#celebrities are people and they deserve their own privacy and to have their journeys on their own time just like everyone else

[poems-of-a-lover]

i will never understand the "stop casting straight actors as gay characters" argument. people just wanna out gay actors so they can have a better grasp on who to hate.

[cherubofthenight]

i'm somewhat prepared for my 20s

here's what i learned:

- You gotta save yourself; no one's gonna do it for you. Everyone has their own life, so take charge of yours!

- Starting over? You can do that whenever you want—it's unlimited! And remember, your body can tell you when a relationship isn’t giving you what you need and deserve.

- Stay away from people who are too scared to live life. And those who make fun of or insult you as a "joke"? Yeah, it's never really a joke. Surround yourself with people who genuinely care about your well-being and support you.

- People that don't have goals aren't for people who do.

- Are you your second option? No. So why would you be anyone else’s?

- Being single is a blessing, but if you do get into/are in a relationship make sure you have hobbies or hyper-fixation onto said person will most likely happen if it hasn't happened yet.

- Retinol at 25 is a must—it promotes collagen production and helps prevent fine lines and early signs of aging. And don’t forget sunscreen! Skin cancer is real—ask Hugh Jackman.

- Setting limits and boundaries is key to protect yourself in any relationship. Avoid oversharing, too! Think about the level of intimacy and trust with the person. If they seem disinterested or uncomfortable, that’s your cue to change the subject. Be clear about what topics you’re willing to discuss, and practice saying no when it comes to personal matters. Past experiences of oversharing can serve as good reminders to guard your privacy.

- Take care of your appearance. dress right, eat right, accessorize, etc.

- Get comfortable saying "no" without feeling guilty. Taking care of yourself should never feel like a chore; if it does, something's off.

- Never chase a man; that's just a waste of energy.

- Get your driver’s license and buy/start saving for a car like, now!

- Law of detachment. cultivating inner peace, focus on the present & and trusting yourself.

- Taking care of & bettering yourself should never feel like a chore

- Meditate—clearer mind means better decisions. Socialize and network; just get out of the house sometimes. But don’t be everywhere all the time. Your feelings matter, and only you know what you’ve been through.

- People come and go, and I like to see it as the universe teaching me lessons about the type of people I want in my life.

- Be particular with whom you share let into your space.

- Pleasing people will get you nowhere.

- Try new things, build new skills. sign up for freakin skillshare if you have to girl just DO SOMETHING.

- Sometimes you just gotta say "my future husband/wife/spouse would never" and move on.

- Vision boards. keep that future 'range rover pilates mom who works only when she wats to bc she and her spouse are STACKED' ver of yourself in your mind esp when you make life changing decisions.

- As the person living your life, you're the main character which means you should become someone that YOU love and stay true to them. you gotta be able to challenge yourself and then have faith that you can overcome and win always. you're probably still gonna care what people think, but your opinion of yourself should always matter the most. i don't wanna keep living by what i think someone is gonna think of me and then in 5-10 years im a bum who hasn't done shit for her self because she chose to live in fear yk.

- Perspective matters. always be the 'glass half-full' type of person. never focus on lack, celebrate whatever abundance you and practice gratitude. it helps so much in terms of focusing on and thus manifesting positivity in your life.

- Start taking care of your health now, your older self is gonna thank you.

- Knowledge is indeed power. stay curious, ask questions, do that research, read those books, watch those video essays.

- Take the time to get to know yourself—go out, stay in, try new things, and find out what you like and dislike. Avoid comparing yourself to others; you’re on your own separate journey.

- Financial literacy is essential. Learn to save, budget, and invest now; 30 year old you will be thanking you, once again miss range rover pilates mom.

- Not everyone is going to like you, and that's totally okay.

- Invest in your mental health; it’ll help you cope, make better decisions, and maintain healthy relationships while reducing burnout.

- It’s okay to be lazy sometimes! Everyone burns out, and that doesn’t make you less than anyone. Take your time and focus on yourself. Do things that bring you joy.

- Embrace mistakes; they’re essential for growth and give you more experience to handle adversity with confidence. Remember, everyone makes mistakes, so you’re never alone in that.

- You just got here! Calm down, breathe, chill, and relax. It’s okay not to have everything figured out right now. You’re going to find what’s meant for you—just enjoy the journey and have faith that everything will work out, no matter how hard things seem.

[ronaladgarry]

Arrive in Style: Luxury Airport Transportation in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, a city known for its rich industrial history, stunning skyline, and vibrant cultural scene, has grown into a major hub for business and leisure travelers. Whether you're flying into Pittsburgh for an important meeting or departing on a well-deserved vacation, your airport transportation experience can set the tone for your entire trip. While traditional taxis and shuttle services are readily available, Pittsburgh also offers a range of luxury airport transportation options to help you arrive in style and comfort. In this guide, we will explore the various ways you can add a touch of luxury to your Airport transportation service Pittsburg.

1. Limousine Services:

Luxury limousine services are synonymous with comfort and sophistication. Pittsburgh boasts a selection of reputable limousine providers, allowing you to arrive at or depart from the airport in style. Here are some key features of luxury limousine services in Pittsburgh:

Elegance: Limousines exude elegance with their sleek designs and luxurious interiors. When you choose a limo, you're making a statement and setting the tone for a memorable journey.

Professional Chauffeurs: Experienced and well-trained chauffeurs ensure a safe and stress-free ride. They are knowledgeable about the city's traffic patterns and can take the best routes to get you to your destination on time.

Privacy: Many luxury limousines come equipped with tinted windows and a partition separating the driver's compartment from the passenger area, offering a high level of privacy.

Comfort: Plush leather seating, climate control, and amenities such as entertainment systems and refreshment bars ensure a comfortable and relaxing ride.

Customization: Limousine providers often offer customized packages to meet your specific needs. Whether you require a bottle of champagne for a special occasion or a corporate meeting setup, they can accommodate your requests.

Impression: Arriving or departing in a limousine leaves a lasting impression, making it an excellent choice for important business meetings, special events, and celebrations.

2. Luxury Car Rentals:

For those who value flexibility and independence, luxury car rentals offer an excellent option for airport transportation. You can rent a high-end vehicle for your entire stay in Pittsburgh, providing the freedom to explore the city and its surroundings at your own pace. Here are some advantages of luxury car rentals:

Independence: With a rental car, you have the flexibility to go wherever you want, whenever you want. This is especially useful if you plan to explore Pittsburgh and its many attractions during your stay.

Wide Selection: Luxury car rental agencies offer a wide range of vehicles, from high-end sedans to sports cars and SUVs. You can choose a vehicle that suits your style and needs.

Comfort and Amenities: Luxury rental cars come with top-notch amenities and features. From leather seats to advanced infotainment systems, you can enjoy a premium driving experience.

Privacy: Rental cars provide you with a private and exclusive means of transportation, ideal for those who prefer not to share their ride with others.

3. Ride-Sharing Platforms:

Ride-sharing platforms have revolutionized the way people think about airport transportation. While they are known for affordability and convenience, many of these services also offer luxury options that allow you to upgrade your travel experience. Key features of luxury ride-sharing services include:

Premium Vehicles: Luxury ride-sharing services typically feature high-end vehicles that offer a comfortable and stylish ride. You can enjoy a first-class experience with amenities like leather seating.

Professional Drivers: The drivers associated with luxury ride-sharing services are known for their professionalism and customer service. They can provide a seamless and pleasant journey.

Convenience: Booking a luxury ride through a user-friendly app allows you to track your ride, receive real-time updates, and access a range of other features that enhance your experience.

4. Airport Shuttles and Private Transfers:

For travelers seeking a balance between luxury and convenience, some airport shuttle services offer private transfer options. These services provide a comfortable and direct ride to or from the airport. Key advantages include:

Private and Direct: Private transfer services offer a direct route to your destination without any intermediate stops, providing a seamless and hassle-free experience.

Comfort: While not as extravagant as limousines, private transfer vehicles often offer a higher level of comfort compared to shared shuttles.

Professional Drivers: These services employ professional drivers who prioritize your comfort and safety.

Conclusion:

Choosing luxury airport transportation in Pittsburgh is more than just a mode of travel; it's an experience. Whether you opt for a limousine, luxury car rental, premium ride-sharing, or a private transfer, you'll enjoy a high level of comfort, sophistication, and personalized service. These options are ideal for a range of occasions, from important business meetings and special celebrations to simply treating yourself to a touch of luxury during your travels.

With a strong emphasis on professionalism, privacy, and elegance, luxury airport transportation services in Pittsburgh cater to the discerning traveler who values a seamless and stylish experience. No matter which option you choose, you can trust that your journey to or from the airport will set the perfect tone for your visit to the Steel City, making it a memorable and enjoyable experience from the moment you arrive.

[kwikpic]

From I Do to We Share: Utilizing Wedding Photo Sharing Apps for Newlyweds

Your wedding day is a momentous occasion filled with love, joy, and cherished memories. From the grand entrance to the heartfelt vows, every moment deserves to be captured and shared with your loved ones. In today's digital age, wedding photo sharing apps have become an indispensable tool for newlyweds to relive their special day and effortlessly share their precious memories. In this blog, we will explore the benefits of wedding photo sharing apps and highlight the features of Kwikpic, a smart AI-powered app that takes photo sharing to the next level.

Preserving Precious Moments: The Significance of Wedding Photo Sharing Apps

Keeping Memories Alive: Wedding photo sharing apps offer a centralized platform to collect, organize, and store all the beautiful moments of your special day.

Easy Access for All: These apps enable effortless sharing of wedding photos with family, friends, and guests, regardless of their location.

Immersive Experience: By reliving those magical moments through shared photos, everyone can feel like they were a part of your celebration.

Kwikpic: Your Ultimate Wedding Photo Sharing Companion

Portfolio Creation: Kwikpic allows you to curate a stunning portfolio of your wedding photos, showcasing the highlights of your day in a visually appealing and easily shareable format.

Group Sharing Made Easy: With Kwikpic, you can create custom groups and seamlessly share specific photos with different sets of people, ensuring that everyone receives the pictures that matter most to them.

Smart AI-Powered Features: Kwikpic leverages advanced face recognition technology to automatically tag individuals in your photos, making it effortless to search and organize pictures based on the people present.

Real-Time Updates: Keep your loved ones in the loop by providing real-time updates of your wedding journey, from pre-wedding events to the big day itself.

Benefits of Utilizing Wedding Photo Sharing Apps

Instant Sharing: Say goodbye to the hassle of individually sending photos to your loved ones. Wedding photo sharing apps allow you to instantly share photos with just a few taps, ensuring that everyone can enjoy the highlights of your wedding day.

Guest Contributions: Encourage your guests to participate by inviting them to contribute their own photos through the app. This way, you can collect a diverse range of perspectives and moments captured by your loved ones.

Privacy and Security: Wedding photo sharing apps prioritize the privacy and security of your precious memories. You have control over who can view and access your photos, ensuring that they are shared only with the intended recipients.

