Gem Volsky

It's hard to be, or explore, or develop, your true self when you have CPTSD hijacking your thoughts, feelings, & choices.

We don't work our recovery because we love thinking about trauma. We do it because we have an authentic self underneath it all who is waiting for us.

starting a fit check thread for 2026 so I can look back and see myself emerge

my son

I'm mad a lot.
I'm sad more often.

makin some coffee cozies 💖

I know it’s difficult right now, but I insist that you seek and enjoy beautiful things, even if it seems frivolous or irresponsible in the face of overwhelming horror. I want you to feed yourself artistically, spiritually, and literally, because you can’t Do The Work when you’re starving.

a banner which reads Trans Rights Are Human Rights surrounded by stars and yellow roses

Being trans is a joy and a gift! Some folks are trying to take away that joy! We will not let them! We will become even more trans and more joyful as time goes on!

I don't think anyone pretending there isn't an effort underway by Republicans to eradicate trans people from public life can be taken seriously at this point.

As of tonight, licenses of trans people across Kansas are being invalidated en masse, enabling the overnight criminalization of an entire group of people for going about our lives. It’s often said you never know when you’re living through history, so let me assure you: that’s what’s happening now.

It Only Tuesday

It Only Tuesday https://theonion.com/it-only-tuesday-1819569397/

Diane 11:30 a.m. February 24th. Entering the town of Twin Peaks.

A rectangular painting of a green grass with small white flowers in front of a body of water reflecting trees out of frame in magenta and periwinkle, a lone star floats across the surface reflecting below

Dancer on the Pond, 2024✨

A screenshot from the game Stardew Valley featuring the character Abigail. The text box reads, “Cutting disability benefits does not make those unable to work magically able to do so.”

hamburger help me

The correct number of concentration camps we should have in this country is zero.

WHOS NEXT???!?!?!!

digital drawing of a hare/rabbit framed with snowdrops

the first signs of spring ⚘

[ #art #creatureart ]

Morning.

Screenshot of a CNN segment shared by Acyn. A split-screen shows commentator Lydia Moynihan on the left and Kevin O’Leary on the right during a heated exchange. The chyron reads, “Obama: Dems need to avoid scolding and ‘virtue-signaling.’” The post quotes O’Leary referencing China and concentration camps, and McGowan responding about West Virginia.

I spent my childhood inside of American concentration camps. I know one when I see one. And that is what ICE is building.

“Did they grow up under a rock??”

Yes. And the rock was probably put there on purpose by men who wanted uneducated people to control.

This is why we don’t leave any state or county or town behind. Nobody deserves to grow up under a rock. Especially one they would never have the power to move.

Acknowledging your vulnerabilities is not "making excuses."

Trauma survivors tend to err on the side of beating the sh*t out of ourselves rather than "making excuses"-- which often leads to us having "that doesn't hurt" blind spots that keep us stuck or put us at risk.

A painting of a boot crushing ice cubes in a grassy field; behind the boot is a pansy, a sunflower, and a poppy, as well as a sun and a moon. The word "Crush" is at the top in desert chrome lettering, and the word "Ice" is at the bottom in an ice-cube style of letter. The boot is laced with a string that represents the colors of the contemporary pride flag.

Gouache on paper, June 2025

Happy new year! 🐴