#so. may he get through sufficient depression that he can go

[nimblermortal]

Jackson Crawford: I categorize my tasks by letters in the Younger Futhark runic alphabet... Nimbler: Nerd

[necronatural]

Limbus Company theory

Okay, I have absolutely no idea if anyone's noted this yet. Did anyone pick up that the Sinners are held down by a Sin, represented in their EGO, and their Canto are about their struggles against another sin entirely. The branch creates a space for 'penance'. When Rodya entered the field of effect of the branch, Baba Yaga went crazy, freezing the entire mine. There's clearly some paralleling at work here.

So let's go through.

Gregor, Canto 1: Sloth V Gluttony (survival); note that this expedition failed, and we later explore Sloth with Yi Sang

Rodion, Canto 2: Pride V Gloom; note that Rodya refused to actualize

Sinclair, Canto 3: Gluttony (Greed) V Lust

Yi Sang, Canto 4: Sloth V Gluttony (greed); Dante's resonance begins

Ishmael, Canto 5: Gloom V Envy; Dante's resonance progresses

When we look at the dominant sins of the remainder...

Heathcliff, Canto 6: Envy...

Don Quixote, Canto 7: Lust…

Hong Lu, Canto 8: Gloom…

Ryoshu, Canto 9: Wrath…

Meursault, Canto 10: Pride…

Outis, Canto 11: Pride…

Faust, Canto 12: Pride…

Dante, Canto ?: ????

Sins not confronted yet: Sloth, Pride, Wrath

Sinner sins left to explore: Envy, Wrath, Lust (If we're talking strictly what progressed Dante's clock, Gluttony & Pride)

Assuming Dante's doomsday clock setting is moving in 5 minute intervals, Dante currently has 2 positions left on their clock; 5 minutes to midnight and midnight itself. It's made almost explicit that their resonance with sinners is the tool with which they resonate with the branches. By obtaining each sin, they're building to some sort of complete whole.

Predictions based on this theory; Pride being so back-heavy probably means we're going to scramble for branches with Hermann. It gives the impression that for whatever reason Pride is necessary, which is interesting.

My own theory: Rodya says she'll settle in the cold [Gloom] for a little longer, and Sonya says she doesn't have the mark. I'd say this might mean Rodya hasn't sufficiently resonated. Sonya may have tried to bait her in hopes of getting better results in this regard.

This may mean ...

The last few Cantos will be a losing streak (LOL)

Someone who hasn't cleansed themselves of their opposing sin/formed the mark of cain will get the branch; I'd imagine this person shares sins with Dante, Vergilius, or Charon, who I believe are probably Envy, Wrath, and Lust respectively (OOP @ WHO WE'RE MISSING ⬆️)

In that respect Vergilius V Sloth, Charon V Pride, Dante V Wrath. I even think the wrath Dante is opposed to could be Vergilius

Very notable there's only 3 sins missing; it could be possible we already have Dante's branch; they were very obviously part of the group of Cain Marked, and again, their clock started at 25-to-midnight and just kind of sat there for a little while. It's also possible it didn't move until Yi Sang because their sin was Gluttony (ambiguous manifestation)? If Hermann also represents Lust ..... Think about it

Rodya's refusal of the call of Cain might become plot-relevant, just as our failure to observe what happened to Gregor on the myth arc timeline of 3 years ago and relationship with the Big Bad makes it obvious he's going to be a core character in the future. We can tell based on those who have the mark of Cain that he just doesn't have the chops, so mayhaps their mutual exclusion will be a surprise tool that will help us later.

And of course, my theories for the sins that weigh down our remaining Sinners: Heathcliff V Sloth, Don Quixote V Wrath, and Ryoshu V Pride. I predict all the Prides share Rodya's opposing force, which is Gloom; we see this in the books these characters are based on, with Meursault's despair of being sentenced to death being overcome by his Pride, Outis putting herself through grueling trials for the sake of returning to her family, and Faust beginning with suicidal depression leading to her pride creating(summoning) Mephistopheles.

I think it would be pretty funny if Dante was Gretchen's evil baby. Or that Gretchen might have been their previous self, manipulated into giving birth to Dante (extremely vulnerable and exploitable state), which they will be disgusted by and put to death. How many representations of the Divine Feminine in classic literature can Dante represent any% speedrun

[yuseirra]

It's so weird. I keep listening to Fatal and this guy loves Ai so much. It's still something I can interpret as love, and is this the right way feel about it? Why do I still feel like Ai's chosen the one that'd treasure her when I'm so stern about moral values and feel like someone who's done wrong should be sufficiently punished in fiction if needed? Why do I still feel this isn't that unhealthy? This feels like intense longing from someone who's so lonely and hurt driven to the point of being utterly broken?

He misses her so bad. It's so painful. What is the point of making an originally good person like him suffer so bad? This is wrong. That's so horrible. It feels really bad... I sense these enormous, overwhelming feelings, and I'm still not sure if I can dismiss this only as pure insanity because this happened because he really did care about Ai. Is it that it's got overridden and taken advantage of? Fatal is so weird because that whole song screams.. of this feeling of becoming tainted and madness, the whole melody feels like it; yeah, I can see that, but..

I actually see what the story is doing as a whole. I think I have a good idea of how this is going to be wrapped up and why they made this choice, but as I always say, I'm not the one responsible for forming the story and having crafted these characters so I can't say it for sure.

If what I anticipate does come true, then this can be a really meaningful piece of work. I want to believe in that. But it's so hard to hold out on that and see these pointless sufferings in the process. Aqua's hate should not have been directed at this guy. This character...I think he needs love. If just one person was kind enough to him, he could have lived with that, and he just didn't have that, it's so unfair.

I think I can sense what this character is feeling you see, it's what's made me draw so much about him and Ai,

in that case, I see why the writers and staff cared enough for him to give him two songs, but if I'm wrong on this, I just don't know.

I think I will have the answers.. by December? I hope so.

I would like to believe in my feelings and go on because, in terms of feelings, I know what this is, what's being displayed doesn't entirely make sense, the only consistent things I can read about this character are the feelings and his state is really, really, really bad. They are so depressed on the near verge of death, they are so weak... If someone is feeling this despaired, maybe they can turn into something different but I'm not sure about that, I can't determine that, I need more information to piece things together, but I can say, this is a really huge feeling they're feeling, and I sense a lot of sorrow. It's so weird...

It's different from what I feel from seeing the comic, you know. You know how sometimes you act and you feel the sort of feeling your role may feel. Or when you read a work and you can get a sense of what a character may feel. I've been good with these. It's what I rely on...this sounds really dumb, I know, but... I feel really sad when I try to match up my feelings with what this guy may feel. With this level of sadness... I just don't know what to make of him but it's really reasonable for him to have this sort of feeling too, since someone who cared for died. They don't exist anymore... can I even sympathize with him? Am I supposed to? It's not.. actually insanity I feel as the core, it's sadness. Everything he does seems to stem out from that sort of feeling, "sorrow" is his core. so I can't help feeling pity when he's this... horrible mess right now. But what did he even do? we never even got to see that. Why is he like this? It's actually really painful to try and sync up with him, I do that when I draw characters, and I had to back out several times from getting too deep because it hurts. I'm adjusting my level of doing this with this character time to time because what he's going through is really intense. The same with other characters in this comic, had this happen with Aqua and Ai too, that's why I'm so impressed with how this comic builds its characters, the characters in this manga are suffering internally so realistically, you can actually feel their emotions if you try really hard haha. It makes it really intriguing, that's how I was drawn to it in the first place. Do you have these things happen to you, do? I certainly cannot be the only way who has this happen, I am sure!

