself and I’d rather disappear than do damage.
So your words really mean a lot <3
I’m glad to hear I could help!
You’re so smart and interesting, and I think you can be full of hope!
Hugs,
Green Lime
@GreenLime3141 Thank you, Greenlime, I try <3
So how do you take care of yourself when you aren’t doing so well?
@azurePond
See message above.
@GreenLime3141 That’s a really good question and a tough one too, Greenlime. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever had great coping mechanisms. When I get overwhelmed... it’s usually straight into fight or flight. And because I have anger issues that often means I get easily irritated, might argue or lash out at someone and then just disappear...like literally leave, ghost people. That used to be my toxic trait.
@azurePond
I don’t know. I feel like I just explode and everyone around me deals with all the shrapnel.
@GreenLime3141 Hey… that sounds really heavy and I get it... I’ve been there too. Just being aware of how you're affecting others shows how much you care. You're not just the shrapnel... you’re also warmth, wonder and so much more than those moments. What really helped me was learning better ways to cope. For me anger isn't just emotional... it’s physical too. So moving my body helps like workouts, running even just hitting a punching bag. And writing? Total release. I let the shrapnels out in safer ways now and it makes all the difference. Maybe you will find your own versions of that too
@azurePond
Thank you.