Emo Mailman

     Well, boy-howdy, it’s me, the emomailman! Emomailman is an alias created to hide my identity from the professional world. (As an ex-professional, I know for a fact they do look you up on the internet before hiring you.) With that being said, I know many of you who are looking at this website know who I am personally. So, that’s my disclaimer, for those of you who aren’t close to.

     I emomailman, am a social worker, aspirational writer/artist, and voyager on a journey to find self-love. Wow is that cheesy, but it’s the damn truth! I felt that I spent most of my life trying to fill others with happiness and love, (even though it feels selfish/narcissistic) I feel that it’s about time I showed myself some love too. So, this website is a place where I can be vulnerable with my internet friends. I am posting my artwork, publications, MEMES, and a peek inside the mind of the emomailman.

     June of 2021, I went on a road trip with a group of friends, who at the time I didn’t know very well, across the Desert. We traveled, through Moab, Zion NP, Los Angeles, Death Valley NP, and across Southwestern Utah. Three epiphanies occurred to me over this trip:

1. I matter.

2. I am more than just my career. I can become anything I want to be. Timshel, bitch.

3. It’s not selfish to want to love myself.

     Yes, it took me 25 years and a road trip in 100-degree weather, to come to the realization that these statements are true. And although that may be alarming to some of you, I think that this is not a unique experience for many people. So, that was really the story behind becoming the advice columnist for The Deserted, Zine. The Deserted, is heavily inspired by this trip, as you can infer from the name! I wanted to be able to give others advice on issues that may also be interfering with having confidence and need support on a path to healing old wounds.

    So, what makes me qualified to write an advice column? I am not always sure that I can say that I’m not a perfect person but have always had a passion to help people. While on a path of self-discovery and love I had a revelation. I thought for a long time that hating yourself made you self-aware or if I hated myself long enough it would mean that I could be forgiven for every terrible thing I had ever done. I, like many others, struggle with feeling like it was impossible to love myself: to feel connected and good about the way I feel and the things that I do. It was awful being by myself, I thought that I needed people to keep me interesting and keep me happy. And one day the whole world shut down and I was forced to be by myself and being around someone you hate all day is miserable. So, I had to, had to learn how to at least like myself if I was going to get through however long a pandemic can last. I won’t lie, I made a lot of mistakes and will probably continue to make mistakes along the way. But if you are or were someone who struggled with learning how to love and accept yourself, I feel like my writings may speak to you.

    Along this journey of self-love and self-discovery, I decided I wanted to help people because it was one of the only things I really enjoyed and thought I was good at. I got my bachelor’s and master’s in social work and used to work as a clinical therapist. Giving informed recommendations is something I love to do. Alongside giving advice, I also have independent writings, artwork, and vulnerabilities that I’d like to share with all of you.

    So, check me out! I love myself! (Still feels weird to say.) And I want you to have a glimpse of my life and share my story and stories in general. Enjoy, and feel free to contact me over social media, email, and ask for advice by following this link.