The reason I keep talking about him is because. the information that is presented doesn't connect with each other.

Still I feel like I can sense what Ai saw in this guy. Then he should be saved; I want that to happen. And if the way I see it is correct, it actually will happen. I don't know how but by the end of the series, it will. I sound like I have little base, don't I? but I'm usually right with these, I had something like this happen lots of times, so I think-and hope-I'm being so this time as well!

[arisenreborn]

Going to start posting some of my pawn lovers guild qotd answers here for archival purposes (and to fondly look back on the Pain).

Todays question was... well, I think it was something about what music would play in a fight against them which turned into "Design a Boss Battle" 😂

Emrys Boss Battle

Okay so he’s a pain in the ass. He’s taken the form of the dragonsplague dragon evolution pretty much; similar features but a little more physicality to him, bigger than a drake (not as big as Grigori), very sexy and fucked up. More aerial a bit like a wyvern, he’s frustratingly fast and fights like an archer/thief: pelting you with briney arrows that leave corrupting puddles where they hit for a small period, or darting in close and lashing you with his tail or talons before dipping back out. He shouldn’t be able to move so fast for something so damn big. 

Poisons, fire breath, duh, but it has a cool briney effect to it and will have an acidic-like effect around it (similar mechanically to poison really). He’ll occasionally control one of your pawns. Higher chance of dragonsplague infection just fighting him in general.

I like to think he wanders the world and is kind of a “random” encounter. Gonna segue a second about the music: Lux Aeterna is the inspiration but definitely a twisted up version that ‘grows’ with every encounter; it starts out discordant and hard to pick up on the melody, with sort of Silent Hill-ish vibes woven through it. With each encounter (three MAIN encounters depending on how each fight goes) it grows in intensity, frenzy, and drama. It becomes more ‘clear’ but also more ‘violent’, the final version has an aspect of ‘anxiety/fear’ - a creature torn between fight or flight. 

Getting him in a ‘downed’ state in the first two fights is just him hovering feebly closer to the earth and making him an easier target.

Each encounter can be ‘failed’ or ‘succeeded’, failure is him flying away, success obviously when you defeat him results in him basically divebombing the ground which almost seems more like a kamikaze/escape…he crashes and bursty-melts into a plaguey, brine-like substance in the ground you shouldn’t touch until it gradually goes away -will have the same effect as genuine brine. You get exp but frustratingly no loot, alluding to the fact he’s not actually gone yet. Each success grows the difficulty (and music) of the next encounter. 

You probably get garbled dragonspeak also: mostly just cursing you as the Arisen, the second fight gives you a ‘you won’t take … from me…’ as he fades away. 

Third fight will be the most intense - and he’ll try to escape often. He’ll lose -some- of that physicality and be more of a dick to hit without magic/enchanted weapons. A lot more briney attacks, can control up to two pawns if you’re not quick about dealing with the first one. 

However once in his downed state he’ll actually slouch down on the ground on all fours, and his ‘heart’ will be revealed, a cavity in his chest leaking out what looks like a woman wrapped in black and red tendrils and fleshy sinews.

Yeah, it’s Olivia, though she looks a bit, yanno, like she’s become the pseudo-heart of a plaguedragon. So you’ve gotta attack her while he’s downed and you will hear him make… awful awful sounds when you do. He may even beg you to stop. 

But you won’t, of course, and once you’ve broken his heart sufficiently he’ll gradually crumble to mist and dust with the final words "Olivia... forgive-..." and leave you with all the gold and wyrmslife crystals you could have hoped for, you monster.

Also a ‘Corrupt Dragon’s Aegis’, idk what it’s stats are (probably not *super* different from the usual) but it’s probably neat. And depressing. Probably a description along the lines of ‘A shield once carried by the brave Arisen of another world…’ Finally, a wolf fang necklace… (it was a gift Emrys gave to Olivia. It can be given to an NPC for high +40 affection)

The description on the necklace is: "It seems to exude an aura of love, whoever once owned it treasured it dearly."

[rainswept]

why do you like chuuya /gen, like I dont mean to sound rude in anyway but why😭🙏

this is going under a read more because i started yapping and couldn’t stop. i’m sorry

his personality. hes so funny and hes such a bitch i love him. but also he’s an incredibly dynamic character. he’s well written and tbh that’s enough for me to like him already. he’s had so much shit thrown at him and very well could have become a horrible person but he’s not. others care about him and he cares about others. he hasn’t let himself become as bitter as he could have been. he is still so full of humanity despite it despite everything SEE NEXT PARAGRAPH

i’m a sucker for characters that are entirely completely human and yet don’t think they are, or struggle with whether they are or not (especially thinking so because of all the reasons that they are— but i suppose chuuya doesn’t really fit that part so i won’t get into that now.) like yes chuuya has (or had, i guess) a reason to believe he isn’t, but does that really matter when faced with the fact that you have emotions and blood just like everyone else? does your make matter when you’re not so different after all? it’s existential. it makes u think. 

his crime list is about as short as he is and i find that wonderful

his lore/past/backstory whatever you want to call it. not even, he’s still going through it. man 😭. he’s had so much loss but not a single goodbye and i think that’s a really fucking good (and depressing) concept. he has never had the chance to mourn properly. he acts like he did.

hes cunty

his dynamic w dazai i find very compelling too. like yes they bicker and yes they fight and yes they “hate” each other (they don’t) but they also trust each other with their lives and have left them in each other’s hands too many times to count. it shows u the depth of both their bond but also the characters individually. they’re not entirely self sufficient.. they can obviously take care of themselves but they’re at their best when working togegher. i thinkt hats cool. FREINDSHIP IS MAGIC!!1! no but it shows u that even the strongest people arent at their best until theyre able to connect. not that dazai and chuuya have a model relationship at all… but there’s trust there. and that’s enough

hes hot

he makes me so viscerally and upsettingly sad

dog motifs. ok hear me OUT i’m SORRY but tbh the title was what got me interested in bsd in the first place. everyone is a stray in this show and i like that very much. i love characters that are LOYAL to a FAULT. i love characters with gnashing teeth and wagging tails. i love characters that hold so tight onto things their hands hurt and they end up causing them to flee. that “everything i’ve ever loved has claw marks on it”??? yeah give me that shit i will eat it up EVERY TIME. i love characters that are blinded by their senses of duty, not in the way that they’d do anything whoever they’re loyal to asks of them (though that is a nice dynamic too, i don’t think that’s as Chuuya ™️ as the other i’m talking about), but in the way that they’d lay down their life without a second thought (or caring about how those people see them). a dog that is beat may bite but but but it will still have its duty. even if it hates it. (<- see also AKUTAGAWA akutagawa is the reigning champion of dog motifery that is probably why i love him so much. but that is akutagawa. and i’m talkign about chuuya so im gonna dhut up now) ) i like characters with Three Betrayals COUGH COUGH COU💥💥💥💥ogh mymgod scafamocuhe 3 betrayals chuuya flags sheep dazai Im HOWLIFJG someone KILL ME NEOW ok thay doesnt make aense i just thought it was funny. anywa

fanbs fanbs* FANGS idc if they’re fake

thanks for comign ti my ted talk 🙏 i may add more later. but i didn’t want to. talk. too much. um. i think that’s out the window though

[eternalwritess]

i hope i'm not requesting anything at a bad time; i guess i'll take a romantic matchup for hazbin?? i know helluva's in tje same universe i'm just. uegj,

Pronouns: they/them/theirs; anytime i shoot for they/he i forget 2 seconds later, it's like there's just a single semi-visible crumb of man inside that i can rarely beat in a footrace i'm sorry. He's There.

