#a scary process but also one that can be fun and rewarding

[antiarcticmonkeys]

This post is meant to spark discussion, not make people fight or to attack anyone, so please keep that in mind even if you don’t agree with everything I say. I’m not here to evangelize, just to give food for thought.

That being said, I’ve seen a lot of people recently propping up the “lesser of two evils” rhetoric on tumblr, and I am going to be honest: it very clearly comes from a place of fear. I understand, the political climate is frightening right now. But if we continue to approach the situation from a place of panic, prioritizing damage control, we are going to be slowly but surely overwhelmed by the amount of damage we are trying to control. We need to fight for overarching change.

Whether or not that change will come from the electoral system is debatable, but clearly voting is an exigent issue at the moment, so if you believe in that system and put your faith in it, I would urge you to consider voting for someone you don’t think is even a little bit evil. I’m not here to judge you if you’re not ready to do so this election cycle, because yes, I understand that actually getting a third-party candidate in the executive branch in 2024 is a long shot. But I really hope that if you truly want and believe in large-scale change, you have the ability to believe that even just the small change of electing a third party candidate is possible.

If you really agree that by-and-large, Democrat candidates are working against us (albeit less so than republicans), I would encourage you to work to make third-party candidates more viable instead of just accepting that you’re going to end up with a shitty politician either way.

There is plenty of time between now and the election after this one. If you want a non-evil candidate, I would urge you to do what you can to lay the groundwork for one now, so we don’t enter our next election cycle with the overwhelming sense that we have only two options and they both suck ass. The only thing standing between us and a third party win is the allure of habit and the work of organization. I would suggest you research candidates you actually like. Campaign for them, post about them, talk to your friends, family, and neighbors about them.

Every time the election cycle comes around again, we get thousands of new voters who aren’t in the habit of voting for the lesser of two evils, who may be ready for a non-evil candidate. There are many, many people who are dissatisfied with both parties. Electing a third-party candidate is not impossible, just difficult.

[tiniestkitty]

⋆｡‧˚ʚ how to start an age regression / inner child healing journal ɞ˚‧｡

🌷 content warning: very brief, un-descriptive mentions of having trauma 🌷

1. find a notebook you'd like to use ! this can look different for everyone. I picked a journal at the craft store with a pretty design on the front, but you could also use a simple composition book, a notepad or you could even keep a digital journal ! I personally prefer to have two diaries, one is for everyday boring "big-kid" stuff, and the other one is my agere journal ! ૮꒰˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶꒱ა if you'd like, you can combine them, but i personaly find keeping my trauma-processing stuff off to the side is helpful to me. 💛

2. brainstorm what things you'd like to accomplish with your therapy journal ( if any ! ) and what you'd like to write in it. you could set light hearted goals to reconnect with your childhood, process scary things that happened / everyday stressors , or to just keep it for fun ! remember that you don't need to know everything right away, though ! 🧸

for me, my goals are to understand trauma and learn how to grow from it, but I also like to draw pictures, write about the tinier parts of my day, do some affirmations , and follow simple prompts I find online. I will also use it as a tool to track triggers , trauma responses and anxieties to help myself better understand why I felt that way and know how to ground myself better during those scary moments . I also use it to write down thoughts or things I'd like to bring up with my therapist. ( my parents finally got me set up to see a therapist !! yay ! I am a minor so she is a pediatric therapist so she's extra gentle which is so nice hehe )

3. If you'd like, you can decorate the inside pages and the cover with all sorts of fun craft materials ! I like to use stickers and wash tape, but if you don't have those, you can print some pictures out and glue or tape them in ! If you don't have access to a printer, you could use one for free at a local library or at your school. you can also use markers, crayons, colored pencils, or whatever else you'd like to decorate the inside with fun drawings or to make some little worksheets for yourself to paste inside . maybe if you have someone to look after you or a little friend, you can ask them to come up with some for you to do ! 🩷 I like to make notes for my best little friend, wimsy, through dms hehe ! ૮꒰ྀི∩´ ᵕ ` ꒱ྀིა

4. you could make lists of things, too ! I like to list my favorite songs, all of my toys names, what I wanna do when it gets warmer outside, anything !

5. I find it helpful to make charts for stuff that can be challenging when having an icky day or feeling mentally unwell, like brushing my teeth or making sure that my pet chores are all taken care of. ( don't worry !! if I forget to give my kitty treats she will ask my mom hehe ! /lh ) I like to use a reward system, like if I brush my teeth two times every day for a whole week, I can have two breaks during homeschool. 🖍️

okie dokie ! that's all I have for now. hope I gave you some good ideas and tips ! this is all very new to me but I hope this was at least a little informative or helpful hehe . 💕🐰

[robogart]

Lengthy ramble for potential tier/restructure post! But if anyone has insight or feedback or advice, I'd be so grateful to hear it! Thank you for your time! 🥺🙏💕💕💖

*copy/pasted from my patrons post!

*Stressing potential again because I might just try to workshop maybe a couple of these tiers?? I'm editing this after a couple responses so far! So thank you everyone for reading and sending your insight in! It's SO helpful and valuable to hear, thank you!! 🙏💖💖

Hey lovely people! 🥳💖 So lengthy and candid post time, but I'm thinking about restructuring the tier prices (specifically the higher tiers, like the Sauce and Honeybear and maybe sketches too)? Currently I am making very little money, so while that is scary it is also sort of the perfect time to test out some change in how I structure things on here! So I'm sort of excited to potentially try something new! The tough thing with selling your own work is always how to price things - and it's the gentle balance of pricing for what you're worth, but also making a good price point that is accessible to more people! So while prices might be lower, the hope is that they bring forward more patrons and therefore I can make more money as well! SO! A Price Restructure of what I'm thinking (and a couple rewards movements from the $2 Tier to the $4 Tier, specifically) (Also the Sweet Pea Tier will be removed) :

✨ $2/month Tier (Buttercup : same rewards, updated here for clarity (bc I need to update them as well))

Access to ALL artwork and their process GIFs as I finish them! (currently only sharing crops on social media and select, older work)

Commission and Adoptables Priority (You get to access slots/designs first!)

Access to Fanart Friday Suggestions + Polls (we try to do them once a month!)

Access to Coloring Pages (as I make them! this is infrequent)

Access to the Patron-Only Discord (it's very chill and just for you and other patrons! And you can share art, music or just hang out if you want!)

✨ $4/month Tier (Cutie Pie : same rewards!)

Access to my sketchbook pages and the bundled pdfs! I post sketches in batches of 10 on here! When I have enough pages, I'll be uploading the pdf of the sketchbook for free for you to download (100 pages per Volume)! 

Access to videos! (I'll do speedpaints/timelapses from time to time!)

15% off adoptable designs while they are posted on patreon! (before moving to ko-fi!)

Access to all Licensed Character Designs I make (under the LC tag!) (These are for Personal Use Only - intended for DnD and similar RPG situations! ^ w ^)

✨ Access to Archived Works (this is access to all previous work I've shared for the Buttercup tier that you would be able to see on my website all in one place! Goes back to 2019!) 

✨ Early Access to Brushes

Plus all previous rewards! 

✨ $6/month Tier (Honeybear : same rewards!)

Access to the Honeybear Discord! A creative motivational group for artists! (I will be active in this discord!)

Activities for personal motivation and fun! There will be blob doodle pages, monochromatic challenges throughout the month, along with a monthly design prompt and a selected study piece!

Channels for just sharing personal work/wips and a critique corner as well for anyone looking for feedback on their pieces!

Plus all previous rewards!

✨ $8/$10/$15/month Tier (Sauce : same rewards!)(edit: $10 maybe? Or even keeping at $15, based on some comments from patrons)

18+ ONLY! 

Access to ALL NSFW pieces! Sketches and finished paintings alike!

20% off Store Discount! (For my Print Shop and INPRNT!)

Plus all previous rewards! (this includes the Honeybear Tier Discord and Activities access)!

