Friends Cafe - social space for members under 25

[Kazzl]

Hey! Welcome to Friends Cafe.

This is a chill and chat space for young BB members to talk about anything and everything and make new friends.

When school's getting to you, uni or work has got you down, parents, partners, friends don't understand, and especially if you're feeling alone or lonely - come and relax awhile and talk to others who know just how you feel.

Our minds can cause us trouble, but they can also be amazing things that imagine beauty, love and fun. This cafe has everything you can imagine. To start with it's, well, a cafe. So there's chairs and tables, comfy couches for flopping, a big screen tele, unlimited download on computers for games, Spotify (or an old-school jukebox if you prefer), every movie you can think of on instant demand ... whatever you want, it's here. Post and tell us what'd you'd like.

Plus, there's an infinite menu of whatever food or drinks takes your fancy. And it's all free!

To kick it off, today we have a special range of Monster Milkshakes - those thick gooey shakes topped with cronuts, chocolate bars, cake, cookies ... whatever you want. And if you can get through one of them, you're a legend (and probably feeling a little bit sick LOL!)

Welcome friends.

[Zeal]

Hey Tara,

It's awesome that you enjoyed Kakadu!

I have been feeling zealous at times lately! I love puns and other wordy jokes! 😛

I just submitted my averagely written psych prac report, and I feel rather happy that it's done! Tonight I'm going to my boyfriend's house for takeaway Chinese food because it's his Dad's birthday.

I hope your week is going well Tara!

To everyone else, I send my best wishes to you!

Zeal

[dark_unicorn]

Hi Zeal,

Hahaha puns are great 😛

I'm sure your prac results will be ok but I'll send some good luck anyway! Forget about that for the meantime and have a nice night with your boyfriend and his family.

Tara x

[ahw309]

Hi everyone! Thanks for your good wishes 🙂

Tara, I'm so glad you enjoyed Kakadu, it sounds like it was amazing! Dottie and Zeal, I hope you enjoy your nights, they both sound very fun! James, hope you're doing okay 🙂

Yeah, it's been a little while. I haven't had the energy to post anything - I've been super exhausted! I guess in a sense I've been pretty busy, but I haven't been doing much, despite my rapidly growing to do list!! I should probably be doing some consistent study from now until my HSC exams, but I can't seem to find the motivation. I think it's mainly because I don't know where to start, and I admit I'm a little bit of a perfectionist. I started writing some notes but after a few lines I started worrying about silly trivial things (like whether I should skip a line or not, whether I should underline the title, highlight it, write it in capitals...) and since then I've given up until after I graduate haha 🙂

With school ending so soon, everything feels surreal and it hasn't hit me yet that I won't be seeing all my teachers and friends as often as I do. Most of the friends I've talked to agree with me when I say I feel so empty and emotionless, and a bit frustrated at my lack of emotion as I know I will really miss the place, people and memories once it's actually over. I want to make the most of every moment, but it feels like I'm in a dream, and once a moment is over, it feels like it never happened. Probably partly because I spend way too much time living in my head than actually doing things haha, and also because it's generally a very confusing time emotionally, and there's so many things to think about - graduation, friends, uni, the HSC, and the huge world that is outside school which I'm not sure I'm ready for yet.

Something that's been worrying me are all the relationships I have with people. I keep wondering who I'll stay friends with, and it gets me thinking about the distant future, and the inevitable fact that I will eventually drift from people. It seems you either are friends forever, or will one day lose that bond, and with all my friends so special to me, this whole all or nothing kind of thing is a bit of a scary thought. I also feel one of my close friendships may be progressing into something more and that really scares me too.

Haha sorry, I got a bit carried away, but feels nice to just write what's on my mind, which I've been doing a lot of recently 🙂

[Guest_322]

Morning,

Tara- Kakadu sounds like it was an amazing experience! I'm so glad you enjoyed your time there- it's so rich in history and natural beauty. Ha, ha it's probably a good thing to be naturally tan as it means you have a higher natural protection against UV rays compared to your paler friends. Hope your friends didn't get too sunburnt!

Zeal- well done on finishing your psych prac report! Hopefully you do better than you expect and that it's above average 😉 Either way, you finished it and that's the most important part! I hope your boyfriend's dad had a great birthday! How was the Chinese takeaway food? Good?

Thanks! I had an amazing time last night! It was really nice to just to hang out with friends, we had a DJ, danced, etc.

My favourite moment was when Bon Jovi's Livin' On A Prayer was blasting and everyone got into it; it's an oldie but a goodie (aka a classic ha, ha). We were all dancing (or more like jumping up and down) and screaming the lyrics.

She says, "We've gotta hold on to what we've got.
It doesn't make a difference if we make it or not.
We've got each other and that's a lot.
For love we'll give it a shot."

