Parents:

- parent

- responsible adult ("RA" for short)

- meal planner

- diaper dealer

- warden

- DNA donor

- spawn point

Siblings:

- sibling

- wombmate

- anklebiter (if younger)

- yardstick (if older)

Polite Pronouns:

- kind soul

- fellow stranger

- air sharer

- dear (works for everyone)

- love (works for everyone)

- young one

- elder

- cohort

Other Pronouns:

*Cheat: Steal them from other languages

Navajo: bí

Hawaiian: ia

Malay: orang, kawan

Azerbaijani: o

Pipil: yaja

Umbundu: eye

Bengali: সে (şé)

Telugu: -ది (-di)

Chechen: иза (iza)

Mapudungun: fey

Tahitian: ’oia

Bashkir: ул (ul)

Kazakh: ол (ol)

Mongolian: тэр (ter)

Aymara: jupa

Chichewa: iye

Lakota: iš

Tlingit: hú

Tagalog: siya

Uyghur: ئۇ‎ (u)

Uzbek: u

Turkmen: ol

Turkish: o

Taos: ą́wąn

Wolof: moom

Chuukese: iiy

Tatar: ул (ul)

Georgian: ის (is)

Fijian: koya

Quechua: pay

Tibetan: ཁོང (khong)

Malagasy: izy

Guaraní: ha’e

Swahili: yeye

Haida: hal

Persian: او‎ (u)

Havasupai: nyihá

Cherokee: Ꭰ- (a-), Ꭴ- (u-)

Comanche: iʔ, maʔ, oʔ, uʔ

Yapese: qiir

Pitjantjatjara: paluṟu

So English lacks the gender neutral options other languages have already. Just pick the ones you like and "borrow" them like the English do with everything else in the world.

Other Options:

- Use their name (and work on remembering it!)

- Use their nickname (with permission)

- Use their title/profession ("doctor" "professor" "student" "cadet")

"I just came here to the party for the drugs." *

radio dial pause

what?

"I'm not tryna make a friend or fall in love." *

why

why do my ears perk at this?

"Not here for nameless faces, pointless talkin', conversations" *

gods

yes

I relate to this and I've never even done drugs...

because really -

I just came here for the

stories

laughter

sugar

sex

bacon

chatter

gaming

decks

(hugs)

hugs

(hugs)

hugs

(hugs)

I just came here for the -

<3

*"Drugs" by Upsahl

i’m okay

when i woke up today i felt afraid

but now

things are looking up but

i’m still tired of hiding because

i want a love like this

where we tag-team

on everything

somehow

even with our differences

we’re in perfect harmony

and i’m okay

because i’m making friends and

more than friends

and even though

my mom doesn’t know

because i lied

she doesn’t know that i’m anything but

straight

i’ll be okay

i’ll be alright

i just want someone

to remind me

that life is not just today

that there is hope beyond this moment

and i am more than where i am right now

and that i will be alright

i will be okay

inspired by “it won’t be me” by tom rosenthal

‘The pain’s compulsory, suffering’s optional’ - (My 19th Birthday - Dave)

Every individual on this planet is susceptible to pain. The pain will differ - one mans pain may be another man’s dream. The degree of pain will also differ - one mans pain may push him into a dark cavernous hole of depression and that same pain may push another man to defiantly pursue his dreams.

The truth is pain is universal. It is about how one overcomes this obstacle and can nurture it into something profound for themselves; that defines them. Suffering isn’t universal; it’s every individual’s choice to take or to not.

I see a lot of men let their jealousy creep in

Watch who you eat with, the girls that you sleep with

Watch who you talk with, walk with, speak with

The first to the motives, and last to the meetings

Huh, all I know is how to work bruv

Start off as a worker and that's just how it works bruv

When I was tryna work n***** never tried to turn up

But when it's time to turn up everybody turns up

- (Hangman - Dave)

This song serves as a reminder to be self-reliant. The somber reality of the world is that people's priorities are themselves and their closest friends/families. This isn't necessarily a bad attribute, but it can be harmful when people begin to leech off one another. It's the reason some people are left heartbroken, disappointed, alone.

Therefore relying on oneself to build their own future is most important. It allows people to keep their expectations low of others. So when others exceed their expectations, you're left with gratitude and joy.