--- So this an idea of what I'm thinking!

It's all still very much up in the air because part of me wonders if I just need to promo more as well? I also have had patrons tell me in the past that I make a lot of work (even if I panic and feel like I'm not making enough @ w @;;) and that the monthly subscription is reasonable for the rewards already? Ahhh it's just difficult figuring this stuff out, especially while stressing about things! So I appreciate feedback if you're feeling up to sharing! 🙏💖💖 Thank you all so much! 💖💖💖

[detentiontrack]

Things I did to go from having severe driving anxiety to genuinely enjoying driving and doing it for fun:

My driving anxiety was BAD. I didn’t get my license until a few years after I was “supposed” to and it took me a REALLY long time to get comfortable in a car. I would be stressed out when someone else was driving in case we crashed. I would have panic attacks so severe I would throw up when I was behind the wheel in my mom’s car in an empty parking lot before I even shifted into drive.

(Also I’m aware that I’m very privileged and not all of these are possible for everyone, so just keep that in mind)

Getting my mental health in check. I started taking anti anxiety medication during the drivers ed process after a long battle of trying to not be on them and they helped SO much.

Getting my physical health in check. I got on POTS medication and I haven’t passed out from POTS in almost 5 years.

Avoiding ALL content about car accidents. I didn’t read about them, I looked away when I saw an accident while in someone else’s car, I told my friends not to talk about car accidents to me, I even turned TV shows off whenever there was a car accident.

Learning the rules of the road REALLY well. In California, you need to complete an online drivers ed class before getting your permit. I completed that, and then I studied the drivers handbook and read it cover to cover multiple times (it’s free as a PDF online and you can also buy a physical copy. I think some DMVs have FREE physical copies there)

Asking a lot of questions while someone else is driving. I would ask my parents stuff like “are you allowed to make a U turn there?” Or “how do you change lanes on the freeway?” And stuff like that.

Take it at your own pace. This is probably THE most important step. I started by barely tapping the gas and then immediately braking in my mom’s car in an empty parking lot while hyperventilating. Once I got comfortable driving in a parking lot, my stepdad found this empty road about 3 miles long that he would take me to every day. Once the road ended, I would stop driving and he would take over. DO NOT push yourself too hard. If you push yourself too hard, you’ll create a negative association with driving and your driving anxiety will get worse. If I felt too anxious to continue in the middle of an empty road, I would put the car in park and swap places with one of my parents.

Consistency is key!!! Try to practice every day possible. Even if it’s just a tiny bit. Even if it’s just sitting behind the wheel of the car in park with it turned on. Just do it as much as possible.

Try to practice in the same car every time. My mom’s car is like a tank and super scary (I only learned to drive it properly a year after I got my license), so I practiced in my stepdad’s smaller more manageable car. After that, I bought my first car and I only practiced in that!

Give yourself a little reward for being brave /gen. I would get a cherry slurpee at the 711 every time I finished driving.

If you’re driving to a place, even if you know how to get there, type in the address in google maps or something and study all the steps so you feel more prepared.

Don’t be discouraged if you fail your driving test the first time. I was so nervous I only passed on my third and final try. In most places, you can take it 3 times.

Make it fun!! Find a new podcast or make a playlist of your favorite music to play while driving!!!

[theresattrpgforthat]

THEME: Paws, Feathers & Scales

Mausritter, by Losing Games.

It’s a huge and dangerous world out there, and it does not look kindly on a small mouse. But if you are very brave and very clever and just a bit lucky, you might be able to survive. And if you survive long enough, you might even become a hero amongst mice.

Take up the sword and don the whiskers of a brave mouse adventurer in Mausritter, a rules-light fantasy adventure roleplaying game. Mausritter is built on the chassis of Into the Odd, with new rules for setting, character generation, magical artefacts, and mouse-scale adventures.

Mausritter is a game that makes character creation deceptively simple - your little mouse doesn’t have much to them, but that’s because they’re small creatures in a much larger world. It’s very easy to kill your mouse, which means that your team is going to have to focus on solving a lot of problems without diving head-first into combat. This is a game built off of other games that are OSR, which has a lot of ties to dungeon-delving kinds of games. There’s an online character generator if you want a character fast, and a seriously gigantic amount of third-party content created for these little adventurers. If you like creating and solving challenges more than diving head-first into combat, you should absolutely check this game out.

Cats of Catthulu, by Catthulu.

In Cats of Catthulhu, players take on the roles of a variety of ordinary-seeming cats fighting conspiracies of cosmic chaos. Mighty spirits such as Snarlyathotep, slimy Phatphroggua, and Hastpurr of the Yellow Eye inspire their cultists to destroy civilization-but that’s where all the comfy furniture is! 

One person acts as the Cat Herder, arranging the secret plots, challenges, and rewards and guiding the others through the process of making an adventure. Rules are light and quick, emphasizing player cleverness and the fun of being feline. There’s plenty of darkness and chaos in the world, but our fuzzy heroes can handle it!... Usually.

This game is perfect for players who don’t want to deal with math, because cats can’t do math either! Normally you play using special cat dice, but using regular d6’s will work just fine. Your cats will dive into situations that have a Lovecraftian twist, but aren’t too scary for children. On top of rolling dice to determine whether you succeed, there are a few optional rules that add to the goofy feel of the game - particularly the rule of Wum Fing, which states that if a cat character picks up something in game, the player must put their pencil in their mouth and speak around it. If the player gets annoyed and takes the pencil out of their mouth, the cat drops what they are holding.

You only really need the Nekonomikon to play, but Cat Herders might benefit from picking up the Cat Herder’s Guide.

Capybara Capers, by momatoes.

A super elite team of capybaras has been assembled to steal the mythical Awesome Lemon once and for all. But each of you have your own motives...and there may very well be a traitor in your midst. Can you afford to trust one another?

Capybara Capers offers a smooth, seamless tabletop RPG experience for playing a criminal critter, with mechanics for sharing trust, escalating rolls, and even individual win conditions. Ideal for 3-6 players, plus a Game Master!

Each character has their own idea of what victory looks like. There are up to 6 unique Win Conditions that your character may draw from the deck - from gaining the trust of all of the other players, to betraying the rest of the capybaras. Characters also descriptors that will add dice to relevant rolls, in order to increase their chances of success. Throughout the game, players may exchange Trust tokens to give each-other aid or remove Escalation Tokens, which are added whenever the group fails three or more consecutive tasks in a row. If you like wacky hi-jinx and the possibility to betray your friends, Capybara Capers is for you!

Pugmire, by Onyx Path Publishing.

“Be a good dog. Protect your home. Be loyal to those who are true. These are the words of the Code of Man.”

— Sister Picassa Collie, Shepherd of the Church of Man

Dogs have inherited the world, building the kingdom of Pugmire untold centuries after the Ages of Man are over. These dogs have been uplifted to use tools and language, and they seek to rediscover the ruins of the Old Ones. Some have learned to use the leftover technology of humanity, but they believe it to be magic handed to them by their lost gods. Others seek to create an ideal civilization, using a Code of Man compiled from ancient, fragmentary lore left behind by humanity. The world is dangerous and mysterious, but good dogs will persevere.

Pugmire uses a simplified version of 5e, which makes it great for kids or first-timers to the RPG scene. You may clear the forest of Giant Ants, foil the plots of scheming cats, or race rat cultists from the Cult of Labo Tor in order to retrieve a ruin from an artifact. As adventurers, all of your endeavours serve to fulfill your over-arching goal: to become Very Good Dogs. For players, the core rulebook for Pugmire is free as a phone version on DriveThruRpg. For cat lovers, you can instead play in the scheming Monarchies of Mau, if that is what your heart desires.

Crustacean Bus Station, by kumada1 (Sprinting Owl).

You are a crab.

You live in a tidepool community with other crabs. However, your crab factory job is at the other end of the beach. To get there, you must traverse dangerous terrain, evade seagulls and seals and morays, and wear yourself out scrambling over barnacle-covered rocks. This commute would be so much easier if you had a bus.