Sexuality: gay (nblm/mlm/achillean)

Personality: gonna be real with you, i am. honestly kind of a nervous wreck?? i'm trying my best not to be so timid or insecure to such a degree but anxiety is something i struggle with Horrendously and i? die,

might also be a lil depressed and a lil lost in life but we're not talking about that today—

if i manage to feel comfortable enough with someone though i can definitely either be a complete doofus or very clingy (or in a romantic context, touch-starved) and very,,,, puppybrained?? as they say??? a

Hobbies: aside from venting my emotions through baking and being a bit of a bookworm or library-mouse, i tend to draw somewhat often (even if it's kinda. b a d) and i've been on a stream-watching kick as of late?? i may also touch a video game from time to time, but like. don't a lot of us

Pet peeves: off the top of my head, when people try accusing me of shit i didn't do, fake people, when people handle time travel plotlines Like That (you know what i'm talking about), mother's day

idrk man it's hard to recall pet peeves for me when i'm not Completely pissed or salty, i hope that's sufficient💦

i'm sorry if i butchered the format i have n o idea how this is gonna look as a submitted ask 🏃‍♂️

𝕐𝕠𝕦 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕓𝕖𝕖𝕟 𝕞𝕒𝕥𝕔𝕙𝕖𝕕 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙…

𝓗𝓾𝓼𝓴!

i wasn't really given much to work with so sorry if its kinda short and inaccurate

You probably met at the hotel and just needed someone to talk to and Charlie wasn't there so he decided to listen to you

He'd most likely talk with you over your anxiety and try to calm you down if things get too bad

"Deep breaths"

As for venting he's heard it all and knows how to deal with it all so he's more than willing just to listen to you and give you advice from there.

He's not that big into electronics but I'm sure that you might be able to get him to watch a few streams with you if he's in the mood

He wouldn't mind the clingyness very much as long as it doesn't become paranoia or anything harmful to the relationship or such

You and him might discuss books every now and then and he would try and give you reccomendations even if they might be a bit out of style

"Have you read?..."

He likes your drawings and likes watching you improve and will gently tease you about them and then say how good they are and how you've improved

Husk isn't a fake person at all and is more of a down to Earth person

He's very honest and will most likely never lie to you if he does it's most likely about him being an overlord because he's embarrassed or with his contract with Alastor just because he doesn't want you to get worried

But even if he did and you found out he would apologize and you might go through a rough patch but thats about it

Over all it would be a very caring relationship <3

[cherryrainn]

Hello! could I please get a Helluva Boss matchup? multiple characters are okay, if you think it's fitting or necessary.

I'm 21, non-binary pansexual/romantic, and polyamorous (no preference for gender)

General personality stuff:

MBTI is INFP

Ennegram types 2, 4 and 8

Zodiac Taurus sun, pieces moon and rising

Not sure if appearance matters but- 5'3, chubby and kinda muscular, lots of scars on arms, chest, and legs, brown eyes/hair. Hair is shoulder length, wavy, and usually dyed. Fashion consists of graphic tees (with puns, memes, and trippy art) and jeans or shorts. I'll wear lots of different kinds of jewelry, and don't really have a set aesthetic.

Hobbies/likes- going to the gym, roller skating, playing video games, driving, listening to music (and singing along.. Badly), smoking weed, watching TV shows and movies, hanging out with friends, drawing, Writing, reading, going to museums/amusement parks, taking care of/watching animals, and analyzing media

Positive traits: my friends have told me that I'm smart, funny, sarcastic, polite, thoughtful, strong, patient, trusting/trustworthy, empathetic and compassionate. Pretty self-sufficient and independent/productive. My friends generally come to me for advice and I've been told I'm a good listener. I also like make myself useful (doing dishes, wiping down counters, laundry, etc) I'm passionate and very excitable and it makes me pretty talkative (when I want to be). Sociability depends on my mood. Sometimes I sit back and enjoy group dynamics, other times I participate more in conversation

Negative traits: tendency to be envious. I'm very self conscious/ insecure, and indecisive because of it. Bad habit of taking stuff personally and dwelling on issues that I should let go. can get annoyed/frustrated easily, especially if I'm overstimulated. also jumpy and gullible. Communication is very important to me in all my relationships, but when I get depressed, I tend to isolate.

Diagnoses: depression, anxiety, PTSD, and ADHD

Misc info: When I first meet people, I'm overly formal and will crack a few jokes, but once I'm familiar with someone, I cuss a lot and enjoy playful teasing, but I always encourage to set boundaries if they need to. I collect a lot of stuff. I have a Ton of comfort items- my posters, stuffed animals, collectible figures, etc. I'm a big over thinker. Big on current events and media analysis. I've got lots of vocal stims and am pretty fidgety.

I show my love through acts of service and words of affirmation. I enjoy doing things for my loved ones and making sure they can relax, feel safe, and be happy. I could talk about my friends for hours.

I know this is pretty long, so I apologize if it's overwhelming. Please don't feel pressured to answer. Much love to you 💛

I would pair you with….

Blitzo!

given your personality traits, interests, and preferences, i think you find a great match in blitzo. blitzo is known for his wit, humor, and sarcastic nature. like you, he's talkative, excitable, and enjoys playful teasing. his devil-may-care attitude aligns with your sociability depending on your mood. blitzo’s multifaceted personality, from formality to more casual interactions, resonates with your initial reservedness evolving into comfortable, informal exchanges.

while his hobbies may differ, his passion and energy could mirror your excitable nature.

both of you share a tendency to be envious and a struggle with insecurities.

he will absolutely come to you for advice, considering your empathetic and compassionate nature, friends are likely to come to you for advice. your good listening skills, combined with your thoughtful and patient approach, create a supportive environment for him to open up and seek guidance!!

both of you have your share of struggles—be it your mental health diagnoses or personal insecurities. this common ground could foster a deeper understanding and empathy between you two, making for a more supportive relationship.

blitzo’s sarcastic and has that sharp edge, but deep down, he's got a soft spot for those he cares about. sounds a bit like you, right?

and hey, acts of service and words of affirmation? blitzo might not say it outright, but deep down, he'd appreciate having someone who values connections and shows love through actions.

[jdgo51]

JUNE 29, 2024

Abundant Grace

Yusuf Dass (Uttar Pradesh, India)

"By grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God — not the result of works, so that no one may boast." - Ephesians 2:8-9 (NRSVUE)

"'From a young age, I loved to go to church. I was very active in youth ministry, and my grandfather, who was the pastor, regularly involved me in worship. I enjoyed my time at church, but my faith was not strong.

