#embracing hope

[embracinghopenovel]

✨Flying High✨

Karen has always felt most at home soaring through the skies above her town. Up there, everything seems so small—her problems, the people—they’re nothing but ants from way up high! 🐜💨

Her custom broom is a masterpiece, giving her the freedom to glide effortlessly through nature. And when she’s feeling bold, she’ll throw in some jaw-dropping tricks and stunts just to show off her skills. If it were up to Karen, she'd never land! ✨

Karen took home the pinup win last month, so we wanted to capture her wild and carefree spirit in this dynamic shot! Nest absolutely nailed it with the design, and I knew this outfit would match her free-flowing attitude perfectly. 💚

Don’t forget to vote in the upcoming character poll for a chance to see your favorite character drawn next! 🎨

[harmonyhealinghub]

Embracing the Power of Hope: A Guiding Light in Challenging Times

Shaina Tranquilino

September 18, 2023

In a world that often seems engulfed by darkness, hope emerges as a powerful beacon of light, offering solace and strength to those who choose to embrace it. It is an intangible force that ignites our spirit, propels us forward, and empowers us to believe in better days. Regardless of the circumstances we find ourselves in, hope remains steadfast, reminding us that even amidst adversity, there is always room for optimism and possibility.

The Essence of Hope:

Hope is not merely wishful thinking or blind optimism; rather, it is a deep-rooted belief that things can improve despite the current challenges. It enables us to see beyond present difficulties and envision a brighter future. Hope fuels resilience within us, allowing us to weather storms with unwavering determination and perseverance.

Finding Hope in Adversity:

While life undoubtedly presents its share of trials and tribulations, it is precisely during these trying times that hope becomes most crucial. In moments of despair and uncertainty, holding onto hope provides comfort and reassurance. Even when faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles, hope whispers words of encouragement and reminds us that every setback can be transformed into an opportunity for growth.

The Ripple Effect of Hope:

Hope possesses an inherent ability to inspire change not only within ourselves but also among those around us. When we radiate hopefulness through our actions and attitudes, we create a domino effect that uplifts others' spirits. By embodying hope as individuals, we become catalysts for positive transformation on both personal and collective levels.

Nurturing Hope:

1. Cultivating gratitude: Gratitude acts as fertile ground for growing seeds of hope. Appreciating the blessings in our lives nurtures an optimistic outlook on the future.

2. Surrounding oneself with positivity: Surround yourself with hopeful individuals who exude positive energy. Engage in activities that bring joy and inspire creativity, fostering an environment conducive to hope.

3. Setting realistic goals: Hope thrives when we set meaningful objectives for ourselves. Breaking down larger aspirations into smaller, achievable milestones allows us to maintain a sense of progress and accomplishment.

4. Embracing resilience: Recognize setbacks as temporary roadblocks rather than permanent failures. Resilience helps us bounce back from disappointments and fuels the flame of hope within us.

Hope is not a passive state but an active choice — a decision to believe in brighter days, even when circumstances may suggest otherwise. It empowers us to rise above adversity, embrace change, and work towards building a better future. Remember that hope is a renewable resource; it can be found within ourselves and shared with others through acts of kindness and compassion. By nourishing our own wellspring of hope, together, we can illuminate the world with its transformative power.

[soulmvtes]

sunday nights are for reflecting on your entire life and the fragile state of your present moment and what the future may look like

[shutupcrime]

Some of you are too afraid to admit this but we all know Star Wars works best when it goes full soap opera

[lesvianism]

having a lot of thoughts and feelings about this comparison

[hinamie]

...........slips gege ¥2000

[livelifeintentionally]

Embracing Healing: My Journey of Self-Acceptance and Breaking Free

[vishalmarali]

Start your Day with these Thoughts | Positive Affirmations |

An optimist mindset is characterized by a positive and hopeful outlook on life. It involves seeing challenges as opportunities, maintaining resilience, and believing in the possibility of favorable outcomes. An optimist embraces gratitude, fosters self-belief, and cultivates a can-do attitude.