Unfortunately, crab bus stops are banned by seal civic ordinances. Crabs are rejected from the prestigious Seagull School Of Engineering. And Moray Refreshments, your factory job, is very strict about attendance. Miss even a few minutes of your shift and you risk having your pay docked---which will put you behind on your rent and give Octopus Realty all the incentive it needs to start processing evictions.Tonight, you're going to build your own bus with nothing but pincers and theft.

Buckle up and ready your pincers, because this is a game full of crime and creativity. You’re playing the underdogs, crabs with only a few hit points and a lot of obstacles in the way of building your bus. Each character gets something called a Scuttle Score, which acts as player currency in order to get out of a terrible situation. However, if you Scuttle out of a situation, it makes the situation worse for your friends! Will you leave them behind, or will you stick it out and solve your problems together? 

Geese at the Beach, by Justin Joyce.

THE GOOSE KING HAS AWOKEN.  The annual event has arrived, in which the Goose King rises and sends his most powerful Geese soldiers to the dangerous lands of The Beach to gather Shiny things for his most powerful Horde. Perhaps he simply wants as much treasure as possible, or perhaps he yearns for the greatest treasure of all. 

Regardless of his wants, it is on you and your squad of geese to brave the horrors of The Beach and battle the Goose King's enemies to bring the king what he desires most: Shinies. If the Goose King's wants are not met, the risk of all out war between The Goose King and the Seagull Armada could threaten to drown the world. 

This game picks up a lot of cues from Belonging Outside Belonging games, which don’t usually use dice. This game uses 2d8, but much of your character abilities rely not on dice, but on the Favors you gain by doing certain actions. Players choose from five Goose playbooks: The Buff Goose, The Duck, The Pelican, The Cat, and the Fish. Each one of these playbooks is hilarious and guaranteed to elicit a game full of laughter. 

Wanderhome, by Possum Creek Games.

Wanderhome is a pastoral fantasy role-playing game about traveling animal-folk, the world they inhabit, and the way the seasons change. It is a game filled with grassy fields, mossy shrines, herds of chubby bumblebees, opossums in sundresses, salamanders with suspenders, starry night skies, and the most beautiful sunsets you can imagine.

You might be a tamarin who dances with small and forgotten gods, a leporine mail carrier who relies on moths to get packages where they belong, a little lizard with a big heart and a mysterious past, or a near-endless number of other thrilling possibilities. No matter what, we’re always travelers—animal-folk who go from village to village and get to see the length and breadth of all the world of Hæth. The seasons will change as we play, and we will change with them.

Wanderhome is enchanting and endearing, and fundamentally encourages a different kind of roleplaying experience than you find in a traditional roleplaying game. Built on the Belonging Outside Belonging system, it requires absolutely no dice. Character sheets will give you the ability to describe the world around you, and encourage you to step into making mistakes in order to set your character up for successes down the road. If you are interested in stories about small critters travelling to pastoral locations and helping out the characters they find along the way, Wanderhome is definitely for you.

You can find both official and non-official Wanderhome supplements here.

[thegeminisage]

i decided to make a list of 15 of my favorite plot devices

i think they're mostly in order but all things are subject to change. time to explain my passions

1. asexuals - self-explanatory. the best number one joy of all time is when there is an asexual person, canonically, and not just in my mind palace. so far no show has managed to do this except fucking shadowhunters (and bojack horseman ig but it's not my thing). i know there are people out there who can write way better than the shadowhunters writing room but i don't know why they aren't getting on this. tick tock. example: raphael shadowhunters

2. amnesia - notably different from dementia, which is depressing and bad (thinking about you, dean winchester). amnesia is only good because eventually they get it back. the best thing about amnesia is that it shows you who your Little Guy (gender neutral) is with everything stripped away from them including their sense of self. do they still go for the same kind of coffee? do they still click with the same people they used to love? can they still fight? what do they stand for? it's very rewarding when your little guy acts the same way without knowing why. it's also especially cool for action heroes bc they'll still be able to win a fight and it's like wow <3 fight scenes with emotional stakes!! also i love that it gives us a mystery to solve. sometimes a partially amnesiac character is amnesiac because they did a terrible crime. and they've got to solve it while accidentally working against their past self. fun! examples: fang from ff13. wolverine. why, who did you think i was going to use

3. brainwashing - for the same reasons as amnesia. it's the same concept: take away everything and who is your little guy? the real little guy is in there and they are working so hard to get out. also they will be sooo sad about all the crimes they did later. example: fenris dragon age. d'avin killjoys. and okay fine one other guy we're not talking about

4. enemies to lovers - what's better than two people wanting to murder each other until they don't......always a good side of bickering with this as well. main draw tho is the process of simply two people getting to know one another in the way that you can tell strangers things you can't tell your friends. it's more work to love someone when you hate them and with more work comes a better reward. also, sexual tension. example: so many. fenris/hawke. fenris/anders. botw link/zelda. john/aeryn. bonnie and damon if the cw weren't cowards and i don't even like damon i think he's unforgivably horrible (derogatory)

5. monster under the bed character - i don't know if this has a real name. it's like the One Guy (again, gender neutral) who has shaped the protagonist's whole life who is threat number one in any given situation. Primal Fear of this guy and all they represent is similar to how little kids are scared of the monster under the bed hence the name. it's not JUST an arch enemy or an antagonist it's like. the only enemy that matters. not a bad guy but THE bad guy. if you can boil someone's issues down and stuff them all into a single person and then also make that person scary. and then also they can fight!! fuck yeah fight scenes!!! if you're really lucky this will overlap with either somebody's parent or somebody's ex. examples: AUGH SO MANY. for dean winchester it's yellow eyes. for sam winchester it's lucifer. for fenris it's danarius. for jace wayland it's valentine. for dutch killjoys it's khlyen. for anakin skywalker it's palpatine. for derek hale it's kate argent. going nuts just thinking about it

6. reluctant assassins - crucially if they don't care about being assassins it doesn't work for me (sorry kassandra asscreed). i went into this in more detail here but your assassin simply Must be compromised in some way so they can regret all their little crimes later. otherwise what's the point?? this overlaps so thoroughly with brainwashed iedk if it should count as its own entry but whatever. examples: fenris dragon age. dutch killjoys. d'avin killjoys. elliot leverage. and the other one

7. two-person love triangle - this is a very specific sub-example of secret identities in general which ARE good except they're usually in superhero media and i am really just so totally fucking over the entire CONCEPT of superheroes. anyway it's when one person has a secret identity and the other person forms a relationship with their "real" identity and their "secret" one. and then they feel conflicted about loving two people at once and having to choose but SURPRISE it's the same person! i like this because it has anti love triangle energy. lots of romantic tension and none of the dumb fucking YA bullshit. (apologies to YA.) example: arthur and merlin (who is also "emrys" at least in fanfic)

8. 4th wall shit - when the piece of media is in your house with you. i don't feel i need to clarify further than this because dr gaster is probably spying on me as we speak. examples: everything toby fox has ever made. s*pernatural, sometimes. i also had a deeply haunted experience with final fantasy x.

9. last guy (gender neutral) standing - part of a team or group that got tragically mcmurder prior to the start of the story and this person is so terribly sad about it. crucially this has to be a side character whose relationships with dead people are more important than or equally important to their relationships with the current living cast members. character deaths you almost agree with because then at least they can be with their fallen buds. examples: auron from ffx, noel from ffxiii

10. immortal characters - for the same reasons as above but also they CAN'T DIE EVER so they don't even have that to look forward to. also sometimes they wind up being science experiments. examples: jesse turner from @cambionverse (sorry jesse)

11. evil doppelganger - usually this is in video games where they just take the sprite or the polygons and recolor them to be black but also you have some mirrorverse/au shit going on sometimes and then there's evil twins, and shapeshifters, and clones...i love when everybody gets tricked into thinking somebody is doing crimes but actually theyre just out here and it's their evil double causing problems on purpose and not even being the one to go to jail forever because of it. also, when the evil double has mind-reading powers or whatever b/s to 1. make them a better trickster 2. to make them better at precision-point roasting of whomstever they look like. also acceptable: when you little guy just suddenly turns fucking evil and/or gets possessed and you have to cure them to get them back. idk maybe that should go under brainwashing. examples: dutch and aneela. link and dark link. zelda and the puppet. soulless sam. demon dean. hullen johnny.