After my grandfather’s death, I stopped going to church and got caught up in worldly distractions. I began a marketing job and became wrapped up in secular society. Some of my friends were members of the local mafia. My life was a total wreck.

After some time, my mother urged me to turn to Christ. But I thought to myself, I am such a sinner! How can God love me? But 2 Corinthians 12:9 reassured me that God’s “grace is sufficient” and that God loves me. I have been saved — not because of my work and deeds but because of God’s grace. So I turned to God and began trying to use my life for the glory of God. Since that time, whenever I have felt weak or depressed, God has showered abundant grace upon me."' God is there even in those very rough times.

TODAY'S PRAYER

"Thank you, God, for your gift of grace to us. Guide us as we seek to follow you." Amen.

Psalm 34:1-10

"1 I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise will always be in my mouth. 2 I praise the LORD let the suffering listen and rejoice. 3 Magnify the LORD with me! Together let us lift his name up high! 4 I sought the LORD and he answered me. He delivered me from all my fears. 5 Those who look to God will shine; their faces are never ashamed. 6 This suffering person cried out: the LORD listened and saved him from every trouble. 7 On every side, the LORD’s messenger protects those who honor God; and he delivers them. 8 Taste and see how good the LORD is! The one who takes refuge in him is truly happy! 9 You who are the LORD’s holy ones, honor him, because those who honor him don’t lack a thing. 10 Even strong young lions go without and get hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing." Honor God and have everything that you need or want. He is present in times of need. Well, actually present every day whether there is a particular need or not. Bless you, all! Joe

[stopdrunkdriving]

7 Benefits Of Going Through Hard Times

New Post has been published on https://drunkdriving.co.za/7-benefits-of-going-through-hard-times/

7 Benefits Of Going Through Hard Times

Everything God does in our lives is for our benefit, including suffering.  Though they never seem pleasant at the time, hard times produce wonderful benefits in our lives. On Monday I mentioned one benefit – affliction drives us to God’s word. Here are seven more benefits of suffering:

Affliction drives us to God in prayer

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. James 5:13

Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. PS 107:6

When the sun’s shining and everything’s going our way, we don’t feel our need for God. But desperate times lead to desperate prayer. When we’re helpless to change our situation, we cry out to our Savior, who delivers us from our distress.

Affliction humbles us

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 2 CO 12:7

Afflictions remind us of how fragile we are. It keeps us lowly. Reminds us that everything we have is a gift. Pride leads to a fall, but God gives grace to the humble. Affliction positions us to receive grace.

Affliction makes us rely on Christ’s power

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 CO 12:9

When we realize how powerless we are, then Jesus can display his might in our lives. When we’ve exhausted all our own resources Jesus rides in at just the right moment, like the hero in a movie who comes to rescue someone as the train is bearing down on them.

Affliction brings us the comfort of God himself

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction…, 2 Co 1:3

As well meaning as others are, there are times when no human words can comfort. But God himself comforts us when we cry out to him in our pain. The God of ALL COMFORT, the one who knows exactly what our broken hearts need, comforts us in ALL our affliction. The One who fashioned our hearts, who knows our every drop of sadness, knows the exact medicine we need to comfort us.

Affliction gives us compassion for others

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Co 1:3

When someone else has been through the same thing, their words can really comfort us. Though your pain is horrific now, someday God will use you to bring his comfort to someone else who suffers the fury of depression or the agony of a child who rebels like yours.

Affliction produces endurance and patience

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, RO 5:3

The only way to get patience and endurance is by being placed in situations that require it. But it will be worth it in the end, because it is by patiently enduring in faith that we’ll enter heaven.

Affliction reminds us that this world is not our home

For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. HEB 13:14

As many blessings as this world has, it’s not our home. Affliction weans us from this world, reminds us how transitory it is, and makes us long for heaven, for that day when we’ll see Jesus face to face and he will personally wipe away every tear from our eyes.

Bless the Lord oh my soul and forget none of his benefits. Especially those benefits he brings us through hard times.

Source: http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2014/05/6-benefits-of-going-through-hard-times.html

The post 7 Benefits Of Going Through Hard Times first appeared on Koa Sinag.

[skullhub]

MUSE PROFILE: SPIDER-MAN NOIR (E-90214)

Name: Peter Bentley Parker

Age: 29

Pronouns: He/Him

Height: 5'10"

General Alignment: Neutral good.

General personality: Perceptive, Nosy, Strong-willed, Extremely anti-establishment, Humble, Selfless, Loyal to his causes, Self-sufficient, Socially awkward, Smarter than average, Quick on his feet, Supresses his emotions often, Empathetic, Virtuous.

Family: May Parker (Aunt), Ben Parker (Deceased)

Home: Queens, New York city, Earth 90214.

Backstory: Peter Parker was raised at the time by his paternal aunt and uncle since his birth, being raised an activist and a firm believer that good always triumphs over evil in the end. This very anti-capitalist and anti-establishment mindset having nearly gotten him killed a few times in his life. Peter wanted nothing more than to bring justice to the Goblin and everyone else that'd gotten his Uncle Ben killed in cold blood, so he had to start small by working for the bugle with Urich and highlighting the struggles of those who're worse off than him. His anger brewing the more he was put out onto the field to capture the uncomfortable situations many New Yorkers had been put into during the great depression.

After finding his reporter partner Ben Urich unresponsive in his chair with a syringe next to him, Peter decided to intercept a phone call from one of the goblin's goons, and meet them up at one of the piers where they would be picking up a shipment of valuable antiques that had missed their stop over at the metropolitan museum. After a spider-god statue had broke during the collection, thousands of spiders started swarming around goblin's men, with Fancy Dan having died after being bitten repeatedly by the cursed spiders that came skittering out of the broken statue. With one of them having crawled onto Peter's hand, he accepted his fate thinking he was going to go out in the same way Fancy Dan, when really thanks to his golden heart he avoided that fate.

The Spider Goddess that inhabited the now broken statue, Ereshkigal, had cursed him with some of her power as he became tied to the web of life directly by her. Being blessed with the classical powers of Spider-Man including Spider sense, spider strength organic black webbing, the works. With Ereshkigal's 'curse' and a costume of his own design, he went and sought out Urich to get him to help with taking down the goblin, only to have found him a lifeless corpse within his own abode.

In the name of Urich's lover Felicia, Peter managed to overthrow the Goblin and his men, ceasing his criminal operations across the city single-handedly with only Felicia's words and the blessings he received to keep himself steady. Jonah, of course with the way he is across the entire multiverse, portrayed Peter in a negative light in the papers and went to go track him down for a little chat about his conduct in the press. Only to be dragged on a wild goose chase that lead to Parker killing the Vulture (to his aunt's shagrin) and stumbling upon a bigger scheme from the Goblin that required him to rescue Jonah and Felicia from his torture house. And when Peter finally cornered Norman, he chose to spare him despite everything he'd put him through over the course of his comic debut.

Extra Info: Noir will sometimes use outdated terms and slang due to the time period he's from.

Noir was bitten by his spider at 19 years old and has spent a long time perfecting his fighting skills, suit design and a lot more. He's even incorporated his signature pistol in his fighting style.

Noir rarely ever takes his mask off, he only ever slightly lifts it up around the other spiders in order to eat or drink.

