Rachel Mass - Sunlight Scholar Blog

04/08/2025

OHIO FRIENDS, PLEASE READ AND SHARE!!!

If you know anything about me at all, you already know I count libraries among the most useful and important resources in our community.

Someday in the (hopefully) less urgent future, I'll expand on everything there is to love about libraries and why I believe they are quite literally the backbone of our society.

I would go so far as to say libraries and museums are the last surviving institutions of their kind after years of continuously slashing for public services in general.

But right now, libraries in Ohio desperately need active support from the community.

The Ohio House of Representatives released its budget proposal for the next two years to the public on April 1st. This budget includes and unprecedented suggestion to eliminate the Public Library Fund (PLF), which has been legally protected legislation for a nearly a century until now.

Libraries everywhere rely heavily on this arrangement with the state to secure the funding they need to stay in operation and provide so many useful resources and services to our community for free.

The possibility of losing these protections and facing devastating cuts in funding puts the future of libraries in serious jeopardy. For perspective, there are numerous branches in Ohio for which the PLF covers half of all budgeting costs.

Libraries all across the state have released statements calling for immediate action from the public to defend them from a real existential threat

I would like to revisit this later to add more concrete details about the impact this change would have on our community as well as a much longer list of actionable steps we can take to defend Ohio’s libraries.

For now ill link to the statement from the Akron summit county library, which includes the names and emails of state house representatives who need to hear from as many of us as possible that this proposal is unacceptable and does not reflect the desires of the communities they represent.

The page even has a form you can fill out instead of an email if that’s more convenient!

Here’s a direct link for that information: https://www.akronlibrary.org/dontcutohiolibraries

Like I said I will be expanding more on this because there’s a lot we can do right now but if you live outside Summit County, it would be a good idea to google your local library to see if they have a similar call to action because MANY branches across the state do already

If you are someone this will directly affect (basically anyone in Ohio), please take time to do something, even just one action. It will take a few minutes of your time to fill this out and I will compile some other options later on too

Thank you and LETS DEFEND LIBRARIES

04/07/2025

How To Heal Yourself Emotionally Through Writing - an infographic based on the article "How to Heal Yourself from Emotional Upheaval through Writing as an Introvert" by Jenn Granneman (via Introvert, Dear

Read full article here: https://introvertdear.com/news/health-benefits-writing/

[IMAGE DESCRIPTION]

A list-style infographic titled "How to Heal Yourself Emotionally through Writing" by Introvertdear.com.

The infographic breaks down information into nine sections, each similar in size, style, and content. These sections function as items in a list, much like bullet points meant to be read left to right.

Each section (or "item") contains a few short lines of text accompanied by a relevant visual icon or graphic. These blurbs offer advice on emotional healing through writing. Most items address specific issues or areas for improvement and give actionable tips for overcoming common struggles.

See below for a full outline of the information as presented in the graphic.

There are a total of 9 list items shown on the whole graphic, all similar in size and spacing. Starting under the title, the graphic displays three rows from top to bottom.

Each row contains exactly three list items, appearing as small sections of grouped icons and text which are spaced out horizontally with equal intervals between them to fit across the whole row.
includes a brief description of the icon or graphic and a written transcript of the small sections of text that make up each item.

Included below is a text description of this infographic. To ensure this section communicates all the information from the visual aid accurately and as the creator intended viewers to understand it, I formatted the text description as a numbered list, with each item corresponding to an individual section mentioned above.

Each item on the list includes a brief description of the icon or clipart-like illustration followed by a transcript of the short blurb paired with each one, just as displayed in the visualization.

1) A purple stick figure walking on a road.

The text reads: Dealing with something difficult? Your mind works overtime when you experience emotional upheaval, like the loss of a relationship or job.

2) A bright yellow pencil.

The text reads: Try writing about the upheaval. Writing will help you make sense of the event and reduce distress

3) A blue analog clock with hands showing about 15 minutes past the hour.