12. fire powers - WHO doesn't love a little arson...i feel like this is the same concept behind werewolves which boils down to "fear of anger" bc with anger comes the loss of control and the devastating fallout... your fire guy (gender neutral but idk any fire girls) has to have a lot of self control or they'll fuck everybody up. they're very dangerous! not unlike assassins. also, fire is pretty. bonus if they have done crimes before either on purpose or on accident. examples: jesse turner again, roy mustang aka the OG fireguy, prince zuko

13. big damn reunion - when two people are split up with little to no chance of ever seeing each other again and then they do anyway. this is why i'm never mad when they bring characters back from the dead. examples: i'm actually totally blanking on these, i feel like it tends to happen in fic so much more often. also i've been writing this list awhile

14. time travel - i love! time travel! i love when people see an apocalyptic future and go back and fix it (chrono trigger, ff13). i love when there's a stable loop (tears of the kingdom) or a paradox (song of storms in ocarina of time). i love visits to the ancient past (skyward sword). i love when there's just an actual fucking timeloop (s*pernatural). it's really good!!! examples: oops i just listed them all

15. body swap - last but not least i think it is so fun when two people wind up living each other's lives. it's more fun in tv when people get to switch which character theyre playing but it's good in any form because what a way to get to know someone and also the endless potential for shenanigans. examples: dreamless (webcomic), your name, various episodes of tv shows many of which are bad (s*pernatural's was extremely bad).

ok, that's the list. originally it was 10, then 13, then 15, so i think i'd better stop here.

[from-the-coffee-shop-in-edoras]

Who Am I and What Am I Doing Here?

Good questions! I wish I had a short answer. I’m here on the next step of my fan fiction journey—and I think journey is the appropriate word. The first time I remember hearing about the concept of fanfic, I have to admit I really didn’t get it. It felt maybe a little silly or frivolous? But then I actually sat down and read some and I talked to others who were already engaged in the fanfic community, and my views changed dramatically. I saw authors and readers using fanfic to incredible effect for a bunch of different purposes…to work through challenging real world situations in a fictional environment that allows for a different or better outcome. To repair (for lack of a better word) otherwise beloved intellectual property that was disappointingly exclusionary when it came to representing certain identities and perspectives. And, yes, sometimes just to have fun in a silly or frivolous way with an engaging tale set in an existing fictional universe. Because, really, what’s wrong with that? If it makes me happy to write a lil’ story imagining how Háma of Rohan in The Lord of the Rings proposed to his wife, why is that a less legitimate way of spending my time than my husband imagining his ideal football team and then debating with strangers on the internet whether his fake team could beat their fake team? Or, for that matter, why would it be less legitimate than him getting together with friends in a park and playing actual football? It’s all about finding something that you find fun and rewarding, right?

So, I became a consumer of fanfic for properties that I love (almost entirely Tolkien-related, in case you couldn’t have guessed that from the random Háma reference above). And there is so much good stuff out there. Works that are beautifully written. Works that expand on beloved known entities and introduce exciting and interesting and engaging original characters. Works that are funny and sad and sweet and racy. And there is a real community of creators and readers that I have come to really appreciate in their own right—the way they support and cheer for one another and just generally display a lot more kindness and empathy than you’d normally see in the world.

Now, I don’t need this account just to find and follow and read and praise fanfic that I enjoy. I could have kept doing that from my long-term account. But I think I might be ready to possibly share some of my own stories soon as well? And that’s scary enough that I want to keep it separated in an account that doesn’t obviously link back to my real life and my other social media presences. So here we are. As I’m able (which might be very slowly!), I will try to post some work here. And maybe someone will read it and like it, which is great. And maybe no one will read it and that’s ok, too. I just want the outlet for myself, and I’m trying to be inspired by the confidence and vulnerability of other writers whose work and online personas I really enjoy (a particular tip of the hat to @sotwk who is a literal stranger to me but has been a really impactful model of someone who generates a lot of fantastic work in an area of lore that I love and also does so with really refreshing transparency about the joys and challenges of the process!). So for anyone who happens to be reading this, you can hopefully watch this space for periodic stories set in a Tolkien-inspired environment and usually written from the perspective of the reader. I’m a Rohan girlie through and through, but I have love and affection for all corners of Tolkien’s world and I’m excited to get into it!

[grumpy-potat]

Pygmalion and Galatea Tarot Pick a Pile

In the Greek myth of Pygmalion and his sculpture Galatea who through divine intervention becomes a real woman, we are presented with an artist king of Cyprus who has spurned love, women, and desire for companionship. Completely turned off by the women of his country he decided that he would never marry or find love. However, depending upon the version of the myth he either creates or is given a statue of such beauty that he calls upon the Goddess of Love, and the patron of his island to bring him a wife that is of equal beauty, having found that he wants to have a companion just like her. Aphrodite turns the statue into a person and the two get married and have a daughter.

Photo by Quino Al on Unsplash

Like all Greek myths this myth has many iterations, but they all follow a similar theme even if some elements change. One element that has been added over time is naming the statue. In the myth, the statue isn't named, but over time we have given her the same name as a nymph who is the unrequited love of Polyphemus. Galatea means "Milky White" which would be the color of the marble she would have been sculpted out of. Another key feature is that Pygmalion decides he no longer wants the type of love that the women of Cyprus are willing to give. He finds them depraved. This has been read in many ways and all are valid. Misogyny, that he only wants a woman who can't speak to him, or he is a misogynist who learned the error of his ways and wants companionship from women at the end. Or another form of narcissism, the artist who can only love something that is a reflection of himself.

While all those are valid interpretations of the myth. I'd like to explore the story in a different way. Aphrodite is a goddess of Love and Beauty. Pygmalion lived on Cyprus, her home island and he shunned love and the rest of his people on the island to create his statues. He created his own beauty because he decided the people were too ugly and vulgar. The statue of Galatea is often a divine inspiration, not something he decided to create but something that is created in a manic drive. He falls in love with the statue's beauty and asks Aphrodite to bring him a wife as beautiful as the statue. In the end, the statue is brought to life and he marries Galatea and has a daughter with her, rejoining his community. How many of us turn away from everyone and everything when we decide that things have turned too ugly for us to face. To me, this can also be interpreted as a story of facing the fear of the ugliness of the world to accept the truth of the beauty that is also found in it. Because we can't lock ourselves away, no matter how badly we want to.

I know that this is a bit of a more positive spin than a lot of the interpretations you might encounter, but I am not a Greek mythology scholar. Just someone who has fun with literary interpretations and tarot readings. So I will also do a tarot draw today based on this interpretation of this story. Today we are going to do a three-card reading of what fear you need to let go of, what it is you need to help you succeed, the guiding muse on this path

Pick one of the three images of Pygmalion and Galatea and your reading will be below

1. Pygmalion and Galatea by Jean Leon Gerome(1824-1904)

Two of Wands, Page of Swords, Six of Wands

You have a fear of making a big decision that could push you further ahead toward a big reward or some type of goal that is outside your comfort zone. Making changes is difficult, scary, and change can be hard to process. But without necessary change there can be no growth, without taking risks there can be no rewards. What can help you process your fear and the thing you need to focus on is all your exciting new ideas and all the amazing new adventures that can be had if you do take that risk. Sometimes it can help to try to look at something with fresh eyes and from a different angle or even seek out advice from someone who might not have the same level of investment or experience to get a whole new perspective on your situation to help you reframe everything and overcome the fear you are experiencing that is stopping you from moving forward. Your guiding muse is knowing the type of recognition and acclaim you will receive at the end of this process. You will be celebrated for the work you have put in and that fuels you to continue on.

