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phantomoftheorpheum · 1 year ago

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The Bear Season 3 Thoughts

Okay, I first want to say that obviously these are opinions! They are subjective. This is also quite a casual compilation of my thoughts, I didn't spend a long time trying to perfect my wording, which I think will be pretty evident.

Anyway, I love The Bear, I remember watching that first trailer and I was so excited for season 1 to drop, I just knew it was gonna be my kind of show. This is a show that makes me laugh, cry, stress, etc. However, like every other show in existence, it's not a perfect show, and I think season 3 in particular showcased some decisions/issues that I'm hoping will be handled a bit differently in season 4. I have some popular opinions and some unpopular opinions, but that's everyone, right?

Just a warning, this is long. I have a tendency to ramble.

*Spoilers from 1x01-3x10 of The Bear

The Good Stuff First!

The Tina Episode!!! I loved "Napkins" and even though Tina's antagonism at the beginning of season 1 was already understandable, getting these layers of her home life, the foundation of her relationship and loyalty to Michael and The Beef, her fears for her job stability, her jealousy of the opportunities of youth, etc. was just incredible. And Ayo directed it beautifully! I have cried over Tina's emotions multiple times in every season. Liza is so fantastic and can give you so much emotional complexity with her face. Gorgeous job as always. I hope they continue to spotlight her in future episodes, because she brings such a lovely balance of determination, hopefulness, warmth, and humor to her scenes.

I also loved getting to see this side of Michael in 3x06, since what we last saw of him was so, so dark. I think it's very interesting to get to see Michael through various people's eyes, because they see and remember different sides of him. The way Carmy remembers Michael is different from the way Tina does is different from the way Richie does. And that's how real relationships are. We don't show every side of ourselves to every person. I also really liked getting to see Michael talk to someone who doesn't know Carmy about Carmy, because it made me realize that Mikey very much had as incomplete of an understanding of Carmy as Carmy did of him. I think it was already very evident that Mikey cutting Carmy out was something he did as an attempt to protect him (and likely also due to shame/not wanting Carmy to know about his struggles), we've been able to gather that since season 1. And in a lot of ways, it worked. Carmy got out. He excelled, and dreamed, and learned, and succeeded. But it also damaged Carmy a lot more than I think Michael ever realized. Carmy saw it as a rejection, as not being good enough, as Michael not believing in him, and he's been trying to prove him wrong ever since (and still, clearly, is). We might be able to see what Mikey did ultimately as an act of love, but that is not how Carmy experienced it, and that's valid, too, even though Carmy's desperation for validation (which is literally impossible for him to ever earn from Michael at this point) is not an excuse for how he has treated others around him. Carmy clearly needs to find a way not to only view himself through the lens of other people's validation (or lack thereof). Easier said than done, obviously. Anyway, 3x06 was fantastic in every way and it's my favorite individual episode of the season.

In what feels like an unpopular opinion, I actually really liked 3x01. I know it was a divisive episode, and I can see where the criticisms are coming from, but I really enjoyed it. I liked the nonlinear timeline, the minimal dialogue, finally really piecing together Carmy's journey. I just enjoyed it. I also appreciate the fact that The Bear isn't a show that is afraid to try things. Sometimes those choices will land more with the audience than others, but it feels very refreshing in an age where so much of what is made plays everything incredibly, exhaustingly safe. I don't think it's a show that has ever intended to speak to everybody, and 3x01 is a good example of that. On a personal level, it ticked a lot of boxes for me as an editor, and I found myself so fascinated by the choices and time/craft that I know went into them. This was not something you see everyday, and I liked that, but I can also see why some people didn't. It really requires a lot of patience from the viewer, and it's a shift from what we're used to from this show itself.

Richie, Tiff, Frank, and Eva. Richie is such a great character, and I really liked getting a little more of a glimpse of his family situation in this season. I hope there's even more in season 4 (I hope we get to see the wedding). The amount that he has grown, while not being a completely different or perfect person (struggling with his place in his daughter's life, self doubt still being big for him, how hurt he is by Carmy's words, his stubbornness in his fight with Carmy & disagreeing with him even when he agrees just to spite him, etc.). I love how his relationships with Natalie and Sydney have grown so much. I loved watching his scene with Tiff this season, because I think it shows how far Richie has come and how much he really loves his daughter and Tiff. I also think this storyline is so relatable to a lot of people. Navigating a divorce and a new relationship with children is tough, but it's something a lot of people go through. The fact that they seem to be making it work, despite how hard it is for everyone, is really nice. And I love the showcase of "Just because you love someone a lot, that doesn't mean your romantic relationship will or should work out." Richie is just a great, beautifully flawed character.

The return of Donna. In a season where a lot of storylines were left completely up in the air, getting some kind of emotional resolution with Donna and Nat felt really important. It's not that their relationship issues are fully resolved, obviously, but the tension of "is it even possible for Natalie to have any kind of relationship with her mother?" is finally addressed. It's never going to be a perfect relationship, but there is hope in it. I've also seen this episode criticized for "nothing happening," but I think a lot happened! It's just that it happened internally. And internal progress is just as important (sometimes more important), than external progress. Watching this episode felt very cathartic to me because I felt like we got to see Nat do what Carmy cannot (in this season), which is to look at her relationship with her mother, which is not a good one, and understand that neither she nor Donna will ever be able to change the past, but they can try to move forward. It may or may not work, but they can try. And Natalie can be brave enough to open herself up for potential disappointment (and hopefully establish healthy boundaries), because the risk is worth it to her. Loved that. Both actresses were also phenomenal in this episode, imo. This is another episode that requires some patience from the viewers, but I think it is richly emotionally rewarding if you let yourself just be in it.

Olivia Coleman (Chef Terry)! I feel like that's explanation enough.

Carmy & Marcus. Personally, I haven't seen people talk about this much, but I feel like Carmy's relationship with Marcus, while only getting a small amount of time, was such a key part of the season because of how they are alike and how they are different. They're characters who are both passionate about what they do, both have a tendency to get at least a little lost in it and neglect other things/responsibilities, but Marcus has this beautiful ultimately positive outlook on life that Carmy lacks, while Carmy has the knowledge and experience that Marcus really respects and hopes to one day achieve. I feel Carmy's kindest moments of the season come during his support/mentorship of Marcus. Carmy is able to instill more confidence in Marcus, and give him space to explore, and Marcus is able to look past some of Carmy's worst character flaws and appreciate his artistry and passion. Since Carmy is so low this season, him having these encouraging/supportive moments, where we see that he did pick up some of the really good lessons in mentorship from some of the chefs he worked with (and not just the bad), with Marcus felt very important to me. While we didn't get a full Marcus-centric episode this season, I thought he was very good when we did see him. I wonder if Marcus may eventually (like possibly at the end of the show, depending on how long it runs) get an opportunity to go to an esteemed culinary school. He's always shown a lot of interest in the experimental, techincal, and academic side of the craft, as well as the artistry, so I could see him jumping at an opportunity like that.

The acting in general! Another season of fantastic performances! I really don't know what else to say about that.

The commitment to continuing to really flesh out side characters. Obviously the biggest example of this in this season is Tina, followed by Donna, but I love the small moments we get with characters like Ebra, Pete, Sweeps, Luca near the end, and even Fak (Neil).

Luca. I really like Luca and feel like he is a character with a lot of potential! I would totally be on board with him being a regular cast member. I think he has great energy and chemistry with everyone, and it was interesting to see the nerdy and less confident side of him (when surrounded by esteemed chefs), adding another dimension to his character. I feel like he already has a lot of potential to be involved in several storylines (Carmy's, Sydney's, Marcus'). I don't know if there's any chance of getting him as a regular in season 4, but I would love it. They did mention he's sticking around for a while, so I hope that's what that was foreshadowing.

