Treading Tuesday #4: This Barbie thinks about dying, obviously

Hi, Barbies!

Sorry for missing last Treading Tuesday! No excuses, just vibes, the Tuesdays start comin’ and they don’t stop comin’, etc.

I’m tempted to say the Barbie (2023) high I’m still riding is my floatie of the week and call it a day. If you haven’t seen it, you’ve probably at least witnessed enough of its inescapable marketing campaign to know that it was a shot of pink sparkly endorphins for all. The soundtrack! The Dreamhouse! The specific pandering to me, life-size Depression Barbie who thinks about dying!

Even with everything to love about it, though, my favorite part of Barbie wasn’t even Barbie. It was the collective decision that Barbie would be a Thing™.

Whether it was the 294-minute marathon that was Barbenheimer or dressed-up girlies at the theater calling, “Hi Barbie!” to any and everyone wearing pink, people everywhere decided that, yes, we needed an occasion to look forward to and get pumped about. And where there’s an occasion, no matter how silly—or maybe it’s especially because it’s silly—there’s that wonderful feeling of being part of.

I hadn’t realized how much I’d been craving that, but this kind of transient connection to the world around me. (Okay, I’m thinking too deeply about it, but all I’m saying is I could use more themed gatherings in my life.)

What’s keeping you afloat lately?

As a quick reminder:

• This is a safe space to talk about SI and no one should feel pressured to keep it ~positive~. For safety reasons, however, please try your best to stay on the topic of how you’re coping and avoid detailed descriptions of suicidal feelings.

• When replying to others (encouraged!), refrain from giving advice or recommendations to others unless specifically asked for.