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jumpingjoltiks · 10 months ago

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Heyy. Could I get Emmet x someone who struggles with body image/ed and feels inscure. Especially since he's so tall and lanky.

Emmet x Reader

Emmet is grabbing your hand and holding tight all through recovery.

TW: Discussions of eating disorders and body image, minor food talk, insecurity and self-doubt, archeops being so adorable its actually hazardous

don't worry, I promise there's a happy ending <3

At first, he looks at you incredulously when you admit that his physique sometimes makes you feel inadequate.

"I am Emmet. You are not Emmet. You look like yourself and not me. You being you is a good thing. It is the best thing I could ask for!"

He loves you so much, he genuinely does not understand. All he wants is for you to see yourself the way he sees you. An incredible, wonderful partner.

But insecurities aren't rational. He knows that, and he does his best to help you anyway.

He's very encouraging toward your health and getting better. He wants you to be your best and happiest self!

Joins you for meals as often as his schedule will allow. He's not especially chatty by nature, but he’ll talk to you about his battles that day or the recent gossip among the subway workers.

Emmet is actually quite an adventurous eater. He loves trying new things and will always offer some to you (it’s a zero-pressure offer, of course. He would never push you to do something you don’t want to do, but he wants you to know it’s always on the table). Even if you just try a little, he smiles like you've offered him the whole world.

Emmet celebrates every victory with you, even the ones you think aren't that big of a deal. He's your biggest cheerleader.

Talks you up all the time - he is SO proud to have you as a partner.

There's a really nice farmer's market in Anville Town that he likes walking. He'll spend the day with you strolling between different booths, pointing out the arrangements at the flower seller or the kids running about with bubble wands and pinwheels, or just how nice it is to spend time together.

Makes it a point to arrange dates that don’t revolve around food at all – like visiting museums, riding roller coasters at the carnival, or heading out to catch new pokémon!

Reminds you that getting better isn’t always a linear progression. His positive attitude is contagious. He goes out of his way to make you feel better when you feel down.

Still, your days aren't always sunny. It's a serious disorder, and sometimes you feel like your ed gets in the way of living fully, but Emmet's always got your back...

It's during one of your dates that you find yourself quite downhearted. Emmet had taken you out for a nice walk through the park. When he offered to pay for an iced coffee, all you could think about were the numbers rapidly calculating through your head. Calories. Sugars. Carbs. As much as you want to stop, it's hard to pull yourself back to the present moment.

You could feel Emmet's gaze on you.

“A black coffee sounds nice, but maybe a little later?”

Some of the sparkle leaves his eyes. It's like he can see right through you.

He squeezes your hand in acknowledgment. You both are quiet for a little while as you walk. You're too wrapped up in feeling like you've ruined a perfectly nice moment to notice how deep in thought he's become.

"Have you met my ace yet?"

The question arrives so suddenly and out of left field that it snaps you out of your head, though the squirming feeling in your gut persists. What brought this up?

"I... I don't think so. Why?"

You've met some of his team before. A handful of Joltik and their mama Galvantula, Durant, even Crustle.

"Would you like to? There is a poképark right ahead."

You nod, grateful that he doesn't seem to be upset. It's irrational - you know he wouldn't get fed up with you over something like this, but anxiety can mess with anyone's best judgement.

When you arrive, you take a seat together onto a park bench. Emmet's arm automatically rests against the back of the bench behind where you sit. He reaches for his pocket and pulls a pokeball from his coat.

Out comes an Archeops. It jumps about in a flurry of wings and a rainbow of feathers. He flaps and stretches out his wings and runs about a little, hopping in a clumsy flight before settling before you.

His chin plops on Emmet's knee hopefully. Your boyfriend gives him scritches as the pokémon suspiciously eyes over this new person with his trainer. Emmet pulls out a second ball - a pokémon toy with a jingly bell. Now there's no attention on you whatsoever: to Archeops the world has narrowed to this toy. The pupils of his eyes have expanded, leaving them nearly completely black, reflecting the hand holding the toy before him. His tail thumps on the ground behind him in an eager rhythm. Emmet passes it to you. You huck it out into the park and Archeops goes skittering after it gleefully.

"You know... before, you were reminding me a lot of Archeops."

"Huh?" You're a little offended, being compared to a giant rainbow chicken and all. Yet, trainers always hold great fondness for their aces... so maybe there was more to this.

"When Archeops and I first started battling together, it was difficult. He wasn't as tough as he is now. It took a lot of time and a lot of practice for both of us to learn how to work together."

Archeops comes up right on cue and plops the slobbery ball into your lap. He squawks at you. You throw it again, pensive. What was Emmet trying to say here?

"I knew Archen had a lot of great potential. I could see so much in him. He was verrrry strong, but he'd get discouraged when things started to get rough in a battle. He still does. But that’s okay."

Archeops bounds back to you and plops the ball at your feet. You reach your hand out and Archeops tilts his head. He nibbles at your fingers, making a curious cooing bird sound. Then the fossil pokémon presses his head up into your hand, asking for scritches.

"I have seen him pull through again and again. When he gets knocked down, he gets back up. Even when things seem hard, he is still the same Archeops as he was at the start of the battle. I see it even when he does not. And it helps him to be part of a team. Being surrounded by others who believe in him ... It makes a big difference."

You’re not sure what to say, or if you should say anything at all. Instead, you let out a sigh and lean back against Emmet’s shoulder. It is nice to have someone to support you.

"You are a lot like that.... I see how hard you try. You do your verrrry best to get better each day, and it can be hard when it feels like your best is not enough. But it is. And you are."

Archeops practically smushes his head into your lap so you have to look at him. He trills up at you with such a happy, goofy expression that you can't help but feel a blooming fondness for the dinosaur. Emmet leans his head against yours.

"I care about you, even when you're feeling down. I see you. I see how strong you've been and how much you work at it. So don't get discouraged, okay? I am Emmet, and I am here for you no matter what."

