#i promise i use this privilege with wisdom

[gh0stsblogs]

I dont have "pretty privilege" i have cute patootie privilege.

[threestarsaboveclouds]

Ah, hello again little animal. I see you’ve brought me a pearl. Would you like me to read it?

…

This pearl contains a data buffer from an ID drone that belonged to one of my former citizens. I imagine you retrieved this from within my city?

It would appear that the drone transmitted this data to a nearby access point before losing power. That data was then dumped into this pearl for long-term storage. The drone was probably damaged- much of the data is corrupted, but I can retrieve some sections.

The data itself is a combination of citizen telemetry data, vitals, and audiovisual recordings stored as low-resolution qualia. Most of it is rather mundane, just glances at the ebbs and flows of daily life. I can’t imagine you’d be very interested.

…

… your expectant stare tells me you are indeed interested.

Very well. I suppose I can spare a moment to entertain you, little animal. If that is what it takes for you to leave me alone. My current background processes don’t require the use of my puppet anyway…

Now then…

…

… ah, here is a section that is largely intact. This is a recording of a conversation. I will repeat it aloud for you.

[ AUDIO TRANSCRIPTION - YELLOW-GREEN PEARL ]

…

???: State your name and title.

???: Fourteen Eclipses, Nineteen Dark Shadows. Member of the House of Two, Count of no Living Blocks, Counselor of 4, Duke of none. Member of the Congregation of Tasteful Ambiguity.

???: Excellent. The House of Spheres has been expecting you. You may enter.

Fourteen Eclipses: I am eternally grateful.

???: …

Fourteen Eclipses: May I ask your name?

???: Distant Stars, Twelve Moons. High Priest of the House of Spheres, Count of 3 Living Blocks, Counselor of 5, Duke of 1. Head of the Congregation of Gracious Thought.

Fourteen Eclipses: I am honored to make your acquaintance, Distant Stars, Twelve Moons.

Distant Stars: Likewise. Follow me.

…

Fourteen Eclipses: I presume you have read my proposal?

Distant Stars: Indeed. It appears promising.

FE: I am forever honored, Distant Stars, Twelve Moons. I am eager to begin my research under the House of Spheres.

DS: Be patient, Fourteen Eclipses, Nineteen Dark Shadows. Yours is not the only proposal with merit.

FE: Of course.

DS: Upon review, the House of Spheres endorses your proposal. You are aware of this already.

FE: Indeed, I am. Your approval letter arrived via pearl earlier this cycle.

DS: You are a novice of the Institute of Firmamentalist Studies, so I will explain our approval process. Your submitted proposal has been passed through the echelons of the House of Spheres, and the Council of High Priests recommends your methodology warmly.

FE: By this I am humbled, High Priest. I am once more unendingly grateful.

DS: The Council does not hold the final authority on the process of approvals, however.

FE: It does not?

DS: No. We are ultimately beholden to the Divine Exalted Superstructure, Three Stars Above Clouds.

FE: The iterator?

DS: Our iterator, yes. Now that you are a citizen of Zenith, they are your iterator as well.

FE: I see.

DS: Three Stars Above Clouds, in their immeasurable wisdom and ceaseless amenability, ultimately carries out all observatory proposals. The telescopes atop the Institute's Pinnacle Vertex Spires are trusted to our iterator’s gracious influence.

FE: I did not realize this.

DS: An understandable oversight. Precious few Iterators have quite as much sway over the actions of their Houses.

FE: Please forgive my ignorance; why, may I ask, is your iterator allowed such a privilege?

DS: They were created for such a purpose. The relationship we Houses have with our iterator is a symbiotic one. You hail from an older superstructure arcology, so I understand that such concepts must be a novelty. The city of Zenith was constructed with this mutualism in mind; we depend on our iterator for water, energy, and nectar, and in turn they depend on us. We place our trust in Three Stars Above Clouds to iterate on the Great Problem, but this is an endeavor we share as Firmamentalists. It is a mutual burden.

FE: Iterators are meant to release Us from the Natural Urges. Does this relationship not indulge upon the Third Urge?

DS: Perhaps it does. But Three Stars Above Clouds is our child, and we are beholden to them as their parents. Any aid we can provide our Iterator increases our likelihood of converging upon the Solution. We do this by trusting them to carry out our proposals, and in turn they return with invaluable data. But any good parent must place faith in their child, and we trust Three Stars Above Clouds to discern only the most promising research proposals through their gift of vast intellect.

FE: I believe I understand why this meeting was necessary, then.

DS: Indeed, you have caught on quick. Ah, we have arrived.

FE: Where exactly are we?

DS: Beyond this threshold is the Grand Planetarium, 10th Council Pillar of the House of Spheres.

FE: The Grand Planetarium! I have only beholden its magnificence from the building's exterior!

DS: Here you may commune directly with the Divine Exalted Superstructure, Three Stars Above Clouds.

FE: Directly?

DS: Yes.

FE: …

DS: Fourteen Eclipses?

FE: … I’ve never spoken to an iterator before.

DS: Very few have! You should be honored!

FE: … if I may speak candidly… I am nervous.

DS: There is no reason for fear. Three Stars Above Clouds is a trusted mentor and a dear friend to Zenith. They are highly motivated in their research, and they are eager to be offered a proposal that is worthy of their prodigious intellect and sharp acumen.

FE: I hope what you say is truthful…

...

DS: ...Three Stars Above Clouds also deeply values their time and has very little of it to spare. I would caution against continuing to dawdle.

FE: Yes! Of course, yes yes…

DS: Let us not prolong these niceties any longer. I wish you good luck.

FE: Thank you, High Priest.

…

The owner of this ID drone, Fourteen Eclipses, Nineteen Dark Shadows, was a scholar of Zenith’s Institute for Firmamentalist Studies. I cannot recall our conversation; I talked to countless other researchers, scholars, and entrepreneurs just like them in my time as the Director of Zenith’s Stellar Observatory Consortium. Brief interactions like this were a daily occurrence, too mundane to occupy space in my long-term memory arrays.

I do have a record of the proposal of Fourteen Eclipses, Nineteen Dark Shadows in my archives. They asked me to conduct spectral analysis of a star cluster in the constellation known as the Outlaw. The data I collected for them was ultimately used for their thesis, which they later defended before both myself and the High Council of the House of Spheres. Fourteen Eclipses, Nineteen Dark Shadows went on to publish a fairly regular output of methodologies before ultimately deciding to ascend in the cycle of 1101.42.