[sabreurs]

sokka trying to get katara to give up on her waterbending bc it could get her killed. and katara refuses to give up and continues to practice anyway. bc sokka and katara represent the survival of both the people and the culture. sokka had the safety of their people thrust upon him by his dad, while katara is the only one in their tribe that can carry the weight of their culture. both are heavy burdens, and they're struggling with their roles bc they're just two kids trying to rebuild in the wake of genocide. but they refuse to give up, bc that's what the story is about.

holding onto hope, regardless of what you face.

[dekariosclan]

Imagine Gale as a talented and impressive young man, able to compose the Weave at will, skilled in a way that few can match, and favored by the Goddess of Magic herself. Imagine that because of these accomplishments, he’s caught the eye of a few up-and-coming magic adepts, and he falls in love with one of them—his first real love. Gale isn’t one to toss the ‘L’ word around lightly, so when he tells them he loves them, he means it; he gives himself over to them completely.

And in return, they love him for his potential. For his status. For the magic he can command. They love the wizard they see on the surface, but not the man underneath. They are attracted to his power, but not to him.

So of course the relationship fails, after the thrill of his magic wears off. But because Gale is a resilient young man and he’s caught the eye of so many, he soon falls in love with another.

And then it happens again. And again.

And each time Gale’s heart is ravaged, his ambition to become a better wizard grows, because he’s being shown time and time again that his magic ability is all that matters.

So much so that, by the time Mystra decides to elevate him from Favored to Chosen to Lover, he welcomes her with eager, desperate arms. Because if all his worth is in his magic, and that’s all he has to offer, and that’s all anyone wants from him, who better to love him than the Goddess of Magic herself?

Except…there’s a nagging voice in the back of his head that whispers she doesn’t really love him. There’s anxiety in his heart as time passes, and he reaches both the limit of what his talents can do and what Mystra will allow him to do. And most troubling of all: a growing panic that, just like his other lovers, she will soon grow tired of him and discard him if he can’t improve his magic any further.

He tries pouting, and pleading, and begging her to let him take more power, to let him be more for her, but she refuses. Smiles patronizingly. Tells him to be patient. But Gale can’t be patient when his power is tied so closely to his self-worth; he can’t be patient when doing so in the past has only ever lead to heartache.

So he does what he believes will be a Grand Romantic Gesture, one that will finally put him on equal footing with the woman he loves. Instead, it turns out to be a folly that dooms him and destroys his talents. And just as he’d always feared, Mystra tosses him aside the moment his magical gifts are gone—because what’s left of him holds no value for her.

————

Imagine Gale in his tower, alone, afraid, the ever-hungry orb in his chest, with only his tressym there to help him. No other friends to speak of. His colleagues forced to keep away for their own safety. His magical talents utterly stripped down, so that even when he does try and distract himself with illusions, he’s bitterly reminded of what he used to be capable of. Waking every morning wondering if it will be his last, ending every day full of loneliness and disappointment.

…and then he meets Tav.

At the lowest point in his life, at his most vulnerable, when he knows he’s going to be considered a burden, he meets this stranger and their group. So he does what he can to be useful—assigning himself to be camp cook, offering up his (now meager) magic skills, turning the charm up to 11—as he desperately hopes this will somehow work out. He’s pleasantly surprised when, after providing only minor details of his condition, Tav agrees to help him. He’s even more surprised when they actually follow through.

Imagine how Gale feels as Tav treats him kindly. As he grows to trust Tav, and then grows to like them. Imagine his surprise as he opens up and shows them more and more of himself, and they don’t turn him away.

But then his condition worsens. And he has to reveal everything: the foolish mistakes he’s made, and how dangerous he is as a result. He clings to Tav’s hand as he shows them his folly. He’s at their mercy now, and he knows this might be the last time he’ll ever feel the touch of another being, if they decide—and Gods, why wouldn’t they decide?—to cast him out.

…but they don’t. They don’t. Instead, they tell him to stay.

Imagine the relief Gale feels. The gratitude. And perhaps…just a hint of something more. Something that he dare not name, but that flares to life every time he thinks of how warm their hand was in his. Something that feels dangerously close to jealousy, when he’s had too much to drink and sees Tav smiling at another…

But he knows these are all foolish thoughts, because he has nothing to offer Tav. They are wonderful just as they are, but he…he is an empty shell of a man, a discarded husk of a wizard, and while they might tolerate him, he could never believe they might actually want him.