How nice it is to be surrounded by the ones who love you.

~~~

Requests are [open!]

#emmet x reader #x reader #submas x reader #my writing #a nonny mouse #mailbox💌#op has an eating disorder and supports recovery. we're getting better. together. I promise.#tw disordered eating

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onestepbackwards · 2 years ago

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So I was thinking about the train twins (as one does.)

And I was thinking about like, how they are kinda just lean at most, very thin men. So I then thought about like, them with a bigger s/o.

Maybe even asking his(his being either twin) s/o why they never wear any of his clothes.

“You never take my shirts or my jackets.” Even though he likely intentionally leaves them at your house for you.

So you just sigh, hold a finger up to say “give me a minute.”

And you go upstairs, you’re gone for maybe for ten minutes, showing up with a little.

“This is exactly why.”

And it’s one of his sleep shirts, while he’s long, it barely fits over your tits, like a ruffled tight crop top. The poor man is stunned, eyes wide, but you keep going.

“Or, better yet.”

You toss off the shirt of his you had on, with a little struggle from how tight the fabric is, but you managed. Bare chest on display, but you two have been together a while, so you don’t feel embarrassed. Putting on the other shirt you grabbed with this one.

One of his work shirts.

Just a simple, neat button up.

You toss it on, starting with the bottom buttons and working your way up, struggling so hard to close the top buttons around your chest, but you barely manage.

You move your hands to show another reason, as to why you never wear his shirts. Only for the buttons around your chest to snap, popping and flying off, lightly hitting him in the face.

The now busted shirt leaving your tits out, but you’re panicking, making sure he’s okay while apologizing for his shirt, not thinking it would tear but that was your fault.

His face is bright red, breathing shakily. His cock pressing against his pants, begging to be free.

“Oh hon I’m so sorry I didn’t-“

“Do it again, please.”

You barely have time to question before you’re just yanked onto his lap, feeling his bulge against your panty cover crotch.

“Ruin as many shirts as you want, just please, keep wearing them like this.”

You get to wear his shirt, and he gets to see your sexy self like this? Is an absolute win in his book.

AYO? 👀👀 🔞🔞🔞

Oh you KNOW it doesn't matter what twin it is, or both. They see you trying to wear their shirts and that happens, both will want to see it more. It does something to them. Emmet will straight up beg. No doubt about it. He sees his work shirt pop like that, he will buy work shirts just for you to wear and pop open. He'll even wear them for you so they smell like him, just PLEASE let him see that again. Walk around with your titties out in his work shirt. He also can't keep his hands to himself. WILL be touching you so long as you allow it. He can't help it! You wearing his work shirt, and having your tits out? He's drooling. Emmet has no shame. Ingo will be a bit more controlled, but he still asks for you to do that again. He didn't realize how much of a turn on that would be. He will buy you similar work shirts, clean them, wear them, and then leave them nicely folded on your bed a week later for you to wear. It's a silent plea. He wants to see it again. He will drop whatever he is doing if you walk into the room with one of his work shirts on, and pop buttons again, revealing your tits. You have his full attention.

#ask #anon #zed.talks #nsft #spicy stuff🔥#smut #submas #ingo #emmet #subway boss ingo #subway boss emmet #long post #ingo x reader #emmet x reader #submission

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nell0-0 · 1 year ago

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I always imagine that Emmet would be more self-sabotage than self-destructive in grief, like he'd be more full of doubt, worry and stress but wouldn't actually do anything to damaging in the long run (eg. Would possibly throw himself into distractions like work but could be pulled back on track if prompted).

Also believe that Emmet would be more likely to admit/recognise that he has problems more easily, he might only admit it to himself at first but it's still a step forward.

(This is how I'm trying to write him in my fics but actually getting that across is harder than it should be.)

Execution is a struggle, you're right.

I like different portrayals of Emmet, just not the self destructive ones. I mean, maybe he does have a certain time that happens, but you're right. Self sabotage, at least as a temporary state, does feel more likely.

The way I usually picture Emmet is the kind of "I am Emmet. I have a problem. I know I have a problem. I also don't want to do anything about it. Not right now." And, obviously, eventually give that man some therapy, because he needs it.

From what I've read of your stuff tho, you're doing great!

#asks

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betasuppe · 2 years ago

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For the Champion Emmet AU, whenever you mention Emmet's reign of terror, it takes a moment for me to remember that he's 'just' beating lots of trainers and crushing their dreams, not enacting a literal reign of terror. What if being Champion did give him actual political power? What kind of reign of terror would he start?

I'm gonna be honest bruv, I hate any & all politics with a deep insidious burning passion and you could not even pay me enough to willingly talk about it even in regards to a fictional character. SO instead I'm gonna turn this ask a different way -

Let me start by saying this: EMMET IS A GOOD GUY. He's not inherently evil or hateful, by any means, ok?

& now prepare below for a ramble -

Sure, Emmet in his role as Champion might be cruel & cold-hearted in battle as well as be exceptionally prone to snapping at people probing too deep into his business... but he's not a bad guy. I jokingly call his years as champion as his 'reign of terror' but honestly he's really hurting & had a number of very bad experiences that lead up to him becoming prickly, easily aggrevated, & even ruthless when it comes to battling - but bUT BUUUUT, it doesn't continue like that forever!!!

Emmet really is a good guy. Not even hidden deep down or anything, but he's genuinely a kind, passionate guy!!! But he was so hurt by the loss of his brother & how the rest of the world ignored him & treated him with such disregard that he started acting very... not like himself.

Thus, enter his Champion Emmet persona.

& also, listen. I hate hearing people shit on variations of Emmet that aren't always perfectly happy & chipper, even with his brother & best friend vanishing out of his life. So please, give Champ Em some leeway - this isn't who he truly is, it's more a way he could cope & struggle through his grief.

& trust me, coming from someone who went years without being correctly diagnosed & treated properly for multiple mental health issues, I was a snarky, needlessly cruel & rude fucking asshole more often than not. & that's not who I am, at all! Likewise, Emmet went through an extreme amount of trauma & needed professional help & even therapy to break through this harsh, cold exterior to his sweet, old self that he had hid away when the world around him was complete offset.

I'll tell the follow up story later [if anyone wants to hear it, though I strongly doubt anyone reads this or even cares lmao] of how Champion Emmet returns to his old self & ends up becoming one of Unova's most well loved public figures. But for tonight, that's as far as I'm gonna go.

So yeah, sorry I'm not answering your question, but I hope this bit of rambling is ok!!! x0

#asks #champion emmet #keeping it minimal but !!!#theres plot! i swear!#i just know no one wants to hear about my silly au so blah #sorry this is all i gots

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heres-to-all-that-is-mine · 3 years ago

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Okokok, so what if due to dimensional shenanigans, Nelson gets thrown into Emmet and Ingo’s dimension (whichever au you want) with ~amnesia~, but a whole lotta weird quirks stuck with him (hating going into forests, fear of gnomes, muttering to himself, etc.) Idk thought it would be a fun idea.

Sorry for not responding for a bit!! I was rotating this in my mind like a shiny rock

And wow. It would be… so very confusing for him!! For one, it’s a huge change in genres, although he doesn’t quite remember it- where’s the high stakes, mysterious disappearances, the puzzles?? He’s not sure why he’s so confused, of course, he has nothing to his self except his name and adoration of puzzles and gum. No money, no Pokemon (or knowledge of them), no job, no friends, nothing nada zilch.

In fact, he’s quite skittish about pokemon! Too many bad memories of small things with strange powers who hurt him. Or rather- lack of memory. Is there such a thing as a void with feelings?