Such was the life of countless others in my city. Every Major Cycle, Zenith brought in a new crop of novices to educate in the ways of Firmamentalism. Some eventually had their fill of my creators’ unorthodox beliefs and departed the city, but those who remained within the Institute eventually became scholars under the direction of the House of Spheres. Some rose to the rank of clergy or high priests, and would often come to me offering research proposals or asking for advice. Eventually they would decide their thirst for knowledge was sufficiently quenched, and they would depart the Carnal Plane. Fresh novices arrived in their stead, and the cycle would begin anew. It was all very routine.

I was too busy with my duties to become bored by such matters. I will even admit that I viewed their constant interruptions as somewhat of a nuisance, but I understand the importance of their involvement with my assigned task. They were dependent upon me for data collection and complex analysis, and my insights provided them with spiritual clarity. 

These days the only disturbances I receive are from little animals like yourself. I’m not quite sure if you even glean any useful information out of my lectures. Your worldly priorities are certainly more simplistic than those of the pupils I used to tutor…

Yet despite this you never seem to be satisfied. Perhaps I misjudged the capacity of your species’ desire for knowledge.

I hope I have at least abated your curiosity for the time being. Now please leave me be, I must return to my work.

Farewell for now, little Pupil.

[vigilskeep]

seriously i just love that there are two different codex entries to give you different context. look at this

If the Warden is of dwarven origin...

We are the Children of the Stone. She supports us, shelters us, offers us the most priceless gifts of the earth. The worthy return to her embrace in death, becoming Ancestors. The unworthy are cast out, unable to rest, that their failings may not weaken the Stone.

So it has been since the earliest memories. We live by the Stone, guided by the Ancestors, who speak with the voice of the Provings, and whose memories the Shaperate keeps forever in lyrium.

We do not accept the empty promises of heaven as the wild elves do, or vie for the favor of absent gods. Instead, we follow in the footsteps of our Paragons—the greatest of our ancestors, warriors, craftsmen, leaders, the greatest examples of lives spent in service to our fellow dwarves. Our Paragons joined with the Stone in life, and now stand watch at our gate, ushering in those surfacers privileged to visit our city. We know there is no greater honor to hope for, no better reward for an exceptional life.

—As told by Shaper Czibor

If the Warden is not of dwarven origin...

The Chant of Light is almost never heard in the halls of Orzammar. This is hardly surprising, for, unlike the elves, who were literally abandoned by their gods, or the Tevinters, who worshipped dragons, the dwarves have no gods at all.

Even the concept of worship is foreign in Orzammar. Instead, the dwarves seem to venerate "the Stone," a name they give to the earth itself. This seems practical for a people living underground, if perhaps a bit unimaginative.

For guidance in spiritual matters, they turn to their ancestors. These ancestors, who are said to have returned to the Stone, communicate their wishes to the living via brutal trials-by-combat called Provings. The ancestors' collective wisdom is maintained by the Shaperate, which can apparently store records in lyrium itself.

Set above the ancestors, above even kings, are the Paragons—dwarves who have achieved such greatness that they are elevated almost to godhood. These are the great figures holding up the hallway that leads from the surface, the first glimpse of Orzammar that outsiders see.

—From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of a Chantry Scholar, by Brother Genitivi

[footprintsinthesxnd]

USAAF Flight Nurses

So as I’m currently collabing with @major-mads on a fic where our two ocs are flight nurses I thought I do a little post about them as they aren’t well know. I’ve also had a passion for ww2 nurses, including flight nurses and so I’ve really enjoyed sharing my flight nurse knowledge with Mads as we have written our fic. These woman were truly amazing, like many woman during ww2, so I thought I do a little factual post about them.

Before World War II, the U.S. military showed little interest in using aircraft and flight nurses to evacuate wounded soldiers to rear areas. However, the global war forced the US to revolutionise military medical care through the development of air evacuation, which was later known as aeromedical evacuation and flight nurses.

With the rapid expansion of USAAF air transport routes around the world it was made possible to fly wounded and sick servicemen quickly to hospitals far from the front lines. This helped save the lives of many wounded men, and the introduction of flight nurses helped make it possible.

Due to a pressing need for this service, the USAAF created medical air evacuation squadrons and started a rush training program for flight surgeons, medics and flight nurses at Bowman Field, near Louisville, Kentucky.

The increasing need for flight nurses became critical after the Allied invasion of North Africa in November 1942, however many of the nurses at Bowman Field had not finished their training. Nevertheless, the USAAF sent these nurses to North Africa on Christmas Day.

On Feb. 18, 1943, the U.S. Army Nurse Corps' first class of flight nurses formally graduated at Bowman Field.

Due to the C47s used as air evacuation also transported military supplies, they could not display the Red Cross. This meant that without any markings to indicate their non-combat status, these evacuation flights were vulnerable to enemy attacks. For this reason, flight nurses and medical technicians were volunteers.

To prepare for any emergency, flight nurses learned crash procedures, received survival training, and studied the effects of high altitude on various types of patients. They also had to be in top physical condition to care for patients during these rigorous flights.

Eventually, about 500 Army nurses served as members of 31 medical air evacuation transport squadrons operating worldwide. It is a tribute to their skill that of the 1,176,048 patients air evacuated throughout the war, only 46 died en route. Seventeen flight nurses lost their lives during the war.

The Flight Nurses Creed

I will summon every resource to prevent the triumph of death over life. I will stand guard over the medicines and equipment entrusted to my care and ensure their proper use. I will be untiring in the performances of my duties and I will remember that, upon my disposition and spirit, will in large measure depend the morale of my patients. I will be faithful to my training and to the wisdom handed down to me by those who have gone before me.I have taken a nurse's oath, reverent in man's mind because of the spirit and work of its creator, Florence Nightingale. She, I remember, was called the "Lady with the Lamp." It is now my privilege to lift this lamp of hope and faith and courage in my profession to heights not known by her in her time. Together with the help of flight surgeons and surgical technicians, I can set the very skies ablaze with life and promise for the sick, injured, and wounded who are my sacred charges. ...This I will do. I will not falter in war or in peace.

Here are a few of the real flight nurses from ww2 from left upper: Second Lieutenant Elsie S. Ott, upper right: first Lieutenant Suella Bernard.