A dive into Carmy's trauma/dysfunction. Okay, so I'm going to be talking a lot about Carmy in my critical section, so before we get there, I want to acknowledge what I liked about his arc (or half of one) this season. I feel like I get Carmy. I relate to a lot of his negative qualities. I, too, am a perfectionist with obsessive tendencies who has impossibly high standards for themselves. I, too, often get stuck in a negative feedback loop, where I avoid conflict and hyper-fixate on something else to justify it. I, too, struggle to open up to people in a meaningful way, to be genuinely emotionally vulnerable, and kind of shut down when I'm hurt. And I, too, know all of that about myself, can recognize it from a distant, theoretical standpoint, but still struggle to not fall into that kind of behavior when put under stress. I also have a complicated relationship with my older sibling, so there's that. I get Carmy. I have a lot of empathy for Carmy. I think he sometimes doesn't get enough credit from the fans for his positive qualities, because his negative qualities are massive, driving forces in each season. So, aside from the deep dive into the unhealthy ways we process trauma, here's what I think is positive about Carmy's arc this season- I think the writer's know what they're doing with Carmy, even if I don't totally agree with how they've paced it. For a little while, I was concerned that maybe they had lost sight of how to handle Carmy and pushed him too far, just as a character in general, but the last 2 episodes of the season reaffirmed to me that they are, at the very least, aware of how far they have pushed him, and they know exactly where they're going with him. Does that mean I agree with the pacing of this now? No, I still think this could be improved significantly, but at least it feels intentional. Maybe I'll change my mind when I see how things play out in season 4.

This is a show that cares. It isn't always perfect, but it always cares. One thing that I've seen as a criticism, I actually thought was perfect (maybe I'm the one reading the scene wrong, you can let me know your thoughts), but I saw people say that the details were sloppy this season, and specifically citing the fact that Sydney makes a fennel salad in season 1, but is served something else by Carmy due to a "fennel allergy" in this season. When I saw this in the episode, I thought it was brilliant attention to detail, because my reading of the scene was that there is no allergy, Carmy just says that so he can rebel against Chef David's orders and serve the dish the way he wants to. I assumed the fennel allergy was chosen by the writers specifically because, if we notice, it is a confirmation that Carmy is lying. I still think that's the point, but maybe I'm wrong.

Another thing I really respect about this show is that I don't think they make really many (or any) of their creative decisions based off of fan response. Now, don't get me wrong, I think there is a lot of value in flexibility and willingness to adjust when something isn't working or when it receives solid constructive criticism. I respect being able to raise your hand and say, "hey, you're right, that wasn't the best," and make a change. But I also really respect not allowing loud opinions to fundamentally change the story you're telling, just for popularity points. I think The Bear, due to a lot of attention on social media and the awards circuit, has grown past the audience that it is really made for. There are a lot of people watching (or trying to watch) who absolutely never would have if they didn't see so much chatter about it online. And that's fine! I have certainly tried shows out of my comfort zone for the same reason. Some worked for me and broadened my horizons, and some didn't. But The Bear does not seem to care about adhering to "popular" tropes, storylines, filming style, editing style, etc. just for the sake of mainstream validation. When it does do those things, it very much feels like it does so because the creatives behind the show want to, not because of external pressure. And that's going to alienate some people. That's not always going to land well. It's probably going to come off (or even just be) pretentious sometimes. But I would always rather watch something that was clearly a passion project, even if I don't really get it or it ultimately doesn't really work for me, than something designed specifically for mass appeal and without a soul. So, to me, this is a huge net positive.

The Less Good Stuff

Let's talk about the elephant in the room- "To Be Continued..." The double renewal for season 3 & 4 clearly changed their approach to the pacing/storytelling this season, and I'm not personally convinced it was for the best. I love that there's going to be a season 4, and I love that they got an opportunity to leave some big things unresolved because they knew it wasn't going to be the end, but... this really is just 3A and 3B and the fact that it ends with "To Be Continued..." means they absolutely know this, too. I guess it's better that it's an intentional choice, but it does make season 3 feel incomplete, and it doesn't really stand up on its own. It may be 10 episodes, but it is half of a story. That's not necessarily a bad thing (I think this isn't usually such a problem once it ages, because people who are watching in the future will be able to jump from season 3 straight into season 4, and it won't feel as grueling), but it is a different thing from the first two seasons. And I don't love it. Personally, I think they could have paced some of the storylines a bit differently, so we were closing a few more smaller arcs out to give the end of the season a sense of resolution, even with big things hanging over our heads. The fact that the season has left nearly every storyline completely up in the air is a bit much, imo. I think season 3 is the weakest individual season so far, and it's really all tied back to the pacing.

Okay. Time to tackle Carmy. I love Carmy. I actually, really do. He's very flawed, very layered, and feels like a fully realized human. However... I am, quite frankly, tired of Carmy being so low. I know he's the main character, and therefore a lot of the driving drama centers on him, but he's been in a downward spiral for (imo) a bit too long now, and I just need... some little ray of hope for him. The season 2 finale felt like a low, but then all of season 3 just got worse. And I am tired. I think this pacing is on purpose, but I am too tired, and I think a lot of people feel the same way. I will say, the last two episodes gave me some hope that he has seen the light (a little). I hope it will not take the entirety of season 4 to mend some of these fences and face some of his actions (I don't expect him to suddenly be a different person, but I don't want to spend 10 episodes of season 4 with him only dealing with stuff head on at the end), because he genuinely becomes difficult for me to like, despite all the empathy I have for him, by the midpoint this season. Again, I think they meant to do this, but I also, personally, think it's a little too grueling. And if this is the pacing they wanted to go with, I think it would have been nice to see at least a few more glimmers of Carmy's positive qualities, to remind us why we like him in the first place.

Carmy & Richie, Carmy & Syd, Carmy & Claire, Carmy & Nat. I think one of the reasons I'm struggling so much with Carmy throughout is that absolutely none of his closest relationships make any positive forward progress this season (this is part of the reason I feel like the Carmy & Marcus scenes were so important, because he doesn't get a lot of other vulnerable moments with anyone else this season), and, again, I think it's just a little too much. I understand that Carmy basically shutting himself off from his life is part of the arc, but I think that could have come across and still moved at least one of these relationships a little bit forward. I get why they didn't want to resolve Carmy & Claire yet (they knew they had season 4 and based on the falling out they had, there really did need to be time away from each other). I get why Carmy & Sydney are in a rough place, it's important for her storyline, and so I get that, but... Carmy & Nat are also not communicating this season. I feel like even at serious low points in previous seasons, Nat would still tell him what's what. And here's the thing, I get that she's distracted and has her own stuff to deal with, but it still stretches the believability a bit for me because the restaurant is her job, too. It's not as if she is working elsewhere and having a baby and just doesn't have time to deal with Carmy. His behavior is literally central to her job and having negative impacts on literally everyone around her. That she would just bite her tongue when this puts her and nearly everyone she cares about in a precarious position just feels off. In this season, everyone who would normally confront Carmy about his choices basically just completely give up on that after 3x02, and this feels to me like a choice made for the plot, not necessarily reflecting the established character relationships. But the big one for me that doesn't land is Carmy & Richie. Because they are handled by being separated entirely. I wish they had more scenes together. Would those scenes probably be arguments? Yeah, okay, mostly. But the fact that they basically don't speak after 3x02 takes one of the best dynamics of the show out of play for an entire season. Personally, I think Carmy & Richie reaching at least some stable ground this season could have really improved things, and given us some sense of resolution, when so many other storylines are up in the air. Even if they didn't clear the air entirely, but they came to a kind of grudging truce, that would have helped, imo. Even if all of Carmy's other relationships were still on the rocks, if we got a really cathartic, vulnerable moment between Carmy & Richie, I think it would have helped inject just a little more hope into this season.

