Self branding and promotion is a part of my job’s culture. I recognize the importance of it, and I want to learn how to do it in a way that feels authentic and grounded in real work. But a part of me resents that I have to do it in order for my work and impact to be recognized by other people in the company. It also feels really silly. I like the work that I’m doing, and I don’t want to leave the company. So, what are your tips for self branding and promotion?

My mother and I have always had a super complicated relationship. I never saw her as the narcissist in our family dynamic. I understood her to be the enabler... Though recent events that involved her playing out her worst fear with her ex husband through myself and my kids, has made me question. She has done permanent damage, and has only offered excuses.
She told me that there was no point in apologizing. She has told me that demons influenced her to be a crappy parent to me. She has claimed she was afraid of my father when I was growing up (which is fair) and that she didn't have the resources to leave him (that part is a lie though). She has told me that I'm beating her over the head with her mistakes, and that now that she might have cancer, that I have to forgive her. She also claimed that because I was upset with her, and was calling her out for it, that I had a narcissistic tool belt, and she didn't deserve to be told she had hurt me. She claimed I was hoovering her, because she continued to offer to help me, and I didn't reject it, but I was still upset with her, and continued to ask for accountability. Is that even what hoovering is? I feel guilty for not rejecting her help, but I know Id also feel guilty if I rejected her, because she would claim I was abandoning her, or that I was giving her the cold shoulder and being abusive.
I tried to converse with her. To tell her I still wanted a relationship, but I didn't know how to move forward after the most recent damage she has inflicted on myself and my kids. I told her that the reality of things will have an impact on my young children into adulthood. She told me that we can't have a relationship, because I will always hold her mistakes over her head... And I was so upset she said that, because that wasn't what this was about.
Looking back, I realize that every time I needed emotional support, she would leave me high and dry, and then blame me for falling apart. She told me that going back to a man who was beating me regularly was my fault, and then tried to recant it. "Well you should have known he'd continue to hit you." She then said that she didn't blame me for going back, and then reiterated that I should have known. She said that every time I would leave, she had to clean up messes behind me, and it was inconvenient for her. That she had helped me so much and so I can't be angry with her... And Im just so hurt and confused.
The fact that she even said that my asking for accountability was me trying to hold "mistakes" over her head hurts. It tells me that we can't have a relationship, because she doesn't actually see the damage she is inflicting on me. She only filters it through how it hurts her... And I feel guilty, because if she does have cancer, and I can't get over this... Then she will die alone, and somehow I feel like that's my fault. It's so twisted.
She is also upset because I moved out. She said I left her holding the bag, and now she can't afford to keep paying her mortgage. She's said that she will end up homeless, sleeping in her car, and she won't be able to afford her medications, and she will die. She has also said she's not blaming me for that... But then she will flip on me again. I can't keep track of when she is or isn't blaming me for her inability to pay her bills. She claims I held her financially hostage, because I was working full time and paying for everything... But when I was doing that, she was telling me all the time about how her heart was weak and she couldn't work like she used to, and that if she did the work she had been doing full time, that it would kill her. My mother does have a weak heart, and she has barely managed diabetes, and so I felt like I needed to take care of her. But now she has a full time job, because I moved out... And now I'm confused, and hurt... And my kids are hurt, but I'm independent of her... But I feel like the bad guy. I don't know.
I'm even kind of afraid to be posting here, because I'm worried that somehow I have misunderstood, or taken what she has said out of context. Or maybe that I am the narcissistic one, and that posting this is some kind of victim complex thing? I don't want to talk about it because I feel guilty, but I also feel like I need to. I need a place to put it, because I'm really fragile right now, and it's not normal to become such an island, and be so isolated. I constantly question if she or other narcissistic people in my life have been right about me, and maybe I'm the problem... Is that normal to doubt my own intentions so drastically and consistently?