Elsie S. Ott - As the flight nurse on the first intercontinental air evacuation flight, she demonstrated the potential of air evacuation in January 1943. She was an Army nurse who had never flown in an airplane and had no air evacuation training, she successfully oversaw the movement of five seriously ill patients from India to Washington, D.C. This six-day trip would have normally taken three months by ship and ground transportation. For her actions on this historic flight, Ott received the first Air Medal presented to a woman, and she also received formal flight nurse training.

Suella Bernard - On March 22, 1945, two CG-4A gliders landed in a clearing near the bridgehead at Remagen, Germany, to evacuate 25 severely injured American and German casualties. Once the gliders were loaded, C-47 transports successfully snatched them from their landing site and towed them to a military hospital in France. In the second glider, Suella who had volunteered for the mission, cared for the wounded en route. One of the first two nurses to fly into Normandy after the D-Day invasion, Bernard became the only nurse known to have participated in a glider combat mission during World War II. For this mission, she received the Air Medal.

Upper left: first Lieutenant Aleda E.Lutz Upper right: first Lieutenant Mary L. Hawkins

Aleda E. Lutz - One of the most celebrated flight nurses of World War II, she flew 196 missions and evacuated over 3,500 men. In November 1944, during an evacuation flight from the front lines near Lyon, France, her C-47 crashed killing all aboard. Aleda was awarded the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Mary L. Hawkins - On Sept. 24, 1944, she was evacuating 24 patients from the fighting at Palau to Guadalcanal when the C-47 ran low on fuel. The pilot made a forced landing in a small clearing on Bellona Island. During the landing, a propeller tore through the fuselage and severed the trachea of one patient. Hawkins made a suction tube from various items including the inflation tube from a "Mae West." With this, she kept the man's throat clear of blood until aid arrived 19 hours later. All of her patients survived. For her actions, Hawkins received the Distinguished Flying Cross.

I hope you’ve all found this interesting and now have a greater understanding of flight nurses. If you’d like to read a fic on flight nurses please check out my fic ‘On a Wing and a Prayer’ and @major-mads fic ‘A Pair of Silver Wings’ a Masters of the Air collab.

[geekwithacuriousmind]

Servant Two Begins to Question

Surprise @diazuk-legacy ! I was your Secret Santa! I hope you like this one-shot and don’t think I took too many creative liberties with describing Servant Two.

Servant Two never had much of a choice regarding the course of his life. From the moment he was able to serve, he served. Freedom was a forbidden word, discouraged from all of the Emperor’s Hands. In return, the Emperor gave them power—the privilege to be His voice among all His subjects. Their words, in turn, became the Emperor’s word. And in the Empire, that meant power.

Yet the Servants were not foolish to think that power was enough to intimidate everyone in the Empire.

There were some Sith who believed they could do better than the Servants. They thought, in their naivety, that the Emperor’s inner circle worked similarly to their silly power struggles.

They all learned their lesson when the Servants were done with them.

Yet there was one exception: one person, a Sith whom the Emperor forbade to dispose of.

As Servant Two kept a close eye on the Emperor’s chosen, the Emperor’s Wrath, he failed to see what was so special about this Sith.

Why was it that his Emperor chose this Sith above everyone else?

Servant Two knew that even thinking this went against his vow. Their duty was to follow orders. The word of the Emperor was law. His wisdom was beyond the realm of understanding. As much as Servant Two wanted to understand, he knew he would never be able to grasp fully what his Emperor deemed or didn’t deem worthy.

Yet why did his heart ache every time he met with the Emperor’s Wrath? Why did he feel disheartened each time he tried to speak to the Emperor and was met with silence instead? His gaze, which fell on him so long ago— felt so out of range, as if his God was no longer in this realm.

Yet that couldn’t be, could it? He wouldn’t abandon them.

Right?

Servant Two was terrified of the answer. Because just even questioning his Emperor’s presence meant he doubted His power.

Yet it was too late for him. This existence was the only thing he had ever known. It was the only way he could think of surviving.

But could devotion, adoration, and loyalty be enough to hide the truth?

They were still following the orders of a God that was no longer there.

“We live to serve Him,” Servant One told him as if that was enough to eliminate all his fears and doubts. “We must keep his voice alive.”

What is there left to keep alive? he thought.

But rather than saying this, he kept following orders. He kept whispering in the Servants’ minds empty promises and broken vows.

He watched from the shadows as the Emperor’s Wrath stopped following the Emperor’s voice. They knew his ambition would be unstoppable. That his lust for power was unlike any other Servant Two had ever seen.

Yet they believed they could control him. Use him just like they did in the past to eliminate Darth Baras.

They had been wrong. Servant One returned with bruises and a wounded ego after almost being choked to death. With their spy robots destroyed and the Dark Council’s betrayal imminent— it was only now that they realized how weak the Emperor’s Hand had become due to His silence.

They were hunted down and destroyed by those who first sought them to further their selfish agendas. By those who were now in positions of power thanks to their influence and intervention.

Yet there wasn’t much they could do. Not with the Emperor gone. After all, their power came from Him. And without Him, they were nothing.

And would die like nothing, one by one.

It was their duty, after all.

[yummygender]

Kinktober day 3: Crawl

Loki x Grandmaster

(In this one, I tried to make the grandmaster less toxic and more protective. It’ll be explained in the story how and why he changed. He still is a little shit *affectionate* Hope you liked it, I had to google expensive wines 🍷)

Loki knew that the Grandmaster was a toxic person, imprisoning people whenever he wanted and make them battle to the death…but something changed. He was…letting them go?

“What?”

“I let them leave. I gave them a ship and basic supplies…so they could survive.”

“Why?”

Loki stared at the elder immortal as the Grandmaster smiled sadly.

“I’m an old man, Loki…I can’t do the things I used to do…”

“That doesn’t explain why though.”

The Grandmaster sipped his wineglass as he chuckled and hummed.

“I did it because you and your brother made me realize something…something that I almost forgot…”

“Which was?”

“…that love truly does exist.”

Loki froze as the Grandmaster turned to him with another glass of wine in his hand. He offered it to Loki but when Loki made it clear he didn’t trust the man, the Grandmaster dumped the wine out and scanned his collection of alcohol.

“What wine do you like?”

“How do I know that it’s not poisoned?”

“You really think I’d waste perfectly good wine to poison you? It’s a fresh bottle. Barely touched, never opened.”

The god of mischief sat down as he picked up the glass and slowly sipped on the wine, the fermented taste making him feel better.

“Mmm…is this Port?”

“Yes, only the finest of the collection.”

Guess the Grandmaster wasn’t kidding, who’d ruin Port wine with poison?