Noir isn't a gambler but he is pretty decent at card games, he can shuffle a deck pretty decently too.

Noir is somewhat colorblind, he still can see some color however in his vision they're pretty dulled and so certain colors may look same-y to him. He's able to properly identify them, but identifying colors by shade is rather difficult for him.

Peter's got a few scars from the various situations he's gotten himself into, most of them are scars from when bullets have grazed him, and from when the edges of knives have been pressed up against his body.

Despite how it may seem Peter is actually a scientific genius, he just doesn't have the tools nor the budget to properly show what he can do.

Peter is actually very quippy when he's not dealing with any bad guys, he doesn't want them to underestimate what he's capable of just because he made a quick jab at their gimmick or something.

Noir's goggles are prescription and he fitted the lenses himself after realizing it'd be too dangerous to wear his glasses into a fight. His lenses are nearly coke-bottle-bottoms level thick due to his astigmatism and nearsightedness.

Peter has a bad knee due to having had a bad landing after having taken a tumble whilst trying to land smoothly on the ground. He often has to sit after a long period of standing/moving around.

[abigailjohn2023]

 As Schools Go to Tech for Emotional well-being Backing, the Best Arrangement May Be More Simple

As Schools Go to Tech for Emotional well-being Backing, the Best Arrangement May Be More Simple Dallas Parenting Resources

Youth emotional well-being is in a difficult situation, and schools have seen firsthand the ascent deprived for emotional well-being administrations among understudies.

Regions are progressively going to teletherapy to help understudies who will not be guaranteed to get seen by restricted school psychological well-being experts, who are generally called to intercede with understudies encountering an emergency. Some edtech organizations are turning their endeavors to emotional well-being, and emotional well-being tech is directing its concentration toward understudies.

Schools and locale are paying huge number of dollars for admittance to these computerized devices and administrations, at times utilizing reserves recently accessible to them through government pandemic help cash.

However there are other, more conventional ways that training and after-school projects can support understudy prosperity, as well, including facilitating social encounters for youngsters and setting up schools with more wellbeing experts — two methodologies that are once in a while tied for sufficient funds.

And afterward there is the way that, when it capabilities as planned, an ordinary school day can furnish numerous understudies with the help they need to flourish. Christina Cipriano, overseer of the Instruction Collaboratory at Yale and partner teacher at Yale Kid Review Center, expresses that while a large part of the consideration has been on understudies who need emotional wellness support at the individual or little gathering level, instructors shouldn't forget the "force of connections" to help understudies all the more extensively — at the study hall or school level.

Contingent upon the assets accessible inside a school region or at a specific grounds, the way to supporting numerous understudies could be setting up completely adults at a school to be a believed grown-up in an understudy's life, somebody who can listen closely when required.

"Anybody can frame a solid relationship with an understudy," Cipriano says. " In that whole school, having every person see themselves as a mentor could be a way to help and support students who are at risk of developing more serious mental health issues.

One test that understudies face as they advance through grades is that, as they progress in years, they stand out from grown-ups at school, she makes sense of. There may be one grown-up for each three children in a primary school homeroom on the off chance that an educator has the help of assistants, she proceeds, yet that proportion develops all through center and secondary school.

According to Cipriano, "everyone could be playing a role with those relationships," including "paraprofessionals," "hall monitors," and "lunch monitors." It's minimal expense and high-reward."

Is More Tech the Response? Understudies today have 20% higher paces of nervousness and misery contrasted with pre-pandemic rates, says Juan Treviño, a specialist and clinical program lead at Dawn Wellbeing. The new business gives telehealth advising to center and secondary school understudies through school locale.

For all understudies yet particularly more established understudies, he adds, those battles with nervousness and discouragement are influencing them on a close to home level and furthermore scholastically and socially.

However, according to Trevio, one of the messages that counselors convey to students is that it is acceptable to experience those feelings.

"Something that feels significantly better to me, to a youngster feels improved, however something terrible feels more regrettable," Treviño makes sense of. " Their feelings aren't an issue, [but they] need to master adapting abilities so their side effects are gotten to the next level. It is not the depression and anxiety; rather, it is how they and the school handle it.

In the mean time, the developing interest for psychological wellness support from guardians of more youthful understudies is so perfect, Treviño says, that he's amidst fostering a virtual family treatment program for guardians and their youngsters in primary school. Guardians need assistance answering the social and intense subject matters that understudies are managing now that they're back nearby.

"A great deal of it very well may be credited to emerging from the pandemic, twisting of connections not simply with peers and being pulled out of school for a year, yet on day to day life. Despite the fact that life has returned fairly to ordinary," Treviño says, that change has been intense "for the more youthful children for whom pandemic is a major lump of their life."

Sunrise Wellbeing is accessible in 62 school locale in six states. A student is referred to the service by a school counselor, and the company matches the student with a therapist who will meet with the student via videoconference for a predetermined number of counseling sessions.

This is not quite the same as other tech-worked with psychological wellness devices, as applications that could follow through on-request directed reflection or crisis text-based hotlines implied for individuals who need assistance during an emotional well-being emergency. With regards to contraptions or applications that have an emotional wellness incline, Cipriano says understudies might be attracted to them since it's a natural medium, however those items will quite often be summed up as opposed to custom-made to every understudy's necessities.

"Very much like the heterogeneity and the decency of fit among youngsters and specialist, or the kinds of methodology being educated, there may be a comparable heterogeneity being used of applications," she says. " We should be careful [because] treatment has never been one-size-fits-all, so it would be untrustworthy to think one tech arrangement is the response in such manner."

Daybreak Health costs schools differently, depending on things like how many students are in a district and how much support they need. Understudies and their families don't pay straightforwardly for the administrations — they're covered by confidential health care coverage, Medicaid or school region reserves planned for emotional well-being administrations.

Sunrise Wellbeing pioneers say they measure how well their projects work through factors including how quickly they coordinate understudies with advisors, the level of understudies who complete the full number of treatment meetings, understudy appraisals, and the level of families who report conduct upgrades at home.

The model has received positive feedback from investors. Daybreak Health raised $10 million in a Series A round in the spring of 2022. Crunchbase detailed that in the a half year paving the way to the raising support, the organization's "income roughly quintupled" and it "saw comparative development in understanding volumes."

[mentalhealthmantra]

6 Daily Habits to Cultivate a Positive Mindset

Having a positive mindset is essential for leading a successful and fulfilling life. It helps us stay motivated, productive, and happy. But cultivating this kind of outlook isn’t always easy – it takes time, effort, and dedication to develop the habits that help foster positivity in our lives. Here are six daily habits you can practice to cultivate a more positive mindset:

Also Read: OCD Treatment in Bhopal

First off, take some time each day for self-reflection or meditation. This will allow you to check in with yourself emotionally; ask yourself how your day has been going so far or what emotions have come up throughout it. Taking even just five minutes out of your day can make all the difference when it comes to staying mindful about how you feel mentally and emotionally on any given day.

Secondly, be sure to get enough restful sleep every night. Not getting sufficient amounts of quality sleep can lead to not only physical exhaustion but mental fatigue as well – both of which contribute significantly to having negative thoughts. Aiming for seven hours per night should do wonders when it comes to maintaining good mental health!