Those particular lyrics were personally very meaningful to me (especially the part in bold). So maybe it sounds silly but I just felt connected and less lonely when my friends and I screamed the lyrics.

Speak again soon!

Dottie x

[Guest_322]

Aw hey Ahw,

I think that I get where you're coming from. I finished year 12 not that long ago (class of 2014) so I can relate to a lot of what you're saying.

Don't worry too much about not posting as frequently sometimes. As much as we love hearing from you, just post when you're in the right head space. You've gotta take care of you 😉

I totally agree that the HSC (or equivalent year 12 exams in other states) can be overwhelming, intimidating and mega stressful. So here's a hug from me to you if that's okay.

I can relate to your perfectionism. I'm a self confessed perfectionist too ha, ha. It's a double edged sword isn't it? Like the plus is that we aim high but the drawback is we can drive ourselves up the wall with our standards and fear of underperforming. I hear ya, sister!

Change and uncertainty are super scary so you're understandably feeling a whole myriad of emotions as your school chapter is closing soon.

It is definitely a difficult and often sad experience to lose the familiarity of school and associated routines (e.g. seeing your friends 5 days most weeks), and venture into the great big unknown. It's tough, I get it.

Yeah, it can be really unsettling and scary to not know how friendships will fare outside of your familiar school environment. While your all or nothing thinking about friendships is understandable- been there myself ha, ha- I think the reality is more that friendships just evolve.

If it's any comfort, I'm still in touch with most of my high school friends as are many of the people that I know. And I've made many new friends at uni (much to my surprise).

And about this one friendship of yours that might progress into something more, maybe just take it as it comes. I know it's hard not to overthink it but maybe just try to enjoy your closeness and let whatever happens, happen.

Thanks for sharing your hopes and fears with us.

We have your back here so feel free to post again when you feel up to it.

Mega hug (if that's cool),

Dottie x

[Graceeeeee]

Hey guys, I'm just popping by to introduce myself because I haven't been very active here lately. How's everyone doing? I see most of you are in school, either high school or uni. I'm in year 11 this year and about to go into year 12 in a few weeks. Exams have got me stressed! And other than that just the constant feeling lonely and empty as hell 😕 Well if you think this is dark, you are starting to get to know me! There will be more coming your way!!! Anyways glad meeting/talking to you all, have a great night everyone don't stay up too late 🙂

[ahw309]

Thanks so much Dottie for your hugd, kindness and advice. You really are such a gift to everyone! 🙂 I also really like those lyrics. Glad you enjoyed the party!!

Grace!! It's always so nice to hear from you - I think of you everyday. Sorry to hear you've been feeling stressed, empty and lonely. Sending you lots and lots of love 🙂

[james1]

Hello everyone, hi hi hi. Crashed yesterday at home and didn't make it to work, but dragged myself there today because I've got a deadline to meet.

ahw - keep up the good work! you've still got time to study so don't stress out too much. I'm tutoring a yr 12 student and my sister's in year 12 too, so I'm surrounded by stressed people, haha.

Dottie's spot on about friendships evolving. And as much change will happen between now and uni, even more change will happen through the first and second years of uni. But hey, that's just the way it goes. I stayed friends with people I didn't expect to stay friends with, and lost contact with people I thought I'd always stay in touch with. But that's just because we change as people too. And really, you'll end up wanting better friends rather than more friends, so all this change is a good thing to help you understand who you can really count on.

Hey Grace 🙂 don't you worry too much. you'll get through and have a very well deserved break before year 12 starts. It's an exciting year to say the least, haha.

[dark_unicorn]

Hey everyone!

Wow ahw, that sounds stressful! I think for the moment, maybe prioritise your HSC? Like still keep in touch with friends etc, but maybe make your exams your biggest focus. Sorry I haven't reached year 12 yet so I can't really help much 😕

Hey Dottie! Haha, luckily my friends didn't burn. I think that was mostly thanks to me...I can be quite a bit of a 'mum' with my friends, like always reminding them to put sunscreen on, drink water, eat food etc. So I think they have me to thank for not burning! 😝 And I LOVE that song!!! For my Year 8 band program (I learnt flute) we actually played that at the concert, and we wore mullet wigs 😂 I do love those particular lyrics, I understand how they are relatable, and they do seem to resonate with me. Your party sounded fun too! I went to a party/fundraiser last night that was 'Bachelorette' themed, so we basically dressed up all formal, and watched The Bachelorette! great fun 😛

Hi Grace, I don't think we've met before....so, hi! I'm Tara and I'm in Year 9 🙂 I have the same feeling most of the time too, so don't worry, I think you're in good company 🙂

Hugs for all, Tara xx

[james1]

Hey Tara,

Oh gosh year 9! That was a while ago for me, haha.

Do you still play flute? I used to play clarinet and trumpet, and I've always wanted to learn flute as well, because it seems to sound nicer on its own compared to clarinet. Do you find it difficult to pick up?

James