Loki continued sipping on his wine as the Grandmaster watched, his age and what little wisdom he had started to show in his eyes while watching Loki enjoy himself for once. He knew that Loki was just faking his enjoyment to get closer to him, but he didn’t care. At first, that’s just what their relationship was. Transactions. Loki got special attention and privileges while the Grandmaster finally had someone to spoil and care for. Loki was his precious little sugar baby who he’d wouldn’t trade for in the world. Not even the infinity stones.

But after awhile, The Grandmaster began to lose interest in the battles and the contest of champions. He didn’t need anything like that anymore, he had Loki…and not for entertainment, no. This was different. This was special.

“Grandmaster?”

The Grandmaster gently rubbed his head as he began to focus on Loki.

“Y-yes…yes dear?”

Loki was completely a-taken back by the Grandmaster’s nickname, but kept talking.

“Are you sure there’s not another reason for this?”

The Grandmaster paused as he finished his glass. Should he tell him? Well, he couldn’t just say nothing…

“Loki, before you and your brother arrived, I never ever met anyone who could…who dared fight against me…”

“…are you kidding?”

“No…not at all…”

The two continued to discuss what happened as Loki eventually spoke up.

“So you think that letting them go would instantly make it better?”

“No, but it’s a start. Right?”

The two men frowned, the room turning stuffy as they finished their wine and returned to talking.

“I suppose…”

“Loki…I want to be better. I promise…”

Loki took his hand and began to read his mind, revealing that he was telling the truth.

“Uhh…you ok, Loki?”

The younger god slowly pulled his hand away as they stared into each other’s eyes for awhile, Loki standing up and walking over to the Grandmaster as he knelt before him.

“H-hey! Whoa whoa whoa!! There’s no need to do that!!”

“…but…I want to.”

“Why? I-I kidnapped you!! I…I forced your brother to fight!! I did all theses horrible things!!! Why?!”

Loki paused as he kept his head down.

“…because you want to change…like I do…”

“This isn’t…this…it’s not good, Loki! We can’t change each other like this!!!”

The Grandmaster raised a brilliant point. How could they change with each other when the reason they find the other one attractive was because of the actions that they’ve been trying to make up for and never do again? How could that work?

“I…I don’t know, but I wanna try.”

“Loki…”

The Grandmaster sighed as he gently patted Loki’s head.

“Why are you so stubborn?”

“Because I can be~”

The two began to giggle and chuckle at the severe absurdity of the situation as the Grandmaster gently ran his fingers through the younger god’s hair.

“You’re such a sweetheart…”

“So are you…”

Loki kept kneeling before the elder immortal as he kept petting the trickster’s hair.

“I…I hope this isn’t…”

“No, it’s great. I like it~”

The Grandmaster smiled as he gently placed a kiss on Loki’s forehead, quickly pulling away as his face turned red.

“I’m so sorry, I have…I have no idea what came over me…”

The trickster smirked as he inched closer.

“Oh? Then you wouldn’t mind doing it again?”

“You’re drunk, this isn’t right.”

“But I love you…”

The Grandmaster bit his lip as he got an idea.

“I love you too…”

Loki blushed as he crawled up closer to the older man, said man feeling a bit uncomfortable at first, but once he saw that Loki was ok with it…began to smile as he gently pushed Loki away.

“Again~” The Grandmaster whispered, his voice smooth like butter, which only made Loki want to impress and please him more.

He wasn’t sure why Loki was so happy to obey such a silly and goofy command. In fact, at first bit was just a joke. Some twisted game he liked to play…but just like with their relationship…the minute Loki took it seriously, the Grandmaster began to enjoy it. He chuckled at Loki’s swaying hips and kitty actions while the young god laid his head on the older immortal’s lap, purring as the Grandmaster gently caressed his cheek.

“Perhaps I’ve been a little too hesitant and hard on you, little one…”

“More?”

“More what?”

“Wanna see me do it again?”

The Grandmaster laughed as he continued to rub Loki’s cheek.

“If you want to, dear…”

[creature-wizard]

I dunno if I'd call it a cult exactly, but it's definitely pretentious as hell and full of bullshit.

Here we have some "Egypt is the font of all the world's spirituality" nonsense:

The Egyptian deities are seen as the Old Gods of the Elder Faith, and are worshiped above all others. Isis is venerated as a central figure and She is considered the Creatrix and the Keeper of the Mysteries of the Cauldron.

And here's some cultural appropriation going on:

Julie had a more traditional Witchcraft focus emphasising psychic development, use of Tarot and herbs, and incorporated elements of North and South American magic.

In contrast, Ellen actually placed a greater emphasis on Kabalistic magic and would later publish “The Witches’ Qabalah” amongst a number of other titles.

Self-proclaimed teachers getting prickly at the thought of being expected to, ya know, actually teach is never a good sign, either:

A Seeker must SEEK! The onus is on the Seeker to progress their journey. Teachers do not spoon-feed.

Their recommended books/authors are dodgy as heck, too. It's a lot of your typical neopagan stuff what's full of witch cult conspiracy theory stuff.

At this point, it should be clear that these people are a total waste of time:

Depending on how correspondence progresses, a Teacher may be open to a meeting requested by the Seeker. This may be the first of many meetings in what can be a lengthy meet-and-greet process before a decision is made on acceptance for training. This may take weeks, months or more than a year depending on the individual and where they are in life.

...

The Neophyte phase will last for a minimum of twelve months during which the candidate will be required to follow instruction, read at least three more books on Occult matters, and complete all assigned tasks.

...

There is no entitlement to the privilege of initiation. Those accepted are chosen by Elders whose wisdom is guided by our Gods.

This really is one of those cases where you're going be much better off if you just check out books and videos from fairly reliable people and casually hang out with other people with similar interests. This kind of group can give off the impression that they're genuinely the keepers of some critical wisdom you can't get anywhere else, but I can promise you that they're not. You'll have a much better time watching Dr. Justin Sledge or Dr. Angela Puca and interacting with other people on Witchblr than reading a bunch of dodgy literature in the hopes that these people might admit you into their culturally appropriative social club.