Conclusion: Wedding photo sharing apps have revolutionized the way newlyweds share their special moments with loved ones. By utilizing a smart AI-powered app like Kwikpic, you can take your photo sharing experience to new heights, from portfolio creation and group sharing to intelligent face recognition features. Embrace the power of technology and ensure that your cherished memories are shared and celebrated by all. So, start capturing and sharing the love, joy, and happiness of your wedding day with wedding photo sharing apps.

[sundaitarot]

Free Tarot Readings

Readings currently CLOSED

Hello and welcome to my page! I'm an inexperienced witch looking for some practice in many things; mainly Tarot!

Eventually I would like to dip my toes in spell casting, but I want to become more in touch with nature, myself, and the universe before I begin that journey.

But anyway:

You're here for your free tarot reading!

Yes, free!

Donations are very much appreciated but not necessary at all! Please donate 🙏🏻

I have some ground rules.

🌸 Anons welcome!

🌸 When you send your request include as much information as you'd like! In general, at least your initials. Do NOT send full names. The universe knows who you're talking about, I don't need their full name. However, the more information the better!

🌸 Requests may not be answered right away. It could take up to 1-5 days for your reading. Please be patient.

🌸 Not all requests will be answered.

🌸 Do not send urgent requests.

🌸 Pushy or demanding clients will be ignored.

🌸 If you're interested in an urgent reading or a advanced reading please contact me for a quote.

🌸 Your results and requests may be posted on other social media platforms.

🌸 I cannot give exact details on romance / future spouse readings; the who, the where, the when is all up to you.

🌸 Really I can't give exact details on any reading. Dates, locations, people, experiences, these are all things that you must seek out on your own.

🌸 Celebrity readings are OKAY but I will not address the romance in their lives. They deserve their privacy.

🌸 Please do not use abbreviations in your request.

🌸 Avoid sending triggering requests or send me a private message before your request to give me a warning.

🌸 I am in no way a medical professional and if you require assistance please seek treatment with a trained professional.

🌸 Please leave reviews 🙏🏻

And that's it! For now anyway. More rules will be added as I get the hang of this.

Feel free to send your request via my ask box or send me a private message (but keep my rules in mind!)

[pridesobright]

If you’re up for it, what artist or painting do each of the boys remind you of?

disclaimer: art is subjective, so are people’s opinions, and my choices are based on my perception of the boys’ personalities. you may not agree with me, therefore the paintings might not correspond to what you had imagined… still, i tried to shed a light on my own thoughts, which is something i rarely do on tumblr — i tried to remain as objective and positive as possible!

+ louis —

louis is so fiercely good! supportive, loyal, brave… i’ve never seen someone so witty and intelligent, caring and sensitive. louis shines, louis sparkles!!

but he also tells stories like no else. it is truly fascinating how louis can turn the smallest life experiences into masterpieces!! the raw emotions he’s able to convey in just a sentence: we’re sleeping on our problems like we’ll solve them in our dreams…. it’s easy getting lost into louis’ ocean blue eyes but it’s even easier falling for his talent — through storytelling, louis always shares a positive message and i’m in awe of the way he goes through life despite everything that’s been thrown at him. passionate and driven, louis is authentic and unapologetically himself!

i decided to associate louis with gustav klimt — the artist received a conservative and classical training and began his career painting churches and theaters, following the traditional and historical style popular at the time. quite similar to louis’ mindset at the start of his solo career, klimt focused on what the upper class expected of him! however, he kept developing a more meaningful personal style. one that relied on symbolism and the extensive use of the ornamental gold leaf. his paintings were highly decorative and it is the aesthetic of klimt’s work that made the connection so easy ♡

gustav klimt painted many women in erotic positions, embracing their nudity and a celebration of sexuality, which was controversial at the time. but more than that, the artist depicted loving embraces, abandonment and passion. tenderness. and by coating his paintings in golden powder, klimt created a warm cocoon around his subjects! 1. adele bloch-bauer I - 2. judith I (details) - 3. le baiser (details)

louis is so often associated with the color yellow and it’s easy to understand why — yellow is the most luminous color and is the symbol of happiness, optimism and enlightenment. as a warm color, yellow represents light and creates a sense of hope: it is radiant! gold shares many of the same attributes. it is bright, cheerful and is often associated with love, courage and passion. gold illuminates our world and so does louis!

+ zayn —

zayn is very creative, expressive and imaginative. i’d say he’s cautious and overall very intelligent about his privacy! society will often describe quiet people as mysterious, and it romanticizes anxiety in a way that makes my blood boils… it’s a dangerous culture where people with mental disorders are seen as edgy or cool when in reality they are deeply misunderstood. at times defensive, i believe zayn is strong-willed and values his freedom more than anything!

associating zayn with street art was a given. is there anything more liberating than leaving your trace into the world, anonymously and illegally, without knowing if your work will be painted over in the next few days or a couple of years?

artists such as roa, bansky, kobra, invader or shepard fairey have now made a huge impact, and street art has been popularized. many paintings are known worldwide but before then, you had the travel the world to seek out the artists’ works!

and even if some murals can be seen from afar, they draw you in no matter what. like an invisible pull, some are forcing you to cross the street or climb a few stairs to get closer — zayn draws you in! whether people are affected by his quiet personality, his looks or the sheer quality of his voice, you can’t help but want to learn more about him!

i chose behind the curtain by martin whatson for that very reason! at first cold and unreachable, zayn is full of qualities and life experiences deserving to be uncovered.

martin whatson is a stencil artist working in oslo. looking for beauty in decayed and abandoned urban spaces, he developed his style using grey tones as a basis and adding vibrant colours to bring a splash of life. i also love pull back and behind the wall ♡

+ niall —

to me, niall is the type of person who’s enjoying life as best as he can, and fully appreciating everything there is to offer. whether it be passion, irritation, love, fun or distress. mainly because of his cheerful and bubbly personality, he’s seemingly going through life as if it was a big fest! but don’t be fooled, he knows heartbreak too and there’s more to him!!

niall’s albums feel warm, nostalgic and intimate. we’re being let  in into a part of him without any flourishes. a melody strummed on his  guitar and here we are, transported into the past and reminiscing about  an old lover. niall definitely is a romantic! listening to heartbreak  weather, there is so much tenderness into his songs…

this painting is called manège de cochons by robert delaunay — it is part of a series devoted to modern urban life and popular shows. carried away by a whirlwind of vibrant colors, it recreates the lively atmosphere of the fairgrounds.

it definitely represents niall and his complex mind. the colors, so vibrant, are an ode to his cheerfulness. for delaunay, primary colors and their complements exalt each other by contrast. and the same tone can be perceived differently depending on its intensity or its arrangement!

at first, only the vibrancy and the warmth shine through but just like everyone else’s, niall’s mind is intricate. his emotions are raw and he puts his pain into songs, as if to compartmentalize everything. as if to tame those feelings and memories, maybe too loud at times! the colors aren’t just splash of nuances scattered across the canvas, they are deliberate. with purpose, they tell a story…

+ liam —

liam is good! and he always goes out of his way to do something good. he often tries to be more mindful of his actions. he’s constantly learning and just like everyone else liam makes mistakes, but he actively grows from them!!

liam is extremely talented, funny and charismatic, yet i feel like he’s not easily understood. he’s a very sensitive, sincere and sweet person, and despite everything liam went through, he remains cheerful, generous and courageous!

he is also passionate and pursues many hobbies — be it fashion, art, cooking or comics: he is well-versed in many topics and it’s a real pleasure to now follow him on youtube!!

robert rauschenberg was passionate about many mediums himself, and he incorporated newspapers, photographs and even some objects (undershirt, parasol parts) onto the canvas before adding broad strokes of paint! he kept exploring the boundaries of art and closely followed the current events of the time, using images of space flight and NASA’s photographs into his work — space (tribute 21) is a personal favorite ♡

i actually picked a selection of artworks to match liam’s personality: 1. untitled (red painting) - 2. untitled (red painting) - 3. red interior. i particularly love that last one, as the far-right stripe reminds me of liam’s chevron tattoo!!

for many years now, liam has been associated with red and it’s no surprise at all — red is the color of passionate love, seduction and adventure. strength, vitality and ambition. it used to be seen as the color of fire, a primal life force. to the greeks, red symbolized super-human heroism. liam is a force of nature, strong both physically and mentally. he is hard-working and energetic!

+ harry —

forget about the way harry has been portrayed ever since he was a sixteen-year-old boy. forget about the curls and the dimples. simply observe the person harry is today. take a closer look at what he decides to share with us. pay attention to the way he’s presenting himself.

fine line (the album) takes us on an introspective journey into his deepest emotions — whether it be torment or happiness. and i think it’s fascinating how well-executed his songs are! even in a catchy and happy song such as golden, harry managed to address quite a raw and painful concept: i’m hopeless, broken, so you wait for me in the sky / i don’t want to be alone — it’s heartbreaking, yet you almost wished you could feel it too!

through various allegories and metaphors, harry makes you question yourself. he interrogates you and talks about a reality you didn’t know existed or could relate to. harry is magnetic.

this painting is called composition XI by vassily kandinsky — and i can’t help but compare both harry and vassily. kandinsky was a painter, professor, poet and art theorist, generally credited as the pioneer of abstract art! he spent years creating sensorially rich paintings, and was fascinated by musicians who could evoke images in listeners’ minds. he strove to work with forms and colors that alluded to sounds and emotions!!

in songs like fine line, the music swells and deflates as if it was a beating heart. each track conveys a different emotion and translates a distinct concept! through his melodies, harry aims to make us feel joy, melancholy,  determination or bitterness, even when the lyrics are anything but. his albums leave us speechless and wondering, just like abstract art!

+ overall, this is what art is meant to make you feel! it’s supposed to challenge you. art is meant to make you rethink your boundaries and open up your mind. it’s meant to question you and leave you wanting for more! you are meant to listen to a song several times to fully understand its meaning, and meant to stand in front of a painting for hours to start grasping the artist’s thought process…

yet art remains subjective! depending on your own life experiences and upbringing. art is free for you to interpret as you wish and so is music! i hope you enjoyed this post, thank you for reading it ♡

[lovelyshadowynightmare]

Old news but I live this guy's writing!

Meghan Markle: the (spoiled) princess of our time

JAN 14, 2020, 7:33 AM

The ongoing drama surrounding the Duke and Duchess of Sussex – Prince Harry and his wife of almost 20 whole months Meghan Markle – took another turn last week as they announced (on Instagram, as is traditional) that they would “step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent…” On Monday, the Queen agreed to “a period of transition in which the Sussexes will spend time in Canada and the UK.”

The announcement comes as another chapter in an already turbulent novela starring the B-list American import and the sixth in line to the British throne. “Harry and Meghan: An African Journey” gave Meghan Markle the rare opportunity to use a voluntary public platform to complain about attention, stating that “Not many people have asked if I’m OK.” These words were uttered while visiting South Africa, where “approximately half of the adult population” are living below the poverty line. Before moaning about living in poverty, perhaps they should try living a day in Markle’s Louboutins?

Meghan Markle’s comparatively insurmountable struggles have, thankfully, failed to deter her upward progress. According to a recent report, the (soon to be former) Duchess of Sussex “already inked a deal with Disney” before they announced their “Megxit” from the British Royal Family. The reported voiceover deal with Disney is the latest step by Markle (and therefore Harry) away from the life of self-less duty demanded by the Royal Family and towards the style of self-importance more often depicted by Hollywood’s concept of Disney-esque royalty.