So many of us fall into this trap of feeling like trading convenience for food quality is a worthwhile trade. I definitely did for a while, telling myself I'm too tired to cook a chicken breast and opting for a chicken sandwich from Popeyes or something. But after a few months of no fast food and mostly whole foods (I can a canned soup a couple days ago, so I'm not perfect), I am so happy with myself for not giving these evil corporations my money. No fast food chain has gotten my money since last October, no snack food providers like Little Debbie have gotten my money, and most of my grocery purchases are from local places, which promotes keeping my money within my local economy instead of states away.
These convenience companies are manipulating you into giving them your money. They alter food to addictive levels, ignore healthy alternatives if the cost is higher, straight up lie about the consequences of their actions, and even go so far as to lobby and push for their foods to become the norm (why TF is a pop tart a breakfast food, that is a candy!). They don't care who they kill to make their money in their lifetime, without any regard for the future. They do not care about hurting you.
There's this myth (and of course there's always layers of truth sprinkled in these myths) that cooking is difficult and a large percentage of full grown adults don't even know how to cook any basic dish besides microwave stuff. We are busier than ever, but if we don't find time to break from that dangerous cycle and learn how to support ourselves instead of letting these evil people feed us, our future generations will not have a grasp on what real, whole foods are. Instead, we will be sick and depressed, being forced into a corrupt medical system that charges an arm and leg for remedies that ignorance and societal "norms" that cause our issues. Learn to cook, choose foods with whole ingredients, prepare your own food! Our system tells you that you're too busy to do that for yourself, and they hand you a turd sandwich to sate your appetite. And with the economy, they charge you $11 and tell you the time and energy saved is worth the cost. It's disgusting, and I'm so glad I don't give these evil people my money anymore. Rant over 😂😂

Do you have information about a fatal shooting in the Hunter region late last year?
About 10.50pm on Tuesday 27 December 2022, emergency services were called to Traders Way at Heddon Greta – about 20km east of Cessnock – following reports a man had been shot.
NSW Ambulance paramedics treated the man; however, he died at the scene.
He has since been identified as 25-year-old Zachery ‘Zac’ Davies-Scott, known to many in the area as ‘Donnie’.
As the investigation continues, today (Wednesday 31 May 2023), police have released CCTV showing a male at a service station in Lambton.
The man is described as being of Caucasian appearance, solid build, with dark hair. He was wearing a black t-shirt with white Nike logo, black shorts, baseball cap, a cross-body bag and white shoes.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence.
The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.

I'm talking about his large sum of money meditation. I notice that whenever I listen to it in just the first night, the following day, I will be in some state of bad luck.
Like, earlier today, my cat died and when I was about to go upstairs and go to sleep, I suddenly saw a huge spider in my house.
During the first time that I listened to the meditation video, my live-in partner got into an accident the following day.
I mean, I don't really dwell on the future whenever I listen to his video, I'm more like in a positive, relaxed state.
I don't have any explanation to this. :(
Any thoughts?

I joined a different FQHC about 9 months ago. When I received my offer letter, I was jazzed to be offered a $16k pay bump. They mentioned part of why I was being paid this was bc I’ve completed EMDR training and our population requests it fairly often. I made the common mistake of not asking to negotiate a higher rate of pay, however I live quite comfortably.
Since working here I haven’t been given a clear answer about annual reviews and raises. It seems unlikely I’ll get one. Recently I learned the other 2 therapists make over $10k more than me. My coworker was angry to learn my pay rate was so much lower than his. Both these clinicians have the same licensure as me but ~15yrs more experience, though neither are trained in EMDR.
I am not sure how I feel about the disparity. I’m very ambivalent about whether it’s fair. Thoughts?

As I’ve gone deeper into my healing from the abuse sustained as a daughter of a narcissistic mother, I am looking around at my life and seeing how those around me I attempt to please mirror many narcissistic traits. I’m not saying these people are narcissistic, but they hold similar abusive traits to the ones I sustained in my life from my mom.
I’ve literally been micro-pleasing so many other abusive - trait people without realizing it, because they weren’t nearly as bad as my mom.. I’ve taken on friends I didn’t want, but knew I could help (and did), dealing with the boundary crossing because it wasn’t as bad as my mom (who I have excellent boundaries with and am nearly no-contact with).
I’m so queasy right now processing this! I feel like I need to ax some relationships very close to me, and it’s going to hurt.