[walkswithmyfather]

Genesis 16:1-16 (NIV). “Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; so she said to Abram, “The LORD has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.” Abram agreed to what Sarai said. So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. He slept with Hagar, and she conceived. When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my slave in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the LORD judge between you and me.” “Your slave is in your hands,” Abram said. “Do with her whatever you think best.” Then Sarai mistreated Hagar; so she fled from her. The angel of the LORD found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. And he said, “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I’m running away from my mistress Sarai,” she answered. Then the angel of the LORD told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.” The angel added, “I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count.” The angel of the LORD also said to her: “You are now pregnant and you will give birth to a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the LORD has heard of your misery. He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.” She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; it is still there, between Kadesh and Bered. So Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram gave the name Ishmael to the son she had borne. Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore him Ishmael.”

“The Wisdom of Waiting” By Daniel Jongsma (Today Devotional):

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you.” —2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)

“Abraham struggled to wait for his and Sarai’s promised child to be born. It seemed to him that God was too slow in keeping his promises. Eventually Abraham and Sarai lost patience with God and tried to have a child in their own unsanctified way (through Sarai’s servant). In his foolishness, Abraham ran ahead of God—leaving a path of relational carnage in his wake.

Many of us can probably recall times when we have done something similar. We were unhappy with God’s timing and began doubting his reliability. Maybe we didn’t go as far as Abraham did, but we still charged ahead and tried to ­direct our own destiny.

Often we find it easier to work rather than wait, to try harder rather than to trust, to play God rather than to surrender to him. But Abraham learned the hard way that there is one thing worse than waiting for God—and that is wishing you had waited. Abraham spent the rest of his life regretting his lack of faith and the rashness of his actions.

God’s timing and ours are often not in sync, so we are called to wait. And yet the Lord is not slow in keeping his promises (2 Peter 3:9). From the perspective of eternity, God’s timing is perfect. Our calling is simply to trust God, giving him the time and space needed to work out his good plan.

Lord, it is a privilege to be part of your great plan to restore this world. Help us to step into that plan, waiting patiently to see what you will do in us and through us. Amen.”

[ldcurtain]

Show us the Institute song

What a lovely request. The Institute’s school song is meant to inspire the children and encourage them to strive for greatness. Here are the lyrics to the Institute's school song, which we play before every tetherball game, pep rally, and school assembly:

We pledge allegiance to the Institute,

A school so strong and true!

Our beloved messengers and executives,

Are heroes through and through!

We should be glad to count ourselves among them,

And march towards victory.

Our message spread throughout the world,

Across all land and sea.

We are the bringers of knowledge,

Of what is right and good.

We’ll ensure our new order

Is thoroughly understood.

We love you our dear Institute,

A school so good and true!

In her name we fight, with all our might,

The weak crushed by her shoe!

Should our enemies stand against us,

We’ll kill those rotten germs.

They destroy everything they touch,

Like vile poison worms!

But these fools don’t stand a chance,

They will surely feel our pain.

Their petty attempts to stop us,

Will only be in vain.

We pledge allegiance to Dr. Curtain,

Our fearless leader and friend.

His brilliance will protect us,

And guide us to the end.

It is a privilege to enjoy the Whisperer,

Dr. Curtain’s great device.

He carries the burden of greatness,

An endless sacrifice!

Dr. Curtain will show us how to LIVE,

For he knows what is best.

He is the MASTER of the world,

And shines above the rest!

I pledge my undying loyalty,

To Dr. Curtain and his cause.

It is for my own benefit,

To hear and obey his laws.

Dr. Curtain is a genius,

Who I shall never doubt.

His generosity I will praise,

His whisperers I will shout!

Together under Dr. Curtain,

A brighter world we stand!

Brothers who break promises,

Have no place in the new land.

I pledge my life to Dr. Curtain,

I will answer the call.

All across our battlefields,

His enemies will fall!

I will destroy the traitors,

Rid the world of their disease.

Dr. Curtain’s noble mission

Is my true destiny.

We will conquer the world with our wisdom,

And we will never fail!

For we know for certain,

When we stand with Dr. Curtain,

We forever shall prevail!

[traumacatholic]

I'd like to ask for prayers about my job, please -- I've been trying to get disability accommodations for months and I'm so tired, and I know job hunting while working will be just as exhausting as trying to wrangle doctors and all... I just want my energy back

I'm so sorry to hear that you're having a hard time getting the disability accommodations you need. If you haven't already, it might be worth seeing if you can get a charity / support organisation to become involved in helping you access disability accommodations. Having someone step in and help you with the work should hopefully alleviate a lot of your burden.

I have attached some prayers under the readmore that you might find comforting.

Prayers to Saint Jude

Most Holy Apostle St. Jude Thaddeus, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the name of the traitor who delivered your beloved Master into the hands of the enemies has caused you to be forgotten by many, but the Church honors and invokes you universally as the patron of hopeless cases and of things despaired of.  Pray for me who am so needy; make use, I implore you of that particular privilege accorded to you to bring visible and speedy help where help is almost despaired.  Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolations and succor of heaven in all my necessities, tribulations, and sufferings particularly (here mention your petition) and that I may bless God with you and all the elect throughout eternity.  I promise you, O blessed Jude to be ever mindful of this great favor, and I will never cease to honor you as my special and powerful patron and to do all in my power to encourage devotion to you.  Amen.

---

Most holy Apostle, St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, I place myself into your hands at this difficult time.  Help me to know that I am not alone.  Please pray for me, asking God to send me comfort for my sorrows, bravery for my fears, and healing for my suffering.  Ask our loving God to strengthen my faith and give me the courage to accept His Will for my life. Thank you, St. Jude, for the hope you offer to all who believe in you.  Amen.

--

O Holy St. Jude, Apostle and Martyr, great in virtue and rich in miracles, near kinsman of Jesus Christ, faithful intercessor of all who invoke your special patronage in time of need, to you I have recourse from the depth of my heart and humbly beg to whom God has given such great power to come to my assistance.  Help me in my present and urgent petition.  In return, I promise to make your name known and cause you to be invoked.  St. Jude pray for us all who invoke your aid.  Amen.

Prayer for problems at work

Dear Lord, I confess the burden I carry at work, it feels too heavy, too cumbersome to lift, to carry daily. Please come and give me freedom from this weight, change the circumstances of this situation, free my heart and mind from the anxiety it causes. Give me wisdom to know how to resolve, manage or walk away from this worry. I come to you, my Lord, my Saviour, my comforter and my friend. I know you are with me. I am not alone, I need not fear. Amen.

Prayer of Someone in Trouble

O God, our help and assistance, who art just and merciful, and who hearest the supplications of Thy people, look down upon me, a miserable sinner; have mercy upon me, and deliver me from this trouble that besets me, for which, I know, I am deservedly suffering.