If, by chance, he ends up on the subway… I have no doubt the twins would help him out. Not so much befriend him, no- they’d point him towards the nearest hospital (or pokécenter? Idk) because he clearly needs some help, they’re not qualified to help him with that sort of thing, and they’re busy people. Off he goes, etc etc, and boy is he struggling. Strange machines, strange people, strange places, and on top of all that he keeps introducing himself as “Agent-” and then cutting himself off and debating what he was going to say and completely zoning out. There’s not exactly a moment to rest and he’s on high alert, so it takes him a while to wind down and collect himself and unravel what is happening. Make it a puzzle! Split it into little pieces, easy to understand, put them together. He’s good at that. Good at solving them. That’s easy.

What’s not so easy is figuring out what happened, exactly, who he is, where he is, and how to get back. (Back to where? He’s not sure.)

Other people can probably help, yeah. He’s done some research. Thank god coffee still exists! And that it was free, he really doesn’t have much to his name right now. Agent Looker seems promising, with his expertise, but Nelson has no way to reach him really (and it’s a miracle he understands the language at all, he’s got no idea how anything here works). If he pops into the timeline after Ingo goes missing, he might seek out Emmett’s assistance as well- he’s close by, and clearly has some knowledge, no matter how little…

#purples rambling #puzzle agent #nelson tethers #subway boss emmet #subway boss Ingo #subway puzzle

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allicekitty13 · 5 years ago

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Your Greatest Mistake

After a major fight with Bella, Alice deals with the emotional mess in the aftermath. - A Twilight Fanfic

"Think you made your greatest mistake; I'm not gonna' call this a break. Think you really blew it this time; think we've been walking on such a thin line."- Mistake, Demi Lovato

Alice sat on the couch, stunned by what she was hearing, refusing to believe this was happening. "You can't possibly be serious, Bells." Her arms were shaking with a mixture of emotions: rage, confusion, devastation. A sinking sick feeling was forming in the pit of her stomach, and she silently took a moment to appreciate her husband wasn't around to feel this as well. "You're supposed to be my best friend." She finally spoke, "How can you be so selfish!"

"How can I be so selfish? Look in the mirror Alice." The taller girl scoffed. "I'm tired, okay. I'm so sick of you making every little thing about you." She spat the words like venom. "You know what else, just because you know everything that's going to happen doesn't give you an excuse to be controlling and manipulative."

"What about you? You don't get to ignore the feelings of the people you supposedly care about just because they don't affect you. When someone tells you your actions hurt them, you don't get to decide they didn't." Alice stood, her entire body shaking at this point. "Rose was right." She said the words almost as a whisper.

"And what exactly was Rose right about?"

"You're not my friend anymore, and you haven't been for quite some time now. I've been fighting it for months now, defending you, turning to her after every stupid, stilly, pointless argument. Just struggling to hang onto something that's been long gone for a while. I hurt, too, and my feelings don't matter to you.

"I'm so sick of this; it's exhausting. I'm done, Alice."

"I truly hope you have a great life."

.............................................................................................................................

Two Years Later

"I miss her a lot Rose." Alice was sitting in the living room of her new home with Rosalie. She and Jasper had decided it best to leave for a bit after she and Bella had it out. They still communicated and visited with the majority of their family, but neither had spoken to Edward or Bella in two years. "I sometimes think about calling her up to apologize. But the more I think about things, her behavior leading up to our fall out was nothing new. It had been becoming more frequent, sure, but the toxicity was very much standard. Looking back, I think we've been hurting each other since the day we met. I only did awful things or had all that self-hatred what I was around her. That's not who I want to be. I have a feeling she was also only awful when she was around me." Alice paused, her breath catching in her throat.

Rosalie took her hand in an attempt to be comforting and waited for her sister to continue. Alice took a few moments before speaking again. "Cutting her out of my life was one of the hardest things I've ever done. I think about her all the time. So many things bring up her memory, gifts we exchanged, common interests we bonded over. I don't want the negativity in my life, but it feels inescapable. I want to contact her and apologize, but I don't want to get swept into her life again. I, under no circumstance, want to be her friend. I'm a lot happier, healthier, and kinder without her around." Alice looked her sister in the eye pleadingly. "Rose, be honest with me. I don't know if I should open that door, or if it's better left closed. I don't even know what I want to say or how I'd say it. It's such a mess."

Rosalie took a moment to think over everything that had just come gushing out of Alice's mouth. "Truthfully, I think it would be best to keep your distance. Especially considering the toxicity is something you don't want in your life. It's admirable that you want to apologize and take responsibility for your part." Rosalie paused, contemplating her next words. "But, as long as you're okay with who you are now and the person you've become. It seems pointless to look back."

"You're probably right. Maybe I need to find a way to forgive myself rather than reaching out to her."

"I agree, apologizing to someone for your own forgiveness is silly — forgive yourself, who cares what anyone else thinks."

..............................................................................................................................

Later that night

"So," Emmet said, leaning back against the kitchen counter. "I hear you, and Rose had a heart to heart earlier."

"Yupp," Alice replied, looking up from her sketchbook open in front of her at the table.

"But Jasper tells me you're still not feeling great." He crossed the room to sit in the chair across from her. "Want to get some input from your favorite brother?"

Alice sighed and closed her sketchbook. "I feel like you're not going to give me much choice."

Emmett laughed, "You know me too well, little sis." He took on a more serious expression before continuing. "This is clearly eating at you, what does your gut tell you?"

"Honestly? My gut instinct was to ask you to say something on my behalf. But that seemed rather shady, so I dismissed the idea."

"Well, I wouldn't say shady, but definitely less genuine. Do you still feel like it would be toxic after all this time?"

"I mean, we've always fought. I also feel like she got in my head a lot and caused me problems that wouldn't have happened otherwise.

"Hmm, like what?"

"Well, all the fighting I did unnecessarily with Rose. It was always something small being taken out of context by Bella playing the middle man. Or, more importantly, most of those issues I was having with Jazz. Since we've been apart, we've been fantastic. All of that paranoia came from talking to Bella."

"I have to say; I'm glad you had your wits about you when it came to Jasper. He's good shit."

"I sometimes wonder if she was unhappy and just didn't want anyone else to be."

"Who knows, so what's your plan to talk to her if you decide to go that route?"

"After talking to Rose, my plan is not too."

"She's probably got a good point; it doesn't sound worth talking to Bella. Seems like you want to say sorry to ease your own conscience, but not to talk further than that."

"Rose thinks I need to find a way to forgive myself, that Bella isn't worth my energy. She may have done some awful things, but I'm in no way innocent, I'm guilty of everything she accused me of. That's the part I'm struggling with."

"I agree, you're tearing yourself apart over something you've tried to make a clean break from. You said yourself you've been better off. Rose is a smart woman, listen to her, and ask yourself this. If you apologized for your part... would Bella apologize for hers?"

"It's doubtful."

..............................................................................................................................

Six months later

Alice was going over some notes on her laptop when she stumbled across a poem written by Bella. Thinking she would probably want it back and not wanting it anymore, she called Emmett.