And besides, he still thinks of Mystra. He still longs for Mystra. She who cast him out, but to whom he still feels tethered. Sometimes he needs to cocoon himself in the weave, just to try and calm his fears and bring some joy back to his life, because magic is his life. And sometimes he just needs to see her face, even though that hurts as much as it heals.

One night he’s lost in thought, having conjured Mysta’s image after settling down at camp. Thinking that even if she hadn’t ‘loved’ him—certainly not in the way he’d loved her—she’d given him enough otherwise, hadn’t she? She’d amused him and been amused by him, they’d shared countless pleasures, why hadn’t he been satisfied with that?

Gale is so lost in thought he doesn’t realize Tav has come up behind him. Until they ask a question, startling him out of his trance. He’s a bit shaken, so he tries to turn the conversation from Mystra to the weave itself. And then a wonderful idea occurs to him, something that he’d been toying with already: what if they were to conjure the weave together?

He can show Tav how important magic is to him, let them experience what he does, perhaps even impress them a bit. But most importantly, share a moment with them. As friends would do…

He’s elated when Tav agrees. He leads them through the steps effortlessly, and they’re a surprisingly good student, following his instructions correctly (if a bit clumsily). He’s as excited as they are—perhaps even more so!—when they succeed in channeling the weave.

It’s such a pleasant, familiar feeling for him, like coming home to his tower in Waterdeep. Even as the weave connects him with Tav and makes them one, he’s easily able to hide his innermost thoughts, because he’s done it so many times before.

…but he’s forgotten that Tav has not.

————

Imagine Gale knowing every romantic partner he ever had only wanted him because of how he could raise their status, or how he could amuse them, or how he could command magic for them. And, each time, he was happy to oblige them, even desperate to oblige them, because if that was the price of their love, then he was sure it would be worth it.

But it still all came to nothing.

Now imagine Gale connected in an intimate way with someone he likes very, very much—while being what he considers his lowest, most worthless, and most humbled self. As far from the powerful, impressive wizard he once was as he could ever be. And suddenly a vision enters his mind from the lovely creature standing next to him. Only, to his complete and utter shock, it isn’t one where he is providing them with a service, or wowing them with his magical ability, or granting them some kind of power from one of the spells he commands.

Instead, when he sees their desire laid bare before him, it’s a vision of kissing him. Of holding his hand. The two most basic forms of affection and physical connection. The two things that he would still be able to offer them even if every last ounce of his remaining magical abilities were stripped from him. The two things he could share with them even if he was no longer Gale of Waterdeep, and just plain old Gale Dekarios instead.

Imagine the embarrassment and trepidation he feels at first, because surely he is mistaken?…and then the elation when he realizes that he is not. So much elation that his concentration is broken, the weave dissipating as he forgets about channeling it, as he forgets about Mystra. Because all that matters to him now is the image before him—the most pleasant and welcome image he’s seen in a very, very long time.

Imagine how that would feel…and how besotted, enamored and completely devoted he’d be to Tav afterwards. To know that someone finally—finally—just wants him.

Just imagine.

[embracinghopenovel]

🍽️ Satomi's Food 🍽️

We finally did it! Here's the Voice Acted version of Satomi’s favorite meal Q&A from last year! 🎙️✨

Let’s just say... it was quite the journey helping her figure out how to pronounce arugula! 😂 But we had a blast putting this together, and I think you'll love hearing her voice!

Keep those questions coming for a chance to have one answered—or even voice acted! You never know who might chime in next! 😄

[stagefoureddiediaz]

The way I would pay good money to have Eddie celebrating dia de los muertos rather than Halloween especially with an episode called masks and the symbolism of the sugar mask around regeneration and rebirth

[alicornze7]

Silly guys goin' on silly adventures:]

@rorydrawsandwrites's puppeteer au but the only difference is that jax gives consent

My contribution to this wonderful au has been long overdue:')

Rambling in tags ehe (cw: ribbun:p)

Well maybe it's not the only difference

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

Embrace the truth

[First] Prev <–-> Next

[terrorofthetrident]

i fear the war has aemond neglecting his hair care routine

[somereaderinblue]

We all thought Odysseus was gonna become a monster amongst men.

Never did we consider that he'd become a monster to a god.