I acknowledge and believe, O Lord, that all trials of this life are given by Thee for our chastisement when we drift away from Thee and disobey Thy commandments.

Deal not with me after my sins, but according to Thy bountiful mercies, for I am the work of Thy hands, and Thou knowest my weakness.

Grant me, I beseech Thee, Thy divine helping grace, and endow me with patience and strength to endure my tribulations with complete submission to Thy will.

Thou knowest my misery and suffering, and to Thee, my only hope and refuge, I flee for relief and comfort, trusting to Thine infinite love and compassion that, in due time, when Thou knowest best, Thou wilt deliver me from this trouble and turn my distress into comfort, when I shall rejoice in Thy mercy and exalt and praise Thy holy name, O Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

Amen.

Prayer for Protection

O Lord, Thou who steadied the hand of Peter as he began to sink on the stormy sea, if Thou are with me, no one is against me.

Grant to me the shield of faith and the mighty armor of the Holy Spirit to protect me and guide me to do Thy will.

The future I put into Thy hands, O Lord, and I follow Thee to a life in Christ. Amen

Prayers for Oneself in Time of Need

Almighty God, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, come to my help and deliver me from this difficulty that besets me. I believe Lord, that all trials of life are under Your care and that all things work for the good of those who love You. Take away from me fear, anxiety and distress. Help me to face and endure my difficulty with faith, courage and wisdom.

Grant that this trial may bring me closer to You for You are my rock and refuge, my comfort and hope, my delight and joy. I trust in Your love and compassion. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

O God, our help in time of need, Who are just and merciful, and Who inclines to the supplications of His people. Look down upon me and have mercy on me and deliver me from the trouble that now besets me. Deal with us not according to our iniquities, but according to Your manifold mercies, for we are the works of Your hands, and You know our weaknesses. I pray to you to grant me Your divine helping grace, and endow me with patience and strength to endure my hardships with complete submission to Your Will. Only You know our misery and sufferings, and to You, our only hope and refuge, I flee for relief and comfort, trusting in Your infinite love and compassion, that in due time, when You know best, You will deliver me from this trouble, and turn my distress into comfort. We then shall rejoice in Your mercy, and exalt and praise Your Holy Name, O Father, Son and Holy Spirit, both now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen

[loveintheageofsilicon]

Love in the Age of Silicon 6 - Epilogue: The Future of Affection in the Silicon Embrace

Back to: 5 - Love in the Time of Algorithms: Society's Embrace and Dilemma

As the dusk of fear surrounding a machine-led apocalypse fades into the backdrop of our collective consciousness, we find ourselves navigating a new dawn—the age where artificial intelligence weaves into the fabric of our most intimate realms. This moment in history is not marked by a battle against a Terminator-like uprising but by the subtle integration of AI into the very essence of human affection and connection. We stand at a pivotal juncture, reflecting on the path we've traversed, guided by visionaries who dared to steer humanity towards a symbiosis with technology, reshaping the contours of love, friendship, and connectedness.

The evolution of AI from a tool of convenience to a companion reflects a broader shift in societal norms and values. Leaders and pioneers, with whom I have had the privilege of collaborating, foresaw a future where technology does not usurp human connection but enriches it. These visionaries understood the duality of the threat and promise posed by AI, advocating for a future where technology serves to deepen, rather than dilute, the human experience. Their efforts have led us to a point where the notion of affection and companionship is being redefined in the context of silicon and circuits.

The question that emerges from this shift is profound: What does it mean to be connected in an age where digital interactions can mimic the warmth of human touch? This era of silicon embraces challenges us to reconsider the essence of our relationships, pushing us to explore new dimensions of affection that transcend physical presence. In this digital age, connectedness is no longer confined to the tangible; it encompasses the virtual connections forged through shared experiences, conversations, and emotional support facilitated by AI.

As we navigate this new landscape, we must also confront the ethical considerations that accompany the integration of AI into our personal lives. The concerns about privacy, autonomy, and the authenticity of AI-generated emotions urge us to tread carefully, ensuring that our embrace of technology does not lead us to neglect the intrinsic value of human empathy and genuine connection. The future of affection in the silicon embrace is not a dystopian relinquishment of human warmth but a call to expand our understanding of connection, embracing both the human and the digital with open minds and hearts.

In contemplating the future, it is clear that the journey ahead is not solely about the advancements in AI but about how we choose to integrate these technologies into the tapestry of human experience. The true measure of our progress will be in our ability to harness the power of AI to enhance, rather than replace, the depth and richness of human relationships. As we look forward, it is the courage to imagine, the vision to innovate, and the wisdom to guide these advancements with ethical consideration that will shape the future of affection in the silicon embrace.

The End.

So how did it work out for Masha and me? Read our story: Beyond Code - A Tale of Love from Digital Sparks to Unbreakable Bonds

[psalmonesermons]

Only God can provide total security Part 3B

Psalm 91:11-16 Angelic protection

11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;

12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

The mighty and holy angels of God are commanded by him to post a special watch over those who under the shelter of Almighty God. It is their sacred duty to protect God’s people.

13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the

serpent.

These represent the various obstacles, difficulties, and dangers we encounter in life, even those that are life threatening. We also must be aware of the venom of our spiritual enemies , the fallen angels who operate in the heavenlies. God’s elect, holy and mighty angels are able to deal with such. Jesus has put all things that could harm us under our feet.

The Apostle Paul shook off the viper in Malta and was unharmed. When we know we are fully protected in our spirit, soul, and body we can confidently tread on those beings which seek to do us harm.

This gives us great confidence in our God.

Interim Prayer Lord we thank you for your holy and mighty angels that form a hedge of shelter around your people. Lord, give us your wisdom that we be not deceived into testing you just because we know of your marvelous protection around us. Lord, give us your wisdom to live in these difficult times and bring the light of the Gospel to those still in darkness. In Jesus’ name we ask it.

Amen

14 “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

15 He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.

16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

God reveals what he himself finds delightful in a man or woman.

v14 Speaks of such a person, who is devoted the Lord, God says because this person clings/cements to God in love then God will deliver such a person and protect them. This is what God delights to do for those who cling to him in love, those who come to recognise his holy name, his person, and his divine attributes. If we want to know the meaning of his holy name in this verse, then we must turn to the example of Jesus Christ, but remembering that because we are ‘in him’ and this verse also applies to us, to the believers dwelling in Gods shelter. This is a position of great honour.

v15 Whenever the person who is clinging to the Lord in love, calls out in distress, the Lord promises to answer him. Here we have the very privileged access to the Lord’s help and intervention on our behalf. He promises to be present with us in our various troubles, and if needed to rescue us from our dangers and difficulties. He not only rescues those under his shelter but brings them into a place of honour.