Prince Harry and his adoring wife both claim that they wish to become financially independent. While they seem to see this as a gradual and complicated process, those of us who live in the real world understand that financial independence is a binary status – you are either financially independent or you are not. You either allow the Royal Family to spend over £30 million on your televised celebrity-filled wedding, or you do not. You either allow British taxpayers to pay £2.4 million for the renovation of your now-vacant Windsor home, or you do not. Finally, you either choose to pay back such public expenditures from one’s own vast personal fortune, or you do not. The very fact that the ex-Royal couple seem to think that financial independence is something that requires a “transition period” indicates that independence will only come once they have no need for it. Some would argue that this is the very antithesis of independence.

Meghan Markle has been referred to by various sycophantic supporters as a modern princess for our time, a true “breath of fresh air” for the Royal Family. Her supporters may be correct in saying that Markle is a modern princess, but unfortunately her modernity comes in the form of selfishness, narcissism, and complete lack of duty or responsibility. Like so many members of the so-called “Hollywood elite” or professional “woke” activists, Markle is happy to live by one set of rules while championing another set of rules for the plebs she has now married above, whether it be lecturing us on climate change while taking four flights on private jets in 11 days, demanding that commoners give her privacy in public, or seeking a global trademark of the ‘Sussex Royal’ “brand,” it’s clear that words and actions are often mutually exclusive for the modern Royal couple.

With The Queen agreeing to a so-called “period of transition,” Meghan Markle stands with Prince Harry as a true princess of our time – a selfish, entitled, and petulant character who voluntarily entered into a life of duty and tradition, and then withdraw a mere 20 months later. Even her withdrawal from the Royal Family is in keeping with today’s values. Harry and Meghan may claim they want to seek “financial independence,” but until they openly refuse public money while also ceasing to make one penny from their now-shallow Royal names, their desire for independence is about as meaningful as her respect for the thousands of years of British history that Meghan has used as a stepping stone to jumpstart her insignificant career.

Any critics of Meghan Markle, who has laughably been compared to Princess Diana by some, are often dismissed as sexists, racists, or those who decry the death of tradition. The brutal fact is that Meghan Markle and her dim-witted husband deserve every ounce of criticism which comes their way, and will continue to deserve such criticism until they embrace the responsibility which comes with the “independence” they claim to seek.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are nothing other than two spoiled brats who want to have their cake while eating it too, and then send the bill to the British taxpayer on Instagram.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ian is a political commentator, writer, and host of the daily podcast "The Ian Haworth Show." Originally from the United Kingdom, he now lives and works in the California Bay Area. He is a columnist for Townhall.com, a regular contributor for Ben Shapiro's website "The Daily Wire," as well as "The Federalist."

[jane-ways]

Of Things Made to be Destroyed, Ch 3

Read it on AO3 & SWG!

Morning dawned cold and misty. To Caranthir it seemed the damp earth itself was shivering under the wan early light. But there was light, and for that he was grateful. He had slept little, but there were many who had slept even less: those tasked with setting up camp, organizing the hospital, tending to the wounded, and burying the fallen. (It struck him, how both his people and Haleth’s buried their dead in the earth: for the Noldor, it was a tradition forged in Beleriand, a way of connecting them to this land; for the nomadic Haladin, it symbolically marked their journey and the places where, for however long, they made their home.) A long rest and a lazy morning was perhaps warranted, he thought. It was almost certainly desired by all, yet it seemed that sleep escaped more than Caranthir: even by the time he dressed and left his tent, the large camp was wide awake with the sounds of talking and the pungent smell of woodsmoke.

Damn, he thought, all the wood’s soaked through and smoking something fierce. I’ll be lucky if any of my meals for the next day taste like anything more than soot. Caranthir detested a smoky fire. Supplies of food, medicine, cloth, and dry wood were on their way from his castle, but the supply caravan would take a day or more to reach them. As he approached his head cook for the cavalry, he was already making a mental inventory of food that either would not be strongly affected by the presence of smoke or that might actually be by improved by it. And then, as he passed one of the women of Haleth’s guard, an idea struck him.

*

“Hail the victorious dead!” Haleth’s voice rang out strong and clear across the field.

“Hail!” answered Caranthir, raising his goblet in toast.

“Hail!” came the chorus of replies from the gathered combatants and survivors. They had set their feast at many long tables arranged in a sort of central “square” in their tent city, a large area at the head of camp left intentionally clear. Caranthir was pleased to see a certain amount of mingling between the two peoples, if not much conversation (which he hoped was simply the result of limited Sindarin on the Haladin’s part).

Having instructed his head cook to consult with the Haladin concerning their supplies and dietary preferences, he had approached Haleth with his plan. “It will be a symbolic celebration,” he had explained. “It is a tradition among the Noldor. With the sun still in the morning sky, almost at the peak of noon, we celebrate both our past successes and the promise of good health to come.”

“Have you a name for it?” Her question had thrown him.

“Have—what? A name for a victory celebration?”

“You said it was a tradition amongst your people.”

“Oh, well, yes, a meal taken late in the morning. Not necessarily a victory meal, although such an occasion would not be excluded—”

“What do you call it?”

“We call it ‘brunch.’”

*

Leaning back in his camp chair to let his food settle, Caranthir turned to look at Haleth. She was still eating intently. He noted the soft roundness of her ears—still such a novelty to him—and the beginnings of lines around her eyes, tiny folds in the delicate skin. Mannish age was a matter of some confusion for Caranthir. Dwarves, with whom he had more familiarity, he had learned to judge fairly accurately, and like Dwarves, Men did age and die, but how the two peoples’ lifespans and signs of aging compared he did not know. Haleth could have been still a young woman or one well into her middle age. Whatever her age, she carried weight and wisdom beyond her years, though. That much he could tell.

“What, pray tell, are you looking at?” Haleth’s voice startled him from his thoughts. She had not turned her head (or, Caranthir noted, paused her eating while she spoke). “I can feel your eyes on me, Lord.”

“You have keen senses, then,” he countered.

“I have led a dangerous life; I have had to develop them,” she answered, eyes still on her food. Still, he did not answer her, but held his gaze steadily. At length, she turned to him. “You did not answer me, Lord. What are you looking at? You have the look about you of a man searching for something.” Haleth cocked her head, and although she did smile, there was a laugh in her eyes. “What are you hoping to find in my face?”

For that, he had no answer. “Merely looking,” he said softly.

Shaking her head, Haleth turned back to her food. “I am grateful for your hospitality, but you Elves have strange ways.”

Caranthir paused. “Yes, ah, well…” Excellent diplomacy, Carnistir, very princely, he berated himself. “I am sure many of our customs must seem different and unusual,” he said in what he hoped was a recovery. Seizing an opportunity where he saw one opening up, he pressed on. “I am unfamiliar with many of your people’s customs as well, Lady. Please, enlighten me as to the origin of your earlier toast. I found it very moving.”

Haleth hummed a moment while she finished chewing. “In truth, I know not. But as you said, I too have always found it moving. The idea that their sacrifice was not in vain. That we are celebrating their lives rather than mourning their deaths.”

“It is a pleasing sentiment,” Caranthir agreed. “My people, being of eternal life, are often inclined towards intense sorrow at death. It is not permanent for us—we are re-embodied in the Undying Lands, after our time in the Halls of the Dead; we do not continue on past the circles of the world,” he interjected hurriedly at the gape-mouthed stare from Haleth at his statement that death was not permanent for Elves. “I think it because we do not understand death, not truly,” he continued, “not in the way mortals must. But I do not feel it must always be so, for us. I should like if we adopted an attitude not unlike your own.”

Haleth nodded slowly. Her face, usually steeled in a veneer of stern unreadability, had softened in surprise at this last admission. Perhaps, he surmised, she was astonished that such a proud lord as he would so openly admit her people’s customs preferable to his own. But Caranthir was above all a practical person: there were no trade networks built upon prejudice, and no profits to be gained by clinging to pride in the face of a better option. (And besides, his cousin Ingoldo’s funeral dirges really were abominable.)

“Now you have asked me a question, I should like to ask you one of my own,” Haleth said, settling back in her own chair. This was going to be a long conversation, apparently.

“I welcome it.”

*

Alone in his tent, Caranthir plucked away at the design before him. It was a small piece, a white horse courant on a field of green, interspersed with golden flowers. In time, the edges would be circled by a pattern of interlocking stalks, leaves, and flowers. He hadn’t decided what it would be—probably a handkerchief—or to whom he would gift it—at the moment, he was leaning towards Tyelko, but that would rule out its being used as a handkerchief. (Caranthir was not sure the last time he had seen his brother use anything remotely resembling a handkerchief. Or a napkin. Maybe he would use it as a hand towel? Maybe.)

As he sewed, Caranthir considered his earlier conversation with Haleth (which, in all honesty, had not left his mind since he had reluctantly left her side). What had started as a gaffe had evolved into a discussion of many hours, lasting well into the afternoon as tables were cleared around them and people dispersed to their various duties. Caranthir did not think his reputation as a difficult person was always deserved, but he had to admit that he rarely found a conversation so effortless and enjoyable. That his partner was a Mannish woman he had just met did not escape him. His hand stilled.

Haleth did not seem any more the sort of person to use a handkerchief than his brother Tyelkormo, but perhaps she would like the embroidery on the horse.

*

“And then I caught him staring at me!”

“What was he looking at?”

“Me, I think.”

“Why was he looking at you?”

“Who knows? Probably to stare at how hideous a mortal I am!” Haleth laughed loudly, and the group of women around her burst into snorts and giggles. Even here, in the privacy of her own tent, in the company of her own guards, in the safety of her own language, she could not admit that the idea stung. So she laughed it off. Made a fool of the poncy Elvish princeling and his airs. What did she care why he looked at her, so long as he gave her people food and supplies? Let him entertain himself how he would. (An alternative way he might entertain himself with her flitted through her thoughts, and she pushed it away, silently cursing her traitorous mind.) The conversation turned to other matters, and Haleth followed along with half a mind, laughing or hmm-ing where appropriate, but her thoughts remained with Caranthir, and the way his eyes glinted like mica in the sun when he looked at her.

[lilyjcollins-news]

Lily Collins - Carita Rizzo.

Usually the words “celebrity” and “unfiltered” indicate a series of explicit photos, the involvement of a tabloid magazine and a juicy exposé. Not for Lily Collins. The 27-year-old (turning 28 on March 18) English-American actress’ first book, Unfiltered: No Shame, No Regrets, Just Me. ($14, Harper Collins), which releases March 7, is an honest look at the person behind the public persona and the glamour of the silver screen. But those salivating at the thought of behind-the-scenes gossip may want to simmer down. This is not a tell-all. In her debut essay collection, the actress pens a poignant, honest conversation about things young women struggle with, including body image, self-confidence and relationships. Nevertheless, Collins has jitters. “I’m anxious,” admits the petite actress, looking impeccable in black Paige jeans, Stuart Weitzman suede boots and a loose white Tularosa top.