Link to song with translation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3yyfZNHTls

This song resonates with me because it sings about everything I want to say without the words sounding meaningless and for nought. As the artist's name suggests, it's a non-English song sung by Hatsune Miku, a Vocaloid (a digital voice synthesizer). I know that the translation doesn’t do the Japanese lyrics justice, but I still teared up because it was honest in the way that I couldn't be. I don't think I will ever be able to explain what this song is about, so I'll just let the lyrics speak for me and write a conclusion. (lyrics are written in the format presented in the video)

Lyrics:

'Who the heck really thinks a song like this can fill up your oozing,

corroded scars... Even if I held you close and screamed out, nothing, in reality would change.

Songs sung screaming recklessly, all they

really do is clear my own mind for a moment.

I think what I really wanted was sympathy, but I did want to save you too...

I am powerless, I am powerless, I am powerless, I am powerless, I am powerless.'

'"I was saved by you" or "I started to think I wanted to live after all"

...Ah, I see. But it's yourself you should be thanking for changing. Good for you.'

'I, of living flesh, wanted to be your god.'

'Even if I hold you close, and scream, it won't change the fact that you're in pain.

Songs screamed sloppily, I don't actually like them either

I think what I really wanted was sympathy, but I can't save anyone with that'

'I just want to sing a song that will save someone.

I want to sing a song that will protect someone.

I want to sing a song that will save you.

But it's impossible,

I know you can be happy, of your own accord, through your own means'

'... I want to scream for you, of your scars your pain, everything.

But you know, in the end you are strong. Surely you can

face forward all on your own... and that's fine by me

But maybe, where there comes a time where you start to cry,

let me sing all your pain, your hardships, your weaknesses,

your heart -- with my powerless, incompetent, dirtied song.

I am powerless, I am powerless, I could not become god.

I am powerless, I am powerless.

With this powerless song I want to save you, but'

'I want to be your god'

That was the last line of the song. I guess the reason why this made me tear up was because it was very honest and relatable. As a user here on Prose, I had hoped that my writing would help someone and anyone who's suffering. I guess I was also looking for sympathy, someone who shares the same pain, or simply trying to sympathise with the people who share the same troubles with posts that weren't based on my experiences; 'but I did want to save you too'. What I'm trying to say is, I hoped to give someone else the will to live even while I myself was in pain, even though I know that it won't change anything or anyone. I can't relief them of their pain, I can't solve their problems and I definitely can't save anyone. 'I am powerless' because I can't make anyone happier; you have your own ways of making yourself happier, but if you fall into a slump again, I'd like to do anything in my power to console you even if it doesn't solve anything.

One of my favourite songs to jam out to with my daughter is Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall." When I was younger I love it because it pissed my teachers off. And it was good stoner music. But as I listen to the song now. It really makes a lot more sense as an adult.

Most of my time in school (I imagine many have had a similar experience) was spent preparing to get a job. Whether that job is what I wanted to or would've even been good at it, seemed irrelevant to my teachers. Everything in school happened so fast. I was always doing a test, studying for a test, playing sports, or doing some other school activity. That I never stopped to ask myself. "What do I really want out of life?"

I think that's a question that isn't really encouraged (at least not in my school). Too often it seemed like everyone had an opinion about me and my talents. Or just wanted to live vicariously through me. As if my teachers or family could rewrite their own mistakes and regrets.

When I listen to that song and sing it with my daughter as I'm dropping her off for kindergarten. I think to myself that everyone seemed to want me to fit into their idea of how the world should be. To make me just another brick in the wall.

That's not what I want for her. I don't want her to ever feel like she has to conform to someone else's standards or ideas. Not even me.

So when we both laugh and sing "Hey! Teach! Leave those kids alone!" I am hoping to help her develop an indomitable spirit in her. That teaches her not to just be a background character in her own life.

As the great Willian Ernest Henley said in his poem Invictus:

"It matters not how straight the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate,

I am the captain of my soul."

there is this very specific kind of rage that you feel when you have spent a long time trying to make someone a good person. When you meet them it seems easy: get them and everyone else to see all of the amazing things you see. Get them to see the way he smiles, the nie things hes capable of saying, get them to see how much love he has inside of him even if its only between you too. But then, slowly, you start to realize that no mount of living omeone can make them into a good person. No amount of pouring your soul into them can make them as good as you, and no matter what anyone else says, loving them wont make them love you back.

