#neighborhood walks

[bluebelly-sun-serpentine]

Caught this coyote hunting wild plums on wednesday – too far away for a good photograph, but I wanted to share their little face anyway. Started out as a colored pencil sketch on A5 Fabriano paper in my journal, scanned, some textures added in procreate. I almost never draw anymore and it felt so good to get zoned into this little scene, especially since seeing it in the first place made me so happy. Plum 'yote was not really bothered by watchful eyes up on the hill; it was a lazy evening and we both knew it.

[unacunatura]

pretty little hearts | eyes of Lina

[victusinveritas]

[c0keplate]

[boxofsox]

[bloomingsoul333]

A Night of Self Realization Through Actualization.

Last night I was on a walkabout with my friends from a neighborhood birthday celebration. The time was past 2AM. It was chilly the sky was midnight blue with stars twinkling as they do. The soft yellow streetlights guided our path along the river bend-

"We should take a picture. Can you take a picture of us?" a request by Diego~

We paused to take a picture. Soon everyone had their phones in their hands, everyone but me... I'm in Cracked Screen Crew.

After photos were taken a conversation began.

“I feel like I'm in my second teenage" - Diego. Kira, Spencer and I all said something in agreement with Diego, but it all mushed together, and we laughed. "I feel like the best version of myself!" Kira said in her signature enthusiastic tone. I chipped in something about her being "Such a Leo~" We laughed because that is also my sign.

At this point, I began having a revelation about myself that surprised me.

"We're both Leos, but so different." I mused out loud. Kira wears earthtones and loves solid color matching; she also has such a large and outgoing personality. A real Go Get Her type of person. I in unison love wearing bright, colorful clothing and love a good pattern. I'm also a person who enjoys changing their appearance often. It makes me feel anew and keeps life vibrant. I also can be very quiet and observant of my surroundings. A real drift through the crowd type of person.

We reveled in the differences that make us so unique, so, complex and talked about the highlight of our night, as one by one we all reached our drop off point.

Realization:

I express myself through appearance because sometimes I am nervous about expressing myself to others. Maybe because of past experiences, I've always been a bit shy though. And I've always been hyper aware of my body and appearance. Most people raised as girls are... This caused me to hyper-sensor and filter myself in my interactions with people.

In my personal journals I have been writing a lot about how I don't feel like I had been truly expressing myself and pursuing the opportunities in life that I truly want and desire in the past; and how moving through life that way shaped me into a person with holes that need to be filled and repaired.

Since I've met this group of people, I feel like I am tapping into a version of me that is more in tune with my true desires and passions in life. I am forever grateful to the friends I made in my local community when I was feeling so alone and amiss in this city. I am grateful and honored to have friends who see me for who I am and allow me the comfort to be able to express myself fully.

[secondsofpleasure]

an indigestion of green / 4.2023

[bluebelly-sun-serpentine]

[unacunatura]

eyes of Lina

[constancevigilant]

A year ago, I was recovering from melanoma surgery (successful! I'm good!) and then was almost immediately diagnosed with lymphedema in my right leg (don't recommend! but I'm mostly fine!). One thing I started doing was walking every day, which was a balm for my body and spirit, and helped me mitigate the lymphedema.

But I found I couldn't walk for more than 30 minutes without significant pain in both heels and tendons. I'd never had an issue like this previously and it's been a year of discomfort; sometimes more, sometimes less, but never not present. As the year went on, I slowly backed away from my daily walks, because it distressed me.

I've been seeking answers to this in a lot of varied places, and I'm finally seeing some results. I didn't realize it until recently, but I've been avoiding getting back to my regular walks. I've been afraid that I'd find that my progress was only wishful thinking.

I decided to break the seal on walking today. It was almost entirely discomfort-free! Only toward the end did I feel any pangs, but it was a shadow of what I'd been experiencing. I am thrilled and hopeful!

These are some trees that called to me. 🍁🌲

[c0keplate]

Streets of Long Beach

[emphatic-nomadic]

Neighborhood fall views

[acemdzsfan]

It may have been a mistake to walk a mile to the Little Free Library with a stack of book donations in this goddamn heat when I know very well that my prescription makes me even more heat intolerant than I was before.

[starthistleparadise]

Good mix of items today! May 28th, 2024

[bluebelly-sun-serpentine]

[unacunatura]

are you lost, human? | eyes of Lina