"I need a place where there is no need to be perfect." This is a journal entry from a high school junior who committed suicide. She was a straight A student with plenty of friends. There were no "warning signs". Suicide is the second highest cause of death in the US for people 10-34. We all feel it...the need to be perfect...or at least pretend to be. I'm tired of pretending. The truth is, I'm a mess. When I found Minds I found a bunch of people just as screwed up as me...only they weren't trying to hide it: purple alien avatars and pictures of UFO's beaming up McDonald's fries; late night poetry gatherings and memoirs of grief; psychedelic star travelers and saints of the ancient faith. I discovered common ground and uncommon thought. I've been here but a few months but already I know that imperfect is welcome. If you're new, I'll just say you don't have to be perfect here. In fact, it's better if you're not. Nobody is and there's no use pretending any of us are. We love each other just the same. I love you all...the beautiful disasters you are. #minds #gifs #community #love #art // Photo credit: Hermes Rivera Original gif by me: @bekanode