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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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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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There are some bad habits out there that are pretty despicable. (Some potentially offensive language follows, FYI.)

One of those habits is focusing on the plight of a rapist in a rape case, like we saw during the infamous Steubenville rape case. The alleged rapists were defended and offered sympathy on several news outlets. Uh, how does that make any sense? This comic lays it out for all of us. Keep it as a reminder when you come across someone who needs it.

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I'm just gonna say: THIS IS NOT REAL. It's a parody ad. The thing is, it looks so real, people are getting extra pissed off about it. Why does it look so real? Because it is way similar to actual images we see in pop culture these days. To which I say, "Yuck."

Let's learn a term together, k?

Cultural appropriation is when a dominant culture adopts portions of a minority culture's traditions and uses them willy-nilly whenever they feel like it.

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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

There are some bad habits out there that are pretty despicable. (Some potentially offensive language follows, FYI.)

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

I'm just gonna say: THIS IS NOT REAL. It's a parody ad. The thing is, it looks so real, people are getting extra pissed off about it. Why does it look so real? Because it is way similar to actual images we see in pop culture these days. To which I say, "Yuck."

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

A school assignment asked for 3 benefits of slavery. This kid gave the only good answer.

Merriam-Webster announced the 2023 'Word of the Year,’ and it says a lot about today’s world

Guy lists his most ‘boomer complaints’ as a millennial and he’s not wrong

She tattooed half her face and you'd never know it. Her skills are just that good.

Non-Americans are sharing the ‘dead giveaway’ someone is American and they are pretty right

Iliza Schlesinger's hilarious rant just might unite Gen Zers and millennials