msmicahmarieaz

[msmicahmarieaz]

My friend told me a story he hadn’t told anyone for years. When he used to tell it years ago people would laugh and say, ‘Who’d believe that? How can that be true? That’s daft.’ So he didn’t tell it again for ages. But for some reason, last night, he knew it would be just the kind of story I would love.   When he was a kid, he said, they didn’t use the word autism, they just said ‘shy’, or ‘isn’t very good at being around strangers or lots of people.’ But that’s what he was, and is, and he doesn’t mind telling anyone. It’s just a matter of fact with him, and sometimes it makes him sound a little and act different, but that’s okay.   Anyway, when he was a kid it was the middle of the 1980s and they were still saying ‘shy’ or ‘withdrawn’ rather than ‘autistic’. He went to London with his mother to see a special screening of a new film he really loved. He must have won a competition or something, I think. Some of the details he can’t quite remember, but he thinks it must have been London they went to, and the film…! Well, the film is one of my all-time favourites, too. It’s a dark, mysterious fantasy movie. Every single frame is crammed with puppets and goblins. There are silly songs and a goblin king who wears clingy silver tights and who kidnaps a baby and this is what kickstarts the whole adventure.   It was ‘Labyrinth’, of course, and the star was David Bowie, and he was there to meet the children who had come to see this special screening.   ‘I met David Bowie once,’ was the thing that my friend said, that caught my attention.   ‘You did? When was this?’ I was amazed, and surprised, too, at the casual way he brought this revelation out. Almost anyone else I know would have told the tale a million times already.   He seemed surprised I would want to know, and he told me the whole thing, all out of order, and I eked the details out of him.   He told the story as if it was he’d been on an adventure back then, and he wasn’t quite allowed to tell the story. Like there was a pact, or a magic spell surrounding it. As if something profound and peculiar would occur if he broke the confidence.   It was thirty years ago and all us kids who’d loved Labyrinth then, and who still love it now, are all middle-aged. Saddest of all, the Goblin King is dead. Does the magic still exist?   I asked him what happened on his adventure.   ‘I was withdrawn, more withdrawn than the other kids. We all got a signed poster. Because I was so shy, they put me in a separate room, to one side, and so I got to meet him alone. He’d heard I was shy and it was his idea. He spent thirty minutes with me.   ‘He gave me this mask. This one. Look.   ‘He said: ‘This is an invisible mask, you see?   ‘He took it off his own face and looked around like he was scared and uncomfortable all of a sudden. He passed me his invisible mask. ‘Put it on,’ he told me. ‘It’s magic.’   ‘And so I did.   ‘Then he told me, ‘I always feel afraid, just the same as you. But I wear this mask every single day. And it doesn’t take the fear away, but it makes it feel a bit better. I feel brave enough then to face the whole world and all the people. And now you will, too.   ‘I sat there in his magic mask, looking through the eyes at David Bowie and it was true, I did feel better.   ‘Then I watched as he made another magic mask. He spun it out of thin air, out of nothing at all. He finished it and smiled and then he put it on. And he looked so relieved and pleased. He smiled at me.   ‘'Now we’ve both got invisible masks. We can both see through them perfectly well and no one would know we’re even wearing them,’ he said.   ‘So, I felt incredibly comfortable. It was the first time I felt safe in my whole life.   ‘It was magic. He was a wizard. He was a goblin king, grinning at me.   ‘I still keep the mask, of course. This is it, now. Look.’   I kept asking my friend questions, amazed by his story. I loved it and wanted all the details. How many other kids? Did they have puppets from the film there, as well? What was David Bowie wearing? I imagined him in his lilac suit from Live Aid. Or maybe he was dressed as the Goblin King in lacy ruffles and cobwebs and glitter.   What was the last thing he said to you, when you had to say goodbye?   ‘David Bowie said, ‘I’m always afraid as well. But this is how you can feel brave in the world.’ And then it was over. I’ve never forgotten it. And years later I cried when I heard he had passed.’   My friend was surprised I was delighted by this tale.   ‘The normal reaction is: that’s just a stupid story. Fancy believing in an invisible mask.’   But I do. I really believe in it.   And it’s the best story I’ve heard all year.

Paul Magrs (via yourfluffiestnightmare)

A true story of The Goblin King. I think if I had an invisible mask it would be more about how I see people than how they see me. Maybe magic goggles because people all seem like characters in a book to me and they intimidate me less when I see them and the world like a fantastic novel.