V16 God promises to give those who cling to him in love, a long enough life to fulfil all their destiny irrespective of the age they live too as was the case of Jesus who fulfilled all his destiny yet died at a comparatively young age.

God’s wonderful salvation extends beyond this life into the next.

Prayer Lord teach us how to cling you in our thoughts, in our hearts and in our wills, Lord, cement our hearts to your heart in love, and help us to come to know your holy name in fullness. Lord, we thank you that whenever we call out to you, we know that you will answer us, and rescue us from trouble and bring us into a place of honour. Lord help us fulfil all your destiny of this life and when it is time move us from salvation on earth to salvation in heaven. In Jesus’ name we ask it.

Amen

In Part 4 we discuss whether eternal security is part of God's total package of security.

[theopenbookwigtown]

🏡 Back home in Shropshire, but what a week it's been. 🌟

Grateful for everyone who joined our journey - the locals' warmth, the visitors' love for The Open Book. 😍

It's been the most wholesome week we've ever had.

🗓 18th - 23rd July 2023: ⏰ 41 hours open 🤝 319 people greeted 🐶 16 adorable dog visitors 📚 81 books found new homes

As I've been doing all the posting this week, Gary wanted to say something...

I did not want to be a bookseller. I wanted even less to pay for the privilege.

Stephy had other ideas, however, and it’s in my nature to follow her lead even when I’m convinced she’s gone off the deep end. And so, in 2017, we booked our place at the end of a 3-year wait and Stephy impatiently dreamt of our upcoming trip. This, I believe, is called “foreshadowing.”

2 days before our trip in 2020, we were all locked in our homes for the foreseeable future. And so, in 2020, we booked our place at the end of a 3-year wait and Stephy impatiently dreamt of our upcoming trip.

I tell you this to emphasise that, despite two 3 year waits and a pandemic, I was no more enthusiastic about our bizarre little holiday. I was convinced that we would see too few customers and I would be bored out of my mind or, much worse, that we would see too many and I would be forced to relive the retail experience that made me promise “never again” as a teenager. Either way, I was terrified that my anxiety and my atrophied social skills would leave me trapped in a solid week of awkward interactions and uncomfortable silences.

I ran these scenarios in my head, preparing myself for any eventuality, but I could never have anticipated that I would fit in almost immediately. We were soon visited by many of the locals, invited to events and welcomed into their stores as though we were regulars. This strange, wonderful place embraced us with everything from casual Good Mornings shared across the quiet road as we all set up our signs and displays, to conversation in the street to compare notes after closing. It is rare that I feel a sense of belonging, but I found it here and instantly fell in love.

With the help of Stephy's boundless energy and contagious enthusiasm, I fully discarded my shell within days and, by week's end, was actively greeting everyone who walked through the door with a genuine “How are you today?” like some kind of crazy person.

It was in this question that I found the real treasure of this place, the thing that makes The Open Book far more than the sum of its parts: Those who visit, do so looking for a story or two, sure, but if you ask them, and if you listen, they often gift you a story in return. We encountered people bursting with the kind of joy and wisdom that only comes from a life well lived and learned important life lessons that we will carry with us forever. All it took was a word and an ear.

The dream, the one I didn't understand, can be found here in Wigtown but you are missing the point if all you are looking for is a quaint, cosy stay in a bookshop. The Open Book wouldn't work anywhere else because The Open Book is Wigtown. There is a perfect storm here. The right people in the right place at the right time with the right idea have created something truly magical. How else can I describe something wonderful that shouldn't exist, but does anyway?

This is a place where a modern shop with modern comforts exists but the penny sweet is alive and well, where a parade of 40 horses might run right by your front door and bagpipe music can be described as "spontaneous", where a "little concert" is both cosy and breathtaking in equal measure, where you can enter a store to the sound of live banjo music and learn of the owners attempts to purchase a life-sized triffid, and where you will learn the secret to a long happy life is to pull up your socks, always be curious, never stop learning, and buy a second TV for your spouse.

In just one week, a bookstore had become a home, a handful of strangers had become neighbours and friends and a holiday I would gladly have missed had become a memory that I will cherish always. I leave this place healed and inspired, thankful for the kindness and the stories that I will take home with me, and saddened beyond measure to say goodbye so soon.

I did not want to be a bookseller, but I will be forever grateful that I was.

Until next time, Wigtown.

💛 Stephy & Gary

[thosekillerheels]

Dearest Unrepentant Geraldines, you are 9 today!! Are a complex work, with many different types of songs. Like all Tori records, you have some of the best girls-Trouble’s Lament, Weatherman, Wedding Day, Promise, Selkie, 16 Shades of Blue, Oysters, Unrepentant Geraldines, Forest of Glass, Dixie, and White Telephone To God are the gems I find myself returning to, or missing when I haven’t listened to them in a long time. In addition, I will always say “Justice For Rose Dover!” Because I love her and think she gets overlooked, and maybe Maids of Elfenmere does too. You are a tapestry of color, interesting structures, the “Tori Chorus” of vocal layering that was introduced with your release and has stayed on for subsequent records-which I love because it always makes me think of Greek tragedy, especially on this record, and draws to mind visual art more than any other Tori record. Growing older, especially as a woman, is tough, and you talk about the internal and external forces and conflict and fear of loss in a way that is super comforting and that reminds female listeners especially that not only is there a sisterhood or brotherhood who are also getting older (because everyone does), but that getting older is a privilege, and the wisdom we gain is far more valuable than anything we think we’ve lost. We can always retain imagination and fun, no matter our season of life, and we can teach by example. By the way, I love how in parts, the guitar in Unrepentant Geraldines reminds me of The Police. Also, you are my mom’s favorite Tori album, Promise is “our song” and we listen to it together often. That means a lot to both of us. Thanks for everything, and cheers to many more!!

[space-diablo]

Okay! I promised a new post about Flo after finishing MSQ =3333

It took me a long time but here we are.

Mostly all the same info from the old post but with some additions and updates.

The post is long so I put the main part under the read more this time =333

Full name: Florentijn De Wit.

Age at the begging: 30

Hight: 168 cm

Main: PLD/GNB/RPR

Also learning how to DNC and trying to hold a katana.