"Hey, little sis. What can I do for you this fine afternoon?" Alice explained what she had found and her intentions to return the poem to its owner. "Well, hate to break it to you, but I'm not quite sure I can do that over mobile, and my laptop is out of commission. You're going to have to contact her over this one thing."

Alice took a steadying breath, "I can be a grown-up... Just give me a quick pep talk."

"You've got this kid; I believe in you. You can do the thing!"

"Thanks, Em," She laughed. "I'll let you know how it goes."

"Standing by."

Alice took a moment to steady herself after ending the call with her brother before texting Bella. "Hey, so I was looking for something on my laptop and found a piece of your writing. I just wanted to offer it back to you before I delete it."

The reply came back shortly. "Um, sure."

"Do you have an E-mail I can send it to?" Bella sent along her e-mail address, and Alice let her know she'd send anything else she found. She could have left it at that, but that desire to clear the air and get everything off her chest had returned. So she texted Emmett again.

"Em, I got the job done. But I need you to tell me to leave it there; I'm contemplating apologizing again. Advise me, oh, wise one."

"Well, you probably should leave it. Rose is unquestionably wiser than me, but I guess... does it seem like she wants to talk about it?"

"I don't know; it's the get it off my chest thing again... I'm gonna do it."

"Okay, well, just be civil. Apologizing is fine, but don't go overboard. I don't need you two getting into an argument again."

Alice took a moment to type out her thoughts before sending the message out to Bella, "Look... I want to apologize for all the stuff I did. I was dealing with my own stuff and took it out on you. I know that in no way excuses my actions or makes it okay. I miss you like crazy all the time. I'm not trying or expecting to be your friend again. Anyway, I just wanted to say I'm sorry. I hope your life is good."

Alice waited about five minutes before calling up her brother. "She hasn't read it. I guess no matter what happens, I feel better for doing the right thing."

"If you feel your conscience is clear, then I'd say you're good."

"I miss her, I shouldn't, but I do."

"I don't think shouldn't is the right word. It's perfectly reasonable to miss someone you had such a strong relationship with."

"I think it's one of those 'the grass is greener' things. We had some good times, but I have to remember we fell out for a reason. Two good people who were just really really bad together.

"That's a good way of looking at it."

"I'm just glad I tried."

Fin.

Some Notes:

I wrote this piece as a way of dealing with a real fight I had with my actual best friend a few years ago. Alice's feelings in this fic are representative of my emotions over the past three years. The conversations are inspired by the actual conversations I've had with my friends in that period. This piece was very therapeutic to write; I hope you enjoyed it.

#Twilight #fanfiction #twilight fanfiction #alice cullen #bella swan #rosalie hale #Emmett Cullen #angst #Hurt/Comfort

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four-leaf-fairytale · 3 years ago

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Day 11: Royalty AU

“Alright,” Lilac says, crossing her arms. The room quiets at her tone. Emmet’s advisor, who’s nearly red in the face from outrage, shuts his mouth, and Lilac’s parents, who have been bristling throughout the exchange, both look at her. The throne room is quiet, and so tense that Lilac’s reminded of the moment when lighting has just struck, but before the thunder hits. She ignores the advisors, ignores the dignitaries and parents and guards, and turns to the two people who matter in this instant.

Sam, by her side, is quiet. His back is straight, his hand is as ever at his sword. His eyes are unreadable as she looks at him. Maybe he shouldn’t be looking straight at her; a guard is not meant to meet a princess’s eye. But he’s her best friend before he’s her knight, and so anyone who takes issue can damn well hold their tongue.

Emmet is still standing on the dais, but his head is bowed. He shouldn’t be doing that either—he’s the king here, in name if nothing else. Even though Lilac is his betrothed, he shouldn’t incline his head toward her. No doubt, it’s not improving his advisor’s sour face.

Fine. Let him bow his head. She’s glad he knows he made a mistake.

“Let me make this clear,” Lilac says, and her voice rings out in the vast space. “I am not breaking off my betrothal. I am not going to break the alliance between our kingdoms. And I am not sending my knight home, or taking any actions that will separate him from my side. If I come back into this room to find that anyone here has done or spoken otherwise, there will be consequences.” She looks around the room slowly, catching nods from the guards and her parents, and grim silence from the advisor.

“Emmet, Sam,” Lilac says, glancing at each of them in turn. “Come with me.” She picks up her skirts and leaves the room, without waiting to see if they follow.

“Explain,” Lilac says, once they’re safely in her room. Her bedroom—Emmet hasn’t been here since her envoy arrived, and he certainly didn’t expect to find himself here like this. He sits down meekly in one of the embroidered armchairs, and Sam sits down in the other. He can feel Lilac looming over them both, in the rustle of her skirts and the fire in her gaze. And then she’s close enough that he can make her out, an impression of blue and brown motion against the sunlit pink room.

“I assume you have an explanation,” she prompts, and Emmet realizes that neither he nor Sam have said anything. “I’m assuming,” she says, and yes, there’s the distress that she’d held back so with such poise in front of the adults. “That there’s a reason that you,” Lilac points at him, “tried to have my best friend shipped off to some outpost on the other side of the kingdom. And you,” pointing at Sam, “Did not seem surprised or even resistant to the idea.”

But that’s not quite true, Emmet thinks, because even without seeing his face, Emmet could tell how hurt Sam had been when it all came to light. The way his voice had tightened. How he’d gone quiet. God, how had Emmet possibly managed to make this nightmare situation worse?

“In my defense,” Sam says, and his voice is a horrible forced-formal, “I can assure you that his majesty took me by surprise with that declaration as well.”

“Please don’t call me that,” Emmet mutters. Sam ignores him.

“I have some idea of what prompted it, but I think his majesty should explain the situation for himself, since I obviously don’t entirely know why he thought this was the right way to handle things.”

“What things,” Lilac says, throwing up her hands, and she deserves an explanation. They both do. Emmet swallows. Straightens up in his chair.

“Lilac, maybe you should have a seat,” he says. Lilac ignores him. Emmet doesn’t think anyone outright ignores him as much as these two do. It’s somewhat refreshing.

“Okay. Uh.” He doesn’t know how to do this. “Lilac, are you in love with me?”

“No,” Lilac says, without hesitation.

“And I’m not in love with you,” Emmet says, feeling like he can say it now that she has. “And it’s been months.”

“Right,” Lilac says. She sounds confused. “But we agreed that we probably needed time. We hardly knew each other; people don’t just fall in love like that.”

“We know each other now, don’t we?” Emmet said. “We’ve practically spent every day together for the past nine months. And it’s been…” he ducks his head, then raises it again. It’s the worst habit for a king to have; he’s been chided for it more times than he can count. “It’s been really nice. Lilac, I really like you. I’m just…not in love with you.”

“Oh, come on,” Lilac said, almost disbelieving. “Nine months is barely anything. No one falls in love in so short a time.”

Emmet turns to look at Sam almost without meaning to, then quickly faces front again. “People do,” he tells her. “Engagements would be longer if they didn’t.”

“Okay,” Lilac says, and she finally sits down on the edge of her bed. “So you don’t think we’re going to fall in love.”

“Probably not.”

“And the wedding is in three months.”

“Yeah.”

“And we can’t break it off.” Lilac sounds fierce. “We’ve worked too hard on this alliance, Emmet. Our kingdoms both need it.”

“I know,” Emmet says, feeling suddenly as if it’s urgent that Lilac knows. “I know, I’m not going to break off the alliance, I swear. My country comes first. And this is what’s good for the country.” He can feel his voice edging into desperation.

“Marriages can work just fine without love,” Lilac says, thoughtfully. “The important thing is that we get along.”

“Yes,” Emmet says, aware that his voice is pained. “That would be true if neither party in the marriage was in love with someone else.”

“Is—sorry, what?” Lilac’s back on her feet in an instant, sounding outright murderous. “Is that what this is about? Do you think I’m in love with Sam?”