[msmicahmarieaz]

Be the mirror for someone you love today. Happy Friday! #Rumi #quotes #love

[msmicahmarieaz]

So much fun letting go of the past. You can see how excited I was for the lantern to not crash and burn in the second and third pictures. 😂 Loved the experience though! #lantern #lanternfestival #letitgo #lettinggo (at Lake Pleasant Regional Park)

[msmicahmarieaz]

This is what it feels like. ··· “ Hug like you mean it Video by @marjan_moghaddam_artist _ @art_spotlight ” #Rensta #Repost: @art_spotlight via @renstapp

[msmicahmarieaz]

It's a conundrum. #infj #emotions #feel #deep #intense #analytical #sensitive #meme #myersbriggs

[msmicahmarieaz]

This, the way it's written, is definitely worth a repost. ··· “ Intimacy: In-to-me-see, My light, my shadow, all shades of grey. See what is hiding in my eyes. Is it too much for you? See beneath my skin. My pain, my pleasure, my pulse. See the art of me. See to the heart of me. See yourself, seeing me. Invocation from #embodythebook #embodybylonemorch #embody #femalegaze #womenempowerment #womenphotography #portraitmode #lonemorchphotography ” #quote #intimacy #shadow #Rensta #Repost: @lone_morch via @renstapp

[msmicahmarieaz]

··· “ BODY WISDOM WEDNESDAY - And, like any survival strategy that allows us to keep on functioning, it might have a legitimate place in our lives. At a certain point, it might be possible to add a wider spectrum of colours to our 'emotional body' palette that we can use to more fully experience our lives through. It's not so easy to make friends with all our inner body sensations and we might need to not make this a goal at any point in our lives depending on how resourced or overwhelmed we feel. #bodywisdom #bodywisdomwednesday #traumarecovery #ptsdrecovery #selfcare #selfcarewarrior #janeclapp #spiritualbypassing #emotionalresilience ” #Rensta #Repost: @janetheclapp via @renstapp

[msmicahmarieaz]

Virtual Reality's goal is to convince you that you are somewhere else. Virtual Embodiment's goal is to convince you that you are someone else. Fascinating read in the latest New Yorker. @newyorkermag #virtualreality #vr #magazine

[msmicahmarieaz]

I don't know who did this but it's awesome and other than being extra sleepy from allergies I relate. Things have been pretty copacetic lately. #fullmoon #mercuryretrograde #elmo #fire #meme

[msmicahmarieaz]

I know what I want for my Birthday! 😍 #ukelele (at Milano Music)

[msmicahmarieaz]

Just got home from the gym and this is in my FB feed and I'm instantly annoyed. I love quotes and I love the gym and some quotes have motivated me to get to the gym. This is an excuse to remain in linear thinking and not expand as a human being, testing and pushing your potential every single day. Quotes can challenge you, inspire you, pushing you beyond your comfort zone, exercising your mind, spirit and heart. The gym, for me pushes me in a different way but my heart, brain, mind, spirit and muscles all expand there too. I could read Nietzsche while on a treadmill but that would be showing off and would rob me of the moment and everything it has to offer me just as belittling words of inspiration and motivation can do. All that said, this quote did not go to the gym for me either. Just sayin'. #health #gym #quotes #inspiration #growth #itallmatters

[msmicahmarieaz]

Much thanks to @sasserfraz_pictures for capturing this. We got a lot of good photos but this is my favorite because it feels most 'me' to me. ❤ #photoshoot #pool #nature #wild #water #tree

[msmicahmarieaz]

@sasserfraz_pictures caught me being silly, exaggerating my awe of nature like a Disney cartoon. I had such fun though and all in my own yard! ❤ #outtake #photoshoot #nature #eucalyptus #makeyourselfgiggle

[msmicahmarieaz]

More masculine energy tasks. Topping off oil and fluids on my chariot. Now isn't that a clean engine?! Not bad for being 21 years old in car years. So fun getting your hands dirty! Take care of the things that take care of you! #liveingratitude #checkyouroil #loveyourcar #getyourhandsdirty #adultingcanbefun

[msmicahmarieaz]

One week (4 days) of going to the gym and my fat has been reduced by 2%, I gained 3 pounds of muscle, my BMI is already improving and my metabolism, energy and mood have increased (I can only measure the metabolism part but the rest is pretty great too). Still faint hives on my trunk but cutting out eggs and Safflower Oil while almost eliminating caffeine and drinking no alcohol for about a month had also helped. Yay for progress! 😁😎 #workout #moveyourbody #loveyourbody #health #eatright #cleaneating #noexcuses

[msmicahmarieaz]

Time to get my creativity on! #imnotpicasso #paint #play (at The Brush Bar)

[msmicahmarieaz]

Don't you love it when the sky kisses the Earth, enveloped in the warm embrace of love. The Marines did training in the middle of the night for about 3 hours. Thank goodness for the Nextdoor site because it was scary at first! Still heading to the gym, hives and all. Slowly figuring out what to eliminate from my diet. Going to the gym helps me not get discouraged about what isn't possible and helps me focus on what IS possible. Enjoy this blissful Sunday, friends! #noexcuses #rain #desertrain #mountain #clouds #getfit #gethealthy