When I use it, I mean ok, because that’s what it actually means. It’s simply a way to acknowledge someone was heard. I will not be changing bc others read more into it. Tis way too exhausting to consider every hidden meaning someone might have.
emokidforever
On the surface, I probably look like the person you're describing, but no one knew I had an ADHD diagnosis that went ignored in childhood. No one knew how much I was masking every day. It's harder now because I have to make my own meals, clean my house, etc. All the things I didn't have to do as a kid. I got to learn, which I loved (my special interest is research) and do various activities I enjoyed, even if it was exhausting. Now, I'm stuck doing all the things I was never taught by my family, with no structure, just trying to survive. Of course it's harder than when I was a kid. Those memes help me feel valid and seen, something my family were never willing to do, but at least now I have friends that get it.
There's so much trauma that happens from neurodivergence being ignored in childhood, and that takes time to process. I spend a lot of my days crying over all the times I wasn't allowed to cry growing up, processing things in therapy, etc. I literally can't force myself to enjoy life without first having the needed tools. It's sad that I can't do what I used to, but I'm slowly getting there. Kindness and patience are what are needed most, when that's not something I was given as a child.
All this to say, you never know what's below the surface.
I've learned from the Japanese phrase 'itadakimasu,' which is said before eating as a way to thank the person that prepared the food. I think in the west, a lot of us grew up learning to say things like grace before a meal, but that is too religious for me and gives God credit for peoples' hard work instead. I love the idea of ritualistically thanking the people who actually made the food. It was one of the things I appreciated while studying there that has stuck with me.
This has been my way. I knew it would be hard, so every time I find myself wanting to check reddit, I think of what I planned to do there and attempt to find an alternative. It's led to a lot more browsing the internet like I used to "back in the day." And then I only visit reddit if I can't find what I was looking for elsewhere. For most things, I find alternatives easily. I've mentioned in comments before, really the only things that I haven't been able to replace are the CPTSD and CPTSD memes subreddits.
I've always thought it had the same energy in that they both simply acknowledge having seen the message. What's wrong with that?