Her nerves are understandable. The last time we chatted with Collins about her award-nominated turn in Warren Beatty’s Rules Don’t Apply, she said: “Keep private whatever you hold dear,” a reasonable mantra in a celebrity-obsessed world where privacy is hard to come by. Now, she’s about to willingly open the door to some of her deepest secrets, from her yearslong battle with eating disorders to an emotionally abusive relationship.

“I still believe that,” she says, when reminded of her mantra. “But these are things that I felt I wanted to put out there. Not necessarily so people know that I experienced them, but to create, hopefully, a space for more open conversation about the topics I discuss.” And some things are still off limits: “When I talk about relationships, I don’t reveal any details about it or names because that is not important. That was not the point of why I was going there.”

Collins’ life has certainly appeared charmed from its inception. The daughter of English musician Phil Collins and American Jill Tavelman was born in England and moved to Los Angeles at the age of 6. Collins has always been a self-starter. She cold-called magazine editors as a teenager, which landed her a column in ELLE Girl UK, and initially pursued a career in broadcast journalism before her role in The Blind Sidetook her on a different path. Leading roles in Mirror Mirror; Love, Rosie; and The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones followed, but it is in the past year or so that Collins’ career has really hit its stride, with Rules Don’t Apply (for which she received a Golden Globe nomination); the upcoming Amazon series The Last Tycoon, based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s last book about 1930s Hollywood; the Netflix original film Okja, in which she stars alongside Jake Gyllenhaal and Tilda Swinton; and To the Bone, which premiered in January at Sundance to rave reviews and was purchased by Netflix for $8 million. Even her colleagues can’t stop gushing over her. “She’s very much in charge of her life and her professional life in a way that I think is really admirable,” says her Rules Don’t Apply co-star Annette Bening, who refers to Collins as a “badass” who “has her sh*t together.”

Yet despite a successful career and her Audrey Hepburn-ish looks, the actress was anxious to reveal she is susceptible to the same feelings of inadequacy and insecurity as the young women who look up to her. “What really inspired me to write the book is that I was getting all these young girls interacting with me on my Instagram, and they would tell me their stories about what they’d gone through, but they would always add in there that they didn’t think I could understand because I’m an actress,” she says. “And I thought, ‘Oh, my God. You have no idea.’”

Collins understands them better than most. Her intense struggle with body image started at age 16 and continued in ebbs and flows for 10 years. And right as she was revisiting her own harrowing journey with eating disorders for the sake of sharing her story, To the Bone—Marti Noxon’s script about an anorexic girl confronting her addiction—happened to come her way. “When I read the script, and I knew what the story was about, there was a slight hesitation at first because it’s something that’s very close to me,” says Collins. “You have to re-enter that mindset.”

In the end, her deep understanding of this character won out and the ability to revisit the struggles of her youth with the help of a nutritionist and a support system is an experience Collins calls “the best form of therapy.” She adds: “I think most people will assume the movie experience was probably hell, and it wasn’t at all. It was one of the most fun, freeing experiences I’ve had. Within playing Ellen, I got to come to terms with a lot myself. That was a proud moment for me.”

Collins also credits her ambassadorship with Lancôme as grounding her among an incredible set of women, including Kate Winslet, Julia Roberts, Lupita Nyong’o, Penélope Cruz and Isabella Rossellini. “It’s the most inspiring group of women,” she says. “We do amazing work with making women feel good in their own skin and enhancing their inner beauty.” Collins is grateful the company’s message encourages what she has always been passionate about encouraging within young women.

Admittedly, the hardest chapter for Collins to put down on paper is the one in which she sheds light on a long-term relationship during which she experienced an incredible amount of emotional abuse. “For a long time, I wanted to shy away from talking about that experience,” she admits. “But it’s a part of my story, and it’s a part of how I interact in relationships with friends, with family and in romantic situations. And to write all that stuff down, and to then say it out loud, made it so much more real. And it actually made me feel strong because I’d moved through that, and I’d moved past that. And I’ve learned so much more about myself and about what I deserve or how I deserve to be treated.”

She offers no details on who this man might be, but hints that any cross-referencing with her public relationships might be a fruitless exercise. “It’s funny because I think everyone’s going to assume certain people I talk about are famous people, but they’re not,” she says. “Just because I kept people anonymous doesn’t mean that people would have known who they were anyway.”

There is, however, one man in her life she cannot keep anonymous. “I couldn’t not talk about my parents in this story, obviously,” she smiles. In her book, Collins reveals to readers that her father’s absence took a toll on their relationship. “It’s hard when that person isn’t around a lot,” she says. “I have amazing memories of being able to travel and being able to have family all over the world. Were there things that would have been nice probably to experience as a family? Of course. But it didn’t happen that way. And I’m me for a reason. I mean, everything that happened made me who I am.”

Collins addresses these feelings in an emotional letter addressed to her father. “That was a hard chapter to write because he is public. It’s a weird situation to be in, to be writing about someone that people already know, but they don’t know my experience with [him],” she says. “I am just a daughter talking to her dad, and I think that a letter felt appropriate because it can be translated to any relationship with daughters and dads. As a girl, you always want them to see you as their little girl, and you’re always going to need them and want them. And even if you say you don’t, you really do.”

It feels oddly comfortable delving so deep into one somber topic after another with the actress, perhaps because Collins radiates such peace with herself. Hers is a lesson that even the seemingly most impenetrable package comes with some fragility. After opening up about her experiences, Collins says she feels truly unleashed. “I think it’s allowed me to let go a lot more,” she admits. “I kept hearing from certain directors or people in my life, ‘You should just let go more. Let go more.’ And I said, ‘What does that mean? I am free!’ or ‘I am letting go!’ But I realized I was holding on to a lot. And the second I put it out there, I could just kind of live and breathe in the moment.”

She now dreams of starting a family, but is in no rush—especially since there is currently no man in the picture. “I’m in a relationship with myself,” she quips. “I think a lot of young girls should do that. I think it’s important to figure out you and to have fun and to be dating and to figure out what you like and what you don’t like. It’s what growing up is all about.”

Besides, right now, her focus is on work and living life to the fullest. “I want to keep doing what I love to do,” she says. “Last year, I would never have said, ‘This year, I’m going to shoot a TV pilot, three movies and finish a book.’ Never, would I ever have thought it was possible. So I want to keep being terrified to try new things. That’s what pushes you beyond your limits—and to never take any of it for granted.”

Photography by Andrew Eccles | Styling by Jordan Johnson and Jill Lincoln//Photo Assistants: Jason Johnson and Tarik Richards | Digital Tech: Maxwell Tiggas.

vía caritarizzo.

[violetsystems]

#personal

Spending winters alone at this point is something I’m pretty good at.  This is if you count how good at shoveling snow I’ve become.  When I first moved to the city I was obsessed with fixed gear biking.  I rode one total season in the winter and look back on it with disbelief.  There is no way in hell I would put myself through that much suffering.  This winter hasn’t been as brutally cold but it’s been lonely.  February is my birth month.  I barely celebrate the day and it’s pretty much over.  The only contact these days it seems is with recruiters, my parents and here.  I’ve honed a lot of positivity throughout all of this by focusing on one simple metric.  What is working and what isn’t.  When it comes to this city I’ve spent years past living here and travelling abroad.  The trips I spent solely trying to do this thing that people called networking.  Just back in September I finally paid off all I owed from those trips that bore no fruit in terms of a  professional network to rely on .  I played small shows.  I met up with people and acquaintances I knew overseas trying to feel out what daily life would look like.  This took me to Korea, China, Japan and even as far as New Zealand by myself.  That last trip I made overseas was back in 2018 around the first time the two Koreas met at the DMZ.  From there I switched my focused to New York.  I flew one birthday during fashion week and spent the entire time exploring alone.  I met up with a friend who worked at Eddie Huang’s Bauhaus and had lunch in Chinatown at a Vietnamese restaurant.  I pushed my way through my awkwardness and tried to see the path forward.  One of those trips found me eating ice cream outside Chinatown Ice Cream Factory alone desperately trying to find a warm meal.  I ended up eating next door at a Xi’an restaurant where mysteriously a friend’s picture hung on the wall staring back at me accusingly by chance.  I ordered the flatbread and went about my business just like always.  This was back in 2017 at least and completely random.  There were things I couldn’t avoid.  Most of those were my own dumb luck wandering around in the absolute freedom of being alone.  Some things I would try so hard to do.  To be noticed.  To be valued.  To be accepted.  And yet people forgot me just the same.  I became so lost and alone.  Wandering into a familiar face felt so twisted and cosmically significant.  Like seeing the North star in an absolute moment of panic in regards to your lack of direction.  I’m amazed looking back sometimes that I put myself out there so much and continue to.  After all this time and all these journeys, I sit here every Saturday doing the same thing.  On the surface of my life, it seems like nothing has changed.  In fact, it seems like it’s gotten worse.  I am far more alone than I can even describe.  I’ve felt cold shoulders and colder attitudes simply forget that I exist as if they cared to begin with.  And I spent these winters in a warm bed with a warmer GPU thinking about a person I care about more than I did in 2017 or even years before that.  If I spent the entire winter obsessed about what wasn’t working I’d have missed what was.  That’s supposed to be a joke that I technically work for myself.  The value of my work is practically invisible to the naked eye for the last eight months.  But when it means something it definitely means something.  

When something is working generally means it brings some meaning to your life through complete confusion.  Anybody with an engineer’s mindset knows that every problem has solutions.  How efficient and effective those solutions are depending on the problem itself.  Culture is meant to remedy problems in society by expressing unique power over establishment and systemic injustices.  Injustice is a complex thing and follows the lines of power and how it flows.  In America, we’re sold on this idea that we are free to be who we want to be.  And we’re also run by a bunch of people who think Ayn Rand is still hot.  For people in America, the solution is money.  Money buys freedom.  Culture is just something you post up on your corporate Facebook page during Black history month to fake like you aren’t part of the problem.   It’s the rainbow flag icon you post during your lunch hour break at Chik-fil-a to show your gay friends you care.  These are very inefficient ways to confront power dynamics and bridge communities together.  And yet these are the metrics we pay attention to and judge each other by.  Our participation in performative politics.  Participation is something I wouldn’t call what I see out in the streets every day.  There is something about walking the walk that shows you how many people are talking from a soapbox.  And yet society seems to only validate the most obvious of sentiments when it comes down to keeping it real.  We can say we’re woke all day long.  I would call it spoke.  Because I’m supposed to believe an entire city’s sanctimonious words when I’ve seen the absolute opposite.  They’re all nice sentiments.  That we are a welcoming city.  I wouldn’t call it that at all.  But it’s about as Gotham as you can get without being Batman for sure.  There’s a lot bullshit that gets brought directly to your doorstep.  And there’s a lot of fake bullshit you can simply just ignore.  That is if you see what is working and what isn’t.  A lot of my friends from the footwork community would always say “It is what it is.”  The tone rings in my head.  A certain sense of defeat to it.  You travel all over the world for years trying to find your worth.  And you come back to sit here writing week to week to realize.  It is what it is.  All that baggage is gone.  All the guilt that you aren’t hardcore or special enough.  All the blame you pointed at yourself for not being good or pretty enough to attract the attention you deserve.  All the exhaustion worrying the wrong kind of people won’t stop leaving you alone.  Travelling around the world alone and through the winter storms by myself were about one thing.  Creating a safe space for myself and an environment to grow.  We rely on city’s and governments with agendas that eclipse our own narrative.  And when we focus on our own and what is working we see clearly what isn’t.  The value of work in my situation is a total mindfuck.  Imagine if you were me and realized that after all this time nothing you do matters.  That everything you were trying to prove to yourself doesn’t matter to a society that is more lost than you can imagine.  And however lost I can be I still can’t seem to avoid the inevitable.  That I care about somebody deeply in a way that defies any expectation other than making the world right for you.  Sometimes at the very expense of me.  Which is why it is what is when it comes to my progress how many ever years I’ve been alive at this point. 