I’ve read a lot of the horror stories on here about C&P examiners which is probably what is making me overly anxious. I have documentation in my STRs of Tinnitus. When I went for my C&P exam the examiner told me that she counts my ROTC time as prior military and put that I was exposed to loud noises prior to service because of that. She then told me my hearing is normal. When I was walking out she started asking me if I use q-tips to clean my ears and asked me what type of headphones I use. I feel like she was trying to trip me up on something. I didn’t have ringing in my ears until a recent event in service and I went to the doctor because of it. Now I have ringing that gets worse at night when it is quiet and I am trying to sleep so I have to use a white noise machine to block it out. It’s so annoying. I feel like the way my examiner is trying to portray my exam is that I was exposed to loud noise prior to service in order to deny a service connection. I’ve seen specifically in this sub that a lot of people have been having trouble with Tinnitus claims so I am worried. I did submit a personal statement indicating my service connected event with the claim. I know it will be awhile until I hear the decision but this was my first C&P of a few and honestly they’re just giving me anxiety.

I am in a 3 month long relationship with my gf (although we have been friends for much longer), she has social anxiety so some things are more difficult for her but I try to be understanding and we were working mostly without much trouble.
There were some things bugging me though so I decided to be as open as possible and discuss them with her. First of all, I assured her that nothing that I was going to say was his fault and that I was only bringing these things up because I think being honest is best in a relationship.
I first told her that I was a little sad because we didnt do anything together either on Christmas, New Year's Eve, my birthday, his, or Valentine's Day (we spent all those days with her friend group), that I understood that she felt more comfortable being around friends rather than being one on one but that I was little burnt out for spending soooo much time with them (hanging with them almost every day, either in person or through discord), and also that the fact that he seemed to never want to make plans involving just us made me feel a little bit insecure, again, that it wasnt his fault because I understand her difficulties but that I couldnt help but feel that way lately and would like some reassurance.
She then got kind of annoyed and sad. She said she was annoyed because It seemed like I didnt trust her at all (i dont get why? Im trying to talk things precisely because I trust you) and then got sad and started talking about how she knew she was very difficult to handle and she wasnt worth the effort, that she didnt knew how to do better.
I ended up consoling her and even committing myself to do better in the future even though I was the one that was hurting. Any advice on what could I do to try to have more healthy conversations about our problems in the future?.
TLDR!; My gf gets annoyed/sad when I try to share my problems or things that hurt me in the relationship and I dont know how to deal with that.

Hi guys. Recently, Roblox Corporation has implemented an anticheat. Due to this, Synapse X has been down for almost a month and my life is ruined. I cry every day for many hours. My mommy says that if I keep crying, I'll run out of water in my body. Little does she know I sneak a mountain dew or two every now and then. This has resulted in my tears becoming green. Mommy also says I should take a shower, but the vast amounts of sweat I release when I get out of my chair is enough to clean me off. Daddy says that if he put me on a deserted island, I'd live for 10 years without starving. When I send my picture in channels on discord, people say I look like "nikocado avocado". I don't know who that is, but I know he's a YouTuber. I think he's an exploiter and Synapse X like me. Anyways, my back has been locked into a "C" shape. Mommy and daddy say this is because "you're hunched over in that chair all day every day" but I don't think this is the case. They just don't understand me. They don't understand that David Bazooka ruined my life. My shit bucket has almost filled up, so I must go dump it out soon. It will be a real workout walking across the house, but I am confident. My mommy recently brought me a PB&J sandwich. I cried because the jelly was red, and it reminded me of the Synapse X logo. She brought me a water bottle and I cried even harder because the label said "Poland Spring" and the capital S reminded me of Synapse X. I told her to never traumatize me like that again. I am crying while typing this out. My Roblox girlfriend has unfriended me out of nowhere and I don't know why. That didn't help at all. I think she just liked me because I was using scripts I got from linkvertise to hack in pets in pet simulator x for her, and now that I can't she unfriended me. I will now go cry for another hour. Hi guys so I'm back from crying. My head hurts. I stood up to go to dump out my shit bucket. I can't see my legs but I can sure feel them. I am so thirsty, all of the sweat I excreted during my journey make me lose all my water. My arms, head, legs, heart, lungs, and stomach hurt. I ache for Synapse X's return. With it, my life was complete. But now, David bazooka has torn me apart. I am going to cry myself to sleep and then i will attempt to go outside. My successful journey across the house has given me the confidence to try to go outside. I will come back when I am done sleeping. Hi guys So I am done with my nap and now I will journey outside. I will keep you updated. Hey guys so I went outside and now I am crying. The good thing is, my mommy and daddy were in their bedroom, clapping me on when I was walking through the door. My skin hurt after I went outside for 10 seconds and it's red now. The ground was green and it reminded me of the Synapse X logo. My red skin also reminded me of it, and my Roblox girlfriend, and the times we hung out in CnP hangout... I am crying so hard. Synapse X is love, Synapse X is life. I will never download any other executor. Synapse X is on top. I tried to post this in the discord but I realized it was deleted as well. Just like my will to live without Synapse. My favorite game to exploit in was arsenal. I liked the name: "arse"nal. I don't know what arse means, but my mommy says I should wash mine. Since byfron released, I have spent most of my days staring at the subreddit, refreshing, hoping for any "Synapse V3 released" post. I don't care how much it will cost me. If I could see them, I'd sell my balls for Synapse X. I'd sell them and my soul. I'd sell every non-vital organ for Synapse X. I love Synapse X that much. I will keep you guys updated