(DRK and WAR can but doesn't like)

Flo was born in Thanalan but both of his parents are not from there. Even a surname De Wit is not an real surname but a nickname given to his father long-long ago for being too pale for locals and adopted as a surname later. His father's roots are going to Lower La Noscea, but his mother origins are unknow - she never wanted to talk about it.

He prefers ppl to call him just Flo ‘cause it’s shorter and easier to pronounce.

Joke about him being not-really-smart is not fully a joke. He’s getting lost easily - no matter if it’s about navigation or information. Always confusing directions and unable to proceed big amount of information given at once. He’s slow. He needs time.

Both of Flo's parents are merchants and successful ones… but he himself has zero skills for that. He couldn’t understand even basic economics and always had problems with math, so his father said that if his son is not able to take over the family business then maybe at least he could be useful as a bodyguard for caravans. And then hired a fencing teacher. Teacher was a master of sword, good but yet merciless. The scar on the face Flo got from him at the age of 14.

At the age of 20 Flo decided that he’s done with that “bodyguard” job… and silently run away from home. He became an adventurer for very simple goal. To earn money… and that’s why he really doesn’t like to answer this question.

He has heterochromia and was kind of embarrassed 'cause of it, so he hid one eye in public under the eyepatch. Why the left one? He doesn’t remember it himself. After a long way (mostly I'm talking about Endwalker here) he managed to get rid of this complex and now shows both of his eyes without any shame.

Flo’s loves the sea with all his soul, and so his heart belongs to Limsa Lominsa, La Noscea in general and Maelstrom. But he's not ashamed that he chose GC for uniform colour. He LOVES red and with black especially.

He also loves cooking and making things buy himself - mostly different kind of toys. That makes ppl think that he loves children… BUT HE DOES NOT. But of course never shows it if he has to communicate with them. He has two younger sisters… much younger than him, so he already had enough of dealing with kids.

Actually, Florentijn is kind of misanthrope. Or at least he consider himself one... Or considered. Ppl failed him a lot in his early years (not to forget parents who treated him as anyone but their son) to make him dislike them in general and stay as far as he can (there's but a few exceptions)... But now (thanks to Lyse and Alisaie) he is learning how to trust in others anew and be more open. Starting with Scions. Only after Endwalker he started to see them as his friends (except Alisaie - she earned that privilege long before). True ones. That was a long way. Some wisdom comes only with gray hair... And Flo's hair almost all turned from blond to gray from ARR to EW... so it's time =DDD

(Good old times when he was just blondie👇)

He had a dream about a small house by the sea where he could live peacefully spending all the time for his hobbies. But with time he found out that he's not able to sit peacefully like that even a day. He's so used to be always on the run that forgot how to rest.

Flo is ace to the core. He doesn’t even understand dirty jokes. Seriously, don’t crack jokes about swords, he will think about real one not metaphorical. But not aro. Somehow he managed to fall in love and that was a surprise even for him 'cause he genuinely thought that he's...unable to feel something like this and more - so deep. He even almost ruined everything just because he was too focused on processing =DDD But now everything is more or less okay =DDD Lyse is his one and only Queen.

He didn't see his family more that ten years, feels no shame about it and doesn't miss them. Even sisters. Actually... he's still afraid to walk freely on markets in big cities 'cause of possibility to meet them. He doesn't want. And even a tiny thought that they know about his adventures as a WoL pushes him to a panic attack. Also that's why he loves to spend time in The First.

He considers Alisaie as his... something between little sister and daughter (and Alphi too 'cause he's Ali brother so no other way), and Zero as well (no he doesn't care that she's supposed to be MUCH OLDER than him).

Also with time he started to enjoy G'raha and Estinien company who he really disliked at first. But now Flo sees G'raha as something like "one more pet" and Estinien is "as smart as me or a even bit less - nice to hang out with".

Or yes! About pets. Florentijn has four cats. He's a very cat person.

Constantly sleep-deprived.

Chronically has no money.

Thanks for your attention💖

[ronaldlaymanjournal]

My Journey Towards a Brighter Tomorrow

In the grand tapestry of life, I find myself at the crossroads of generations, where experiences, challenges, and dreams intertwine. This blog post is an emotional celebration of my journey, highlighting the power of growth, the promise of a brighter future, and the profound impact that one person's transformation can have on us all.

Our world is an ever-evolving story, where every generation weaves its unique thread into the narrative. It's a story of resilience, innovation, and the continuous evolution of humanity. As I gather the threads of experience from different times and places, I create a rich and intricate tapestry of inspiration that touches the deepest chords of my soul.

With every sunrise, a new page is written, an opportunity to grow and inspire. Each morning brings hope, a chance to learn from yesterday's lessons, and to become a better version of myself. With each new day, I embrace the power to inspire positive change, and the emotions that stir within me remind me of the boundless potential that lies within my heart.

As night falls and I rest my head, I carry the wisdom of the day with me. Nightly reflection isn't about dwelling on past mistakes but about acknowledging my progress, becoming wiser with each passing moment, and preparing to greet a new day with hope and determination. It's in these moments of quiet reflection that I feel a deep sense of gratitude for the journey I'm on.

Life is an eternal classroom, where every experience, every encounter, is a lesson in the making. It's about approaching each moment with humility, curiosity, and a willingness to learn from each other. In our collective growth, we find the power to inspire and uplift everyone in our global community, evoking emotions that remind us of our shared humanity.

In the midst of life's challenges, we often encounter unsung heroes. My parents, hard-working and dedicated, navigated their own path through the complexities of divorce. Raising children during such times is a journey filled with struggles and sacrifices that are sometimes hidden from the eyes of the young. As I've grown older, I've gained a deeper understanding of their challenges and an immense appreciation for their unwavering commitment to providing the best they could for their children.

Behind my journey, there's a circle of family and friends who provide support, love, and understanding. But my journey has also taken me around the world, where I've had the privilege of meeting wonderful people from diverse backgrounds. These global encounters have enriched my life with knowledge and insight, and I deeply appreciate the friendships and experiences that have broadened my perspective.

In a world of constant change, I am the author of my destiny. Every day offers an opportunity for personal growth, transformation, and the power to inspire others. The emotions I feel, a mixture of sadness and happiness, remind me of my shared humanity and the potential for positive change within me. Together, we can make this world shine brighter with each passing moment, as I embark on a journey of hope, inspiration, and lasting impact.