“No need to sound so incredulous,” Sam chimes in, entirely unhelpfully. “I’ve been told I’m quite dashing.”

“Well sure,” Lilac says, “but I’m not in love with you.”

“That’s not—” Emmet starts, but Lilac keeps talking.

“Emmet, what the hell? It’s like you don’t know us at all!”

“I wasn’t saying—”

“You’re not even in love with me, I’ve never understood romantic jealousy but this can’t possibly be it—”

“I didn’t—”

“I’m not in love with Sam!” Lilac shouts. “But I can tell you right now—he’s more important to me than you can imagine, and I’ll call off this goddamn political marriage before I let you—”

“Lilac!” Emmet hisses, standing up abruptly. “Would you let me finish a sentence?”

Lilac doesn’t back down, though he’s now the one looming over her. Instead, she raises her chin, and the light flashes against her tiara. “Do you have anything intelligent to say?”

“I wasn’t saying that you’re in love with Sam!” Emmet says, finally breaking and shouting back. “I was saying that I am!”

Sam watches Lilac, biting down so hard on the inside of his cheek that he can almost taste copper. For lack of much princess-defending to do in the past few months, he’s been imagining all of the scenarios in which Lilac could find out about this ill-fated, foolish mistake he’s made. None of them end well, in his head.

Lilac doesn’t look angry, which is something. She doesn’t look particularly devastated, although Emmet’s looking close to it. She sits back down, her layers of blue skirts bouncing a bit as she does. She looks bewildered, as if she’s struggling to process this new development. Emmet sinks back down into his chair and clenches his hands in his lap. Sam holds his breath.

And Lilac starts to laugh.

It’s not hysterical laughter, either—it’s this is ridiculous laughter, and also I’m making fun of you in a nice way laughter. Sam can recognize them both. He doesn’t quite understand how either are appliquable at the moment.

“Sorry,” Lilac says, getting a hold of herself—although she’s still grinning. “It’s just—that’s it?”

“Yes?” Emmet says. He glances at Sam, and Sam gives him a shrug. He might know Lilac better than Emmet does, but he’s still at a loss about this.

“Well, that’s great!” Lilac says, and she looks…genuinely happy. “How long have you two been together?” “We haven’t been,” Sam says, cautiously. He doesn’t know how to handle this. “Lilac, you’re betrothed. Of course I’m not going to—” he breaks off. To mess this up, he was going to say, but hasn’t he done that now? “I’m not going to come between you two if I can help it.”

Lilac rolls her eyes. “Fine then. How long have you two been pining after each other in angsty silence?”

Sam and Emmet glance at each other again.

“Five months,” Sam says.

“Eight,” Emmet mutters, not looking at either of them. His cheeks are bright pink. Lilac catches Sam’s eye and winks.

And okay—Sam can kind of see how this might be funny, considering that Lilac isn’t actually in love with Emmet. He’s self aware enough to recognize when he’s been acting a bit ridiculous.

“I can’t believe I didn’t notice,” Lilac says. She’s shaking her head fondly.

“Well, you aren’t particularly romantically inclined,” Sam tells her.

“Hey, I’m making fun of you two, not the other way around.”

“Why, princess, I would never make fun.”

“You’re really okay?” Emmet asks Lilac. She nods serenely.

“What are we going to do?” Sam asks, a little more seriously. Lilac being amused instead of upset is one less problem, to be sure. Still, there remains the matter of the alliance, and the far less important matter of Sam’s heart, which has been breaking a bit for the past five months.

“Look,” Lilac says, and now she’s being serious too, drawing herself up into royalty mode. “I don’t see a reason to make things more complicated than we have to. The three of us already spend all our time together. Sam lives in the castle, and attends every meeting that I do, comes with me whenever I travel. And what we all do on our own time is our own business, not the kingdom’s. So I think Em and I get married for the alliance, rule as ‘husband and wife’” Lilac puts this in air quotes, “And you two can be the disgustingly cute couple you’re longing to be behind closed doors. It would mean that you can’t get married for real, but…” She shrugged. “It’s the best compromise I can think of. And it’s better than being apart, right?”

There’s quiet for a moment. Sam’s the one who breaks it, by unbuckling his uniform breastplate and lowering it to the ground. The metal clanks against the hardwood floor, and the wolf on the coat of arms stares blankly up at the ceiling.

“Lilac,” he says, very seriously. “You’re absolutely brilliant, and I love you very much.” And he tackles her onto the bed in a hug. She laughs, and wraps her arms around him, and for a moment, everything’s alright again.

“I don’t understand,” Emmet says, quietly. Fervently. His voice is shaking. Sam sits up.

“I don’t understand,” he repeats. “Lilac, I thought you’d be furious. He said we’d be lucky if you didn’t break the betrothal, if you even found out I was even thinking about someone else!”

Lilac doesn’t let go of Sam’s shoulders. She’s frowning up at Emmet. Emmet’s on his feet again, and pacing.

“Certainly not,” Lilac says. “I’m a bit more level headed than that, Em.”

“But he seemed so certain,” Emmet says, faintly. “That the only way to save the country was to send Sam away.”

Lilac and Sam look at each other, then back at Emmet.

“I take it you talked to your advisor about this?” Lilac asks, slowly. Emmet nods, and Lilac looks back at Sam.

“Okay, this might be our fault.”

“Just a bit,” Sam agrees. The knot in his chest at the idea of Emmet trying to send him away starts to unravel a bit. They’ll still have to talk about it, he suspects. Still, this explains some things.

“What?” Emmet asks. Lilac pats the empty corner next to her, and Emmet sits down warily.

“Look, Em,” Sam says. Better to be blunt than misunderstood, he figures. “Your advisor’s manipulating you. He’s been trying to sabotage the alliance since we got here, and we suspect it’s because he likes having you rule alone, because it makes you dependent on him. He’d lose power if you were married.” Sam hesitates, because he’s not sure about this part. “Power and possibly a chance at inheriting the throne.”

Emmet blinks at them once, then twice.

“Huh. Yeah, that makes sense.”

“You’re being awfully calm about this,” Lilac says, watching him carefully. He shrugs.

“Today’s already a lot to take in. And honestly, it’s fairly in character, when I think about it.” Emmet shakes his head. “The bastard. No wonder he’s always walking me into doors when he’s sight-guiding me.”

“He what?” Lilac asks, and Sam tightens the arm around her waist so that she can’t jump up and hunt down the man in question.

“Easy there, princess,” he tells her. “If any one of us should be going out to fight Em’s advisor, it should probably be the one who has a sword.”

“I could just take your sword,” Lilac mutters, but settles back against his side.

“God, Sam,” Emmet says. “I’m so sorry.”

Sam looks over at him. His back is to the pillar of Lilac’s bed, and his crown is askew and slipping against his snow-blond hair. There are purple crescents under his eyes, and they surprise Sam without fail. Lilac is his oldest and dearest friend, the person he loves most on this earth, and so he isn’t easily cowed by royalty. But Emmet, tall, pale, and handsome, in fur-collared capes and king’s crown of jewels, had seemed like a marble statue when they first met. Being close enough to see him with dark circles under his eyes? To see the scar just to the left of his mouth and know that it was from walking straight off of a drawbridge in broad daylight? To see him blush, and make petty snide remarks, and break his posture to duck his head?

It was something good, even when it was something stolen and secret. It was something better now.

“Em, please come sit with us,” Lilac begs, and Emmet carefully scoots down the length of the bed to rest his head on top of Lilac’s.

“Is there a reason you didn’t tell me about my advisor?” He asks, and Sam winces a bit.

“We thought he was acting on your orders.”

“Just at first!” Lilac says hurriedly. “Before we got to know you. And then it had been long enough that we figured there was nothing we could do until the marriage.”

“There isn’t,” Emmet agrees. “He still has too much power over me.” Sam can practically hear his grit teeth. “But at least I would have known, and been able to help you manage until then.”

“We all made mistakes,” Lilac says. “But I think…everything’s going to be okay. We just need to get married, get rid of your advisor, and get you a better cane, or a guide dog, or at least someone who isn’t going to walk you into things.”

“And we need to put protections around the rights of the castle staff,” Emmet chimes in.

“Protections?” Sam asks. As far as he knows, there’s nothing too dangerous about castle work.

“Agreed,” Lilac says. “I don’t foresee an issue like this happening again, but it was too close. We need some way to make sure Sam isn’t send-away-able, just because we’re royalty and have the ability.”