I’m not sure who to ask about this because my tax guy doesn’t seem to know much about it either.
In 2022 I contributed to my Roth IRA and then had to recharacterize (which I did) and then I completed a backdoor conversion by moving the money from a traditional Ira into a Roth. I have told my accountant that I need him to fill out an 8606 form, however, he says it’s not necessary and replied with this: “The 1099 R has a distribution code of (n) in box 7 for recharacterized IRA hence the 8606 is not deemed necessary as long as the funds are invested in a Roth IRA account and there was no prior deduction for this amount.”
Is he correct? Fidelity told me I need to fill out an 8606 and whatever I read online indicates this as well. TIA!!

You may have seen my posting about a third-party employee booking who ruined our sheets and house by not taking off their construction work clothing before getting into bed, sitting on our couches, walking on our carpeting, etc.
Due to the help of someone in the group, I was able to use the proper wording and get the guests retaliatory review removed from my account after about 30 emails, mind you.
However, this is the part I want to warn hosts about, I was only able to get $160 from Airbnb cover out of the $500 plus cost replacing three sets of sheets. I was not reimbursed for any of the extra cleaning, my cleaner’s drive to the dump, Etc.
In total, I was out 1100 bucks. Now that I know Airbnb does not have my back and after making me jump through laborious hoops, they claimed that all of the photographs were of one sheet set and sadly I couldn’t prove any different. They did not take my Cleaner’s invoice as proof because she is not a company and doesn’t have letterhead. I thought they were joking about providing the cost of cleaning materials, such as oxy, clean to get reimbursed. They were not.
TLDR: Make sure your cleaners take forensic detective style photographs. If our cleaner had photographed the sheets on the bed instead of after trying to clean them and not being able to, we may have been reimbursed properly.

Hi! I have an odd contrast. I already have the DT 900 Pro Xs, which I love, but I'm going to be taking two 9+ hour flights international flights in the next week. I'm tempted to pick up the Sony XM5s, (I gave my XM4s to a friend), Bose QC45, or Sennheiser Momentum 4. I've also got the DT 700 Pro X at home, so I'm well covered in general. My experience with the 900s is that they have excellent passive isolation in coffeeshops, but I've never used them on a flight or for movies. I also own Airpod Pros (2nd edition). I'm hesitant to travel with the 900s because of their size and physical inflexibility.
I have four main priorities:
-Something that can wire into the plane's system in case the battery dies mid-flight
-Traveling light (I'm just using a large backpack--35L--and a small backpack)
-Headphones that sound good enough that I would use them in regular life beyond travel
-Not overdoing it with cost. I can afford the XM5s, but it feels like a money-sink given my existing headphone setup.
For what it's worth, I have the FiiO BTR5 so I can also use that in the mix if it's helpful anywhere.

