February | 2021 | StayDiapered!

Hello friends! As you know, I have a nice little stuffed animal zoo around the nursery, you’ve seen the bears and buns and monks in nearly all my pics. Our little stuffy family recently got a new member, this post is about a sweet little interaction Trubble the Raccoon and I shared.

I don’t adopt new stuffies often so it’s quite the occasion when there’s a new arrival, a good friend sent me an adorable little Raccoon and I love them so much! It takes a very special stuffy to make it into the group and this one is just magical. They were sent here with the purpose of keeping an eye on me, my friend sent them as a little surrogate. Trubble’s job is to make sure Riley is being a good girl, wearing her protection and behaving herself. I’ve been taking them to bed so they can help me with diapers and stuff, they’ve been a wonderful little raccoon despite being named Trubble ❤

At first I joked about Trubble being my little protector like I joke about all my stuffers (Panda being a panty thief, Monkey being oblivious etc.) but something happened yesterday that reminded me of how wise little stuffies can be….

I have a bad habit of waking up and immediately checking the news/email/twitter on my mobile. Social media within the first 30 seconds of waking up is not healthy by any means, but not uncommon either, I do need to keep on top of my biz. But sometimes I wake up and find myself staring at hatespeech or some crooked politician or find one of my video’s has been flagged, my blood starts roiling before the day starts. Why I let these people into my bed I do not know, but it’s a terrible way to start the day. One should gradually meet the day, drink some water, pull back the curtains, pee. My ideal mornings involve soggy diapers and warm cuddles!

I went to bed snug as a bug and peacefully listening to Brian Eno, woke up feeling stuffy (the other kind) and cold in a dry diaper. Despite knowing better, I immediately grabbed my phone and started scrolling. I came across vocal people who don’t like transpeople, they were huffing and puffing and I was starting to get a little too invested. My fingers started twitching, not 2 mins after waking up the vein in my forehead was already pulsing, my temples tightening, these oh-so-familiar stress reactions.

Trubble, who is a very perceptive little raccoon, saw that I was getting upset and did something that stuffies only do on rare occasions, they intervened. I must have shifted my weight in bed preparing to post something i’d regret when the little raccoon flopped down and covered up my screen with their paws. They looked me right in the eyes as if to say “Riley, that’s not good for you“. It was the most uncanny thing i’ve ever seen a stuffy do, looking out for me like any good friend would. They did it with intention, Trubble’s on a mission to make sure Riley is the best girl she can be and sometimes they have to get their little paws dirty!

I took little Trubble by the paws and gave them the biggest hug, clicked off my phone and just snuggled for a minute, feeling loved and cared for by my stuffed friend and in a way, the universe. It’s not often I feel connected in any existential sense, so I pay attention when I do. Our plush companions can be quite mysterious…

I had a Luna bar and a glass of water, listened to the Cocteau Twins and prepared to make some videos. I had a chill day, made a StayKinky video then cammed during the Superbowl, my head never ached to any significant degree and I felt no new regret. If I would have engaged I’d likely had spent the day with shaky hands, angry at some internet jerk or broad social trend.

LISTEN TO YOUR STUFFIES! They know better. And in reality, you know better. We find these patterns, superstitions, hints, a spider on a pack of cigarettes, a shaving knick while re-arguing an old fight in your head, we see these hints and think the universe is telling us something when it’s really just our subconscious reaching out. We repeat these negative patterns because we’re all a work in progress, occasionally we need a reminder that we know better. Sometimes it’s a subtle reminder from our stuffies, from our partners, or from a song on the radio. Listen to the world around you and listen to yourself. Be aware of your emotions, what makes you smile and what makes you stress. Managing one’s emotions is a lifelong pursuit, just being aware of them is the first and most important tool. Self-Actualization, Emotional Intelligence, Being Present, whatever folks call it, we need it to be well balanced humans.

The little raccoon broke me out of my funk. I’m setting my phone a little away so I can still get late night emergency calls but I won’t immediately start twittering as soon as I wake up. I’m going to start listing to some of my favorite songs as soon as I wake up, rise to the day with positive emotions! Today was Frank Sinatra by Cake and by the time I got to the internet I was on a positive tip, grooving a bit even. Buzzed right past the pundits and trolls to my day’s work. You know how you can really see the steam coming off the tea when the sunlight hits it right? What’s not to like about starting your day like that?

The media we consume effects us profoundly. It effects us as much as the food we eat, and while some people think they have an iron stomach or impenetrable soul, it catches up to everyone. Little Trubble just had to step in to remind me to be gentle with myself, that even the tuffest, busiest girls need a bit of digital detox, time away from it all. What a good lesson from such a good buddy ❤

That’s my Raccoon story! Trubbles namesake comes from when they first arrived, upon seeing them I was heard saying “Here comes Trouble!” and the name stuck. They have been no a wonderful addition to the stuffy menagerie and the other stuffies have been really supportive, especially since the Raccoon takes such good care of Riley ❤