If all we all wanted was some peace and quiet I’m ahead of the curve however bleeding edge and lonely that is.  All I know how to be is consistent.  I criticize myself every day.  This is because nobody really openly encourages me here to do anything.  It’s always intimidation and suggestion.  This is how people communicate.  The silver lining is that it is so ineffective that other forms of communication have grown to matter more.  A click of a button from the right person means more.  A click of the right content communicates something deeper.  More so than a sentence full of poorly constructed words in my native tongue strung together like you know... with feeling and shit.  It’s the vibe, bro.  Are we all supposed to just accept that bro is even gender neutral at this point?  I’m a writer by design.  I’ve always been that even though it’s worth zero to the world.  Comprehension is key.  You don’t have communication if the other party is just listening.  And sometimes what you are saying isn’t very efficiently deployed.  But actual communication is a two way street.  I know this because I walk the streets daily and it’s been one sided at best.  Nobody here actually communicates with me.  If they did they would know how much pain I am in.  How much scarring this has all caused.  And the real information here is that nobody cares.  And that is what it is.  I’m free not to think this city or it’s people really have my best interests at heart let alone this country.  I’m free to let go of what isn’t working and bolster what is.  I’m free to let go of the fear of missing out because nobody wants to admit I’ve seen more than enough to know.  Nobody wants me to destroy the dominant narrative because they can’t deal with the chaos of not having the ultimate say.  And yet I walk around like a bull in an American glass house.  Crashing into things and people pointing the finger at me.  I once almost had my phone stolen years ago.  I was sitting drinking coffee working on a laptop with my phone on the table.  A young kid passed a newspaper over the phone and mumbled something as he passed by.  I caught his hand under the paper and snapped the paper back.  He looked on horrified as I had caught him trying to steal the phone.  He barked back at me.  “it’s your fault for being a stupid ass.”  Then ran away.  You catch this city and these people doing horrible things to your civil rights and privacy daily.  And the blame is pointed back on you like it’s your fault for being a victim.  The real victims aren’t you.  You spend years in a city that should know better about what you are worth only to be completely invisible and unwanted.  That is obviously not working aside from the fact that it’s far cheaper than New York and planes are fun.  It is what it is.  I’ve spent how many winters alone.  I’ve posted how many articles about cybersecurity on my company’s linkedin page.  I’ve made how many footwork tracks and reached out to how many people I’ve sat across from in the flesh.  And I’m still here alone.  I’ve travelled to New York how many times and eaten how much Chinese flatbread.  All this and I can’t escape my fate.  It is what it is.  I really wouldn’t want to escape it.  Certainly from the vantage point of being alone, tired, exhausted, unwanted, sad and depressed I’d really like to start blaming myself for being worthless.  But if being hard on yourself worked then we’d be out of the woods by now.  I focus on what’s working and how to make it more efficient.  I also don’t expect anything other than waking up another morning thinking what it means to be the best for myself and the people I love.  I’d say here’s to another decade of winter’s alone on tumblr.  But we all know we’re not really alone in here.  And plus haven’t I spent enough winters alone by now? <3 Tim.

[stitch1830]

Newest Mondangst is on ao3, but I added a conversation with Aang! For your convenience, it's below as well. Hope you enjoy! :)

......

Aang looked up at the hill wearily. No one from the group felt comfortable leaving Toph completely alone today, but they also wanted to respect her privacy. So the five of them stood at the base of the hill and waited for a sign that Toph would leave the memorial to go home.

And they waited.

And waited.

And waited.

Until there was no end in sight, and Aang grew worried not only for Toph’s well-being, but Lin’s. The crisp day grew only colder as it went on, and the last thing Toph needed was a sniffly toddler with a cold.

Without a head’s up, Aang floated up to the top of the hill with Toph and Lin. A protest or two was made by their friends, but he ignored them. He needed to do this. Whatever this was...

The moment his feet landed behind his best friend, she ordered, “Leave me be, Aang.”

“I just want to make sure you and Lin won’t catch a cold.” Aang paused a moment, then added, “And to check in on you.”

“I don’t need a babysitter, I just want to be alone, okay?”

“Sokka said you actually don’t want to be alone,” he countered.

“Aang for fucks sake—”

“I’ll stop talking, but I want to keep you and Lin warm, okay?”

A look of annoyance flashed across her face, but she said nothing even as Aang sat down close to Toph. The radiating warmth seemed welcome enough, for Toph let out a quiet breath and inched ever so slightly closer to Aang, hoping to receive more of the warmth.

As promised, Aang said nothing. But his mind reeled and thought of possible conversations that could help, that could give Toph some semblance of peace.

There weren’t any, really. What Toph was experiencing was just a part of grief. She’d have to take this journey relatively alone, but Aang wished to provide relief, perhaps even hope, for his best friend.

He had no plan for how he would do this, but he did have a comment regarding the service, and it didn’t take long for Aang to break his word and speak up.

“The ceremony was beautiful.”

“I thought you said you weren’t going to talk,” she muttered.

“Just a comment is all.” And an honest one at that. He thought of the other services he attended in his life, and for a one year death anniversary, Kanto’s was certainly meaningful and beautiful. Aang knew him well enough, and he thought that Kanto would’ve loved it.

The service reminded him of his own desire to remember his deceased. He lost so many loved ones ages ago, and yet, it still felt like yesterday. And what probably hurt the most was that Aang was the only one that really knew those that were lost. He essentially grieved alone, and Aang thought of all the things he wished he could do for his nation, and even spoke out his desires.

“I always meant to have a memorial service for the Air Nation, but it falls during the celebration of the end of the war, so I’m always busy.”

Toph remained silent for a moment longer until curiosity got the best of her. “Why don’t you just decline invitations then?”

Aang shrugged. “I could, but then that sets the precedent that I won’t be there for them, and I don’t want people to feel that way, even if it means I go to one too many celebrations. It’s not ideal, but I usually spend the morning or evening of that day honoring them by myself. It’s just sad because they deserve more than just me to remember them.”

She scoffed quietly at him, as if she couldn’t quite believe the answer, or maybe it was something else. “How—” Toph began, but cut herself off with a sharp intake of air.

Aang waited for her to continue, but when she didn’t budge, he prodded, “… How what?”

“How did you do it, Aang?”

“Do what?”

“All of it,” she said. “Your life turned upside down when you woke up from the iceberg, and yet… You just… you adapted to all that change like it was a bump in the road.

“I’ve never liked change, and K—he certainly helped me get over that, but now—” she bit her lip to stop it from trembling.

“It must be hard to have to deal with change without him,” Aang responded.

“Yeah,” she mumbled. “Yeah, he would’ve been better at this.”

Her comment hung in the air between them, a hypothetical situation that kept them wondering for the rest of their lives what if.

Before he could respond, Toph continued with a different thought. “I never understood how much pain you were probably feeling when you found out your entire culture was gone. And I don’t know how you deal with it and adapt so well. I just lost a boyfriend and my life is shit.”

“It doesn’t make your grief less important though, Toph.”

“Sure, but I’m barely keeping it together and you had to go face the Fire Lord at 12 after you shouldered your grief.

“You just accepted change and moved on to the next thing. I—I can’t do that.”

“I wouldn’t say that,” he replied.

She frowned, not understanding his response.

Aang took a moment to collect his thoughts, and said, “You’ve adopted an earthbending technique that emphasizes waiting, then reacting. You transform metal and earth to your will, and it requires a very specific mindset for that. For metalbending, you were the first to be creative enough to try.

“And you are an expert at adapting the world to your needs. You were flexible enough to find a way to see this world in your own special way.

“Earth may be a stubborn and at times unmovable element, but you’ve managed to change around it, with it, and for it.”

“It’s not the same with this, though.”

“Not quite,” he agreed. “But let’s just take the stages of grief as they come. That’s part of being flexible. We accept what we can’t control and move forward anyway.”

She bowed her head and rested it on top of Lin’s as the tears pooled in her eyes. “How do I move forward when he’s everywhere I go? I can’t forget him, but… but I don’t want to forget him, but I don’t know how else to go on.”

His hand found her back and he pulled her close. “Some day, the things that remind you of him won’t hurt as much, and you’ll be able to smile when you remember.”

“When will that happen? Because they all fucking hurt still, that’s for sure, Aang.”

“I know,” he whispered as he rubbed circles into her back. “With time, it’ll hurt less. Until then, you’ve got us to help, okay?”

Toph gave a weak chuckle and nodded. The bitterness of it all still ate at her it seemed, for after a second, Toph muttered, “Fuck time. All it brings is change and pain, and it is either too fast or painstakingly slow. Time has done nothing but hurt me.”

She said nothing after that, but sobbed. Aang silently cried with Toph, because while time did bring joy and happiness as well, the fact remained that her life’s trajectory was vastly different from what it was a year ago. The airbender stood by his stance that time would heal this gaping wound in her heart, but he feared it would be a long and arduous path ahead.

For now, he just held his friend and her daughter, covering them in as much warmth and comfort he could provide. A temporary fix, but it would have to do. It all would simply have to do.

Change

Kantoph Mondangst here we go! I'll probably have more to add to this before it's posted on ao3, just a heads up :)

......

“What are you doing?”

He said nothing as he kissed her neck and gently rubbed her stomach while she cut vegetables for dinner. They weren’t unwelcome gestures, in fact, she quite enjoyed the attention. Still, Toph had tasks to complete and she couldn’t have her boyfriend cling to her like this for the next six or so months. So when he didn’t stop kissing her neck and rubbing her stomach, she feigned being exasperated and once again commented on his antics. “Don’t you have something better to do?”

“Nope,” he replied quickly, grinning into her neck. His hands gently wrapped around hers and coaxed them to release their hold on the knife and vegetables, and once she did, he turned her around to face him. “I have nothing to do except kiss you and say hi to our little baby badgermole all day long.”

“That baby badgermole is barely a baby right now,” she teased.

“Nonsense. I can tell already.”

“Are you calling me fat??”

“Please Toph. You’re perfect the way you are.”

“That’s not a no, Hotshot.”

He said nothing, but leaned his forehead against hers and swiped his thumb over the small swell in her belly. Normally, such close quarters and cheesy gestures would’ve had Toph complaining until the man stopped, but with Kanto, it was okay. In fact, she enjoyed it. Loved it, even.