Too many Faks (AKA, too much of a good thing). I love Fak (Neil) and I even like Ted, but I think Sammy was a bridge too far. Not only was the choice of guest star a bit too jarring, imo (it just feels like he's in a different show from everyone else? and unlike the other cameos, I was never able to let go of the fact that I was watching a celebrity), I think they spent way too much time on it. I did like the duck bit, but overall, it felt tonally off. The extended scenes about "haunting" didn't really hit with me, and I feel like Fak (and/or the Faks) is at his best in small, strange, chaotic doses. I didn't mind their uncle, though, because his scene didn't take that much time. When we finally got around to the "haunting" conversation with Carmy (about Claire), I felt like I finally understood why this whole thing was even a thing, but I also felt it was just a clunky/poorly paced way to do it. A ton of set up for minimal payoff.

Sydney. Okay, before you get upset with me, this is not me saying Sydney is bad this season, this is me saying I don't think they've totally done her character justice with the writing and pacing of this season (the, "this is really just 3A," thing strikes again). I have rewritten this section over and over because I'm really struggling to put into words what I mean here. I think the closest I can come is- I want more of Sydney's screen time to be about Sydney. I feel like a lot of her time this season went to scenes that were in service of other character's arcs. And it's not that I don't want any of those, like of course her relationships with other characters are important, and of course she can be in a scene that is mostly about someone else and that scene also be furthering her arc, I just felt like her individual arc was a little stalled out, and (basically same complaint as Carmy's, except for Sydney is much more enjoyable than him this season) due to how they paced this, it felt a bit too slow to me. However I have a lot of hopes that season 4 will be more Sydney-centric and faster paced in a lot ways, both in what we see from her, and how her choices (I am assuming that she will take the job, though I hope she doesn't leave The Bear forever) have a huge ripple effect on the other characters. I hope that means in season 4, we'll have more scenes where other character's are in service of Sydney's storyline and not the other way around. I think I completely get Sydney's storyline in 3, I just don't love the pacing of it (how many times can I say that I don't agree with season 3s pacing?). But I am so hopeful for Sydney in season 4. I think there is a ton of potential for a big showcase of Sydney growing, exploring, struggling, failing, persevering, and just generally discovering what she really wants, and I'm excited for it. I really love Ayo, and that last scene of Sydney this season gave me chills, so I am ready to see what she delivers in season 4.

The editing/pacing of the finale. Obviously I find a lot of the storylines too dragged out and slower than they should be, I've mentioned that a lot, but this is a more specific complaint about the last episode. As much as I praised The Bear earlier for having an artistic and creative vision and not compromising that for mainstream appeal, I definitely felt like the dinner at Ever could have been a lot shorter. It almost felt like, "hey, we invited all these real chefs and we don't want anyone to feel slighted, so we have to make sure to really feature all of them," and while it did relate to things Carmy & Sydney are feeling/thinking, it just dragged quite a bit. I also think some of the better lines got buried by so many different people making so many different points. It was slow. And hey, maybe this is one of those moments where the show isn't for me, and that's okay, but it doesn't make me like this scene any better.

Lack of warmth. I think one big thing missing from a lot of this season is the warmth that the first two seasons exude. Some of this is literal, the color palette at The Bear has shifted to mostly cool tones, so there is a visual coolness, but also the chaos feels cold. The chaos in the first 2 seasons had an endearing (though still stressful) quality to it, but the chaos in season 3 is largely just stressful. Again, I think this is an entirely intentional choice. It wants the atmosphere to feel clinical and impersonal and detached, it is reflective of Carmy's mental state, but the loss of that vibe just makes the show less fun, imo. And yes, the show is not about fun, but the higher highs of seasons 1 and 2 gave some much needed levity and contrast to the lows.

The Stuff I'm (Theoretically) Neutral About

Claire. It seems like everybody on the planet has a strong opinion about Claire. They hate her, think she's the worst/most boring character ever. Or they love her. Or they feel the need to fundamentally pit her and Sydney against each other and use one to tear down the other. Or they complain about her even existing. I don't mind Claire. I don't love Claire. I don't hate Claire. I still haven't passed judgement on Claire as an individual character. That feels like an unpopular opinion to have. Is anybody else neutral on Claire? I think she plays an important role to what they decided to do in season 2. She is Carmy's dream girl, she's been Carmy's dream girl for years. I think Claire is the living, breathing example that we get to see in real time of how Carmy romanticizes people that he feels intensely emotional about, and fails to see fully realized versions of them. He did it to Mikey, and then he does it to Claire. Imo, she seems "perfect" and 2 dimensional in season 2 because we only see her through Carmy's eyes, and he's romanticizing her and their relationship. I don't mind that in season 2. And she's barely in season 3 (even when we do see her, a lot of it is flashback and so is still solely through Carmy's eyes), so I don't feel like I can make any new judgments of her character. I think she genuinely is a nice, lovely person, and whether or not she interests me as a character is still up in the air. If she begins to play a larger, more present role in the narrative individually, then I'll expect them to reveal more layers to her. For now, I'm neutral. I'm not super for or against her. This kind of leads into my next point, which is-

Shipping. I'm not against shipping for this show, and romantic love is a dynamic that is great to explore. I'm just not personally all that invested in romance in this show in general. So, like, I love it from the standpoint of how it reveals things about the characters (like the scene with Richie and Tiff where we see Richie's familial love overcome the pain of his romantic love not working, or the lovely background stuff with Tina and her husband) and how it fits into character's overall arcs, and I'm open to exploring different romantic dynamics with different characters, I just don't feel super strongly about who those characters should be. It's very much on the back burner of my mind. I think they're definitely setting up Richie & Jess for something in that regard, that feels like a question that needs to be answered (even if the answer is no). I can see little hints towards several potential relationships, and I'm willing to walk down any path they want to go in this regard, as long as the show stays what it is and doesn't become a clichéd romantic drama (I don't think it will), but I just don't have strong feelings around this. That's open to change, but that's where I'm at right now.

My Season 4 Hopes

The Bear. I have some specific hopes for the restaurant. I think it's quite evident that things can't stay the same. What Carmy is trying to do is completely unsustainable. I do hope the restaurant is able to stay open (like it would be quite sad to lose the place, after so much work to keep it open and improve, etc.), but I also hope it goes through some major changes, obviously in the way it's run, but also in the way it looks. There's a gorgeous shot of Richie and Carmy in the penultimate episode, with Carmy in the kitchen and Richie in the dining room, and it is absolutely stunning. And it is also absolutely blue. Ever's light is very cold as well, and I don't mind that for that restaurant, but when we meet The Beef, it's this warm, chaotic, dirty, ugly mess. But it's also got a soul. The Bear in season 3 feels soulless, a lot of the time. And the shift from the warm yellow dominant tones of the first two seasons, to the cool blue dominant tones of season 3 creates this kind... unwelcoming feeling to viewers. Sure, it's intentional, absolutely, but I hope it isn't just going to be like this moving forward. I think the restaurant needs to stop trying to be Ever, stop trying to be all these other places Carmy has worked at, and get to some middle ground. Not quite The Beef, but also not quite The Bear (as we know it right now). Which, honestly, is what Carmy needs as well. I think there's a lovely opportunity to physically shift aspects of the restaurant to match Carmy's internal journey, which will hopefully have some positive movement in season 4.