2. Pygmalion in love with his statue by Jean-Baptiste Regnault(1754-1829)

Eight of Swords, Eight of Cups, Ace of Wands

Your fear is consuming you with negative thoughts. It is like you have been caught up in life's game and you are nothing but a pawn to be played with. Just a piece to be cast aside or sacrificed when it is useful. The fear of catastrophe is crippling you and keeping you from living your life to its fullest. You need to let go of everything that isn't serving you and move on from it. Whether it is a relationship, a job, or a project, the Eight of Cups is calling you to move on. It can be hard, but the negativity of the situation could be contributing to the catastrophic thinking and world outlook you are having difficulty escaping from. Look to your muse which could be anything from a new opportunity to something new that entered your life that is bringing a spark of inspiration, and open yourself up to new passions and inspirations in both the physical, emotional, and spiritual realms.

3. Porcelain Group of Pygmalion and Galatea by Etienne-Maurice Falconete (1716-1719)

Five of Cups, Six of Pentacles, King of Pentacles

The fear that plagues you is that you might be a disappointment, that your actions might cause you regret, or that your endeavors might end it a total failure. This fear of disappointing those around you or disappointing yourself causes you to not act, or to not be as open as you might want to be. However, it is important to remember how much you have to give, and how much people appreciate you and what you do for them. You have a lot to offer, even if it doesn't feel like much to you, or it feels inadequate. Utilize your guiding muse here and have confidence in your knowledge and abilities. You are successful and have a proven track record. People trust you and when you make mistakes and own them people trust you more. If you are feeling unstable, look to someone who embodies the qualities you also want to bring into the world, it will help be a beacon for you.

Thank you all for reading my Greek myth interpretation and then the tarot readings. I've been trying to combine the things I love in different ways and I hope you all enjoy it too!

Please share any info or any of your favorite myths from anywhere with me or any of your favorite divination or witchy stuff. I love learning about things.

[ariaste]

Hey I have good news for you!!! Actually two pieces of news, because this symptom could be indicating one of three potential diagnoses. (Preface: I am a professional fantasy author and I have been published more than a dozen times. I have also taught creative writing at the university level and am REALLY good at it. I know my shit and I have seen your problem a thousand times.) FIRST POSSIBLE DIAGNOSIS: This one happens to me all the time. If you feel like your writing is getting worse, that might mean you're at a "plateau" stage in your development of technique execution, but you're in a "growth" stage in your development of your technique perception! Because they alternate!

When you're in the phase you're in now, you have all the "omg my writing is garbage" thoughts, but those are not true. Your writing is the same as it was last week. However, your ability to see it and analyze it is getting better -- and that keener perception is why it SEEMS to be worse. It isn't, I swear.

When it's the other way around and your execution is in a growth stage and your perception is on a plateau stage, that's when you have all your "omg I'm a supergenius? Omg *I* wrote that? fuck yeah im a god of writing" moments (and if you haven't had them yet, that's ok, they'll come, be patient with yourself).

Either way, this is a normal part of the growth process. It's like the ache of sore muscles after you've gone to the gym for the first time in a while, that's all. Your muscles will hurt less as you get stronger, and then you'll add more weight or more reps to your exercise routine, and you'll be sore again until your body catches up. It's just that when that's happening in your brain, it's a lot harder to set the "muscle ache" aside, because your brain's only way of expressing discomfort is to gnaw miserably on itself and make you have sad thoughts. Prescription: Have a cup of tea or whatever small treat you like best, and be gentle and patient with yourself. It's gonna be ok. Try to consciously notice and appreciate some of the things you've measurably gotten better at and give yourself a deliberate, intentional, conscious pat on the back for it. (I have ADHD, so my brain doesn't want to give me the reward chemicals automatically; I have to trigger it manually by saying aloud "I'm really proud that I accomplished this." YMMV.)

SECOND POSSIBLE DIAGNOSIS: This one also happens to me all the time. Oftentimes when I have the "my writing is getting worse" feeling, it is a signal from my subconscious that the story is going in the wrong direction -- that is, a direction which doesn't satisfying to me, or that I'm not interested in, or that leads the characters in a direction that I don't like, or that leaves a glaring plot hole that I haven't noticed consciously yet... All manner of small, fixable problems. This usually happens after I have ignored the earlier warning signs, which start with feeling a bit bored of the story but trying to push through, and then go to a vague dissatisfaction that I ignore. The end result of this is frequently outright burnout or writer's block, so the better you get at noticing those early warning signs, the faster you can address them and nip the problems in the bud. Problem is, being able to do this and use your feelings as a useful tool to flag burgeoning story problems only comes with practice. Prescription: Do the practice. When you start having those fidgety, restless feelings, try to notice what you're feeling before it gets to the "this is garbage and I hate it" stage, and then sit with that feeling. Instead of flinching away from it and hiding from the scary feeling, turn towards it with compassion and curiosity. Ask it questions like, "Hmmm, what SPECIFICALLY is garbage about it? What would make it more fun and appealing? Is there anything I'm missing here?" Your brain may initially try to continue the tantrum of "No, it's bad, it's just all bad, there's nothing good about this, it's horrible, and therefore I'M horrible" but you're gonna need to address this with all the kindness and patience that you would give a cranky toddler. Let it wriggle and cry, and just continue being curious and trying to get it to use its words to express what the problem is. Eventually you'll stumble on SOME kind of answer, and then YAY THAT IS A THING THAT CAN BE FIXED. Oftentimes when it happens to me, I have a reaction that's sort of like, "Oh! Duh! I forgot [XYZ thing]! That was a silly mistake, haha, no wonder I'm grumpy about it. Glad i noticed it now." The answers you stumble on might be things like, "I don't like mystery novels but I seem to be accidentally leading myself into writing one, whoops" or "It is so out of character for this person to be reacting that way, I need to rewrite this scene" or "I'm feeling bored, I would have put the book down by now if I were a reader; how can I jazz it up?" THIRD POSSIBLE DIAGNOSIS: (kind of a really specific subset of the Second Possible Diagnosis, but it is SO COMMON for both experienced writers and apprentice writers that it gets its own section) Your book might be having problems with tension.

Tension issues account for 99% of all book problems. It's like sewing machines?? You know how all sewing machines have the devil in them, and if you try to sew and your thread gets tangled and fucked up on the bottom, that's because the tension has gone weird, so you have to try rethreading the machine and wiggling the tension knob a bit to make it stop? Like that.

Prescription: If you are having the "this shit sucks" reaction, stop immediately and check your story tension. Are there stakes? Do they MATTER DEEPLY to the protagonist? Can they be raised? Can they be endangered? Does a new problem need to be introduced, or an existing one made worse? TENSION TENSION TENSION TENSION. There are a thousand ways of raising tension, and I cannot list them all here. When my tension is right, I almost never have the "this sucks" reaction, because I am in that document doing my job with ruthless efficiency. The SECOND it goes wonky, I have a crisis of confidence and a small tantrum and I sink into my Desponds. Every single time. It has gotten to the point where I have trained my closest friends to say, when I slide into their DMs to complain about my book: "Oh, this part. Past!Alex told us to give you a message. [checks notes] Message reads, 'bitch, is it a tension problem'" whereupon I subside, chastened, and say, "....yeah probably."

CHECK YOUR TENSION, IT IS PROBABLY FUCKED UP. How do I know? Bc tension wants very badly to fuck itself up if you're not keeping an eye on it. Same as sewing machines having the devil in them.