Finally, if needed seek professional help from psychiatrist doctor in Bhopal who specialize in helping people manage their mental wellbeing better. Sometimes talking through problems with someone impartial outside our circle may provide valuable insight into tackling them head-on without feeling overwhelmed by them!

All these simple yet effective daily practices will go a long way towards creating greater levels of happiness within ourselves over time as we become more adept at recognizing patterns in our thinking that don’t serve us well anymore - allowing us instead to focus on things that bring joy into our lives!

About the Author:

Dr. Vaibhav Dubey is a highly skilled and compassionate psychiatrist in Bhopal with years of experience in treating patients with mental health issues. He specializes in diagnosing and treating conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and personality disorders. Dr. Dubey is committed to providing personalized and evidence-based care to his patients, helping them overcome their mental health challenges and lead fulfilling lives. He is known for his empathetic approach, expertise, and dedication towards his patients' well-being. Dr. Vaibhav Dubey is a respected and trusted mental health professional in Bhopal, and his patients value his expertise and compassionate care.

[hamletteprinceofdenmark]

I’ve seen some folk have a little trouble parsing out Jack Seward’s entry so let’s go through it together.

First thing’s first, Jack Seward is not meant to be creepy.

But to get to the meat of the entry, I’ll go through line by line, and for easy reading my commentary/annotations will be inside square brackets and purple in colour ☺️

Dr. Seward's Diary.

(Kept in phonograph) [Jack keeps his diary on a phonograph, a very early recording device similar to what would become our modern dictaphone. This is the very latest in technology at the time.]

25 May. —Ebb tide in appetite to-day. Cannot eat, cannot rest, so diary instead. Since my rebuff of yesterday I have a sort of empty feeling; nothing in the world seems of sufficient importance to be worth the doing.... As I knew that the only cure for this sort of thing was work, I went down amongst the patients. [Still feeling miserable and depressed from being rejected by Lucy, Seward finds he cannot sleep or eat as he normally would, he makes his diary instead, about to recall what he did that day. As a way to battle the empty emotional mess he’s in, he decided to throw himself completely into his work as a way to build up momentum and energy again. He goes to observe, study, and help his patients.] I picked out one who has afforded me a study of much interest. He is so quaint that I am determined to understand him as well as I can. To-day I seemed to get nearer than ever before to the heart of his mystery. [He picks as his focus a patient that he finds interesting and intriguing. The patient seems “quaint”, something we might interpret as “almost sane” or “not dangerous”. We might also interpret this as Seward seeing the patient as one he could “cure” more easily than others who he might deem “less sane”. Seward is determined to understand his patient better, and thinks today he has got closer to that understanding than he ever had before.]

I questioned him more fully than I had ever done, with a view to making myself master of the facts of his hallucination. [He studies the patient by asking them a series of questions, like an interview or modern therapy session, aiming to understand both what his patient believes and what the cause (and therefore cure) to those beliefs might be] In my manner of doing it there was, I now see, something of cruelty. [Upon reflection he thinks that he took things too far, to the point of cruelty] I seemed to wish to keep him to the point of his madness—a thing which I avoid with the patients as I would the mouth of hell. [He thinks he may have encouraged or even worsened his patient’s condition on purpose in order to study it further, something he regrets, and states that, under normal circumstances, is something he would never do, with this or any other patient under his care]

(Mem., under what circumstances would I not avoid the pit of hell?) [A quick aside as Seward questions the nature of hyperbole] Omnia Romæ venalia sunt. Hell has its price! verb. sap. [Quite literally “In Rome, everything is for sale." Seward is quoting Gaius Sallustius Crispus, generally known as Sallust. He is the earliest known Latin-language Roman historian with surviving works to his name and worked alongside Julius Caesar. The document from which this quote was taken talks about the corruption and bad governance in the Roman Army at the time. Sallust was making a point that if people were willing to pay the right price, anything was permissible, for better or for worse. Seward also notes “verb. sap." This is short for verbum sapientiae or 'a word of wisdom'. Like a ‘quote of the day’ to keep in mind, Seward is making a comment to note that if he continues down this path, he may have to pay in more than gold.] If there be anything behind this instinct it will be valuable to trace it afterwards accurately, so I had better commence to do so, therefore— [Having gone on this tangent, and noting that even if the methods of getting that day’s information were dubious, there might be something useful to be gained from it, he starts his formal notes on the patient immediately so as to be the most accurate he can.]

R. M. Renfield, ætat 59. [The patient’s name is R.M. Renfield. The patient is 59 years old.] —Sanguine temperament; great physical strength; morbidly excitable; periods of gloom, ending in some fixed idea which I cannot make out. [Sanguine refers to one of the four humours, a medical theory that has since been disproven. The Ancient Greek physician Hippocrates is often credited with coming up with the idea. He theorised that the body contained four liquids or “humours” that needed to be kept in balance for ultimate health. These humours affected everything from personality to physical and mental health, and were also associated with the four elements. Each person tended towards one of the four humours so each person’s balance was slightly different. The four humours were yellow bile (choleric temperament, fire element) black bile (melancholic temperament, earth element), phlegm (phlegmatic temperament, water element), and … blood (sanguine temperament, air element). Renfield has a sanguine temperament, meaning he is outgoing, passionate, sociable, and generally cheerful. Seward also notes that he is in great physical shape, can get over-excited or over-passionate, but can have periods of gloom or depression. He also notes that today Renfield seemed fixed on a certain idea but he couldn’t make it clear to Seward what that idea was] I presume that the sanguine temperament itself and the disturbing influence end in a mentally-accomplished finish; [Seward theorises that the combination of Renfield’s base personality (being cheerful and easygoing) and his madness (a disruptive and upsetting influence) disturbs the natural order of his mind. Once Seward understands it better, he will be able to aid Renfield in setting it right.] a possibly dangerous man, probably dangerous if unselfish. In selfish men caution is as secure an armour for their foes as for themselves. [Seward states Renfield is probably dangerous, but not selfish. He reflects further that selfish men are as much a danger to themselves as to the people around them, friend or foe.] What I think of on this point is, when self is the fixed point the centripetal force is balanced with the centrifugal; when duty, a cause, etc., is the fixed point, the latter force is paramount, and only accident or a series of accidents can balance it. [He thinks of the self, as someone’s general personality, how they think, how they behave, and how they treat others, similar to a centrifuge - a circular device that spins liquids at high speeds in order to seperate them into their component parts (again very new tech for the average Victorian) - and that everything a person does “spins out” from one central idea or theme. He resolves to make his own theme “duty”, as the spinning force, like ripples in a pond, will have a good influence on himself and the people around him and under his care, as apposed to having a selfish core (like how he treated Renfield badly today) which would have bad effects, that only an accident (or coincidence), or indeed a series of accidents/coincidences could set right again].

Well there you are! A break down of Seward’s diary! I hope you all enjoyed the ride and are now a little closer to understanding our local doctor and what he’s about 😊

[theramseyloft]

Shipping a Pigeon

This is not just important for breeders and rescues to know.

The recipients of shipped pigeons need to know how this works as well.

https://foyspetsupplies.com/new-vented-single/

This is the Horizon Micro Environment vented single box, currently the industry standard for shipping pigeons.

These shipping boxes are designed around the thermodynamics of air and the physiology of the birds.

