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Alana Karsch

By day I'm a transformative photographer and art therapist. At night, I sleuth the web for outrageously important stuff. I want you to be happier, smarter, healthier, and more generous. Also, I want to paint the world with watercolors and glitter. Share all this important goodness with me on Facebook and Twitter.

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Dear You, If you or someone you know is a survivor of sexual violence, know that it was not your fault and you are loved. Love, MeTRIGGER WARNING: There are no descriptions of sexual violence in the following letters, but they certainly allude to traumas and may be triggering.

Two female activists have started a revolution of healing. It began Valentine's Day 2014 (that's Feb. 14, for those of you who don't observe the "holiday"). They created #SurvivorLoveLetter on Twitter for survivors of sexual violence to reclaim a potentially painful day and turn it into a love fest ... for themselves! Brilliant.

There is also a Tumblr page where people are posting creative photos of their letters. Full disclosure: As an art therapist, this project is pretty much what I live for. People healing through creative expression is stunning to witness. Read a few of the moving letters below.

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Doesn't seem fair that some kids get laughed at for who they are inside.

Especially when it's because who they are inside doesn't seem to match who people assume they are on the outside.

P.S. This mom is understandably angry and upset, but I'm not a fan of the portrayal of her as aggressive and physically violent.

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There's a lot of talk about gender lately, which is great! There should be. Still, I think people forget sometimes that though we may be curious about gender, there is A LOT more to people than the labels we place on them and/or the labels they feel comfortable identifying with. Here's a photo series that challenges our stereotypes and makes us go beyond those labels and see people for who they really are.

Rhys Harper created this project because he felt like the "media and society in general is starting to discuss trans issues more, and there is more awareness, but so often, the focus of discussion is about bodies and what is underneath our clothes, instead of who we are and what we have to offer the world."

Guess what? We're all on the gender spectrum. Gender is a made-up thing that we all should get to define for ourselves. I don't fit in your box, and you don't fit in mine. That's one of the awesome things about being a human.

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Alana Karsch

8 love letters to survivors of sexual violence. The one from the dad made me cry.

Dear You, If you or someone you know is a survivor of sexual violence, know that it was not your fault and you are loved. Love, MeTRIGGER WARNING: There are no descriptions of sexual violence in the following letters, but they certainly allude to traumas and may be triggering.

This one pretty much bursts my heart wide open:

An actress decided to do something about the stigma of mental illness.

When Glenn Close's family members were diagnosed with mental illnesses, she wanted to change how the world treated them. So she started an organization called Bring Change 2 Mind to help people start talking about mental health.

If you're in the U.S. and need help immediately, please call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-TALK (8255).

This kid's dad is just as bad as the bullies at school, until he makes me smile at the end.

Doesn't seem fair that some kids get laughed at for who they are inside.

15 photos that show how gender isn't the most important thing about us.

If you were being photographed, what would you want to showcase about yourself?

1. Aiden

2. Andrea

3. Arin

4. Chris

5. Eri

6. Estelle

7. Fallon

8. Kaleb

9. Kallie

10. Lana

11. Landon

12. Mattee

13. Natalie

14. Tracy

15. Zoe

This Cartoon Gives Explicit Instructions For How Not To Talk About A Heavy Subject

A Joke Ad That Seems So Real, It Has People Outraged At A Popular Clothing Store

When we think 'homeless,' we don't picture this face.

People freak out when he hits her in public. Watch what happens when she hits him.

Seeing people take off their clothes might be shocking at first, but then it will make you smile.

Mom Says Some Pretty Nasty Stuff In Front Of Her Shocked Kid ... And Then Makes A Great Point