Sydney-centric plot! As previously mentioned, I have a lot of hopes for how Sydney's storyline is going to go, and I hope we get to see more elements to her story, because even though she had a lot of screen time, so much of that is devoted to just building her frustration, but very little outside of that.

Cicero episode. Oliver Platt is awesome, and with the little bits we got about Cicero's money troubles, and how much he loves the Berzatto kids, I think I would really enjoy a Cicero episode.

A second character focused episode. There are a lot of options for this, but I want at least two episodes that spotlight character who we haven't gotten to see too much of yet.

Carmy sees the light, and not in the season 4 finale. I just think we need to start building him back up ASAP (doesn't have to be linear progress, but I gotta see something), because his season 3 was completely grueling and exhausting to watch.

Richie & the wedding. I love Richie's dynamics with his family, and I think this would be really fun. Particularly since it might be a chance to see a lot of the main characters gathered at a non-work related event (I don't know how close Tiff is various characters, but based on the Christmas episode, she has some kind of relationship with a lot of them, plus Tina mentions going to a Berzatto Christmas in season 1). The wedding feels like it could be an incredibly fun bottle episode.

If you're still here, hi and thanks for reading my very informal, very off the top of my head thoughts. I definitely feel like this season has been quite divisive and while I certainly have my criticisms, I feel like how they stick the landing in season 4 (or don't) will, in the more long term view, ultimately play a big part in how I feel about season 3.

As always, shoot me an ask if you've got thoughts to share!

#the bear #the bear season 3 #the bear fx #the bear spoilers #the bear season 3 spoilers #text #long post #extremely long post #my thoughts #some of y'all said you wanted this (maybe you'll change your mind when you're in the middle of my ramblings) so here it is!

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bondedbyus · 2 months ago

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"Me to Me": The Unspoken Bond Between the Heart and the Soul

Rediscovering Ourselves in a Loud World

In the fast-paced, ever-connected landscape of American life—where hustle is glorified, productivity is prized, and digital screens rarely go dim—we often find ourselves asking: Who am I beyond the noise? Not “me” in the eyes of my boss, my Instagram followers, or even my family, but me to me. The intimate, invisible thread that binds our heart to our soul is often overlooked in our pursuit of external validation. Yet this bond—the one we share with ourselves—is the foundation of all love, strength, and clarity.

This article is a journey into that sacred relationship. It’s not about religion or philosophy alone; it’s about human essence, inner peace, and personal truth. Let’s explore how tuning into this inner bond can help American readers navigate stress, find purpose, and live more authentically.

1. What Does “Me to Me” Really Mean?

“Me to me” is more than self-talk or self-care—it’s self-relationship. It’s the emotional and spiritual connection between your conscious heart and your timeless soul. Think of it as sitting in a quiet room with your truest self and finally listening, without distraction, judgment, or rush.

For many Americans juggling careers, family, and societal expectations, this connection can feel distant or forgotten. Yet, it is always there, whispering in quiet moments—during a late-night drive, on a solo hike, or just lying under the stars.

It’s the voice that says:

“You’re more than what you do.”

“You’re not your past.”

“You are enough.”

2. The Heart: Our Emotional Compass

In Western culture, we often refer to the heart as the seat of emotion. When we say “follow your heart,” we’re really talking about our inner emotional truth.

The American spirit is driven by heart—from the fearless dreamers who build startups in Silicon Valley to the everyday heroes raising families across small-town USA. Heart is what fuels empathy, courage, and resilience.

But the heart can also be bruised. Grief, betrayal, loneliness, and rejection can create walls within us, making it harder to listen to what our heart truly feels. And when the heart is closed, the connection to the soul dims.

3. The Soul: Our Timeless Guide

While the heart reacts, the soul observes. The soul is still. It is the quiet presence within us that knows who we are—regardless of what we've done or what’s been done to us.

For many Americans, especially those seeking spiritual wholeness outside organized religion, the soul represents inner truth and alignment. It’s what pulls us toward authenticity. It doesn’t shout. It nudges.

When we feel out of sync, it’s usually because we’ve lost touch with our soul’s direction. The soul doesn’t care about titles or wealth. It only asks: Are you being true to yourself?

4. When Heart Meets Soul: The “Me to Me” Connection

When your heart and soul are in conversation, something magical happens.

This is inner alignment—the moment your feelings (heart) and your truth (soul) flow in the same direction. It’s when your actions reflect your values. When your passion and purpose shake hands.

This bond expresses itself in everyday ways:

Choosing peace over proving a point.

Walking away from a job that pays well but starves your spirit.

Saying no to please others so you can finally say yes to yourself.

The “me to me” bond is freedom. It’s when you stop outsourcing your worth and begin living from your center.

5. Why This Bond Matters More Than Ever in America

In a nation rich with opportunity but overwhelmed by pressure, this internal connection can be life-saving.

From young professionals in New York City dealing with burnout to Midwest parents struggling to balance roles, the disconnect between external success and inner fulfillment is real.

According to the American Psychological Association, stress levels have risen in recent years—especially among Gen Z and Millennials. Many cite feelings of emptiness, even when “everything looks good” on paper.

That’s why the “me to me” relationship matters:

Because in the end, peace doesn't come from applause. It comes from knowing you're walking a path that feels right to you.

6. Practices to Strengthen the Bond Between Heart and Soul

Here are a few accessible and powerful ways Americans can deepen this relationship with themselves:

🧘 1. Silent Mornings

Start the day without a screen. Just 10 minutes of quiet breathing, coffee in hand, watching the sunrise. Let your heart speak before the world gets loud.

📓 2. The “Me to Me” Journal

Each night, write a few lines addressed to yourself:

“Dear me, today I loved how you…”

“I forgive you for…”

“Tomorrow, I hope you remember…”

🌲 3. Nature Walks

Whether it’s the coast of California or the forests of Vermont, nature reconnects you to your soul. Walk alone, in silence. Listen.

🎨 4. Create Without Purpose

Paint. Sing. Write. Dance. Not for likes. Not for money. Just for you. This lets your soul breathe.

��️ 5. Soul Check-Ins

Ask yourself, especially when making big decisions: Is this feeding my soul or just my ego?

7. Healing the Broken “Me to Me” Bond

Sometimes, life throws us off course. Trauma, loss, and failure can make us feel like we’ve lost touch with ourselves. But the bond between the heart and soul is never truly broken—it’s only buried.

Reconnecting might mean:

Therapy

Forgiving yourself

Letting go of shame

Starting fresh, even if it's uncomfortable

Americans have long been known for resilience. From the civil rights movement to post-pandemic rebuilding, this country thrives when individuals choose healing over hiding.

Healing your inner self is one of the most American things you can do—because it leads to freedom, and freedom is our soul’s native language.

8. “Me to Me” and the American Dream

The traditional American Dream emphasized success, home ownership, and upward mobility. But modern Americans are redefining the dream.

Today’s dream is more about authenticity than accumulation. It’s about emotional wellness, spiritual peace, and living a life that feels good—not just looks good.

The bond between your heart and soul is the truest version of this dream. When you build that relationship, success becomes sustainable, and joy becomes natural.

9. What Happens When We Truly Love Ourselves

When your heart loves your soul, and your soul accepts your heart, you become whole.

That wholeness radiates outward:

Relationships improve

Decision-making becomes clear

Anxiety lessens

Joy increases

You stop waiting to be chosen. You realize—you've already been chosen by the most important person in your life: you.

Conclusion: You Are Your Greatest Home

In America, we have the freedom to explore, create, speak, and dream. But none of that truly matters unless we also have the freedom to be ourselves—fully, fearlessly, and honestly.