His hair tickled her forehead as he stood there with her, leaning on the counter. She could practically feel his mind reeling with thoughts, and one of them he thought aloud. “You can actually feel the heartbeat, huh,” he quietly remarked.

Toph chuckled. “Yeah, ever since Katara said that’s what the echo was, can’t stop hearing it.”

“I wish I could feel it.”

She teasingly clicked her tongue at him. “If you weren’t such a lily-livered earthbender, you probably could.”

“Hey!” he playfully shouted as he wrapped his arms around her, effectively ‘trapping’ her. “Some would say I’m a pretty good earthbender.”

“Pretty good doesn’t cut it with seismic sense, Hotshot.”

He grumbled and buried his face into her neck, and she breathed out a laugh as his towering figure huddled over hers. They stood in their kitchen, content with the silence and the intimate moment they shared with one another. Pretty soon, those moments would be limited, so there was no need to rush. And it was strange how soon things would change. One moment, they were two, the next, they would be three. A change that while they had months to prepare for, would still be rather sudden for the both of them. For that, a wave of apprehension overwhelmed Toph. The idea of motherhood was distant, and she wasn’t sure she’d ever be prepared.

It was as if he knew what she was thinking, because he commented on the very same idea.

“Funny,” he began. “A year from today, our lives will be so different. And the year after that will be different, and so will the year after that.”

The comment seemed straightforward, but it left Toph curious. She had only told him last week that she was pregnant, and while he had been ecstatic then, there was that fear in the back of her mind that this wasn’t what he wanted. She swallowed thickly and noted, “You say that as if it’s a bad thing.”

“Not at all,” he reassured her quickly. “If anything, it’ll be amazing and perfect. I just mean, it’s crazy what can happen in a year.”

“I suppose,” she pondered.

Toph meant to say more, but she refrained. Perhaps it was the uncertainty of the change, or the weariness she still felt about becoming a mother, or a combination of both. Change could be good, but she feared it wouldn’t be all perfect like he dreamed it would be.

He seemed to be reading her thoughts once again. “Don’t worry,” he began, “I’m going to be with you every step of the way, and you’re going to be a great mother. The very best mama.”

She could hear the smile in his voice, and as quickly as her worries came, they disappeared. Her response, however, was filled with sarcasm and sass for their continued banter. “I feel so much better knowing you’ll be there to hover all day,” she jabbed. “And of course you’re not worried about being a dad. You’ll be a natural.”

“True,” he replied, mimicking Toph’s dramatic tone. “But that’s only because we’re gonna have a baby girl that’s gonna be just like you. And I know you like the back of my hand.”

Toph scoffed. “How do you know that??”

“A father’s intuition.”

“Well, my motherly instincts say it could be a boy. And if he’s anything like you, I know you like the earth beneath my feet.”

“Oh yeah?” he jokingly challenged. “What happens when I pick you up from the ground and you’re not on the earth, huh?”

His hands found her waist and did just that. He lifted her up and set her on the counter, her feet losing the sense of the world around her. Toph laughed at his antics, and he chuckled with her as her legs wrapped around his waist. “I’d hit you until you put me back down,” she threatened, thumping his chest with her knuckle.

Kanto breathed out a laugh. “I suppose I deserve that.”

She smiled at him while his thumbs smoothed out the wrinkles on her shirtfront. Her hands found his face and traced out the marvel and joy etched on it. Things were perfect, even with change looming over them. Oddly enough, it didn’t seem so bad with Kanto around for it, despite what she thought moments ago.

He looked up at her. “I know you’re still worried, but I’m really looking forward to what this year is gonna bring us.”

His heart beat with hers, and his hands were warm and gentle and reassuring, and fear was far from her mind. All she felt was joy and excitement with him.

