Ask Gracie
Thank you for willingly letting me tell you what to do <3
By Gracie Kibort with art by Natalie Williams
I sometimes feel easily irritable and need to separate myself from my close friends. Sometimes irritation is warranted, but other times, it’s not, and I feel bad for ignoring them. What should I do?
My sister recently described me as one of two things: filled with intense rage or splendidly chill. Although I may appear cool, calm, and collected via your recent copy of The Wake, I am usually crotchety at best. More often than not, I am frequently and easily irritated. When I catch myself snapping one too many times at those in my close vicinity or exhibiting hermit behavior to avoid biting the heads of loved ones, I induce a moment of brutal honesty. “Hey girl, I know she’s been humming all day, and your sweater is itchy, and you hate everyone now. But it isn’t the dishes in the sink that make you so angry, what is going on?” Crack open that journal or head out on a walk, for there is thinking to be done. Self-awareness is key. People are annoying, boy, do I agree, but in this case, I recommend you redirect that negative energy just floating around your head back into yourself.
How do I get over a boy I’m in love with
I’m sending you a big squeeze! First, find a therapist and block him. What do you mean you haven’t already blocked him?! The greater the distance, the better. Do not try to make him jealous; it will just hurt you more. Spend time around people who love you. Listen to Melodrama on repeat. Love yourself as you love him. You are everything: he is Ken. Write!! Cry!! I love you!
I am working on applying to master's programs and jobs and what I’m going to do after graduation, and am stressed about the timing of everything in my life and about the “typical” post-grad path. How do I move forward and accept that the typical path isn’t for me without feeling stressed about what I “should” be doing?
First, I want to congratulate you on getting this far. Graduating is not an easy task. Second, I’m going to ask you a question. What is a typical path? As graduation plummets toward me, I have friends pursuing many choices. Some continue their education, some move in with significant others, and some buy one-way tickets out of the Midwest and call it a day. No single path exists. Some days, the horror of the future ultimately consumes me and I feel pain. I wish part of my gig bestowed on me a gaudy crystal ball so I could peep into your future. However, alas, I implore you to dig deeper into your wants and needs rather than the concerns of others. We are going to be okay!
Gracie! I used to love books! Now, my attention span is nonexistent. Where do I start?
This is the question of my dreams. As a child, I practically inhaled books. Somewhere along the way, whether it be raging undiagnosed ADHD or just an apathy that now just makes me sad, I stopped altogether. At some point in the dark ages of 2020, I picked up my mother’s old Kindle and have yet to put it down. I read 33 books last year by putting these tips to good use.
Don’t know where to start? Recall books you enjoyed as a child; maybe call your mother and find a typical genre. Whoever said you can’t enjoy YA as an adult is wrong, stupid and I hate them.
This is a Booktok, Audible, and Amazon Hate Club! No, I will not elaborate further.
Shop local!
Don’t know how to stay consistent? Find your happy medium. Read 10 pages daily, set a timer, detach your phone from your hand, and immediately download Libby.
My holy trinity: Emily Henry, Joan Didion, Nora Ephron.
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
Everything I Know about Love by Dolly Alderton
Writers and Lovers by Lily King
Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed
Happy reading!