The “me to me” bond is sacred. It’s not selfish—it’s essential. It’s not woo-woo—it’s wisdom. It’s not indulgence—it’s the deepest form of self-respect.

So today, ask yourself: How can I love me better? How can I listen more closely? How can I trust myself again?

Because when your heart and soul are aligned, nothing in this world can shake your peace.

In a land of opportunity, the greatest gift you can claim is your own self. Not the curated version. Not the one chasing trends. But the real you—the one who laughs at your own jokes, cries in the car sometimes, and still shows up.

That “me to me” bond? It’s not a destination. It’s a daily devotion.

And you, dear reader, are worth it.

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aiwealthhub · 3 months ago

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It’s easy to assume that Ultimately, a personal support system is not just about emotional or physical support; it’s about creating a sense of belonging and connection. It’s about having people who understand your struggles, cheer you on, and remind you of your strength when you forget it. It’s about fostering an environment where you feel safe to be yourself and to grow without fear of judgment or rejection. By creating your own support system, you empower yourself to face the challenges of Self-belief is the foundation upon which all success is built. It is the internal compass that guides you through life’s challenges, the fuel that powers your ambitions, and the confidence that propels you forward, even when the world around you seems uncertain. Without self-belief, it becomes incredibly difficult to pursue your dreams, face challenges, or achieve anything meaningful. It is the strongest asset you can possess, and it begins with the recognition that you are worthy of success, happiness, and fulfillment. At its core, self-belief is rooted in self-worth. It is about understanding that you have unique qualities, skills, and potential that make you capable of achieving greatness. The world may tell you that you are not good enough, that you don’t have what it takes, or that you should play it safe. But self-belief is the inner strength that rejects these limitations. It reminds you that your value doesn’t come from external sources—whether it’s others’ opinions, societal expectations, or past failures. Your value is inherent, and believing in yourself allows you to embrace that truth fully. Self-belief also gives you the courage to take risks. Many people fear failure or judgment, which holds them back from pursuing their goals. But with self-belief, you understand that failure is not a reflection of your worth; rather, it’s a stepping stone to growth. Every successful person has faced failure, rejection, or setbacks, but their self-belief allowed them to keep going, learn from their experiences, and ultimately succeed. It’s about knowing that you can weather the storms of life because you trust in your ability to overcome them. The courage that comes from self-belief is what drives you to take that first step, even when the outcome is uncertain. Moreover, self-belief helps you stay resilient in the face of adversity. Life is rarely a smooth ride; there are always bumps, challenges, and detours along the way. When you believe in yourself, you are less likely to be deterred by obstacles. You see challenges not as roadblocks but as opportunities to learn, grow, and become stronger. Self-belief allows you to persevere through difficult times, reminding you that you are capable of overcoming anything that stands in your way. Self-belief also enhances your ability to influence others. When you are confident in yourself, others are more likely to believe in you as well. Your self-assurance radiates and inspires those around you. It creates an aura of trust and reliability, making others want to support you, collaborate with you, or follow your lead. This positive influence is one of the most powerful outcomes of self-belief. People gravitate towards those who exude confidence because it makes them feel secure and motivated. Ultimately, self-belief is not just about achieving goals or proving others wrong—it’s about living authentically and embracing who you truly are. It’s about trusting that you have the strength and capability to navigate whatever life throws your way. When you believe in yourself, you stop seeking validation from others because you know that your worth is not defined by external opinions or circumstances. Instead, you define your own worth, and that self-empowerment is the key to creating a fulfilling and successful life. So build that inner strength. Cultivate that inner trust. Because when you depend on yourself first, you don’t just survive—you thrive. You don’t need to rely on anyone. Become strong. Become whole. Become powerful. Because once you do, no one can take that away from you. Not ever.

#motivation #self improvement #youtube #tumblr milestone

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drkarenhawk · 5 months ago

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Building Trust in Relationships with Dr. Karen Hawk’s Support

Trust is the cornerstone of any healthy and successful relationship. Whether in romantic partnerships, friendships, family relationships, or professional connections, trust allows individuals to feel secure, supported, and understood. However, building and maintaining trust can be a challenging process, especially when it has been damaged by misunderstandings, betrayals, or unmet expectations.

Dr. Karen Hawk, a licensed therapist with extensive experience in relationship counseling, provides expert support for individuals and couples looking to build or rebuild trust in their relationships. Her compassionate and thoughtful approach is designed to address the core issues that often hinder trust and offer practical strategies to foster long-lasting, meaningful connections.

The Importance of Trust in Relationships

Trust is essential for emotional safety and intimacy. Without trust, relationships become fraught with insecurity, doubt, and defensiveness. Building trust creates a solid foundation for open communication, vulnerability, and mutual respect. When individuals feel they can rely on one another, they are more likely to express their true feelings, share their desires and needs, and be there for each other in times of hardship.

Without trust, relationships can quickly become strained. Even small misunderstandings or miscommunications can feel like insurmountable obstacles. When trust is broken, it can take time and effort to heal the wounds and rebuild the bond between individuals.

Common Challenges to Building Trust

There are many reasons why trust may be challenged in relationships. Some of the most common causes of distrust include:

Infidelity: One of the most common ways trust is broken in romantic relationships is through infidelity. Whether physical or emotional, betrayal can cause deep emotional pain and make it difficult for individuals to believe in their partner’s commitment moving forward.

Lack of Communication: Poor communication habits, such as dishonesty, avoidance, or not addressing issues openly, can erode trust. When one partner feels they are being kept in the dark or lied to, their sense of security in the relationship is compromised.

Past Trauma or Hurt: Previous experiences, especially those involving emotional, physical, or verbal abuse, can create barriers to trust. Individuals who have been hurt in the past may find it challenging to trust others, even if there is no obvious reason to doubt their current relationship.

Unmet Expectations: Sometimes, trust is undermined when individuals feel that their needs or expectations aren’t being met. Whether it’s a partner failing to show up emotionally or a friend not being reliable, unmet expectations can lead to disappointment and hurt.

Control Issues: When one partner or family member seeks to control or manipulate another, it can create feelings of resentment, fear, and mistrust. Healthy relationships require mutual respect and autonomy, and control issues can make it difficult for individuals to trust each other.

Dr. Karen Hawk’s Approach to Building Trust

Dr Karen Hawk Psychologist Phoenix’s approach to helping clients build trust in their relationships involves a combination of emotional insight, effective communication strategies, and concrete tools that address the root causes of distrust. She offers compassionate, nonjudgmental support, allowing individuals and couples to explore their fears, vulnerabilities, and expectations openly.

1. Creating a Safe, Nonjudgmental Space

Trust can only be built in a safe and secure environment where individuals feel heard and respected. Dr Karen Hawk Psychologist Phoenix ensures that her clients feel supported and validated throughout the counseling process. This nonjudgmental space allows them to express their concerns, fears, and desires without the fear of rejection or criticism. Trust-building begins when individuals can be open with one another and work through their issues in a secure environment.

2. Exploring the Root Causes of Distrust

Before trust can be rebuilt, it is essential to understand the factors that have contributed to the lack of trust. Dr Karen Hawk Psychologist Phoenix works with clients to explore the emotional and relational roots of their distrust. This may involve reflecting on past experiences, such as childhood wounds, past relationship betrayals, or unresolved conflicts, that could be influencing their current perceptions and behaviors.

By identifying the underlying issues that fuel distrust, clients can begin to address these emotional obstacles and make conscious efforts to heal and move forward.