Hope that helped. <3 Good luck! It's gonna be ok.

please please please please reblog if you’re a writer and have at some point felt like your writing is getting worse. I need to know if I’m the only one who’s struggling with these thoughts

[jagrav25]

How to Make Digital Marketing Less Scary and More Fun

Digital marketing often feels overwhelming for businesses and individuals alike. With constant updates, algorithms, platforms, and strategies, it’s easy to feel intimidated. But what if we told you that digital marketing can be a fun, creative, and engaging process? In fact, it can be as exciting as crafting a story, creating an artwork, or building a community. Here’s how you can transform your digital marketing from daunting to delightful:

1. Shift Your Mindset: See It as a Creative Playground

One of the main reasons people find digital marketing scary is because they see it as purely technical. While there are technical aspects involved, it’s also a highly creative field. Whether you’re designing a social media campaign, writing blog posts, or creating videos, digital marketing is about telling stories in unique and engaging ways.

Tip: Approach your marketing strategy as an opportunity to flex your creative muscles. Try experimenting with new formats like memes, interactive polls, or quirky short-form videos. The more fun you have creating, the more your audience will enjoy consuming it.

2. Gamify Your Strategy

Who says digital marketing has to be a chore? Gamification is an excellent way to make the entire process more engaging and fun. Set small, achievable goals for yourself and your team, then reward progress. Celebrate milestones like gaining a certain number of followers, increasing website traffic, or generating leads through a creative campaign.

Tip: Create weekly or monthly digital marketing challenges for your team or yourself. For example, challenge your team to generate 10 new social media posts in a week, or to double your engagement rate for a specific campaign. Offer rewards like coffee vouchers, extra time off, or team shout-outs.

3. Embrace Learning and Experimentation

In the world of digital marketing, change is constant. While this can feel overwhelming, it’s also an exciting opportunity to learn and grow. Instead of being afraid of new tools and platforms, embrace them as opportunities to enhance your skill set.

Tip: Set aside time each week to learn something new, whether it’s mastering a new tool, platform, or strategy. You don’t have to dive in all at once—start with small steps. Take a quick online course, listen to a podcast, or read an article that introduces you to new trends or technologies.

4. Build a Community

Digital marketing is ultimately about building relationships, not just selling products. When you focus on creating value for your audience and engaging with them authentically, the process becomes far more enjoyable.

Tip: Foster a community on social media by responding to comments, asking for feedback, and encouraging user-generated content. Host fun online events like Q&A sessions, challenges, or giveaways. The more interactive your content, the more fun and less stressful your digital marketing efforts will become.

5. Collaborate with Others

Marketing doesn’t have to be a solo effort. Collaborating with influencers, partners, or even your audience can make the process more dynamic and enjoyable. Co-creating content, hosting joint events, or even running collaborative campaigns brings in new ideas and perspectives that make your marketing feel fresh.

Tip: Identify influencers or complementary businesses in your niche and propose fun collaborations. This can take the form of joint giveaways, podcast interviews, or even cross-promotional content.

6. Use Tools to Automate Tedious Tasks

One of the reasons digital marketing can feel overwhelming is the sheer number of tasks involved, from scheduling posts to analyzing metrics. Luckily, there are tons of tools that can automate the more tedious aspects of digital marketing.

Tip: Use social media scheduling tools like Buffer or Hootsuite to plan your posts in advance. Automation tools like Zapier can also help streamline workflows. By freeing up time on repetitive tasks, you can focus on the more creative and strategic parts of your marketing efforts.

7. Visualize Your Success

Sometimes, the scariest part of digital marketing is the pressure to deliver results. But instead of focusing on potential failures, visualize what success looks like. Picture your brand growing, your audience engaging, and your campaigns succeeding. When you have a positive mindset, the process becomes more enjoyable.

Tip: Create a vision board for your digital marketing goals. Whether it’s increasing followers, generating more leads, or building a vibrant online community, having a visual reminder of what you’re working toward makes the journey more fun and purposeful.

8. Keep it Lighthearted and Fun

At the end of the day, your audience responds to content that feels human and relatable. Don’t be afraid to inject humor, personality, and playfulness into your digital marketing efforts.

Tip: Create lighthearted content that aligns with your brand voice. Memes, GIFs, behind-the-scenes videos, and fun challenges are all great ways to keep things fun while still engaging with your audience.

9. Take Breaks and Celebrate Wins

Digital marketing can sometimes feel like a never-ending treadmill. But to avoid burnout, it’s important to take breaks, celebrate small wins, and appreciate the journey.

Tip: Schedule regular breaks during your digital marketing activities and take time to reflect on your successes. Whether it’s a small increase in engagement or a positive comment from a customer, recognize the wins and enjoy the progress.

Conclusion

Digital marketing doesn’t have to be something you dread—it can be an exciting, creative, and fun experience. By shifting your mindset, embracing creativity, and using strategies like gamification, collaboration, and automation, you can make the process more enjoyable. Remember to celebrate your successes, take breaks, and keep things lighthearted, and soon digital marketing will feel less like a chore and more like an adventure.

Start seeing digital marketing as an opportunity to have fun and engage your audience in new and meaningful ways!

[stanleyisworking]

SOMA Pt. 1: Student Profile - A

The next two posts will be summaries of my teaching at School of Music and Arts (SOMA). I have been a part-time freelance vocal coach at SOMA for a while now and decided to integrate my experience into this blog.

I will be focusing on two specific students of mine, A and B - their full identities are retracted to protect their privacy.

These are students that have been under my tutelage for more than six months and I will be summarizing my experience working with these talented young voices.

Before that, take a look at this webpage! It's the first time I see myself on a music school's website and I feel so proud of myself!

Now, let's get to know my first student - "A"!

A's mother reached out to SOMA for vocal lessons as she wanted to prepare her child for DSA into SOTA after she was done with primary school.

My first lesson with her kid blew me away.

A was able to match pitches perfectly and recreate the kind of vocal tone quality I wanted, just by me describing how it sounded like.

During the first song work, A also had good awareness of lyrical analysis and sang the chosen piece with appropriate emotion and dynamics.

I knew I might be seeing a child prodigy in the making and I asked their mother what age did she started them on music lessons - I was told they started piano when they were super young!

The mother was determined to get her into a school specializing in the arts and I could tell A was equally as passionate about singing as they sounded.

They were one of the easier kids to teach throughout my career so far, but we did still encounter a few roadblocks along the way.

Problems:

1. Our lessons were very target-focused. I had to meet the goal of the parent, while at the same time, ensuring that A does not lose their passion for music and singing. We were preparing for LCM Pop Vocals examination as well to aid their experience in auditioning for SOTA when the time comes.

2. A, like any other kid I have worked with in the past, has limiting beliefs about themselves sometimes and would hesistate to learn harder materials or reach notes beyond their usual range. Even though I knew their capability was more than they had demostrated, I had to find a way to impart self-confidence. I believe the voice is the most complicated instruments in the world, since it can be gravely affected by mindset and mental roadblocks, and it's an instrument that cannot be seen or played physically. A lot of body and mind awareness was needed.

Solutions:

1. Thankfully, preparing for vocal exams does not have to be stressful. I made sure I consulted A on their favorite kind of music, the artist they look up to these days (why was I not surprise to hear Taylor Swift?), and came up with a lesson plan that was fun and engaging, incorporating songs they would enjoy singing while at the same time honing the techniques and scales necessary to pass their LCM exam.

2. I gave a lot of positive affirmations as the weeks passed by. However, it was important that I affirm for effort rather than results. For example, when A was too afraid to hit a note because it sounded too high to them, I would reassure them that if the note doesn't happen, it's okay and what's the worst thing that could happen? This way of talking to them usually made things less scary in their head and I made sure to stuck to my words.

So, even if their voice cracked at an E4, we laughed it off and I would tell them I was very proud of them for trying.

This was a technique I researched about encouraging learners by growth mindset versus fixed mindset. A fixed mindset would mean educators reward based on results, and this would cause students to be hyper-focused on the end point rather than the journey. I wanted my classroom to be all about the process rather than goal. I felt it was important to set this tone early when A was still young and was in a very stressful governmental school system.

In other news, guess what happened a week ago!

After months of building rapport with A, encouraging them and developing their confidence, they passed LCM Pop Vocals (Grade 2) with flying colors! Distinction!

