#but seriously go reexperience something you love today

[texanredrose]

@holyschneet​ dear god I could hardly respond to things on tumblr 3 years ago and they’ve only made it more annoying since. Anyway, first, get a big pot.

Fill it with water and put it on the stove, high heat, and let the water boil. While it’s doing that, take a look at your bookshelf, movie shelf, or video game collection. Pick an old favorite to reexperience. For me, it’s Voltron or Brutal Legend.

(Old Voltron, mind, not the Netflix wank.)

(Clue (1985) is also a great one I enjoy.)

I know streaming is the new hotness but physical media, in all its forms, still has a place in today’s fast pace environment. Plus, this gives you something to do while the water boils. Picking it out, I mean; if you’re like me, it’s hard to pick just one thing sometimes, so by the time you’ve picked your thing and set yourself up to enjoy it, water should be at a pretty good boil. Turn off the heat and add a cup of sugar per, I dunno, 2 quarts of water. I’m not a scientist or a baker; measurements are guesstimates. Pour the sugar in slowly and stop pouring it when it stops dissolving instantly, then add another 1/2 cup of sugar to be safe. Once the sugar’s all dissolved, throw in some tea bags.

(I advise using bags without googly eyes but you do you I guess.)

Brand really doesn’t matter but, for best results, black tea, at least 5 bags per quart of water. Throw in a few extra if you like strong tea.

Next, find you a snack.

These are the ones that come in certain MREs. As such, I can eat these fuckers no matter what. Nauseous as hell? I can still eat ‘em. It’s a nice little mindless snack that can tide me over for a bit. Bread also works. 

Now, while the tea steeps, go enjoy whatever you picked out. 

Here’s the trick: this is an old favorite. While nostalgia colors it enjoyable, you’re probably gonna notice some things that are annoying now or even upsetting. Jokes won’t land. Pacing will seem weird. Story elements will feel tired. Plus, you already know where the story leads.

Enjoy it anyway. Get lost in it. Remember why you loved it initially. Acknowledge the faults, the rough patches, the parts that don’t work anymore. Consider which has changed more: the world or you. Did you used to enjoy something that you don’t enjoy now because you’ve changed? Did you never ‘get’ a joke, and now that you do, you don’t like it? Isn’t it strange how these stories, though in some ways timeless, are also a capsule of their time? Who were you then? Who are you now?

Tea should be done steeping now. Grab you some pitchers and fill them halfway with ice.

(Why are so many pitchers nowadays so fancy? Btw, I recommend plastic and not glass; glass gets so heavy when it’s full.)

If you’ve got the patience, put your pitchers in the fridge for about an hour. If you don’t, grab a glass and fill it with ice, then pour the tea straight in, letting it sit about a minute.

You’ve now made yourself some sweet tea, had a snack, and took a trip down memory lane. Neat! Now here’s the key part: recognize that you did something and that has meaning. It’s really tough in today’s world to remember that slowing down, relaxing, and enjoying things are pretty vital to our overall wellbeing. This is coming from a diagnosed workaholic. So, whether you actually followed these steps or just read this post, you’ve taken a step back from all the pressures being exerted on you. You probably needed it. At the end of the day, you need to take care of you. And if you do that by indulging in old favorites, finding new ones, cooking, cleaning- whatever, indulge when you can, and enjoy it unabashedly. Life’s too short to be embarrassed about liking things.

Also, people are always going to get mad about things. Someone’s probably losing their mind right now about how I make sweet tea. That’s fine. I ain’t gonna stress it. If something or someone starts stressing you out, walk away. It’s better for you in the long run.

Also, there’s a reason I specified physical media. Unplug now and again. It’s not all about metrics or hits or engagement. Exist because you have the right to exist. Have fun because fuck opinions.

Just, ya know, try not to be too big a dick about it. Like, yeah, enjoy yourself, light a sparkler because they’re pretty, but don’t burn down your neighbor’s house. Even if your neighbor’s a dick, the house didn’t do anything wrong.

The only way I’ve made it to where I am today is by just... letting go of a lot of the negatives and focusing on the positives. Making light of the dark times. Chasing the sun even while standing beneath the moon. The one thing I have learned is that it all comes out in the wash. Give your friends hell and let them give you hell in return. Try to laugh, and when you can’t laugh, remember the times you could and that you’ll be able to laugh again, soon.

That’s all I got. If you’re asking for writing advice, I’m afraid it’s more of a monkeys with typewriters situation.

Specifically, this monkey. Although I think he’s an ape. Or a gorilla. Or a dude in a suit.

The hamster fell off the wheel at some point.