3. Improving Communication Skills

Effective communication is the foundation of trust-building. Dr Karen Hawk Psychologist Phoenix teaches clients how to communicate openly, honestly, and empathetically with one another. Instead of focusing on blame or defensiveness, she encourages individuals to use “I” statements, which express how they feel without accusing the other person.

For example, instead of saying, “You never listen to me,” a person might say, “I feel unheard when we don’t discuss things openly.” This simple shift in communication can lead to a more constructive, collaborative conversation and open the door for greater understanding.

4. Rebuilding Emotional Intimacy

In relationships where trust has been broken, emotional intimacy often suffers. Dr Karen Hawk Psychologist Phoenix works with clients to rebuild this crucial aspect of their relationship by encouraging vulnerability, emotional support, and shared experiences. Rebuilding intimacy takes time, and it often involves reconnecting emotionally through small acts of kindness, empathy, and understanding.

She emphasizes the importance of rebuilding trust slowly through consistent actions that demonstrate reliability and support. Trust can be reestablished when both partners make an effort to prioritize each other’s emotional needs and remain consistent in their words and actions.

5. Setting Boundaries and Expectations

A lack of clear boundaries and expectations can create confusion and fuel distrust. Dr Karen Hawk Psychologist Phoenix helps clients identify their needs and boundaries within their relationships, encouraging healthy communication about what is acceptable and what isn’t. By setting clear boundaries, individuals can feel more secure and respected in their relationships.

When expectations are clarified and agreed upon, both parties have a better understanding of each other’s needs, making it easier to avoid misunderstandings and hurt feelings.

6. Developing Trust-Building Behaviors

Dr Karen Hawk Psychologist Phoenix encourages clients to engage in consistent behaviors that foster trust. Small, everyday actions—such as being on time, keeping promises, offering emotional support, and being transparent—help create an atmosphere of reliability and security. Trust is built over time through repeated positive actions and behaviors that demonstrate a commitment to the relationship.

Conclusion: Rebuilding Trust for Stronger Relationships

Building trust in relationships requires effort, patience, and a willingness to be vulnerable. With Dr. Karen Hawk’s expert support, individuals and couples can begin to heal from past betrayals, improve communication, and rebuild the emotional connection that is essential for lasting, healthy relationships. Through her compassionate counseling and practical strategies, Dr. Hawk empowers clients to create deeper trust, foster mutual respect, and experience more fulfilling connections.

Whether you are recovering from a breach of trust or simply looking to strengthen your relationship, Dr. Hawk’s guidance can help you create a solid foundation for a more secure and trusting future.

#dr karen hawk psychologist #dr karen hawk arizona #karen hawk psychologist

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cleverhottubmiracle · 5 months ago