Their mother sent me this photo of the certificate and even a video of A opening it up and seeing the word "Distinction" for the first time - they were jumping in joy and this week, A came into my classroom with a newfound confidence.

I'm glad I got to be a part of A's journey and see them grow week after week. They will go on to do great things in the future!

[drmahima8856]

How to Make a Trip to the Dentist Fun for Kids

Taking your child to the dentist can be a challenge, but it doesn't have to be stressful. With the right approach, you can make the experience fun and positive, helping your child build a healthy attitude toward dental care. Here’s how you can turn a routine visit into an enjoyable outing for your little one.

Start with a Positive Attitude

Your attitude plays a crucial role in shaping your child’s perception of the dentist. If you treat the visit as something exciting and important, your child is more likely to feel the same way. Talk to them about what to expect in a simple and reassuring manner. For example, explain that the dentist is a friendly person who helps keep their teeth strong and healthy.

When choosing a dental clinic, look for one that has a welcoming environment designed specifically for children. The best dentist in Udaipur often offers kid-friendly spaces, complete with toys, colorful decorations, and a friendly staff that knows how to interact with children. This helps reduce anxiety and makes the experience more enjoyable.

Use Fun and Familiar Language

Kids respond well to familiar and playful language. Instead of using clinical terms, describe the dental visit in a way that sparks their imagination. For example, you can refer to the dentist’s tools as “superhero gadgets” or “tooth wands” that help fight off “sugar bugs.” This creative approach can turn a potentially scary situation into an adventure.

When talking about the dentist, you can also share stories about how even superheroes and princesses need to visit the dentist to keep their smiles bright. There are many child dentist in Udaipur who specialize in creating a fun and engaging atmosphere for young patients, making it easier to incorporate these playful elements into the visit.

Plan a Reward or Treat

Incentives can be a powerful motivator for children. Let your child know that after the dental visit, they can enjoy a small treat or activity. Whether it’s a visit to their favorite park, a special snack, or picking out a new toy, having something to look forward to can make the dental visit seem like just another step toward fun.

If your child has a good experience with the dentist, it’s likely they’ll be less apprehensive about future visits. The best dentist in Udaipur understands this and often provides small rewards or tokens after the appointment, reinforcing positive behavior and making the entire experience more enjoyable.

Play Pretend Dentist at Home

Before the actual dental visit, you can prepare your child by playing pretend dentist at home. Use a toothbrush and let your child practice “cleaning” the teeth of their favorite stuffed animal or doll. You can also let them take turns being the dentist and the patient. This role-playing can help familiarize them with the idea of a dental checkup and reduce fear.

Many child dentists in Udaipur recommend this technique as a way to make children more comfortable with the dental environment. By understanding what will happen during the visit, children are less likely to be surprised or scared.

Choose the Right Dentist

Selecting a dentist who specializes in treating children is crucial for a positive experience. Child dentists are trained to handle the unique needs of young patients and know how to make the visit enjoyable. They often use smaller instruments, gentle techniques, and a patient, understanding approach.

In Udaipur, there are several child dentists who excel in creating a warm and inviting atmosphere for kids. The best dentist in Udaipur will not only focus on providing excellent care but also on ensuring that your child feels safe, comfortable, and even excited about their dental visits.

Make It a Regular Routine

The more frequently your child visits the dentist, the more comfortable they will become with the process. Regular dental checkups are essential for maintaining oral health, and when they’re a normal part of your routine, they become less of a big deal.

By making dental visits a regular event, your child will see them as just another part of their health care, much like visits to the pediatrician. Over time, this routine will help instill the importance of oral hygiene and build a lifelong habit of visiting the dentist.

Conclusion

A trip to the dentist doesn’t have to be a daunting experience for your child. With a positive attitude, creative approaches, and the right preparation, you can make the visit something your child looks forward to. Whether you’re visiting the best dentist in Udaipur or a local child dentist, these tips can help ensure that your child’s dental care journey is filled with smiles and laughter.

[carinelian]

Last reblog (I suppose something like QRT) reminded me so much of my musings about writing.

Not gonna say what I do and dabbled IRL, but often times I forget I'm doing this (as in everything this blog encompasses) as a hobby. This means that whatever rules or trends or principles that I used to apply won't be held in the same measure. Because it's completely different playing fields. Interconnected and related, sure, but still different.

It's taken me everything I know to be able to simply tell the difference. And to let go, in all the ways that matter, because profitable writing, effective writing, accurate writing, and personal, experimental writing are vastly different things. One can be both or all at the same time-and on the other hand, maybe none at all.

Writing for fun is hard because the world hardly every rewards you for what you personally find enjoyable. And for a while, you think you can earn it-that right to enjoy. But it doesn't come. It sucks because this this the one thing you gotta allow yourself to have. Other people can tell you whether your work is profitable, effective, accurate, or dare I say it-groundbreaking or even a sleeping hit.

Only you can tell whether you're enjoying what you write. In the dead hours of the night and in the glaring haze of the morning, it's only you and the blank paper. This is what I'm learning now.

Crazy what a long road it's been, but for all the twists and turns, I've yet to take the path of writing for the hell of it. It's scary as fuck. Because view counters, word counters, subscriber count-fucking analytics-keep getting to me. Comparison tells me I should close the WIP, pack it up, and go home. But I guess whenever I write something I enjoy, comparison scurries away in the corner. All of a sudden analytics feel like irrational numbers. And me...well, I'm as whack as they come and go. But I'm having fun!

Whoever comes across this post, I hope you also have the courage to have fun and enjoy your own creation. Be it art, writing, crafts, games, music, and more-milk the fruits of your labor! Kiss it! May you find joy in the process of making it!

[wellsunmedicityhospital]

Dental Anxiety Tips for Kids-Wellsun Medicity Lucknow

Start early: It’s important to introduce your child to the dentist at an early age to familiarize them with the environment and reduce anxiety.

Choose a Kid-Friendly Dentist: Look for a dentist who specializes in working with children and has a kid-friendly office environment.

Explain the process: Talk to your child about what’s going to happen during their dental visit. Explain the tools the dentist will use and how they will help keep their teeth healthy.

Avoid scary language: Try to avoid using words like “pain” or “hurt”. Instead, use positive language to describe the experience in a non-threatening way.

Bring a comforting item: Allow your child to bring along a favorite toy, blanket, or stuffed animal to help them feel more comfortable and secure during their appointment.

Practice relaxation techniques: Practicing deep breathing or meditation techniques can help your child feel more calm and relaxed during their appointment.

7. Positive reinforcement: Use positive reinforcement such as praise and rewards to help your child feel more confident and proud of their efforts during their dental visit.

8. Keep up with regular check-ups: Regular dental visits can help your child become more comfortable with the process and reduce anxiety in the long-term.

Why are some children afraid of the dentist?

Some common reasons why children may be afraid of the dentist include previous negative experiences, fear of pain or discomfort, anxiety around unfamiliar people or environments, a lack of understanding or knowledge of dental procedures, and hearing scary stories or myths from others. Additionally, some children may have a natural fear of medical settings or procedures, which can also contribute to their fear of the dentist. It is important for parents and dental professionals to work together to help children feel comfortable and at ease during dental appointments.

1. Start early: It is recommended that children start visiting the dentist as early as one year old. By starting early, children become familiar with the dental office and the dental team and are less likely to develop anxiety.

2. Talk to your child: Explain to your child what will happen during the dental visit and answer any questions they may have. This will help them feel more comfortable and less anxious.

3. Stay calm: Children often pick up on their parents’ emotions, so try to remain calm and relaxed during the dental visit. This will help your child feel more at ease.

4. Use positive reinforcement: Praise and reward your child for their behavior during the dental visit to help them associate the dentist with positive experiences.

5. Consider sedation: In severe cases of dental anxiety, your dentist may recommend sedation to help your child relax and feel more comfortable during the visit.