They are made of sturdy corrugated cardboard, which is surprisingly well insulated! 

The wide vent at the top of the box vents out warm air as it rises, drawing cooler fresh air through the smaller holes all down the sides and across the bottom on the solid side of the box, where the label is attached.

Air holes are covered by a filter, which provides a few benefits: Keeping the bird and its mess contained, moderate protection from outside contaminants, and most importantly, darkness.

Pigeons are diurnal.

Deprived of light, they basically shut off and fall asleep.

If they could see and were active, more than 24 hours with out water would leave them dangerously dehydrated.

But while they sleep, their digestion is drastically slowed; allowing them to conserve water and calories for days longer than they could while active.

I line the boxes with two layers of paper towels and send seeds with them, but there is no safe or legal way to send water, which is why keeping them in the dark for the trip is so important.

Live birds travel mostly by ground, to protect them in case of hazardous materials ending up in the same scheduled shipment. 

If that happens, the live animal is simply delayed until the next scheduled truck or sent along a different rout.

Some times this results in delays. It is not uncommon for a bird to arrive a day or so later than projected, but pigeons travel very well.

If both bird and box are correctly prepared prior to departure, Pigeons are comfortably travel safe for up to seven days.

To prepare my birds for departure, I bring them in 24-48 hours before departure day and keep then in a hospital cage where they have nothing to do but eat and drink and their appetite and hydration levels can be monitored.

Both of which is done by observing the quality of the poop.

Hospital cages are lined with white paper towels to make this easier. 

Paper towels wick the moisture away from a fecal sample, letting you see how much liquid was present in a ring of what’s been wicked from an individual poop.

Too much liquid with a large portion of the first day’s meal left over warns of depressed appetite.

Lots of liquid with very little food left either means that was not a large enough portion, or warns that there may be parasites present that you had no prior knowledge of. 

If you give a larger portion of feed and the solids to liquids ratio corrects, then chances are you underestimated that individuals intake.

If you adjust the portion and the poop is still very sloppy and wet, it isn’t just a portioning issue and shipment needs to be delayed so that the necessary diagnostic measures can to be taken to work out what’s wrong.

If a bird is pooping too dry on the first day, it may just be stressed by the transition into a hospital cage.

If it’s still pooping dry the next day I alert the recipient that the bird is not sufficiently well hydrated and arrange to try again next week.

This is why 48 hour pre-departure holds are better than 24 hour holds.

It is always better to delay and risk the annoyance of the client to be sure the bird is in good enough condition to arrive safely than to assume everything will be fine and risk sending your client an animal that will arrive in need of medical care.

Six weeks is the bare minimum safe shipping age for a baby pigeon, as that is when their baby feathers have generally come all the way in.

New feathers are fleshy and vascular, and requite a LOT of moisture from the bird growing them, so while the baby is fledging, it is extremely prone to dehydration.

Mine go out at nine weeks, because six weeks is the youngest they can safely be vaccinated for PMV and Paratyphoid, and the soonest they can receive boosters and be fully vaccinated is three weeks later.

That puts them well into a travel safe level of development,

A word of caution on adult cocks!

While hens and young birds under four months are generally safe to ship together, It is safest to ship adult cocks with a divider!

Part of what makes pigeons such easy travelers is the close resemblance for them of a shipping crate to a nest crevice.

Adult cocks are VIOLENTLY defensive of potential nest spaces, and his travel partner cannot get away from him!!!

This can result in a travel partner getting scalped to the skull and neck vertebrae if they are lucky enough to shut down in time, 

Or being kept awake and active long enough to fatally dehydrate en rout, leaving only the winning cock and a corpse.

It does not matter if the cock in question was bonded to or friends with this travel partner.

Cocks in driving mode have even scalped and killed their own mates in the confines of the shipping box.

If you are sending out a cock over four months old with another bird of any sex or age, put a divider between them!!!

A length of cardboard running diagonally from one corner of the box to the other is all it takes to ensure that both an adult cock and who ever he’s traveling with will arrive safely and whole, if you do not have the option to send him in his own box.

On arrival, place new birds straight into their enclosure, and show them where water is.

It’s important to give them a few days to get their bearings and adjust to the new normal before being invited out for bonding time.

Human-social pigeons will look to you for comfort after all this change, and will usually beg to be let out on arrival day.

At the very least, wait until you have seen them drink and eat before you let your new bird come out and explore the room at large.

Expect a new arrival by mail to be thirsty and disoriented. They just spent 2-4 days asleep in a box, the jetlag is real.

For the first few days, expect wet poop. The bird will be more interested in water than food for about the first three days, though you should see a steady transition over to water and food intake balancing out over that period.

Ideally, shipping is only done a few times in the life of a pigeon.  If not from their breeder straight to their forever home;

Then from the breeder who hatched them to a breeder that wants peeps from them, and from there to their permanent pet home when they retire

Or from a rescue to a long term foster to a permanent home.

When done correctly, shipping is the safest, most comfortable means by which to transport a pigeon over long distances.

But if done incorrectly, it can be severely injurious or even fatal.

If you are adopting a pigeon from a rescue, purchasing a pet bird from a breeder, or purchasing breeding stock to add to a project, you now know what to ask the rescue or breeder about their shipping procedure to ensure that your birds travel comfortably and arrive safely.

[0rdinarythoughts]

I found this really heart touching.

How surah duha can change our lives:

Surah duha was revealed when Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was depressed due to no revelation for 6 months.

This surah has power to relieve depression and sadness and find peace and hope.

Ayah by ayah it says..

Wad duhaa— By the morning brightness

This is the first thing you need to hear when you’re depressed: Wake up, look at the sunshine! Everything in life is not doom and gloom– you just have to look up!

Wal laili iza sajaa— And [by] the night when it covers with darkness,

Why is this aayah immediately talking about darkness? As a reminder to us that the night is meant to cover and give us comfort and rest.

Generally when we’re depressed, we tend to get into a very bad sleep pattern by staying up at night and sleeping all day, thereby worsening our state of mind. This aayah reminds us to use the night as a comfort to ease our distress.

Ma wad da’aka rabbuka wa ma qalaa— Your Lord has not taken leave of you, [O Muhammad], nor has He detested [you].

This is a very powerful verse from Allah telling us that He doesn’t hate us and hasn’t forgotten us– reminding the depressed person that He is always by his or her side!

Walal-aakhiratu khairul laka minal-oola— And the Hereafter is better for you than the first [life].

Many times when we’re depressed we think: Is this all my life is going to be? Is it never going to get better?

This aayah serves as a perfect answer to those questions, reminding us that life in this world is temporary and that Aakhira is certainly a better, more permanent place for us than this world could ever be.

This makes us look forward to attaining our place in Jannah and helps us look at any problems in our lives as temporary tests of our faith from Allah.

Wa la sawfa y’uteeka rabbuka fatarda— And your Lord is going to give you, and you will be satisfied.

A promise from Allah that very soon he will give us a massive reward (Jannah) and we will be happy! Subhanallah!

Isn’t this the best thing to hear when you’re depressed and fed up with this worldly life and the problems you’re facing?

Alam ya jidka yateeman fa aawaa – Did He not find you an orphan and give [you] refuge?

From this verse onwards, Allah gives us reason to believe His declarations and promises in the first half of the surah.