So she didn’t hesitate to respond, “I’m looking forward to it, too.”

~~~

She dreaded this day. She wanted anything but this day to come.

But the days came and went with the wind, and a year had passed since she felt his heart beat in time with hers, a year since his warm hand was in hers, a year since she heard this deep, calming voice.

She hated today. It reminded her how much things could change in a year.

Toph bitterly chuckled at the thought. He wasn’t wrong when he spoke about change before they had Lin. Change came suddenly and unapologetic. And their lives were so different from a year ago. But they weren’t better. That was apparent.

The memorial itself was a lovely, intimate ceremony with her friends and some close work colleagues in attendance. He would’ve loved it, or, she hoped he would’ve. Out of all the endless conversations they had, death was not one of them.

All the flowers had to be shipped in; Republic City’s bitter winter started to roll in early, and no native flora could withstand the sudden overnight freezes. Still, it was important that the hill had a flowery aroma with the incense. His botany obsessed heart and mind would’ve rattled off all the different types and facts of each flower, and he would’ve spent half the time describing each petal in great detail to Toph.

She insisted that there be at least one panda lily to set by his memorial, and the lengths she went through to have one in bloom in time for today was no small feat. It hung low by her side in one hand, the other occupied with her—their—daughter. Poor Lin didn’t understand the reason behind today. The chilly wind bit at her cheeks, and she sought refuge in the crook of Toph’s neck while she waited for the adults to carry on with whatever kept them outside on this cold, windy afternoon.

Zuko gave the speech. It was lovely, really, but Toph didn’t remember a single word of it. And all the hands and pats to her shoulder and back felt distant; they weren’t his steady hands, and if they weren’t his hands, then she didn’t want their support.

At the end of the formal ceremony, those in attendance dropped a single, unique flower by the memorial portrait. Some took a moment to say something to his picture, others dropped the flower and left. It meant a great deal that so many came to honor him, but truthfully, Toph didn’t care about anyone in attendance. She didn’t care about the number of flowers that dropped to the ground for him. Because in the end, only one mattered, and it wasn’t even hers.

When everyone dropped their flower in honor of him, Toph set Lin down and held onto her hand. Katara handed her the very last flower designated to be placed for him, and Toph gently steered Lin toward the memorial. It took a few moments, but when Toph and Lin arrived at his picture, Toph placed her panda lily on the pile for him, and gave a white chrysanthemum to Lin. She wrapped Lin’s chubby fingers around the stem and gestured toward the flowers.

“Come here, Lin,” Toph prompted, rather shocked that her voice sounded so strong and calm just then. “Give your flower to Daddy.”

At the sound of his name, Lin toddled over to his memorial and the pile of flowers. Her little body crouched down to the level of the pile, and she set hers on top.

Toph pulled Lin into her arms and whispered to her, “Good job, Lin.” She placed a single kiss on Lin’s cheek, and listened as her daughter said, “Dada,” over and over.

She ignored the sting of the breeze as it hit her tear-stained cheeks. “Tell Baba you love him,” she told Lin.

Lin whispered to the wind those words, saying them only loud enough for Toph to hear.

Spirits, she hated all of this. Time moved so slowly each and every day, and yet, here they were, remembering his life because it has been a year since he was alive. She hated that a year had passed, she hated that she still wasn’t over it, she hated that all the things they used to forever memorialize him were things that she couldn’t enjoy to their full extent, and she dreaded the day Lin wouldn’t call for her Baba any longer. Because that day would be sooner than Toph cared to think about.

There were too many people around, now. Toph wanted a moment with her family, no matter how broken it was. But it didn’t feel right to snap at the others and scream at them to leave, so she waited.

And waited.

And waited.

Until finally, Toph Beifong got her wish. As the crowd disappeared and all who remained were her closest friends, Toph only told them once that she wished to be alone. When they left her alone with Lin and his memorial, and as her friends waited at the bottom of the hill, Toph wept openly for him. For the drastic swerve her life took, for the inevitable reality that she’d spend more time separated from him than they were together, and for the change that the future held for her, because she no longer looked forward to it.

[musefulstranger]

5x09 review-One Fettered Slave

I can’t believe we’ve come to this point.

One episode before the final epilogue and it feels so surreal-i can’t even begin to imagine  how it must’ve been for the people that have sticked to this show for 4 years.

Ep 9 was what i imagined it to be: quick paced, action packed and extremely emotional.

I was scared about the analogy between the Helena moments and the general mythology arc cause they had to show a lot of things- especially after Siobhan’s death- but they balanced it well.

let’s analyze the different thematics:

The Funeral

Siobhan’s funeral  started with Sarah speaking . In an episode that is focused on another character i think the writers did a good choice not showing Sarah’s vulnerability.

She’s suddenly the pillar of the family and eveyone is expecting directions from her. She has to be the strong one there’s no other way. Her grief and feelings are not her priority right now  so she won’t break down. Not in front of Kira, not in front of everyone.

Sarah’s grown so much.This moment says it all

what am i supposed to do?

she can’t afford losing her child as well. She’s the reason she’s keeping it together after all. So she stays with her and comforts her. Something Ms S had done all those years when Sarah was absent.

I also adored the symbolism of her wearing her mother’s jacket.

Sarah taking responsibility, lifting the weights of this family

also congrats for letting Tatiana without make up in her  portrayal of Sarah (or rather the “no make up” makeup ya know) cause it made her emotional chaos more humane… her eyes said it all..

also about her breaking down- i believe we’re gonna see her grieve the way she’s supposed to after everything is finally over. Last episode is Sarah centric so it totally fits to have her moment in the epilogue.

What i didn’t like from the funeral scene was the singing at the beginning, which i found anticlimactic..it would be much better if we could just hear Sara and Felix speaking with no other sound in the background..

Also the fact that 4 days after S’s death they could walk and talk in a house that is a murder scene was totally unrealistic..Police had to be all over the place investigating and all…

Unless Art handled the situation in a way..but still a plot hole is a plot hole

Team working together

Cosima,Felix, Art, Hellwizard, Scott, Rachel ok what a pleasant suprise to see everyone working together. I loved the fact that supporting actors got the chance to actually help the ledas and be useful. Each one helped in their own field.

Cosima helped with the Dyad information and Scotty-Hell with the security system (even if it was kinda weak to hack the security system with such convienience-i’m bypassing that lol)

Even Rachel helped!! Rachel!!! My only complaint was Alison’s minimum participation in this but i get that given the circumstances her involvement  would be extremely difficult

Should i talk about Art??

Cause everything

screams

SACRIFICE

and all this time i ‘ve been crazy rambling about how his chances of surving are veeeery  low…. ep 9 built his exodus cause the final episode will be Leda/Sarah Centric…so be prepared guys…

i get Ebro’s schedule..i trully do..and i was fine with Sardinia..i was fine with Geneva as well cause there was a reason behind it plotwise but we’ve come to the point where there isn’t even an explanation about this…

they didn’t clarify the reason she left… cause it doesn’t make sense when Siobhan’s funeral was 4 days after the gallery party…there wasn’t a reason good enough to justify her absence that’s why the writers didn’t give one…they prefered to let the fans decide which reason was good enough…let’s be real though that was sloppy..and as much as i love orphan black i’m gonna point out  it’s weakening points as well.

Coady+ Mark

So Mark died absolutely clueless…his death matched Ira’s death, both manipulated by their creators, hoping for a cure that never existed in the first place.Too bad that there wasn’t any building up to bring tension and to make us care about those characters… so this scene felt kinda flat at least for me…i believe the reason behind this was cause ob writers didn’t want to make Coady a grey character…. well i for once celebrated her death after this scene

wait it is confirmed that Coady is dead right? I mean Helena beat the shit out of her so it would be  impossible to zombie out ?? or should i be worried??

PT + Rachel!Sarah

oh god PT without his wig is like a bulb with ears lmao

anyway so i loved these 2 together…this is the first time Sarah meets John am i right?

also congrats to the props team and the level of detail they use in each scene…i liked that Sarah didn’t wear the same patch Rachel wears…

a++ to the dialogue about PT perving out on Rachel because in that way Sarah put herself on Rachel’s shoes and actually saw for the first time how they were monitoring her sister and what actually means complete lack of privacy…

also both Susan and PT seem to have a perplexed image as to what a father/mother figure looks like

you don’t fuck your ‘son’/ or watch you ‘daughter’ masturbate and then call them “son/daughter” lol

but it gave me pleasure that Rachel never actually called PT “father” and that’s how Sarah got exposed..

the moment she cut him with the knife i was like “yaaaas finish him lol”

HELENA

FLASHBACKS

omg??

don’t get me wrong the kid was very good/ super talented and all

but how could they do this???

i mean it was SO.FUCKING.OBVIOUS that this isn’t the face of a leda clone you couldn’t concentrate on anything else!

at least i couldn’t! Especially when 2 episodes before they used canonically Cynthia!

i mean

??????

it defies logic?? there’s no excuse??

they could have dubbed the ukranian parts i don’t care if little Cynthia couldn’t play that good that was so wrong in so many levels… it had the “Spongebob takes a bath in the sea” logic lol

and it was really such a shame cause the flashbacks were so amazing..

first of all i loved the whole “pleasures of the flesh are unacceptable in a religious environment” thematic cause it adresses real social issues like the austerity and fake puritanism of social institutions.

the reason behind Helena’s bleached hair was a nice touch even though little Helena should also have some  burn marks after this…we got to know why she has those pink shades under her eyes as well so that was good..

as far as to why her hair is still blonde after all this time…well i choose to patch this plot hole by believing that Helena did this to herself again and again..she bleached/dyed them as a sign of punishment, self harm  and guilt cause that was the way she was raised- a mouthpiece and killing machine of others..

the art department did a brilliant job with the dollhouse and the correlation between Helena’s fixation with dolls back in her Rachel assassination attempt

Tomas took her and hide her the fact  that she’s a copy..she grew up in the illusion that she was special..that she was the original..in fact Rachel and Helena fantasized about the same thing and it is so fascinating to see how they are 2 different sides of the same coin…

Most Heartbreaking moment

Oh god this moment…

what kind of mother could you possibly make?

jesus Tatiana each time you give more and more, i haven’t seen an actor as committed and devoted as you are, you deserve all the praise girl woah

Coady found Helena’s weakness and it is not how she smells, looks or talks…it’s about her capacity of giving a future more bright and beautiful to her children than the one her younger self  had to endure…

and at the end of the day she’s willing to take the bait..  it’s either freedom or death…exactly like Rachel..there’s no middle ground..she won’t leave her children become experiments so that’s why i find super important that we finally get a Rachel Helena scene…there’s a high probability Rachel won’t make it in the finale so at least lets have a last glorious scene with the 3 of them as they try to escape…or so i hope…

THE TWINS

YEEEEEESSSSS

all this crazy rambling about this being a Sarah-Helena season finally came true! Everything came full circle and this moment was SO important like you guys don’t understand…

Sarah finally made up for Helena..she gave her her blood to keep her alive…she put each and everyone of her friends and family searching for her, she made her a priority- drowning her grief -cause she couldn’t lose another one..especially Helena.

And now she will help her give birth..she will be there for her, protect her, give her life even..even tho after the obspoilers fiasco my theory now is that Art is gonna save Sarah…because it is super symbolic .. it would be his second chance and his redemption after losing Beth.. now he’s gonna do it right. Idk it is so foreshadowing… i wonder what Rachel’s role is gonna be..i sure hope she’s the one that’s gonna kill PT but who knows at this point.

Ep 9 set the mood for a very powerful ob series finale..Helena’s inner world was raw and pure and it’s going to  parallel  Sarah’s  final  gut-wrenching episode.The twins are going to set the epilogue and i trully hope their journey will be as magical and  satisfying as this show was  for all of us.

[nicholasjfeldman]

My Commencement Speech

First I would just like to say that when I dropped out of high school, it would have been impossible for me to imagine that I would be here, as a valedictorian, about to receive a college degree

But a great football coach named Vince Lombardi once said that:

“We would accomplish many more things if we did not think of them as impossible.”

Walt Disney once said:

“It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.”

And here we are, at Phoenix College, a school that was founded in 1920; I don’t think the first students here could have pictured the world that we live in today

We have survived a Great Depression and a Great Recession

We have been forced to fight for our way of life, from Pearl Harbor to 9/11, but we, especially our military, including any veterans graduating tonight, we have persevered through it all

Think about it, the first students at Phoenix College sent letters that took days to arrive, now we send emails instantly

We complain if Netflix is running slow, they were lucky if they had a radio to listen to

We have invented cheeseburgers, sunglasses, Microwave ovens, the Post-it note, computers, video games, mobile devices, artificial hearts, and the Internet

We gave Facebook life, and then, when our parents started using it, we built up Snapchat so that we could have our privacy back

From Hippies to Hipsters, from Baby Boomers to Millennials

We have proudly stood up and fought for our rights, and even though there is more work to be done, the world is different than it was in 1920

I say “We” because the people involved in the events that I just listed, they were just like you.  They might not have graduated from Phoenix College, like we are about to, but they had to start somewhere

For you it starts here.  From here, you can go anywhere

The question is not how far can you go, or even if you can do the impossible.

The question is, how are you going to get there? How are you going to make it possible?

So after ten plus years, more than a decade after dropping out of high school, I decided that I was going to enroll at Phoenix College.  At times I wondered what I was even doing here.  But during my first year in school a poem at the very end of a Kendrick Lamar song really struck a chord with me.  I would like to share a small piece of the poem with you:

While consuming its environment the caterpillar begins to notice ways to survive One thing it noticed is how much the world shuns him, but praises the butterfly The butterfly represents the talent, the thoughtfulness, and the beauty within the caterpillar But having a harsh outlook on life, the caterpillar sees the butterfly as weak, and figures out a way to exploit it to his own benefits

So you and me, we have choices.  Are we going to be caterpillars, or are you going to let yourself be the butterfly?

Trust me, I for sure never thought that I would be here, telling everybody to be a butterfly

But I truly believe that your talent, thoughtfulness, and inner beauty will take you anywhere that you want to go.

You can be the caterpillar.  You can exploit your talent, and you might end up exactly where you want to be in life

You have decisions to make, because tonight is the end of one journey, and tomorrow is the beginning of a whole nother journey for you

So tonight, we need to celebrate our degrees. After all of the hard work, after everything you went through to become a college graduate, you deserve to celebrate. Your family members and friends, the ones who supported you, gave you rides, and listened to you complain about your homework, they deserve to celebrate as well

But tomorrow, after the celebration, you will be on the road again.  You will have choices.  Just remember that you can go anywhere, that you can make it possible.  And if you end up taking a wrong path, it’s never too late to search for the right one

I tried being the caterpillar, but I encourage you to fly instead.  Let yourself fly down the path that you’re on, as a graduate of Phoenix College

[michellelewis7162]

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 You might acquire better cars and truck rental deals coming from local area rental business or even car dealerships if you will definitely need to have the car for a longer period. Make note that regional rental firms and auto dealers may have restricted insurance policy cover. When choosing which company to rent a cars and truck from it is actually suggested to look around. Match up bargains, solutions and rates. Internet sites including Kayak and also Travelocity work to aid match up prices.

 The condition car hire represents the renting of a car/automobile. This is actually normally carried out on a quick opportunity basis as well as lots of folks seem to be not aware of the benefits of it. The temporary basis of renting a vehicle commonly surrounds a time frame of anything coming from a handful of hours to a handful of weeks.