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You can create the best email in the world, but it won’t matter if it doesn’t make it to your subscriber. And that’s why it’s vitally important you work with an email service provider (like FeedBlitz!) who places the highest possible focus and dedication on their deliverability practices. But what does deliverability mean? And how and when does it actually happen? And is there anything you can do to help? The answers to those questions and many more are what you will find in this post. There’s a lot of ground to cover when it comes to email deliverability, so without further delay, let’s jump right in. In this post, you’ll learn: What is email deliverability? Deliverability is a fairly common buzzword in the world of email marketing. However, unless you’re in the business of establishing and safeguarding it — or have had your email efforts impacted because of the lack of it — there isn’t a lot of clarity around the term and how companies achieve, monitor, and protect a high deliverability status. In the simplest of terms, deliverability is the processes and protections that allow your emails to reach your subscribers. It sounds pretty simple, but everything that takes place to get your emails from creation to open is much more complex. Knowing the ins and outs of email deliverability will help you make wiser decisions regarding your email marketing efforts. And it’ll also offer vitally important clarity when deciding which email service provider (ESP) to work with. Because again, you can design the prettiest emails possible, filled with the best content of your life, but it all means nothing if you’re with an ESP who cuts corners and your emails don’t actually get delivered. Key terms related to email deliverability. Anytime you’re working with a complex topic, starting with a foundation of key terms is best. The following terms will be helpful to know as you dig deeper into this blog post: Deliverability – getting your emails to a subscriber.Inboxing – getting your emails to a subscriber’s inbox (including Gmail’s promotions tab) as opposed to the spam folder.Reputation – receiving internet service providers (ISPs) review, judge, and estimate the safety of emails being sent by a particular email address — based on their own top-secret set of rules and guidelines — which ultimately determines whether your email will be allowed or denied.Authentication – a process to further validate the sender of your emails established through SPF, DKIM and DMARC, which use DNS to ensure permission has been granted. What happens when you send an email? Deliverability checks are not something that takes place one time, in one specific step of the email sending process. It can — and does — happen at multiple stages of the process every time one of your emails begins to send. To help give you a better idea of how and when this can happen, we’ll start with all the things that happen when you send an email, i.e., the path your email takes from the moment it begins sending to its arrival at your subscriber’s door. There are many more steps than you may realize, and that’s because most of the process takes place behind the scenes. The full process is a bit more nuanced and detailed than what’s outlined here, but the six steps highlighted below will give you a solid frame of reference for the process. While most ESPs follow similar, if not the same steps, below is a FeedBlitz-specific version to help show additional checks performed throughout the way: Step 1 – You create an email. And when working in FeedBlitz, before you’re even able to send or schedule the mailing, the content is checked against our in-house protocols. For example, you won’t even be allowed to send an email that may potentially be rejected by ISPs. Step 2 – The email begins sending. A unique email copy is created for each subscriber and sent to one of our outbound SMTP servers. (SMTP = the internet’s email protocol) Step 3 – Our SMTP servers send the email to the ISP. FeedBlitz’s SMTP servers then send your mailing to the receiving ISP’s servers. Step 4 – ISP reputation check. The receiving ISP’s inbound email server runs a series of reputation checks (on the sender) and content scans (on the email). Step 5 – Receive, reject or quarantine. The ISP will then either allow your email through, immediately reject it, or quarantine the email by sending it to a subscriber’s spam folder. Step 6 – Email received! (or bounced/rejected) FeedBlitz gets feedback on whether your email was received or recorded as a bounce/undeliverable.At any step of the process, deliverability and reputation checks can kick in and prevent your email from arriving. Luckily, the strict standards and practices many ESPs (like FeedBlitz!) have in place work to catch anything before the email even reaches outbound servers. They will also diligently monitor all feedback loops from ISPs and swiftly suspend any list whose feedback is not up to par. Actions you can take to boost your deliverability and sender reputation. Good email deliverability isn’t only in the hands of your ESP. You as a client can have a significant impact on your reputation with your subscribers, which can and will boost your individual deliverability success. Below are five action items you can do to help boost your own deliverability and sender reputation even further. Set up authentication for your sending domain.Authentication is an added layer of verification to let ISPs know you are the true, valid sender of the email and that you’ve okayed FeedBlitz to do that for you. It involves SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. However, DMARC is typically used by high-level enterprise clients.FeedBlitz servers send your campaigns on behalf of the sending email you supply. (Note: This is why you may notice your email reads via [email protected] in email apps like Gmail or Outlook.) Authentication provides additional validation by saying, “Yes! This email is from me, and I authorize FeedBlitz to send it on my behalf! But please show me as the true sender.”This reinforces the level of trust an ISP forms with you and your emails. Hello, reputation booster.Are you a FeedBlitz client and not sure where you stand on your authentication? Click here to log in and run a quick scan.And if you’re ready to put authentication into action for your FeedBlitz-support campaigns, these steps walk you through how to set things up for your account: Protect Your Brand with SPF and DKIM and What Is and How to Create a DMARC Profile.Keep an eye on engagement data for your campaigns.How your email is received by subscribers is a strong indicator of the reputation you have with your audience. Are they opening? Clicking? Complaining? Unsubscribing? These data points are very important to FeedBlitz, fellow ESPs, and to individual ISPs who decide whether to prioritize (or deprioritize!) your emails.Healthy engagement is the strongest indicator of a healthy mailing list. And everyone likes healthy when it comes to deliverability.In FeedBlitz, you can track engagement data for each campaign from the list dashboard, dive deeper into in on the individual mailing dashboards, or pull a full engagement report to see engagement data over a chosen period of time.Note: Not sure what a good open rate is? Check out this episode of Win the Inbox to learn more.Review your content strategy and email best practices.This may seem a bit broad, but it relates back to something in section 4 of this post: Your audience ultimately determines what is or is not spam.Along with your quality content, you want to deliver a smooth, seamless experience for your subscribers. This means taking into consideration details such as:– Are you mailing regularly? A consistent cadence sets your subscribers’ expectations and can heighten open rates.– Is your branding all connected? From your website to your email template, the colors, the images, etc.? This helps with brand recognition, emphasizing you are someone the subscriber knows, likes, and trusts. (Again, better engagement is the result!)– Are you sending the content your audience signed up to receive? This can be a big determining factor in the frequency of how often a subscriber opens your emails. Deliver on what you promised when they signed up!– Is your template accessible for different audiences? This is where font size, color contrast, alt text for images come into play. The easier your email is to read and engage with, the wider your audience can become.That’s a small selection of things to consider, but it’s a great start to creating a smooth experience for your subscribers.Subscribe to your own list.Somewhat related to actionable #3 above, subscribing to your own mailing list not only ensures the end-to-end subscriber experience is up to your standards but also lets you know immediately if your emails are potentially being routed to somewhere other than the inbox.This also falls into best practices as you’re able to view test emails across different platforms and devices before hitting send.Again, the idea is to make sure your subscribers are having a seamless experience with every campaign you send, so it’s always best to check on different devices and email agents when possible.Remove people who are no longer opening or clicking your emails.While FeedBlitz handles unsubscribes and bounces for you automatically, if there“s one thing the team recommends the most to clients across the board, it’s removing inactive subscribers. This keeps your list — and engagement data — healthy.If a subscriber hasn’t opened or clicked one of your mailings in 60+ days, chances are they’ve lost interest. So instead of keeping them on your list with the mindset of “a bigger list is a better list!” set them free and move forward.In FeedBlitz, there are two ways you can go about this: one would be to send a re-engagement campaign and check if these inactive subscribers are still interested in sticking around, and the other would be to identify and remove them in one fell swoop. The choice is yours. Just remember, the name of the game is healthy, engaged mailing lists! Some of these action items you can work on and complete right away, and others you may choose to take a week or month to focus on. Either way, the suggestions outlined above will not only have a positive impact on your deliverability but also on the relationships you have with your subscribers. How FeedBlitz safeguards and boosts deliverability. In this section, you will learn some of the secrets, standards and practices FeedBlitz has in place to protect and boost email deliverability. These practices not only keep our clients’ emails going but allow us to consistently maintain our industry-leading deliverability rate of 99.8%. When an ESP works hard to safeguard their reputation, they’re also working hard to safeguard yours. It’s important to take deliverability practices into consideration if you’re comparing ESPs to see which is a good fit for you. While an ESP may not go into great detail on their in-house practices, you’re welcome to use the six items outlined below as a guideline for questions to ask. Without going into too much detail — we do have to protect some industry secrets, and we’re highly aware that bad actors read this to learn how to try and skirt the rules — below are six deliverability-related items you may find interesting. (Or, at the very least, you may find them insightful if you’ve ever had a list suspended or mailing halted!) We own all of our servers.That means when you’re sending with FeedBlitz, you’re not sharing a server with anyone who hasn’t been well-vetted or anyone who also isn’t being monitored 24/7/365. We have complete control over our infrastructure.Owning our own servers is hugely important. Some ESPs do not own their servers, and ultimately, they do not have full control over their reputation management. This leaves you vulnerable to your emails being potentially stopped if an unknown bad actor sends from the shared server your emails are sending from, the entire server, and everyone on it, is taken down.When this happens, the server’s IP can be added to a blocked list which is monitored by ISPs (who then reject your emails, not letting them through the door), as well as third-party lists many ISPs check as well — all because of emails you didn’t even send!One bad apple really can ruin the barrel in these situations…which is why FeedBlitz doesn’t cut corners when it comes to protecting deliverability. Feedback loops and changes with major ISPs (i.e., Gmail, Yahoo, Comcast, etc.) are constantly monitored.Meaning, we keep very close tabs on things such as how your audience interacts with your emails, any rejections or bounces which come through, oddly large groups of hard bounces, and velocity-based triggers. Resulting in your email having the best chance of getting through to your subscriber.As part of the monitoring process, if one of our servers is being throttled by an ISP, your campaigns will be quickly routed away from the machines in question so they can continue sending while further research is completed on the server and IP.If an ISP has cleared out a batch of old or undeliverable emails, we’ll confirm this is correct and not merely a glitch in the email ecosystem.Every email list and every subscriber is checked before they’re even allowed in the door.And that is not an understatement. It doesn’t matter if you have 10 subscribers or 10 million subscribers, each and everyone is checked against our own set of internal block lists, matched against 3rd party known purchased or rented lists, and will result in immediate suspension — and quite possibly being blocked from FeedBlitz all together — if an email address returns as a spam trap.We ruthlessly guard imports to protect the reputation of all FeedBlitz clients. If a list is suspended due to a blocked import or poor quality metrics (more on this below), it will remain suspended for at least 24 hours while the import file is being reviewed. After reviewing, the deliverability team will evaluate whether or not the import will be allowed to proceed and if the list will be reinstated.To put it plainly, we check receipts on each and every subscriber you try to bring into our home so our clients can rest easy knowing everyone is held to the same high level of quality control.Before you’re able to leave the editor, your emails go through the same content filters ISPs will run when deciding whether to allow or deny your email entry to the subscriber.Step four in the process listed above is where the destination ISP runs a series of checks to then decide what to do with your email.FeedBlitz created a series of content-based checks within the Visual Mailing Editor (VME) to mirror those an ISP will run.And while the industry has evolved quite a bit, and there is less emphasis on the presence of common spam/trigger words when it comes to deciding whether to allow your email through or not, it is still a factor to take into consideration.These content scans are also a safeguard against making sure your account has not been compromised.It’s frustrating, but bad emails can still come from good places, and that’s why multiple checks and balances are in place throughout the email creation and sending process to help ensure the success of your efforts.Important note: Because reputation extends to the links in your emails as well, this is why FeedBlitz doesn’t even allow an email that links out to a bad IP to be sent. We’re always looking out for you!How your subscribers engage with your mailings has a big effect.Just because a mailing passes our filters, ultimately, it’s up to your audience to decide whether or not it’s spam.Even if your email isn’t flagged as spam, ISPs (and FeedBlitz!) track all feedback from subscribers in how they interact with your mailings.This includes opens, clicks, and unsubscribes. It all has an impact on your deliverability. ISPs keep just as close tabs on this as we do. For example, when emails aren’t opened frequently, a subscriber’s ISP makes note of this and can demote or deprioritize them.FYI: If a mailing comes back with a lot of unsubscribes or complaints, it’s suspended in FeedBlitz for at least 24 hours while our team conducts a thorough review.This all works to keep your reputation and the reputation of all FeedBlitz clients in as good of standing as possible. And as you’ve probably picked up on by now, we don’t play around when it comes to sending reputations.New practices are regularly implemented.As the world of email evolves, so do we. Our team continually adjusts our in-house practices and protocols, as well as implementing new items. For example…– In April of 2022, we informed clients our deliverability team was increasing our email capacity by 40% by warming up a new batch of servers. Deliverability ✅– Large lists with a very low open rate (