Now many of us may think: how would this aayah about orphans relate to the majority of us? Think about it– weren’t there many times in your life when you were sick or lonely and felt like you had nobody who cared about you? Who was the only one by your side at that time? Allah! It was He who took care of you and guided you out of that stage in life.

Wa wa jadaka daal lan fahada— And He found you lost and guided [you].

How many of us, despite being born Muslims, have found ourselves misguided and straying away from Islam in the past? It was Allah who gave us that hidaya and brought us back to the straight path and to Him and made us practicing Muslims. Alhamdulillah!

Wa wa jadaka ‘aa-ilan fa aghnaa— And He found you poor and made [you] self-sufficient.

Many of us have probably gone through many periods in our lives when we have been short of money and wealth. Now when we look back we realize that it was only Allah who gave us that rizq in some form and got us through those tough financial times.

When a person is depressed, giving him or her examples of how Allah has helped them in the past will strengthen their conviction and belief in the promises Allah makes in this surah for their future.

Fa am mal yateema fala taqhar — So as for the orphan, do not oppress [him].

This aayah is the ultimate antidote to depression!

Depressed people are mostly consumed with their situation and feel that nobody could possibly be in a worse situation.

This aayah reminds us to look at people who are in far worse situations than ourselves when we’re feeling hopeless and depressed— Look at the orphans, who have no family or loved ones and nobody to care for them. We have families and parents who love us, a roof over our heads and food on the table and we still think we’re in a bad situation? Subhanallah! Wa am mas saa-ila fala tanhar— And as for the petitioner, do not repel [him].

Another example is of the beggar – to once again remind us of the many material blessings that Allah has given us that we take for granted – food, clothing and shelter. How many of us have ever gone to sleep hungry? How many of us don’t have clothes to wear? Or don’t have a home to go to?

These examples of the orphan and the beggar are ones we should constantly remind ourselves of to be thankful for the numerous blessings Allah has given us, get over our depression and feel connected to Allah again, out of gratitude.

Wa amma bi ne’mati rabbika fahad dith – But as for the favor of your Lord, report [it].

This final aayah is about maintaining that renewed faith and bond with Allah – by pondering, glorifying and talking about the blessings of Allah! Either in terms of halaqas, discussions with family and friends or even da’wah! Dhikr, reading quran and listening to lectures are also great ways to keep the remembrance of Allah close to your heart!

[masterjedilenawrites]

Do you have any headcanons for the Bad Batch when they were cadets? How they were treated by other clones, or by the Kaminoans? What each of the four boys were like when they were cadets? Thank you!

I actually do have some headcanons on this topic because I may or may not think about the Bad Batch constantly I think about them a normal, healthy amount and okay, here we go...

Hunter:

Fit in socially more than the others. Didn't grow out his hair or get tattoos until after he deployed, and his abilities weren't as obvious, so he more-or-less was able to blend in with the regs. Never really got bullied or bothered.

Struggled with his mutations the most. No one knew for a while if he was going to cut it. Overstimulation, head-splitting migraines, the whole bit.

But he had exceptional combat skills, great leadership potential, and an unwavering can-do attitude. So as a way to save him from decommission, the Kaminoans isolated him for a while to help him manage his senses and cope with the side effects.

Connected with Crosshair first. Cross would keep an eye on the team when he was away or in more specialized training. And he always seemed to know what Hunter was thinking without him having to say. They formed a silent but strong bond.

Wrecker and Tech were more like younger brothers he had to manage. Obviously Crosshair would still get in on the drama too, but Hunter had to really stay on top of Wrecker's restlessness and Tech getting sidetracked.

Interacted with a lot of the other Commanders and Sergeants and hung out with them in his free time just a little more than the Batch. It just felt easier to let loose with other leaders.

Generally a good cadet, but often questioned things or tried to think outside the box/protocols. Had to find balance between being what others expected and listening to his inner rebel.

Wrecker:

Some regs gave him a wide birth, while others would pick fights with him just to test their own strength. This actually made Wrecker kinda depressed as a cadet; he's a friendly guy, but no one wanted to be his friend. It hurt.

Channeled his anger into his training, which he already did a lot of just because he had more energy than anyone knew what to do with. The Kaminoans had to up their production of dummy droids just for him.

Instant favorite of the Kaminoans, his mutations were obviously useful. But with all the dummies and all the food the guy ate...they often had to run a cost-benefit analysis to make sure the resources spent were worth it.

Struggled with the academic stuff, until Hunter discovered he could learn better if the material was more hands-on and interactive.

Took to all the Batchers right away. They were his only social outlet. Hunter helped him work through his depression and find his confidence again. Tech always came up with cool ideas he could try with his strength. And Crosshair was the only one who understood his love of weapons and explosives.

So he became their defender against the other cadets. Any teasing or bullying was immediately turned into a fight if Wrecker heard about it. Wasn't subtle so he often got in trouble.

Initiated a lot of pranks and shenanigans out of boredom. Was the one who came up with all the skull imagery on their armor. Preferred the group training exercises over the solo ones.

Crosshair

Definitely got bullied by the regs, stood out like a sore thumb. He was too tall and too skinny and his hair too grey... Got called a lot of names and pushed around in the halls, sometimes tricked and sabotaged too.

But he also egged them on. Liked to poke and prod and get reactions out of people. Because if he could get them to snap first, then he didn't feel as much like the victim.

Didn't interact much with the Kaminoans, was pretty self-sufficient with his training. He liked to push himself and test his limits on his own.

Wasn't close with the other Batchers for a while, just observed them at first, figured out what they were about before letting them in. Even though they were odd balls like him, he still struggled getting over his trust issues.

He and Hunter developed their own understanding between each other, but he was secretly partial to Tech. He felt the need to keep an eye on him more than the others. The nerd was just so oblivious sometimes, it was frustrating but it brought out his protective side.

He and Wrecker developed more of a sibling rivalry relationship. Crosshair hated how loud and messy the big guy was, and Wrecker was never patient with his calmer approach. They started their kill count competition almost right away.

Was good at following instructions and directive. Did his assignments on time and only occasionally questioned or challenged things. Did not enjoy his cadet experience though and desperately looked forward to leaving Kamino.

Tech:

Also frequently bullied and teased, but he didn't engage as much as the other Batchers. Mostly because he didn't really notice or understand what was happening, too lost in his own thoughts to realize he was the butt of the joke.

But he wasn't completely clueless, and when he was aware he was getting picked on, he just internalized it. Some of those words still sit heavy in his heart to this day.

The Kaminoans were also uncertain what to do with Tech, they weren't sure if it was a good thing they'd created someone so freaking smart. What if he questioned things too much?

Was for sure the student that was too smart to pay attention in class and ended up getting in trouble as a result. It took Hunter interfering before he was given more challenging assignments, and eventually allowed to just self-teach.

Didn't exactly bond with any of the others, but ended up spending more time with Crosshair. He was the only one patient enough to listen to his idle ramblings, or would sit with him while they quietly worked on their own assignments.

But he did take an interest in the rest of the group's mutations and worked on special projects to help each of them cope effectively and capitalize on their abilities.

A mentally restless cadet, often stayed up late on research binges or obsessed over a part of his training until it was perfected. Felt disconnected and misunderstood, he never had a true outlet to express all the ideas and knowledge he had.