“Send-away-able isn’t a word,” Sam says, but there’s something light fluttering in his chest. He could kiss these two, his favorite people, who he’ll be with for the rest of his life.

He could kiss them. He’s allowed.

Sam leans into Lilac and presses a kiss to her cheek, then reaches for Emmet’s hand and presses his lips to his knuckles. Lilac grins, and Emmet blushes, but doesn’t let go of his hand.

Lilac, he thinks, is right as always. Everything’s going to be okay.

#Lilac #Sam #Emmet #Yonder #So much italicization...#Anyway I'm finally back from the beach so I can stop rationing computer battery like a crazy person #And type up all the stuff from the past few days and post it #whooooo #royalty au #writersmonth2021

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geraldinesnell · 8 years ago

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'Crawling hand in hand out of the window’ / ‘Maybe it’s just me’

This is just a few thoughts - after seeing Michaela Cullen’s ‘Crawling hand in hand out of the window’ at Assembly House in Leeds last night and what I perceive to be the premise of ‘Maybe it’s just me’ at Embassy in Edinburgh - converging with some general thoughts. Maybe that is not worth stating, because that’s what all writing is. Anyway. I didn’t take any pics and in any case my phone’s shite but here’s one of ‘Lost sheep in wolves clothing’ (Hessian cloaks, galvanised chain) from Michaela’s show:

The title resonated with my impulse to quite literally crawl out of the window at art openings. They’re marmite things for me, depending on how ‘life of the party’ I’m feeling at that particular time, and the type of space (artist-run, ‘proper’ gallery, commercial space etc). Artist-run space openings, such as this - and serf where I first met Michaela - are friendly, supportive things. It can sometimes feel a little cliquey as an ‘outsider’ but then you remember that everyone is as scared as you as you are of them (something JDA Winslow told me when I said I was scared to talk to people who already seemed like they were all friends when I was just wandering lone) .

Speaking for myself but in 2nd person… you see people you’ve met before, meet new people and try to converse in a non-mumbly way, try to talk as little about yourself and what you’re up to as possible cos it’s tedious and you don’t like talking about yourself as exhibitionisty and solipsistic as you are. You have a few bevvies, hide in the toilet when you’re feeling anxious, have a fag to break it up a bit. Also I think this is some of the thinking behind Embassy’s current ‘Maybe it’s just me’ show and talks (I think the premise sort of being that art and art openings and these cliques/bubbles/pockets aren’t ENOUGH? given the political clime, thus the decision to have loads of talks / reading seshes in addition to the show.

ANYWAY, I only hark on about openings because it relates to Michaela’s work and the schpeel on the facebook event page as I understand it? Which I will clumsily paraphrase (and for argument’s sake inevitably reduce/eradicate the nuance of as is the case when you write about anything with your own agenda) as: addressing how artists put on a sort of ‘uniform’ or make work a certain way or go about things a certain way (the way they think is the right way) in order to progress and ‘succeed’ but it’s often to their detriment. And then of course that made me think of Beagles’ essay (which I keep coming back to) and the way artists ‘deconstruct and present dry critiques of mediums they privately enjoy but for professional purposes would never admit it’, adhering to this whole art pedigree thang, this ‘inculcated sense of artistic propriety’. And it’s to the detriment of the work and we need to be mongrels, not pedigree, and not empty all the oomph and va va voom and woof woof LFHGSLFJGHSFIAKHGNL PLEASURE… 4 REAL, PLEASURE, enjoyment from the work.

There’s so many goddam rules in art! Again, because of its self-professed status as somehow ‘high’ culture, because of its pedigree, because it has to tell itself it’s somehow better than the rest of culture, mass culture, and it has to be critical and can’t be kitsch.

Anyway, back to the show. lost sheep in wolves’ clothing, pictured above, illustrated this tendency well for me. In a really ominous but also quite comical way. In a visually / sensually arresting way, dementor/grim-reaper-like hanging cloaks. The way that something sucks the soul out of stuff. This is the connection I made anyway. ‘Hey man… it’s harvest time’, featuring a retail display bench kind of thing with embroidered trackie bottoms and unbranded trainers, reinforced this. And the rune-like ‘wisdom wrath wonder woe want’ signatures on the wall. When confronted with this invitation to don the uniform, or the concept of wearing a uniform at all, most of us artisteeees would claim nahhh I’m doing me own thinggg, though.

Again, alluded to in Michaela’s text, there’s this paradox about doing art and being part of an art community; everyone wants to make their work and have it seen, often as an autonomous, named author, so everyone is kind of competing. But simultaneously, people are supporting each other, bandying together, going to each other’s shows. I feel like I want a show but it’s kind of like, why? I wanna show work, sure, but really it’s just for pictures, for the social and cultural capital, for the few… and… there’s this sense that you just do shows and promote yourself and try to get ahead in some way, when that’s really not how our politics are. Molly Palmer sorta suggestsed - in a facey b post, don’t really know what the crack is with referencing them! - changing the word for artist, and suggested ‘CONDUIT FOR MUTUAL EMPOWERMENT’. I like that. But even now, writing this, isn’t it really just about my own spin and my two cents, rather than the work itself? We don’t often acknowledge this, but that’s what individual artistic practice is, right? You read and engage and research to the extent that it feeds into your own work somehow, your own thinking?

Even with the whole Dana Schutz Emmet Till painting controversy (I think that Coco Fusco article and the comments below it is the most balanced thing I’ve seen) you can’t shake the feeling that as much as Hannah Black and Parker Bright standing before it (which was totally cool and in no was suggested cenorship in my eyes, although Black’s letter did) did truly object and protest and were truly offended, which they have every right to be and every right to express, there’s a degree of self-promo in the letter, even if unconsciously, not that it’s virtue-signalling but the claim to speak for a community in a very public forum... but this is good anyway, sometimes things require maybe a little more nuance or time to digest?

Anyway, I digress again…

And like ‘Maybe it’s just me’ - ‘ a project by Embassy gallery which started with an open ended invitation to Caspar Heinemann, Jake Kent and Daisy Lafarge that exists somewhere at a point in time between desperately holding onto things we think are important and a point where we are also searching for something more affective for our futures’ - and yes, that is AFFECTIVE*, as opposed to effective, (but maybe more effective as well) there’s this sense that in the current clime, individual artistic practice is just like… not all it was cracked up to be. Or that realisation that contemporary art was only ever for the few but that’s not why we went down this route; that ole struggle between wanting a better world and the fact that contemporary art and artists have no real power, and maybe never did, even if lots of the ideas filtered into pop culture and advertising. Idk

Just some thoughts. I didn’t want to ‘crawl… out of the window’ at Michaela’s show, or I did when it got late but that wasn’t cos of the art or the place’s variety of opening mingling, but because I had to get back to Oakworth for that wretched dog, and because I felt kinda anxious about talking.

But anyway.

I wonder, as maybe it’s just me searches for something MORE AFFECTIVE, as Michaela sort of institutionally critiques** art-stuff, as lots of people in culture and theory try to imagine alternative ways and futures, after Mark Fisher’s suicide directly before the start of his Postcapitalist Desire module, when the right are ascending and shit’s hitting the fan, WHAT another way could look like. And in the case of art and art practice and the whole notion of practicing as an autonomous individual - an author - how can we kind of work together whilst we reinforce individualism though our pursuit of individual artistic success, or distinction from peers? Even as we bandy together and have mutually supportive artist-run spaces.

