❤ Beautiful Things

If you go back to a narcissist, they will treat you worse. It will never get better. They are not like regular people. They lack the capacity for empathy or understanding. They know they hurt you and do not care. You will never know peace with them. You have to know that.

"Do not spoil the wonder with haste!" J.R.R. Tolkien These thoughts are instinctive in childhood where the journey and joy of life is new. But we often forget in adulthood that haste is not the point of life. We must try to see the world as a place of infinite wonder like a child. Our destination is known, so we must not take our days for granted. Contemplate the small things of beauty today. 🎨Lisi Martin, Spring Contemplation

Don't forget to stop and smell the roses today. Life is not to be lived in haste. Life is to be lived with meaning. 🎨Jessie Wilcox Smith

Be a light in the world. 🎨Micheal Malm

The love of God is the highest good that mortal man can reach

Panel from a 16th-century Venetian edition of Dante's Divine Comedy, illustrating Paradiso Canto XXII with Dante and Beatrice among the stars.

Don't worry, bee happy 🎨 Anna Seed

avoid people who mess with your head. avoid people who intentionally and repeatedly do and say things that they know upset you. avoid people who expect you to prioritize them but refuse to prioritize you. avoid people who can't and won't apologize sincerely. avoid. avoid. avoid!

SCINTILLA ETERNA Passa il buio della nottata e torna la luce all’alba, dopo l’Inverno inizia Primavera. Ogni cosa muore per rinascere. Figli generano figli e se la vita passa come un soffio di vento, l’uomo nel ricordo resta, scintilla eterna. Eternal Spark by Gero Miceli Darkness is gone from the night and light returns in the early morning after Winter Spring begins. Everything dies to be reborn. Children generate children and if life passes as a gust of wind man in remembrance remains eternal spark. (Image: the Royal Parish of Santa María Magdalena in Seville, Spain)

There are thoughts which are prayers. There are moments when, whatever the posture ofthe body, the soul is on it's knees. ~Victor Hugo

Happy Mother's Day! "The loveliest masterpiece of the heart of God is the heart of a mother.” St. Thérèse of Lisieux

Even Cosmopolitan once had beautiful cover with a mother & her child. Cosmopolitan magazine, JUNE 1923 Artist: "The Morning Kiss" Harrison Fisher

Happy Mother's Day! "But there's a story behind everything. How a picture got on a wall. How a scar got on your face. Sometimes the stories are simple, and sometimes they are hard and heartbreaking. But behind all your stories is always your mother's story, because hers is where yours begin." ~Mitch Albom, For One More Day A Moment of Tenderness (🎨Paul Seignac, 1826-1904)

I long for a large room to myself, with books and nothing else, where I can shut myself up, and see no one, and read myself into peace. - Virginia Woolf Letter to Violet Dickinson 30th October 1904 (🎨 Jean Honoré Fragonard, The Reader, c. 1769)

Queen of the Meadow 🎨Cicely Mary Barker

The woods are full of fairies The trees are all alive: The river overflows with them See how they dip and dive! What funny little fellows: What dainty little dears! They dance and leap, and prance and peep. And utter fairy cheers! 🎨Margaret Tarrant

Covert narcissism (also called vulnerable narcissism) is a subtler, more introverted expression of narcissistic traits. Unlike overt (grandiose) narcissists—who are loud, arrogant, and openly attention-seeking—covert narcissists often appear shy, self-deprecating, sensitive, or even humble on the surface. Beneath that mask, they still have the core narcissistic features: fragile self-esteem, lack of empathy, entitlement, and a deep need for admiration and control. Key Signs of Covert/Vulnerable Narcissism *Hypersensitivity to Criticism or Perceived Rejection: Even mild feedback feels like a personal attack. They may sulk, withdraw, become passive-aggressive, or flip into victim mode. *Playing the Victim They consistently position themselves as misunderstood, underappreciated, unlucky, or unfairly treated. Conversations often revolve around their grievances, hardships, or how others have wronged them. *Passive-Aggressive Behavior Instead of direct confrontation, they use sarcasm, silent treatment, “forgetting” things, subtle digs disguised as jokes, guilt trips, or backhanded compliments. *Emotional Manipulation via Guilt and Shame They make you feel responsible for their emotions (“If you cared, you would…”). They use vague demands, persistent questioning, or withdrawal to pull you back in. *Need for Admiration / Validation (Indirectly) They crave reassurance but seek it through sympathy, being “rescued,” or having you constantly prove you care. They may appear insecure while still feeling superior underneath. *Lack of Empathy They struggle to genuinely acknowledge or care about your feelings, especially if it competes with their own narrative. Your explanations often get dismissed or twisted. *Gaslighting and Blame-Shifting They rewrite events so you end up doubting yourself, apologizing, or defending normal behavior (e.g., “You’re being defensive” when you explain yourself) *Envy, Resentment, and Covert Antagonism Hidden jealousy or resentment toward others (including you). They may sabotage subtly or hold long grudges. *Fragile Ego Masked by Withdrawal or Self-Deprecation They might seem humble or anxious, but any threat to their self-image triggers defensiveness, sulking, or accusations. *Push-Pull Dynamic & Hoovering Alternating between vulnerability/affection and coldness/criticism. After distance, they return with partial apologies or guilt to re-engage you.

Stay away from people who have to pretend you’re a bad person to avoid feeling guilty about what they did to you.