 Depending on the measurements of the rental firm that you decide on to make use of for you auto hire requires, the selection of vehicles that are you able to select coming from several be limited. A lot of vehicle hire business do possess a huge selection of automobiles to pick but it is vital that you guarantee the business that you determine to rent out from have a stable of versions that prove out valued for renting. This offers you the best possibilities for your amount of money and makes certain that you receive the solution that you are actually paying for.

 If you are in need of the assistance of a cars and truck hire provider there are 2 prime sites that you may go where you are just about guaranteed to discover a cars and truck hire company. The 1st of these places is actually a flight terminal. A lot of rental business put together bottom in the regions surrounding the airport as many people desire to hire autos whilst they are out of property and also without access to their personal autos. The second popular location often tends to be in an active area where individuals may not wish to or manage to make use of public transport to come to their desired area Preveza.

 Where ever before a vehicle hire firm is actually based you would like to have the ability to go there knowing that the auto you want to rent is offered to accomplish thus. This is actually why practically all car rental firms include a website. Using a web site makes it possible for customers to examine the various cars accessible for hire. The automobiles are actually commonly listed under their make, as an example there might be actually a section qualified Renault and within this area each one of the automobiles under this make, such as Clio, Twingo or Megane will definitely be actually detailed, enabling you to check out the components of the car and also finding what they seem like. Never ever are afraid if you occur to happen throughout a vehicle that you like and also prefer to hire yet are actually paniced in case the company currently have none on call! By using the internet site of an automobile hire provider you can easily book the car that you desire to lease, which makes sure that when you get to the actually vehicle hire provider they will definitely possess it there waiting for you.

 Any person, as long as you possess a valid permit naturally, can rent out a cars and truck for whatever explanation. The cars and truck rental company is mainly utilized by individuals that taking a trip and want a car to get round or to explore visitor destinations. They are actually additionally regularly made use of through folks whose autos are currently being actually repaired or even individuals hanging around to get a brand new one Preveza.

 When you see yourself stranded in the center of the street, there are actually enough circumstances. Perhaps a vehicle malfunction or lost out train to your station. What is available in handy, as a saving is actually the suggestion of renting a vehicle.

 Automobile leasings are actually well-known sensations today. Many of our team utilize the vehicle rental companies to commute every day. Maybe interstate or even local; these specialist have all sorts of locations to aid you reach your location safe as well as in a comfortable way. Many of all of them have actually devised common fare charges manner the kilometers took a trip. The rates differ from one supplier to the other depending upon the state tax obligation as well as company tax rules.

 Why do you require to rent an auto?

 Here could be multitudinous main reasons for you to pick renting an automobile over driving all by yourself, especially when you are actually taking a trip long hauls. If you are traveling through street for a holiday, you would rather wish to enjoy the beautiful elegance around you rather than paying attention to the gas and also the greatest means to carry out that is to be and rent a vehicle tension free of cost Preveza.

 Cars and truck rental companies hire qualified vehicle drivers that drive securely and well versed along with routes besides being actually well aware of web traffic laws. A lot of provider likewise give travelling insurance policy versus a minimal deposit, which can be stated in a regrettable condition like a collision.

 You may hire an automobile for a one way adventure, yet it is actually encouraged to decide for a to and also fro travel as it costs much less as contrasted to the former.

 Deciding for cars and truck hire provides you with unlimited possibilities to maximise your trip and also gives you that little additional breathing area to move approximately your itinerary Preveza Airport Car Hire.

 Cars and truck hiring firms will certainly offer you along with markdowns or with absolute best deals if you schedule an automobile in development through their site Preveza Airport Car Hire.

 If you are going to need to have the car for a longer time frame, at that point you might receive much better car rental offers coming from local rental companies or cars and truck dealerships. The automobiles are actually commonly noted under their make, for example there may be actually a part qualified Renault and within this segment all of the cars under this make, such as Clio, Twingo or Megane are going to be provided, enabling you to check out regarding the features of the car as well as viewing what they look like. By using the web site of an automobile hire company you may book the auto that you wish to rent, which guarantees that when you obtain to the really automobile hire firm they will possess it there standing by for you.

[consciousenneagram]

The Truth about Trump's Enneagram Type

I’m going to be completely honest here, I shouldn’t be writing this article. I should be working on my book, or doing laundry, or walking my dog. But there has been a disturbing trend in the Enneagram community over the last few weeks that has me frustrated to no end, and since no one seems to be saying the things that have been on my mind, I guess that just leaves it up to me.

Several very prominent teachers in the Enneagram community have taken to typing the 45th president of the United States, and after reading their articles, I have to say, they’re all wrong.

I respect these teachers very, very much, and to their credit their cases are strong and well thought out, but (and there’s a huge but here) no one knows anyone else’s type. EVER. END OF STORY. Sure, their articles are written with heavy disclaimers at the beginning about how we can’t know, and how this isn’t to stereo type the president, and how they could be wrong, etc. I’m not saying they’re all wrong about what type they assume 45 to be, what I’m saying is they’re wrong for trying to type him in the first place.

Why we don’t type other people:

It may be the most important and most ignored rule in the Enneagram community: don’t type other people. I must admit, I’m as guilty as anyone of this, but thinking to myself that someone may be mistyped, or that a friend has some qualities that greatly resemble a certain type is wildly different than trying to type a person who might be the most divisive character in our county’s short history. No matter who it is though, trying to type another person is always a bad idea. There are three main reasons why we should never type other people (or at very least, keep our thoughts to ourselves):

It takes away their opportunity to come to it on their own terms. This is soooo huge. The way we come into contact with information will greatly affect how we use that information. By simply putting in answers and having a computer spit our an answer, we sell ourselves short. The Enneagram is meant to be a tool for personal and spiritual development, it’s meant to be used as a map that can lead us on a transformational journey, and discovering our type is a large part of that journey. If someone is just labeled as a type, they could spend the rest of their lives believe that’s all they’re capable of being, instead of embarking on a journey toward so much more. By typing celebrities and well-known public figures, we make the assumption that they won’t ever be interested in using the Enneagram for their own growth and transformation. We turn those people into nothing more than cardboard cutouts of themselves and rob them of the opportunity to use a tool that could change their life. If the Enneagram teaches us anything it’s that we must learn to see more of people’s humanity, not less. Typing celebrities like this robs them of their humanity.

We can only see people through the lens of our own type. I have a dear friend who’s mother is a 9 (self-reported!). After learning about the other types, this 9 was certain her daughter (who is very much a 7 with strong 6 wing) was an 8. When my friend relayed this to me, I laughed and said, “To a 9, everyone seems like an 8.” While that may not be exactly true in all cases, 9’s extreme aversion to engaging in conflict would make even the average person seem like someone who actively enjoys conflict. Each of us in our types and in our personal experiences have lenses like this that skew the way we see the world. And while our work in with the Enneagram helps us to understand this and shift our perspective, we always be looking through our own rose-colored-glasses and won’t be able to see others clearly.

It’s an invasion of privacy. The Enneagram isn’t a personality typology based simply on behavior, its focus is on motivation. Not only that, it details so much of our personal trauma and the ways we tried to cope with it. To make assumptions about a person on this level is deeply intrusive, and quite frankly offensive. Long story short, we shouldn’t be typing anyone. We should be treating this tool and what it illuminates with in us with the respect they deserve. By simply throwing around numbers and types, we cheapen the Enneagram and what it’s capable of, not to mention the possibility of deeply wounding another person.

So what about Trump?

There are plenty of arguments for why we should know Trump’s type, and why his type matters, and I’d like to address a couple of them here and explain why they’re misguided.

“Knowing Trump’s type will help us understand how he came to power.” I love the Enneagram y’all, I really do, but I also know that it has it’s place. And this is not the place for the Enneagram (or at least, not the personality typology piece of the Enneagram). Knowing Trump’s type won’t give us any more insight into how he came to power than we had before we knew his type. And to be honest, we don’t really need it. Trump used money, fear, and the Russian government to make it into the White House. He is nothing more than a symptom of a much larger issue in our country and in our society. In so many ways, he’s a pawn or a scapegoat, his personality doesn’t actually matter. AND, to top it off, knowing his type won’t help us understand how he came to power, because there’s no way to know for sure what his type is unless he does the work himself to find out. All it is is speculation and conjecture, simply an intellectual exercise with little bearing on reality.

“Knowing Trump’s type will help us have compassion for him.” WRONG. Let me explain: We don’t gain compassion for other people by knowing more about them. This is a common misconception in the self-awareness/self-help community. Understanding and knowing are head-based faculties, while compassion is heart-based. Compassion for others doesn’t come from knowing more about them, it comes from knowing more about ourselves. As we learn more about ourselves, and do the work of exploring and reintegrating our own shadows, we learn to have true compassion for other people, because we understand how difficult the journey really is. If our goal is to have more compassion for Trump knowing his type won’t help us get there, only doing our own work on ourselves will bring us the ability to see him in a truly compassionate light.

“He is a prime example of the unhealthy elements of type XYZ.” I understand there may be value in seeing a real life example of the unhealthy characteristics of a given type, but if the person hasn’t self-identified as that type, we’re really only seeing what we want to see, and this can end up hurting a lot of people. Also, as a community, this sentiment is dangerous for us and the real transformative work of the Enneagram. There’s no way that Trump is going to change, we have no way of making that happen, but there are millions of Americans who we could reach and who’s lives could be changed that are still supportive of Trump. By simply labeling Trump (or any other celebrity) as the pathological extreme of a type, we cut ourselves off from the people who might actually be open to using this powerful tool to build more self-awareness and compassion in their lives.

What’s at stake:

Trump is an incredibly divisive character, as well as an extremely unstable one. Some view his instability has a sign of his psychological incapacity, while others believe he’s just “telling it like it is.” When we type someone like this, all we’re really doing is showing our own biases. I know many of the Enneagram experts have typed Trump as an unhealthy 8 or 3 or counter-phobic 6, but really all that shows us is how they feel about Trump and those types. I’m sure if there were a Trump-supporting Enneagram-buff they might say that he was a perfect example of a 1, living out exactly what he believes, or a healthy 8, taking charge and “making America great again.” What I’m saying is, what we see has a lot to do with what we believe about this person from our own perspective, and to project those things on to a type could severely limit how that type is seen. The more we play into these limits, the less people are going to be interested in using this tool, because it will become ineffective and demeaning instead of expansive and life-giving.

When I did my Enneagram training with The Narrative Enneagram in California, there was a day where we all got together in a class room and watched several clips of a movie. We then had to guess what type the main character was. Then we were divided into groups based on what type we believed this fictional character to be and we were asked to discuss how we had come to our conclusion. After each group had talked it over, we each sent a representative to the front of the room to present our case and convince everyone else in the room that we were right. The biggest group at the end won the game. It was actually a lot of fun (mostly because they allowed us to heckle the person up front giving their argument) but it also hit home a very important lesson: You can make a case that anyone is almost any type, and at the end of the day it doesn’t matter, because that’s not our work.

So, this isn’t a call out, but a call in. I hope that we as a community can move past the desire to label other people and focus more on the real transformative work that the Enneagram offers us. If we are really concerned about the state of our country and the world, getting down into the real work the Enneagram provides us is the best way to move things in a more conscious and compassionate direction. If we want to see the Enneagram spread and be a catalyst for global transformation, we as a community need to treat it like that’s what it is! I hope we can stop using the Enneagram as an intellectual exercise and put it to work as a truly 3-centered transformational tool. I hope that we can live up to our own standards, and treat the Enneagram like the sacred map that it really is.

[businessfrontrunners]

Shay Better Relationship Coaching “The Love Transformer - Experience You Can Count On"

https://authoritypresswire.com/?p=27844 Shay Levister is not just a coach but a certified dating & relationship coach and NLP, RTT practitioner. What this means is that Shay was trained and has studied a method that will help you achieve lasting results in the shortest amount of time possible. She is also trained in hypnotherapy, which will amplify results in her clients. All humans make over 80% of their decisions from their subconscious mind. This is the reason why you may find yourself choosing the same type of person with a different face. If you want a change in your life, you must change the programming in your mind. Once you are able to do this, nothing is impossible! Hypnotherapy, NLP, and positive mind techniques help to accomplish this. Levister has published magazine articles and has been a guest on radio and television shows. She has spoken around the world and has coached several celebrity clients and helped them attract love. As a #1 best-selling author on Amazon for her book, The Science of Attracting Love, Shay ‘Your Love Diva’ Levister shares her journey and the lessons she has learned with you and gives advice mixed with old school rules, the science of human behavior, and the Law of Attraction to help empower singles seeking true love, while navigating the dating scene. “The Science of Attracting Love” is the first dating advice book to provide the science behind the advice while presenting it from a positive-energy point of view. The world of singles needs a metaphysical dating guide that helps single women attract healthy relationships while guiding them to avoid pitfalls. Shay Levister, also known as “Shay Your Love Diva” to her fans, considers her most rewarding titles to be “wife” and “mom.” Shay is happily married with four kids, to her high school sweetheart. Shay first met her husband-to-be when she was 14 years old; however, they lost contact for several years after she graduated from college, and he left for the Airforce. After experiencing the worst relationship failures and disappointments that included a divorce and a half, Shay decided it was time to follow her own advice and get whole. After months of counseling and self-healing, she serendipitously ran into her childhood best friend and first love. Eventually, their relationship blossomed into more than a friendship, and it has been a magical love experience ever since. They love date nights every Friday night, making lasting memories while traveling the world with their four children, and building a powerful empire together. “Your Journey To Love Begins Today!” This is the Shay Better Coaching difference! • Fast Results with NO WASTED TIME – Transforming your love life should not take forever! 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Shay has coached people all around the world who have created lasting, passionate relationships. • Shay will help measure, monitor, manage, and support you to ensure that you keep your word to yourself, and take the consistent action that leads to the results you desire most. • You are about to enter a partnership that will give you the edge you need to stand out in the dating game, but you must step up as well. Commit with a passion and a focus that your love life deserves. Shay will bring you extraordinary resources for powerfully improving the quality of your love life. Then, you can attract and truly experience the love experience most people dream of having. • She promises an experience that will not only stretch you, but that will be more fun than you have ever imagined possible. She doesn’t pretend that your partnership will be effortless—but it will be extraordinarily rewarding. 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