Olivia Barker
Stories (13/0)
- Top Story - September 2023
I Need TherapyTop Story - September 2023
Last night, I watched a movie and it gave me an existential crisis. The movie in question was "The Giant Mechanical Man" curtesy of Tubi. For context, Janice (Jenna Fischer) who doesn't have her life together crosses paths with Tim (Chris Messina) who performs on the street as the giant mechanical man and finds purpose in his street performance because he wants people who don't have their lives together to feel less alone.
By Olivia Barker3 months ago in Psyche
What Are Friends For?
I should start by admitting that I, like so many people, am guilty of weaponizing therapy language, but have since recognized its harmful effects on my relationships. As someone who struggles with mental health, I am a huge advocate for seeking therapy and love that it is becoming more normalized, but with every good thing comes drawbacks. People seeking therapy, in this age of social media where the self becomes the center (“Main Character Energy”), often overuse and even misuse language heard in therapy.
By Olivia Barker6 months ago in Humans
Consumerism is Hurting Art
For the brevity of this large topic, I will focus on books and publishing, but this is an issue in every industry. As an older member of Gen Z, I witnessed the evolution from VHS to DVD to streaming services as well as the evolution from dial up internet to limited hotspots to high speed internet. Immediacy has shortened our attention spans over time and we’re now able to consume more media and literature than ever. As amazing as all of this is, it also comes with drawbacks.
By Olivia Barker8 months ago in Humans
You Did Not Turn Out Fine
When I was a kid, my sister and I would spend our free time doing normal kid things like playing with dolls or watching tv when our mother would walk into our room and glare at us. Nose upturned, lips pursed in disapproval. My sister and I would immediately sit at attention wondering what we were doing that was so wrong while our mom would go into her room and grab one of my dad’s belts.
By Olivia Barkerabout a year ago in Psyche
In Defense of Quiet Quitting
When I got my first big girl job in 2019 I was bright eyed and aiming to please. In my naivete, I believed I had to go above and beyond to keep my job. I was terrified of making a stupid mistake and getting fired. If I knew then what I know now.
By Olivia Barkerabout a year ago in Psyche
I'm Terrified of Birth Control
Regardless of the fact that humans assigned female at birth are only fertile for a whopping 48 hours in one cycle and can only carry a pregnancy to term once per year while humans assigned male (given they have a normal sperm density) are fertile 365 days a year, the responsibility of birth control falls onto the prior group. Whether that be the pill, the patch, intrauterine device, injection, vaginal ring, implant, etc. there are so many (over 99% effective) ways to prevent pregnancy based on correct use. Some of them even last for over 3 years! Perfect for the on the go girl boss who doesn’t always have time to remember to pop a pill.
By Olivia Barkerabout a year ago in Viva
- Top Story - August 2022
I Blame TikTokTop Story - August 2022
I, like so many other twenty somethings, have fallen victim to the clock app. Doom scrolling for hours a day just to feel something, joining the Eddie cult, and saving an unmentionable amount of posts that would likely alarm my therapist with or without context. It didn't take long for the algorithm to start putting neurodivergent content on my for you page.
By Olivia Barkerabout a year ago in Psyche
Lilac Street
When we walked onto the dingy floor of the bar that brisk autumn afternoon, all eyes landed on her. Vivica had a way of parting crowds and turning heads. I just followed like a motherless child watching desperate men beg at her feet for just a minute of small talk. Once when we were walking back to the dorms a guy walked up to us (her) to ask if his forehead was bleeding like she was a nurse or always carried a first aid kit.
By Olivia Barker2 years ago in Fiction
Job Hunting is Affecting My Mental Health
I’ve been at my current job for two years now and I'm not having a good time, to say the least. I’m someone who believes that anyone who works has the right to complain about their job no matter how much better they may have it than the next person. If you’re not one of those people, I’d navigate away.
By Olivia Barker2 years ago in Psyche
Why I Don't Wear Bras
Hi, my name is Olivia. I never wear bras and my female coworkers harass me about it every single day. I was raised like most girls. As soon as my breasts started to bud, my mother bought me training bras. It was magical in a way. Having boobs that were big enough to fill up a bra made me feel powerful. I wore bras with pride throughout most of my adolescence. Then in my last year of high school I stopped.
By Olivia Barker3 years ago in Viva
Trying Something New
I’ve been a musician for 12 years starting with violin in the 5th grade and classic guitar in the 9th. I’m painfully average at both and music is something I have a love/hate relationship with, but I wouldn’t quit it for the world. I’m particularly partial to stringed instruments, but the ukulele always put a sour taste in my mouth. Not because there was anything wrong with the instrument, but because of the misogyny I internalized about girls who played the instrument not being real musicians. The memes are all over the internet. The quirky girl who wears big dark framed glasses and flower crowns, may or may not have dyed hair, and has a wall of fairy lights in her room. I didn’t want to give men another reason to pick on me so I avoided ukulele like the plague for ten years.
By Olivia Barker3 years ago in Viva
My Period Panty Horror Story
If you get a period, you’ve probably seen an ad for these somewhere. They’re the hot new blood soakers meant to make having a period more sustainable and easier to manage. No more leaking through pads at night or tampon pee string or menstrual cup rinsing. Just super absorbent panties that can last users as long as 10 hours. Since I hate the hassle of other period products, I decided to invest.
By Olivia Barker3 years ago in Viva