The text reads: Write for 15-20 minutes, 4 days in a row. Write about your deepest thoughts and emotions

4) Yellow silhouette of a human from the shoulders up, head held in an upward position.

The text reads: Write only for yourself. Deal only with events and situations you can handle now.

5) Sketch of an exclamation mark styled to look like it was hand drawn in pencil, outlined in purple

The text reads: Don't worry about spelling and grammar. Don't overdo it by writing about a distressing event for more than a couple weeks.

6) Blue and white illustration of the iconic pair of comedy and tragedy masks, the widely recognized cultural symbol of drama or theater.

The text reads: Try putting the event into a story. Or write about the event from someone else's perspective.

7) Dark blue illustration of a basic heart shape, with white squiggly lines moving across the center in a zigzag pattern meant to invoke imagery of an EKG machine

The text reads: Writing may make you healthier. You may visit the doctor less. Physical wounds may heal faster. You may sleep better and improve your immune function and working memory.

8) A group of three identical stick figures all colored bright yellow. They are standing close together in a straight line, all extending their arms toward one another as if linking arms or holding hands

The text reads: The infographic's footer contains Piktochart watermark and a short list of external sources for information presented in the graphic. The text identifies these sources by title only.

9) A single purple stick figure, possibly the same person shown standing in the road in the first item on this list. This time, he is standing taller with his arms stretched up above his head in a relaxed position that clearly indicates a positive reaction. Though it’s difficult to identify the exact action or movement the illustration means to show, the figure appears to be celebrating and loudly cheering, or perhaps raising his shoulders in relief.

The text reads: Writing isn’t just for introverts. Although introverts love solitary activities that allow them to delve into their inner world.

****The list of items ends here. However, the footer of the infographic contains some additional information that seems important to mention, as it directly refers to external sources used to create this visual aid.

The infographic's footer contains Piktochart watermark, indicating that the creator used this tool to arrange this information into a useful visualization that makes for a compelling and easy to distribute resource.

Most importantly, there is a line of tiny text displayed right above this watermark that credits a few external information sources, which are presumably listed only by title.

This line of text reads,
“Sources: Writing to Heal, Writing Can Help Injuries Heal Faster, and Emotional and Physical Health Benefits of Expressive Writing”

04/04/2025

“Spring,” by Edna St. Vincent Millay (1892-1950) first published in her book Second April
1921 // New York

Transcript:

To what purpose, April, do you return again?
Beauty is not enough.
You can no longer quiet me with the redness
Of little leaves opening stickily.
I know what I know.
The sun is hot on my neck as I observe
The spikes of the crocus.
The smell of the earth is good.
It is apparent that there is no death.
But what does that signify?
Not only under ground are the brains of men
Eaten by maggots.
Life in itself
Is nothing,
An empty cup, a flight of uncarpeted stairs.
It is not enough that yearly, down this hill,
April
Comes like an idiot, babbling and strewing flower.

03/31/2025

From mindfulstudytest on Tumblr

Transcript:

gentle reminder you can rise up from everything. you can recreate yourself. nothing is permanent. you are not stuck. you have choices. you can think new thoughts. you can learn something new. you can create new habits. all that matters is that you decide today and never look back.

03/30/2025

"when they think it's a regular hangout but they heal me every time we're together" forever grateful yo have this in my life 💜🩵💚🩷

Original post by on x
Link: https://x.com/zeokatt/status/1905133407484748017/photo/1

03/30/2025

Yeah....

12/07/2024

How can we support PDA children?

Here are five simple steps to think about…

1. ᴛʜᴇ ꜰɪʀꜱᴛ ꜱᴛᴇᴘ ɪꜱ ɴᴏ ꜱᴛᴇᴘ 🪜

The moment you approach a PDA’er it might feel like a demand - which is a threat to the child’s autonomy. Understanding that we naturally create a demand avoidant response is essential to the first step which is no step! Just being present and meeting the child collaboratively will ensure a smoother relationship is created.

2. ᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰᴏᴄᴀʟ ʟᴇɴꜱ 🔍

We have to change our approach and see that our children 𝐜𝐚𝐧’𝐭 help that they 𝐰𝐨𝐧’𝐭 be able to do things we may ask of them as well as the internal demands they put on themselves. Supporting this process builds a better dynamic and creates useful strategies together.

3. ᴛʀᴜꜱᴛ ɪꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰᴏᴜɴᴅᴀᴛɪᴏɴ 🫂

To create any meaningful relationship with a PDA’er you need to build their trust - remember your actions will never be forgotten! Taking a moment to model it when our emotions get the better of us will help to make the child feel that the adults around them are safe. This is so important on a nervous system that doesn’t behave in the way that is typical and is always responding in a highly stressful way.

4. ᴀᴅᴜʟᴛ ᴀꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ‘ᴄᴀʀᴇʀ’ ⚖️

The quicker we see ourselves as guides or mentors the better! I have found that all adults should be seen as carers - not teachers, leaders or dictators - so that the playing field is equal. Learning to work 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 instead of being in 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥 of the child is fundamental to the whole shift in respecting the child’s autonomy and ability to learn by themselves.

5. ꜰʟᴇxɪʙɪʟɪᴛʏ ɪꜱ ᴋᴇʏ! 🗝️

What works one day won’t work the next. We need to understand the child’s tolerance to everyday demands will vary depending on many factors. It’s our responsibility to be flexible and adapt as best we can and sometimes that might mean just focusing on the high priorities to manage very little demands. Adapting and being supportive will create a positive impact on the child and the environment that they need to grow in.

𝐃𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐟𝐮𝐥?

Please let me know in the comments if there are any things you find important to share with others in our community?❤️🌈

06/05/2024

05/28/2024

Of course Facebook invited this page, the public page I use and like the least, to its creator fund that none of my other pages can get into…which means I could potentially get some money just for engagement here?? So yeah I guess I’m gonna have to start actually posting here

05/28/2024

Transcript of original post by smoov-criminal via Tumblr:

the US Department of Transportation is now accepting comments on new rules for US airlines regarding disabled passengers!

“The proposed rule would require that airlines meet rigorous standards for accommodating passengers with disabilities safely and with dignity. The proposal will set new standards for prompt, safe, and dignified assistance, mandate enhanced training for airline employees and contractors who physically assist passengers with disabilities and handle passengers’ wheelchairs and specify actions that airlines must take to protect passengers when a wheelchair is damaged during transport. Notably, the proposed rule also would make it easier for DOT to hold airlines accountable when they damage or delay the return of a wheelchair by making it an automatic violation of the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) to mishandle wheelchairs.” Link: https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/secretary-buttigieg-announces-proposed-rule-ensure-passengers-who-use-wheelchairs-can

you can read the complete proposal here (link: https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/secretary-buttigieg-announces-proposed-rule-ensure-passengers-who-use-wheelchairs-can
) and leave a comment here (link: https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/DOT-OST-2022-0144-0225). the comments will be open for 25 days as of today, May 18th. if you're American, even if you aren't disabled, please leave a comment, and if not please share this around!




For ease of access, here are the hyperlinks from the original post again!

Summary of proposed rule: https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/secretary-buttigieg-announces-proposed-rule-ensure-passengers-who-use-wheelchairs-can

Read complete proposal: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/03/12/2024-04729/ensuring-safe-accommodations-for-air-travelers-with-disabilities-using-wheelchairs

Leave a comment: https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/DOT-OST-2022-0144-0225

04/26/2024

02/19/2024

Clearly I don’t know how to take decent food pics even for the insta aesthetic, butttt made us Valentine’s Day (weekend) breakfast for dinner ft heart shaped tots the other day 💖 I am so blessed to be in a relationship with someone who loves cookies and is so good at it bc man I swear he makes the simplest food sometimes and it’s so BOMB somehow