Or, if the world is fucked anywayz, and if art only ever imagined better ways in the world, MAYBE we should carry on as we were, making work, indulging in ideas. Or maybe we should just act as well, and maybe art and individual artists shouldn’t feel this responsibility to like, change the world! I mean, other disciplines/sectors don’t! They just make the money, they just go with the tide. Really, technology changes the world more than art ever could. Paradigm shifts occur through technological innovation. Say, if the internet changed the way people communicate and perceive more than art EVER COULD, art can kind of forfeit that duty, and carry on as it was. Or try to communicate rather than confuse. Or, like that guy on medium who deleted the article called cryptography trumps art, which I will quote from memory thus: ‘I am suggesting that artists turn away from their concern with leftist politics and prepare for life in a world much more hostile than this one’

WHO KNOWSy-woahsy?

carry onnnnnsy wonnsyyy

never mindsy windsyyy

things’ll be fine —sy winessyy

maybe it’s just cos…

*Affective - of affect, feelings, senses etc. Let us be affected not aloof, let things transmit AFFECT. Also Sian and I were talking in Edinburgh about how funny it is, and she’s noticed this more since working in tech, that art just has its own language COMPLETELY. I’m only saying this here because affect in cultural theory / art terms is kind of maybe an example of this. Well it’s not really. but you know what i mean see INTERNATIONAL ART ENGLISH and see below footnote:

**I’ve been thinking a lot about institutional critique, and can you ever critique something in the language of the thing? and the word ironism. How we all need to get goddam ironism. like: ‘ Noun ironism (uncountable)(philosophy) A state of doubt regarding one’s own “vocabulary” (set of communicative beliefs) that cannot be removed by making arguments in that vocabulary.’ Also with regards to Calvino’s Invisible Cities: “The inferno of the living is not something that will be; if there is one, it is what is already here, the inferno where we live every day, that we form by being together. There are two ways to escape suffering it. The first is easy for many: accept the inferno and become such a part of it that you can no longer see it. The second is risky and demands constant vigilance and apprehension; seek and learn to recognize who and what, in the midst of the inferno, are not inferno, then make them endure, give them space.” like, this is the way I see Michaela’s uniform analogy kind of like, the uniform or set way is like accepting the inferno. and art language. and pedigree. BRIDGE THE GAP, close the distance, MAYBE IT’S JUST ME? or maybe people just do stuff the way it’s been done and then everyone feels like maybe it’s just me… anyway, yeah the show was affective and effective and it’s triggered all these thoughts so sick

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belonglab · 5 years ago

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“You Be You,” and Other Black History Month Lessons

By Neha Sampat, Esq.

February 28, 2020

Yesterday, I attended my kids’ elementary school assembly celebrating Black History Month. It perfectly capped off what has been a tremendously inspiring month for me. The kids took turns sharing quotes from Black changemakers, and this one really struck me: “If I’m going to sing like someone else, then I don’t need to sing at all.” - Billie Holiday It spoke to my heart and gave a new and beautiful expression for some of what we are trying to do here at GenLead|BelongLab through our work. For instance, we all sometimes get Imposter Syndrome as a result of feeling like we are coming up short when measuring ourselves against others in our industry or in similar roles. This happens often to those of us who may have unique identities and experiences and who may look different than those we see in the leadership ranks of our professions. I talk about this regularly in our workshops and speeches when I share my own past struggle with Imposter Syndrome in public speaking. Yes, indeed! I used to have significant stress and self-doubt when it came to public speaking, in part because I was comparing myself to traditional orators and trying (and failing!) to mimic them. Turns out, I am not a traditional orator, and that is a GOOD thing. I’ve got my own casual and vulnerable style of speaking, and that is precisely what has made me an effective public speaker. I conveyed the principle Holiday's quote captures at the recent Leadership Council on Legal Diversity’s 2020 Fellow Meeting, at which I was honored to serve as faculty. This was another high point of inspiration for me this month because it was the first legal industry conference (and in fact the first leadership conference) among many I have attended over the years that focused less on teaching participants how to play the game by the old rules and more on inspiring participants to develop their own authentic leadership models. Our Owning Your Value program approach aligned so well with that message, as we help people to stop feeling “less than” when they don’t fit the models of leadership they see around them, and instead recognize and leverage their own unique skills, experiences, and perspectives to realize that they are, in fact, “more than” enough. Like Holiday, they are the tulip bravely in bloom, daring to be different:

I just listened to Holiday's recording of “Strange Fruit,” a controversial and haunting song about lynching that was one of the seminal protest songs in our Civil Rights history. (A particularly timely listen given this week’s passage of the Emmet Till Antilynching Act, in spite of four votes against it.) I learned this interesting fact: Holiday's record label refused to record the song. Instead of backing down, Holiday stood strong and switched labels so she could record it! She went on to perform it regularly in the face of much backlash and risk. I am so grateful to her for her courage. At the end of the school assembly yesterday, the kids described the legacies of Black changemakers and shared their personal commitments to carry those legacies forward. I was inspired to do the same: I commit to carry Billie Holiday’s legacy forward by standing strong in voicing what I believe to be wrong, facing that which is difficult, and refusing to be silenced. And by giving myself permission to do all of that in my own unique way. Thank you, Billie Holiday, for gifting us with this legacy.

#black history month #Imposter Syndrome #inclusion #diversity #authenticity #billie holiday

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vincejonesuniverse · 6 years ago

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Please, Help Yourself

As a young man I proudly wore the coat of the agnostic. Having heard so many state that God was love but if you broke a certain rule you would suffer for all eternity, that the Devil battles with God and actually wins from time to time never made any sense to me so I walked the agnostics’ path. I had always believed there was “something,” some power or intelligence, but the idea of a punishing, score keeping, testing God that could lose battles just did not pass muster. As life progressed, the one thing I did right was keep an open mind, continuing to seek and learn. I studied and investigated everything from Catholicism to Islam, Dianetics to the Rosicrucian’s, learning much but never convinced. Finally, I found myself in a position where I had to face the proposition of God not from some supposed intellectual hilltop but from the depths of depression and pain. Nothing sharpens the mind, cutting away the superfluous like pain, for in the dark night of the soul esoteric knowledge and philosophical debating points lose their significance. Lost in pain and doubt I reached out and my plea was answered, lacking any ambiguity and I was convinced. Today I know we are all connected in Spirit but each of us walks our own path, daily choosing pain or peace. Our path of awakening following the decisions and choices we make, and in ultimate truth: pain is the only instrument sharp enough to cut away the excess of self. I now know in my heart of hearts that God desires all His children to be happy, joyous and free and He guides us through the process of enlightenment, freeing us from the bondage of self; as long as we remain open minded and willing, Forgiveness in Spirit our birth right and though there will be painful lessons along the way, suffering is a choice. So, if you are struggling with the concept of a punishing score keeping God, please borrow mine. When I make a mistake, a daily occurrence, He directs me with the patience of a loving parent, showing me the correct action to take, if I but ask. The price for this connection: pray regularly in the manner that suits you, meditate daily, smile and treat all in the manner you wish to be treated in. Please no pushing; there is plenty of Him to go around. Miracles Of Recovery © Vincent Lee Jones All Rights Reserved Miracles Of Recovery, Overdose Death, Alcoholism, Wayne Dyer, Drug Addiction, Zen, Emmet Fox, Opioids, Heroin, Einstein, AA, Healing Path Recovery, Drug Rehab, #Drug Addiction, #Drug Rehab, #Healing Path Recovery, #Heroin, #Opioids

