#first step: read it

[pinespittinink]

It’s reading time

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

This one is for all my fellow "My gender is 'I have a job and I can't worry about that right now"'. I see you.

(part 1, part 2)

[yutaan]

Papercraft commission of Sheena and Zelos from Tales of Symphonia! This one was quite elaborate with all the flying costume elements, cards and lightning magic, as well as interesting facial expressions and poses; I had SUCH a blast putting on the game soundtrack and getting down to work!

[dunmeshistash]

Dungeon Meshi actually changed my whole relationship with food. I had already seen food as various types of nutrition (rather than “good” and “bad” food) but this story helped me realize that even stuff I dislike can be made to taste good. I used to hate onions and mushrooms, but all the good stuff about them turns into a delicious sauce when you use them in stir fry! Veggies cooked in grease aren’t robbed of their nutrition! I eat what my body craves and I’ve truly never felt better! I’ve even lost a lot of weight because of it! Many have pondered what sets humans apart from any other creature in the world and I think it’s a good meal.

One of the things that helped us evolve to where we are is indeed cooking!

Might come as a surprise that even tho I'm a Dungeon Meshi fan my nutrition wasn't really fixed by reading it (no good advice Senshis in this head of mine) I've been a picky eater for a while now cause I have texture issues but recently I started cooking more for myself, and honestly? Game changer

There's no point trying to force yourself to enjoy certain foods cause if you don't like it you wont eat it. I hate carrots cause the texture is mushy and the taste is weird and the smell is bad. Know what's not smelly mushy or weird? Carrots on fried rice

There's many ways to cook food, try out things similar to what you know you enjoy if you're someone picky like me. The important thing is to eat a variety of proper food and make it in a way you'll actually eat (Just like Senshi did for Izutsumi instead of forcing her to eat the way he wanted). A vegetable eaten with sauce is more nutritional than a vegetable you don't eat!

I'm no nutritionist but yeah, you'd be surprised at the variety of things you're actually willing to eat when cooked the right way. And congrats on feeling better!

Just adding my usual disclaimer that weight loss/gain isn't an indicator of health in itself, prioritizing eating well and acquiring healthy habits rather than focusing on a certain physical result is key in my experience. Let's all strive to feel good and care for our bodies!

[horsechestnut]

Anyway, if you're a fan of Bruce and Steph having a father/daughter relationship you should probably go read about Oliver and Mia.

[jupiters-shortest-martian]

People who havent read the books are gonna get such a shock when the find out clarrise is a good guy and luke is a bad guy

[dismas-n-dismay]

Over and Over - Rio Romeo ur not telling me she didnt think of the first time she met falin and her beauty as she recreated her in that same image of purity and kindness, piece by piece get out of here

[uncanny-tranny]

Niche politics tip: If you start dissociating from politics so much it starts feeling like each side is akin to a football team or a game, you might need to take a step back in order to recuperate.

When you're so caught up in politics that you need to dissociate from the humanity of it in order to engage with politics, that's not a good sign. It's especially not a good sign when we are talking about human rights

[thatfrailsoul]

P.s. See the full painting at the end!♡

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Slow down for a moment. Allow your heart to guide you, to tell you if there is really a message here for you... And whatever the answer is, feel free to listen to it or to let go. Remembering that when you will be ready or will have the need, your true message will find its way to you.♡

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There isn't really so much room for a risk... When you already spent so much time doing it, or to be exact imagining it, in your mind, putting yourself in the shoes of those that you were silently jealous of. Their life so different from yours.

There isn't much to check, control, be sure of. Simply because consciously and unconsciously you waited for this, you prepared yourself. Going through every way it might feel and be. It's not uncertain, it's not improvised and sudden - you were and are ready for this. You only can't find the courage to make that first step, leaving your current live behind.

But it's not so tragic, it only feels like it. Because it's something so new but at the same time that one thing that you wanted and missed for so long. But it won't be this life or that, this beginning or your older path. Nothing will collapse, shift so drammatically, leaving you without any way out of it if you won't feel convinced about this new journey and opportunity in your life.

In reality it will be much more subtle, gentle, step by step. Because this is just an opportunity for you, a chance, to taste and check this idea and desire that you've had. It's a possibility to understand it more, finally feel it, instead of only dreaming and imagining. So you can really decide if this is something of which you would like to have and experience more.

And if it will not be... If it will be so different from the image that you painted in your mind... You will still be able to make steps back. To your old but for this reason safer life. Where you will have the time to calm down and rest, getting ready for a new idea that you will want to try.

P.s. If you would like to receive a more personal message and guidance about your situation - find out all about it here!♡

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It is not really a matter of is it safe or not... It's more about whether you will decide it to be one. Whether you will allow yourself to take this path, this opportunity and chance for something more and different... Even if there is so much that is uncertain and uncomfortable for your anxious and still so inexperienced mind.

It depends on whether you will go for it, finally and fully being aware of the fact that, as always, one way or another, you will make it work. Enjoying this journey, using those scary or confusing parts of it to transform it in something even more exiting and beautiful. Something that is worth to be proud of, of the fact that you lived and experienced it on your own.

It depends on whether you will allow this chance to help you to come out of this shell, this old and tiring life that so ironically you got used to, to the point of being afraid of letting it go. It depends on whether you will allow yourself to simply enjoy it, without thinking already now, before making even the first step, of all the obstacles and turns that you might need to face.

It depends on all of this, it depends on you. Simply because your heart and mind are so powerful. To the point that they are shaping an experience that you yet still need to do. Something that you have so little information and idea of... But that you can already picture so well in all those worse scenarios and chaos that your mind shows.