Remember, dental anxiety is common and it is important to acknowledge your child’s fears and help them overcome them in a supportive and positive way.

Positive reinforcement is a great way to encourage good oral hygiene habits in children and adults alike. Here are some tips on how to use positive reinforcement for oral care:

1. Praise good behavior: When someone brushes their teeth, flosses, or rinses their mouth, make sure to give them praise for their effort. Offer enthusiastic words of appreciation like “Great job!” or “Well done!”

2. Offer rewards: Rewards can be a powerful motivator, especially for children. Consider offering small treats or privileges to people who consistently follow good oral hygiene practices.

3. Use positive language: When talking about oral hygiene, use positive language that focuses on the benefits of maintaining good oral health, such as preventing tooth decay and gum disease.

4. Make it fun: Encourage people to make oral care a fun activity by playing music or giving them a fun toothbrush to use while brushing their teeth.5. Lead by example: Show people that oral care is important by setting a good example yourself. Make sure to brush and floss regularly, and show enthusiasm for oral hygiene practices

[revesvagabond]

Hii dear ❤️ how are you doing ❤️

Myself capriate

1: Where do you see me in like 3-4 months from now, like will my hardwork pay off?

One more question pls 🙏

What is the future of my relationship with kartik?

Thank you ❤️🤗😊

Hi! I'm doing well, hope you are too. Please let me know what you think!

Question 1) Regarding what you have worked hard on, in 3-4 months it seems like it will still be in a state of transit. The end goal you're working towards won't come to fruition in this time frame. Things may start to go in ways unexpected, which can be frustrating or scary, but this is simply part of the process. Getting through any challenges that arise will likely make reaching your end goal more rewarding.

Question 2) I didn't feel comfortable with this specific question, so the card for this question focuses more on what this relationship represents for you/what kind of lesson it brings. Thanks for your understanding! This relationship brings a lot of consistent changes. Small details in your life that culminates into something better regarding your quality of life. Might be a fun and sociable kind of relationship. It also could represent self-discipline and patience, learning to be consistent about what you bring for each other in regards to communication or planning and waiting for all the information to come forth before making decisions/judgements.

[alexcaldownapier]

Film Project - Week 3/4

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1JHDe7Utgi5OGpbPluzoAHWbk_ugxLQAB?usp=sharing

Exercise 2

Changing the feeling of an interior space. The fear has set in a bit with this one - I’m not very happy, again, with what I made. I put a lot more effort into this week’s exercise, thinking through the lighting, framing and colour palette a lot more. BUT, it’s still doesn’t look great. Currently having some doubts about my ability to create cinematic images, or at least interesting images. I wanted to create a cosy, if a little lonely, mood - which was picked up on by the class, so I guess there’s that. Again, as last week, maybe more ambition would help, especially after seeing Sam’s and Eva’s submissions - both totally and completely transporting the meaning of the space, not just the feeling of the space. Sam’s lighting especially was very moody and dynamic and just great to look at. There’s that ineffable quality to a shot that I really feel I’m missing - some shots you can just look at forever (whereas with mine, a minute is more than enough). There’s thought and what feels like quite cohesive conceptualising for my approach, but nothing that interesting within it (intent and approach outlined in the google doc). Maybe it’s what I’m thinking of shooting, not necessarily how I shoot it? Although I think creating a bit more contrast in the lighting would have helped and also moving lights a bit more off-axis from the camera. I almost like the lighting for the final shot:

The right side of the frame has a bit of contrast and interest with the lighting, but the left hand side feels flat and boring. Anyways, again, it was a very interesting class and I really enjoy the way we’re able to have discussions about our decisions and approach. Always so much fun to see the different ways that the people in this group approach the same task. 

And then, later - the conversations at the end of class where we delved endlessly into technical questions and then a bit more creative and experiential topics - was also very rewarding. It cleared up and deepened a lot of my own ideas about exposure, but did also freak me out quite a bit. The “it” factor that Andrew spoke of is the single most terrifying thing I can think of (most likely due to my fragile, inflated ego). The idea that creating interesting, artistic images is something you can’t totally, entirely learn, is very scary. I think I’m a pretty hard worker and ask a lot of questions and want to know what there is to know, but then there’s the idea of artistic talent. What if I learn as much as I can but there’s a lack of any real talent? The fear of any person interested in art, maybe. I just want to be good! make something beautiful that people actually want to see - where people get more out of it than I do. Because it’s always felt a little selfish to me - art as a career. Unless you’re actually talented and have interesting, kind things to say. I could go on about this, work in the socialist messaging and middle-class guilt that informs this, but we’ve only got 24 hours in the day and I’d hate to waste any more of yours.

Aaaanyways, I know more about ISO now, so yeah, that’s good. Maybe I’ll work out soon if this is something for me to do.

ASC Article - Linus Sandgren and Babylon (2022)

Another interesting one - again about a film I’ve recently watched (I think it’s completely and utterly fine, with a nearly inexcusable amount of stupidity in it’s themes). While the film may have been a bit of a disappointment, the visual approach was at least interesting. Again, I’ve learned more about some techniques - this time push and pull processing of film. I really like the look of the push-processing used in this film and it’s something I want to try out at some point. The concept was then further developed in my mind with the exposure conversations later in the class. While the adding grain in the grade is probably the better way of doing things (more control), I do still want to try it out in camera so I can understand it a bit more in a practical sense. Just like last week, I did have some issues with what the DP said about their process - this time it was the lenses. The film was shot on Atlas Orion Anamorphic lenses as they supposedly have great close-focus capabilities - something I just don’t understand. throughout watching the film, I was getting a little irritated by the number of close-ups that felt soft with the field of focus being halfway through the skull instead of on the face, which to me seemed like a close focus issue. Encourages me again to test, test, test! I did really like the ingenuity of how the period footage was shot - in order to get the hand-cranked feel without destabilising the camera rig they were using, they made alterations so that the DP could remotely change the frame rate as they were filming. In these shots, the frame rate is moving between 18 and 22 fps - a nice wee bit of problem-solving.

Film Project Development - Longboard Nights

More tests, more discussions. Ben and I have been going through each scene of the script and deciding, in broad terms, how the scene will look - shot sizes, lighting, camera motion, colour palette, effects, etc. 

For the flashbacks, we’ve settled on a yellow tinged, soft-lit, handheld POV that is step printed and shot with a 270 degree shutter angle for more motion blur and a smearing effect. Mainly inspired by Fallen Angels and the flashbacks from the Bourne movies. The step-printing I’ve tested, but not with the right shutter-angle, something to try out.

For the training scene at the start, we’re going for a hard, red-gelled key light for a high-contrast, moody image, paired with close shot sizes and camera movement that follows the movement of the character to emphasise their physicality and the aggression in their movements. We’re balancing out the red light with an LED for fill, motivated by a projector in the scene. We plan on using quite strong colours throughout to convey the character’s change - red for rage, yellow for insecurity/fear and blue for peace and calm. 

One worry is the skating scenes. We want to convey the protagonist’s anger and physicality as well as set up the visual language for the coming fight scene. But, we don’t really have the capabilities of fast-moving camera and complicated rigs so we’re looking to see if we’re able to use GoPros and some creative lensing to create more of an intensity to the sequence. Shots could work with a long lense and our actress skating quickly towards us as well as some short movements on a slider/dolly quickly intercut to make the movement feel more consistent. Lots of work-arounds to explore.

Film Project Development - About that one time

Due to the intensity of the pre-production for Longboard Nights, I’ve been kind of neglecting my other film project - a documentary directed by Natalia Baczyinski (someone I’ve wanted to work with for a long while). I love the idea and the beat sheet and the approach! The experiential stuff mixed with a contextualising V.O. intro could make for something very interesting. I’m doing the sound design for this film - one of my favourite things to do. Especially this kind of style: minimalist, realistic but subtly psychological. I can already imagine a lot of the film, without having spoken much to Nat about it. We’re having our first group meeting on Monday and I’m very excited for it. 

See you in a couple weeks.