I spent four years trying to force a man to be a good person. I remember when we first ogt togther girls would come up to me and warn me that he would hurt me but I was so sure that I had thick enough skin to manage until he became the version of him that existed in my head. But four years later he still isnt a good person and it appears i didnt have thick skin at all. I was just as weak and malliable as all of the other people in his life but the difference is that I ran in head first.

I no sit for hours on end filling up with rage about how long he convicned me to stay and be a toy for him to use and break and put back together again. I curse myself for being so stupid. For wasting four years of my life and walking out with nothing to show for it but a lot of missed opportunities that I traded for nights spent waiting for him to call.

On New Year’s Day I woke up surrounded by friends who had just fallen asleep hours ago. After watching the sunrise, and sharing secrets, we had all crashed as our adrenaline finally faded. The cold floor jolts me awake, and I feel the footsteps of my companions creeping around. My mind goes to one line, “I’ll be cleaning up bottles with you on New Year’s Day.” This beautifil lyric by Taylor Swift stopped me in my tracks. Whenever I had previously listened to this song, I envisioned true romantic love, in a relationship with soulmates, people who were there for each other during the good and the bad. However, hearing this song in my head completely caused me to reimagine my perspective. Love songs can be completely platonic. I was not surrounded by anyone who I was involved with romanticaly, yet I had never felt more love. The bond of my seemingly evergreen group of friends. We had all come from different journeys, and had experienced different hardships, yet somehow, we all came together on New Year’s Eve, stayed the night and had entered the start of a new year together. Now when I hear this song, I do not think about how I don’t feel that way toward anyone, but rather, how lucky I am to feel a different way towards an entire group of people.

I requested this be my funeral song, specifically the mix by DJ Mike. I like the way it reminds me of my clubbing days. Days of freedom and promise. The music would pulse so loudly, I could feel it in my womb. They laugh when I turn up the volume and tell everyone in ear shot to make certain to dance to this at my wake.

They all think I am joking but in truth the joke is on them.

I will finally know what's up and be free...

“What’s Up?” ~ 4 Non Blondes

25 years and my life is still

Tryin’ to get up that great big hill of hope

For a destination

I realized quickly when I knew I should

That the world was made up of this brotherhood of man

For whatever that means

And so I cry sometimes when I’m lying in bed

Just to get it all out what’s in my head

And I, I am feeling a little peculiar

And so I wake in the morning and I step outside

And I take a deep breath and I get real high

And I scream from the top of my lungs

“What’s going on?”

And I say, hey-ey-ey

Hey-ey-ey

I said “Hey, a-what’s going on?”

And I say, hey-ey-ey

Hey-ey-ey

I said “Hey, a-what’s going on?”

Ooh, ooh

Ooh

Ooh, uh huh

Ooh, ooh

Ooh

Ooh, uh huh

And I try

Oh my God, do I try

I try all the time

In this institution

And I pray

Oh my God, do I pray

I pray every single day

For revolution

And so I cry sometimes when I’m lying in bed

Just to get it all out, what’s in my head

And I, I am feeling a little peculiar

And so I wake in the morning and I step outside

And I take a deep breath and I get real high

And I scream from the top of my lungs

“What’s going on?”

And I say, hey-ey-ey

Hey-ey-ey

I said “Hey, what’s going on?”

And I say, hey-ey-ey

Hey-ey-ey

I said “Hey, a-what’s going on?”

And I say, hey-ey-ey

(Wake in the morning and step outside)

Hey-ey-ey

(Take a deep breath and I get real high)

(And I scream)

I said “Hey, a-what’s going on?”

And I say, hey-ey-ey

(Wake in the morning and step outside)

Hey-ey, yeah yeah yeah

(Take a deep breath and I get real high)

(And I scream)

I said “Hey, a-what’s going on?”

Ooh, ooh

Ooh

Ooh, uh huh

25 years and my life is still

Tryin’ to get up that great big hill of hope

For a destination, mmm