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ourmrmel · 6 years ago

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Mel Feller Lists his Quick Quotes – Pick Me Ups

By Mel Feller, MPA, MHR

Mel Feller Seminars, Coaching For Success 360 Inc. /Mel Feller Coaching

When things get tough, many people turn to a motivational quote for a bit of inspiration. Some of these pithy sayings have become celebrated parts of society’s lexicon. Mel Feller also says, there is a little bit of implicit coaching that is happening when you are reading it. It is building that self-efficacy in that kind of dialogue that you are having with yourself.

Quick Quote Pick-Me-Ups

"If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Charlie Parker, American jazz musician

"The victim who is able to articulate the situation of the victim has ceased to be a victim; he or she has become a threat." James Baldwin.

"Growth is demanding and may seem dangerous, for there is loss as well as gain in growth. But why go on living if one has ceased to grow." May Sarton

"When you get into a tight place and it seems you can't go on, hold on, for that's just the place and the time that the tide will turn." Harriet Beecher Stowe

"The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen." Elizabeth Kubler Ross

"It is more blissful that man be taken from pain than pain be taken from man for if pain be taken from us, it may come again..." Julian of Norwich

"Tragedies serve as an express elevator to spirit." Dan Millman

"Healing is a matter of time, but it is at times also a matter of opportunity." Hippocrates

"People wish to be settled: only as far as they are unsettled is there any hope for them." Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear-not absence of fear." Mark Twain

"If you want to see the brave, look at those who can forgive. If you want to see the heroic, look at those who can love in return for hatred." Bhagavad-Gita

"Hate is not conquered by hate. Hatred is conquered by love. This is a law eternal." Dammapada, Buddhist scripture

"What would it be like if you lived each day, each breath, as a work of art in progress? Imagine that you are a Masterpiece unfolding every second of every day, a work of art taking form with every breath." Thomas Crum

"When old words die out on the tongue, new melodies break forth from the heart; and where the old tracks are lost, new country is revealed with its wonders." Rabindranath Tagore

"Most people have to delve into the dark areas and go through them before they reach a state of freedom, light and serenity." Cristina Grof and Stanislav Grof, M.D.

"So, whenever a doctor tells you that you have an incurable or fatal disease, look him squarely in the eye and tell him--- ---! (Whatever is your favorite expletive). Then go out and find yourself another doctor-one who believes in the body and not in the disease." Lawrence Badgley, M.D.

"Throughout history the human mind and the human spirit have overcome and endured problems and situations that seemed insurmountable." Les Brown

"A turning point is life's way of giving you a chance to move ahead spiritually, though you must reach for the gift yourself." Harold Klemp

In Chinese, the character for crisis means both "peril" and "opportunity."

"Our task is to say a holy yes to the real things of our life as they exist." Natalie Goldberg

"Everything in life that we really accept undergoes a change." Katherine Mansfield

"The only antidote to the irreversibility of history is the faculty of forgiveness." Hannah Arendt

"It is impossible for anything to be lost, for in the divine economy, nothing can pass away. The little flower which bloomed once, blooms forever." Neville

"There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." Albert Einstein

"We all have angels guiding us....They look after us. They heal us, touch us, comfort us with invisible warm hands....What will bring their help? Asking. Giving thanks." Sophy Burnham

"We are most deeply asleep at the switch when we fancy we control any switches at all." Annie Dillard

"We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us." Joseph Campbell

"In my life's chain of events nothing was accidental. Everything happened according to an inner need." Hannah Senesh

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." Melodie Beattie

"Bless a thing and it will bless you. Curse it and it will curse you...If you bless a situation, it has no power to hurt you, and even it if is troublesome for a time, it will gradually fade out, if you sincerely bless it." Emmet Fox

"Your joy is your sorrow unmasked. And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears." Kahlil Gibran, the Prophet

"When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us." Helen Keller, Optimism

"You cannot prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from building nests in your hair." Chinese proverb

"There are moments when, whatever be the attitude of the body; the soul is on its knees." Victor Hugo

"We shall draw from the heart of suffering, itself the means of inspiration and survival." Winston S. Churchill

"I guess that the giants in life are those who just keep growing on the manure of every crisis and setback." Lynda Bloomberg

"Real success comes when you learn to act as if everything depends on you and pray as if everything depends on God." Oprah Winfrey

"We know finite disappointment, but infinite hope." Martin Luther King, Jr.

"The choice today is no longer between violence and nonviolence. It's either nonviolence or nonexistence." Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

"My life is my message." Mahatma Gandhi

"It's not the strongest species that survive, not the most intelligent, but the ones most responsive to change." Charles Darwin

"If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we should find, in each person's life, sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostilities." Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

"Just to be is a blessing. Just to live is holy." Abraham Joshua Heschel

"Interviewer: If your house were on fire, which object would you take with you?" Jean Cocteau: The fire!

"Always forgive your enemies-nothing annoys them so much." Oscar Wilde

"To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance." Oscar Wilde

"He who has a why to live can bear almost any now." Nietzsche

"The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance." Alan Watts

"True love and prayer are learned in the hour when love becomes impossible and the heart has turned to stone." Thomas Merton

"I have come to appreciate how most of spiritual practice is learning to be kinder to one another." Aldous Huxley

“The biggest disease today is not leprosy or tuberculosis, but rather the feeling of being unwanted, uncared for, and deserted by everybody." Mother Teresa of Calcutta

"No matter how lonely you are, the world offers you imagination." Mary Oliver

"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference." The Serenity Prayer attributed to Reinhold Neibuhr

"Sometimes our light goes out but is blown again into flames by an encounter with another human being. Each of us owes the deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this inner light." Albert Schweitzer

"Why is it that people always need love and understanding the most at a time when they probably deserve it the least? Lou Holtz

"Don't throw anyone out of your heart." Neem Karoli Baba

"Inside yourself or outside, you never have to change what you see, only the way you see it." Thaddeus Golas

"Be here now." Ram Dass

"The sun be warm and kind to you. In the darkest night some star shine through." Langston Hughes

"Deep peace of the running river to you. Deep peace of the flowing air to you. Deep peace of the shining stars to you. Deep peace of the quiet earth to you." Gaelic blessing

"No ray of sunshine is ever lost, but the green which it awakens into existence needs time to sprout, and it is not always granted for the sower to see the harvest. All work that is worth anything is done in faith." Albert Schweitzer

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world: Indeed it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead

"We have a long, long way to go. So let us hasten along the road, the road of human tenderness and generosity. Groping, we may find one another's hands in the dark." Emily Greene Balch, Nobel Peace Laureate

Mel Feller, MPA, MHR, is a well-known real estate business consultant and speaker, specializing in performance, productivity, and profits. Mel is the president of Mel Feller Seminars with Coaching For Success, Inc. and Mel Feller Coaching, a real estate and business specific coaching company. His three books for real estate professionals are systems on how to become an exceptional sales performer. His four books in Business and Government Grants are ways to leverage and increase your business Success in both time and money!

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