hi ill keep this short after the discard i made new accounts that are named after an equivalent term to twin flames that i got from a music album that speaks about the intensity of bpd abuse. when she found this account suddenly 3 accounts, one on Instagram, one on twitter, and one on reddit, all got made with a copycat name.
one of them would post a bunch privately whenever i posted describing the abuse and seems like a rant account and the Instagram account ignored all my dms asking if its her and saying the account scares me etc and opted to respond by following a YouTuber that is exactly like the content we used to binge, seemingly to show me.
is this normal am i crazy for thinking its her. two of the accounts ignored all my attempts at contact and the other i didn't try. her friend said none of them are her and im just crazy but that same friend is a monkey branch who harassed me a ton and i dont necessarily think my pwbpd would be honest about it considering she seems to have lied about almost everything she did to everyone. what do yall think from your own experience is this a normal hoover shes literally actively seeing other guys while doing this shit if so and its just so gross i wanna hear from other people who might have similar experiences.

I’m training to be a teacher. In the period between finishing uni and starting my PGCE course I took up a job working at a local restaurant, as well as doing some private tuition on the weekends.
A few days ago, one of my student’s families came into the restaurant to eat, and I happened to be serving their table. I was happy to see them as they have been incredibly nice to me whilst I’ve been tutoring their kid. My manager overheard our conversation and came over to chat, asking how I knew these people. I simply said I do some private tuition on the side and they were one of the families I work with. My manager then proceeded to say “Ah, so he hasn’t told you about how he touches kids then? Why do you think he works in a restaurant?”, as a ‘joke’.
The family said nothing, asked for the bill, and left immediately. I have had no contact with them since, but am supposed to see them for a tuition session on Saturday.
I’ve always been told, as a male teacher, to dispel any ‘jokes’ or comments like this very harshly as all it takes is for one rumour to spread and all of a sudden you can’t be a teacher any more.
So needless to say I’m freaking out over potentially losing my career that I have worked so hard for, and I needed to tell someone.

Background:

• Wheelchair user, drive from my wheelchair itself
• Both cars have a side ramp installed and a lowered floor. You can google Braunability Traverse or VMI Odyssey
• I'm a gear head and have been around cars since a very young age. I could fix a lot of things on my own, but due to my disability I can't even fill coolant on my own
• Drive for leisure only, love to drive, and like to go on long trips. Someday, I plan to take a road trip across US (West to East)
• Have a 2011 Honda Odyssey (with wheelchair ramp). Bought it about 6 months (had 100k kms) and driven 5k kms since then

Fixes done on Odyssey since purchase

• Transmission fluid flush
• Brake fluid change
• Oil change
• Tire rotation
• Check engine light fix - EVAP solenoid died ($500CAD)

Fixes to be done

• AC not cooling - leak somewhere
• Front brake rotors need to be replaced because steering pulsates on high speed braking. No urgent, pads have 80% life left
• Timing belt change coming up after 50k kms (maybe 3 years)

Otherwise, it’s a sweet ass van. I love it, which maybe bias, because it’s my first vehicle after 14 years of not driving. I have an opportunity to get a New 2022 Chevy Traverse with wheelchair ramp. Would cost me $30-40k CAD out of pocket
Why I should get it:

• I like the SUV look more than a minivan. Been drooling over it for more than 2-3 years now.
• Really want adaptive cruise control
• New vehicle, less problems (?) plus 3 year warranty

Why I shouldn’t get it:

• I drive for leisure only but I love that part. Only thing I look forward to everyday is going for a drive. Is it worth to spend that 40k for looks and self satisfaction?
• It’s a Chevy. Not trying to start a war but Honda reliability needs no advertising

I'm mid 30s and have goals of becoming a homeowner one day, something I've been saving for. This purchase would eat into 50% of those savings. Usually I am very frugal in EVERY aspect of life, but cars make me lose perception.
People who own Traverse, what would you say about its long-term reliability? Is it worth in the long run?