It depends on you. Because this chance it's something that you truly earned, worked, planned and dreamed hard for. But that in the same way you can deny yourself, letting it go before even holding it in your arms that deserve it all. All the emotions, positive or negative. All the moments, new and old.

All the changes and even more beginnings that this journey holds for you. And that to receive you need only and simply to allow yourself. Allow yourself to find the courage for this first step only once.

P.s. If you would like to receive a more personal message and guidance about your situation - find out all about it here!♡

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We could look at this opportunity from all the different perspectives. We could look at the future, at what it holds for you if you follow this path... But no matter the answers, the results, risks or successes, it will be all useless in front of the one and simple fact - this step is the one desired by your heart.

And even if you will leave this chance behind, after counting the pros and cons, even if time will pass and you will convince yourself that it was for the best and you weren't really ready.... it will still never leave your mind. How it could've been, what you would've experienced, if it would've changed your perception of this world, your life or who you are.

So listen to your heart for this one. Follow this desire. Not because it's the safe or the right one. But simply because it's exciting and new for you, and this is what already makes it worth the try.

You can enjoy things just for what they are, for the moment they create in your life. It doesn't necessarily need to be part of a bigger picture, a bigger plan. It can be just for now and just for you. Gifting you the emotions that you crave so much right now.

P.s. If you would like to receive a more personal message and guidance about your situation - find out all about it here!♡

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"Rainy Season in the Tropics", 1866, Frederich Edwin Church

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[starlightwoofwoof]

GUYS CHAPTER 3 IS OUT NOW AAAAAA ❤️💙💛

also didn’t do a pic for this one but here’s something else-

hatz eatin some donuts

If you read it, enjoy!!

(tags may have spoilers cause I wanna yap about it lol)

[pink-lemonade-rose]

Reading is not as insignificant as we claim. First we must steal the key to the library. Reading is a provocation, a rebellion: we open the book's door, pretending it is a simple paperback cover, and in broad daylight escape! We are no longer there: this is what real reading is. If we haven't left the room, if we haven't gone over the wall, we're not reading.

Helene Cixous, Three Steps on the Ladder of Writing

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

with Luo Qingyang and Lou Binghe having the same last name I got start thinking of an au: like what if lbh was her little brother

tho what's funnier lbh in the mdzs universe or that means tlj is lou qingyangs dad in that au

I wanted to give this a genuine answer but I kept getting distracted by Lou Binghe...so...yeah.

[ejga-ostja]

Dandelion Crowns 💛

[jasperyourmutt]

hi everyone <3

I have a bit of a life update. To make a long story short, last week I was diagnosed with PTSD. I have been having a... very hard time coming to terms with that. For most of my life I believed I just had a bad anxiety disorder, but I am now realizing that is unfortunately not the case. The past couple months I have been in a near constant state of fight or flight, fear, panic, whatever you want to call it- without really realizing it. and man. it has been exhausting, mentally, physically, spiritually. I just thought it was normal to feel like this all the time. i assumed everyone felt like this. my therapist has helped me realize I am in a lot of pain right now and it is not normal. so. the good news is that there is an intensive trauma therapy that I will be doing for the next couple months that is going to really help me recover. i love and trust my therapist with my whole heart. there is a light at the end of the tunnel. i am finally getting the help i need. so. unfortunately I am going to step away from tumblr for a bit. i dont really want to do this, i love being on here. i love interacting with all the friends i've made here. kink has become a very important and healing part of my life. but it is just a little too much for me at the moment. I'm not sure when I will return, could be a couple weeks, a couple months. I'll return when I feel right. I feel like this may be a little odd to share here, but it's important to me to acknowledge and share that I have been having a really hard time. i tend to downplay when i'm in pain. i feel like people usually don't care about me (i know this is very very much not the case. im trying to convince my brain of that too.) its really hard for me to tell people when i am struggling, especially in my real life. so i am taking baby steps and starting here. so, until I return- chase your tails for me, roll in the grass, bark at the squirrels. take care of yourselves. if you are struggling, know youre loved. get the help you need. i will be curling up in my dog bed and taking a nap in the sun. ruff ruff. wag wag. much love to all of you.

[clarisse-doodles]

Cass + ballet 🩰 (ft. supportive siblings and good dad Bruce)

I love the idea of Cass enjoying dance. It's an outlet that allows her to express herself without words, and I think she would enjoy the highly technical aspect of ballet combined with its storytelling and emotional side. and as a former dancer I always have fun imagining my fav characters do ballet :)

[sweetstarcollector]

Just watched a video of someone reading that “My Shadow is Purple” book. The basic premise is there’s a kid, and the kid has a mom with a pink shadow, a dad with a blue shadow, and the kid has a purple shadow. Why is this kid’s shadow purple? The book explains that this kid enjoys playing with girl toys and boy toys, enjoys dancing (with the pink shadows) and playing sports (with the blue shadows), so therefore the kid can’t be just pink or just blue. There’s one page where I think the author realized what they were implying and threw in a “also pink shadows can be strong and blue shadows can have emotions”, but the very next page is the kid saying that they must not be pink or blue because they like “sports, dancing, trains, ponies, glitter, and engines”. Not a single comment on this video was even slightly critical. Tons of people saying it described them as a non-binary person, that they wanted to read it to their kids. It’s so bizarre, it’s gender roles 2.0 being packaged as progressive. I remember when the push was for there to be no “boy toys” or “girl toys”, to the point some stores stopped separating them like that. Now, we’re telling kids that not only do “boy toys/activities/interests” and “girl toys/activities/interests” exist, but that the separation is so important that which ones you partake in literally determine your identity. It’s not just this book that does this either (Hello, “Jack not Jackie”). It’s just so strange.