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norajworld · 5 months ago

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chilimili212 · 5 months ago

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full-potential · 1 year ago

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Embracing Acceptance: A Journey to Self-Love and Relational Harmony

Acceptance is a profound principle in the universe, a fundamental that invites us to experience life in its entirety. It begins with understanding our preferences—the likes and dislikes that shape our experiences. These preferences, however, can become barriers to appreciation, especially when they prevent us from embracing the whole spectrum of life and relationships. The Paradox of Preferences Preferences guide us but also limit us. In relationships, they can lead to a dichotomy of acceptance and non-acceptance, where we find ourselves unable to let go of the undesirable yet unwilling to lose the desirable. This state of conflict often leads to efforts to change or fix aspects of our relationships or ourselves that we cannot fully accept, resulting in a perpetual state of discord. Self-Acceptance: The First Step The journey to universal acceptance starts with the self. Acknowledging that we have shaped ourselves to be more palatable to our own standards and society's expectations is crucial. Yet, the challenge lies in accepting our actions up to this point as the best we could have done under the circumstances. This acceptance is difficult because we are intimately aware of our flaws and imperfections, but it is necessary for moving forward. Reconciling the Internal Contradictions Self-acceptance requires us to reconcile the parts of ourselves we admire with those we disdain. This internal conflict often manifests as contradictory energies—wanting to embrace yet also wanting to reject. By resolving these conflicts and accepting ourselves wholly, we set the foundation for greater peace and self-love. Acceptance in Relationships In relationships, acceptance involves recognizing and allowing the existence of qualities we might not admire without trying to change or reject them. This approach does not just apply to others but also to the larger picture of life itself. By accepting life as it is, we also accept the divine play, acknowledging that if reality is an expression of a higher power's best effort, who are we to judge? The Divine Perspective If we view reality as a manifestation of the divine's best effort, our role shifts from judges to participants in the divine experiment. This perspective helps us see ourselves and others as doing our best, worthy of acceptance and appreciation, despite our imperfections. This realization brings a deeper appreciation for the human struggle against challenges and our continuous effort to improve. Leadership and Acceptance True leadership involves teaching acceptance—showing others how to be accepted and appreciate themselves. It's about communicating effectively and authentically, allowing others to accept or reject our ideas without our self-worth being tied to their acceptance. Freedom from External Validation Achieving freedom from the need for external validation, especially from our partners, is the ultimate liberation. When we no longer rely on others for acceptance, we can enjoy genuine freedom, whether we are in a relationship or not. This independence allows us to navigate life with less resistance, focusing on what truly resonates with us and what we genuinely appreciate. Cultivating Appreciation Finally, appreciation follows acceptance. When we can fully appreciate ourselves for our efforts and existence, gratitude flows naturally. This state of appreciation allows us to live fully, embracing both the joy of being alive and the inevitable endings that life entails. In Conclusion This journey through acceptance to appreciation isn't just transformative; it's revolutionary. It changes how we interact with the world, with others, and most importantly, with ourselves. In embracing acceptance, we open the door to a life of deeper fulfillment and profound peace. Please note while the ideas and thoughts expressed here came from me, the ultimate writing was optimized and filtered by AI to bring you the most clear ideas, my dear reader. Conclusion: Through understanding and practicing acceptance, we not only enhance our personal growth and happiness but also enrich our interactions with others. By appreciating life's complexities and our own multifaceted natures, we pave the way for a more compassionate and fulfilling existence. Read the full article

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edwardgdunn · 2 years ago

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Living Fearlessly As Your Authentic Self: How To Navigate The Minefield

Introduction

Living as our authentic selves is a goal many of us strive for, but it’s not always an easy path to tread. Society, family expectations, and our own fears can create barriers to authenticity. In this blog post, we will explore the difficulties of living authentically, strategies to overcome these challenges, and how authenticity can pave the way to a happier, more fulfilling life.

Part 1: The Difficulties of Living Authentically

Social Expectations and Conformity

Society often imposes rigid norms and expectations upon us, dictating how we should behave, look, and live. The pressure to conform can lead us to suppress our true selves, as we fear judgment and rejection if we deviate from the norm.

Fear of Rejection

A profound fear of rejection can hinder authenticity. We worry that if we reveal our true selves, we may alienate friends, family, or colleagues, potentially leading to isolation.

Self-Doubt and Insecurity

Many of us grapple with self-doubt and insecurity, questioning whether we are good enough as we are. These negative self-perceptions can prevent us from embracing our authentic selves.

Part 2: Overcoming the Difficulties

Self-Reflection and Self-Awareness

The journey toward authenticity begins with self-reflection and self-awareness. Take the time to understand your values, beliefs, and desires. Explore your strengths and weaknesses. This self-knowledge forms the foundation for authenticity.

Cultivating Courage

Overcoming the fear of rejection and societal judgment requires courage. Remind yourself that living authentically is a brave choice that allows you to lead a more genuine life. Embrace vulnerability as a source of strength.

Setting Boundaries

Establishing healthy boundaries is essential for living authentically. Clearly communicate your needs and values to those around you. Setting boundaries protects your authentic self from being compromised.

Part 3: Authenticity and Happiness

Improved Relationships

Authenticity fosters deeper and more meaningful relationships. When you are true to yourself, you attract people who appreciate and support the real you. Authentic connections are more fulfilling and satisfying.

Enhanced Mental Health

Suppressing your true self can lead to stress, anxiety, and even depression. Embracing authenticity reduces the internal conflict between who you are and who you pretend to be, contributing to better mental well-being.

Fulfillment and Purpose

Living authentically often leads to a sense of purpose and fulfillment. When you align your actions with your values and passions, you find greater meaning in your life’s journey.

Part 4: Practical Steps to Embrace Authenticity

Identify Your Values

Start by identifying your core values. What principles guide your life? Understanding your values helps you make choices that align with your authentic self.

Challenge Negative Self-Talk

Confront and challenge negative self-talk and self-limiting beliefs. Replace self-doubt with self-compassion and affirmations that support your authentic journey.

Surround Yourself with Support

Seek out a supportive community or group of friends who appreciate your true self. These relationships can provide encouragement and validation as you navigate your authentic path.

Part 5: The Ongoing Journey

Living authentically is an ongoing journey. It’s important to recognize that authenticity is not a fixed state but an evolving process. As you grow and change, your authentic self may evolve as well. Embrace this evolution and continue to nurture your authenticity.

Conclusion: The Path to Happiness Through Authenticity

Living authentically is a courageous choice that brings challenges but also profound rewards. By acknowledging and addressing the difficulties that hinder authenticity, cultivating self-awareness, and setting boundaries, we can pave the way to a happier, more fulfilled life. Authenticity enhances relationships, mental well-being, and overall life satisfaction, making it a worthy pursuit for anyone seeking a more genuine and joyful existence. Embrace your true self, for it is the key to unlocking lasting happiness.

Check out the podcast episode…

Check out the Happiness 2.0 Podcast — https://podcast.edwardgdunn.com/

Happiness 2.0 Blog — https://edwardgdunn.com/blog

#authentic self #fearlessness #self empowerment #navigating life #personal growth #mindfulness

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aiwealthhub · 3 months ago

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A woman rising from the ground has no room for excuses. She wakes up early, pushes past her limits, learns new skills, and stays up late chasing dreams that others might give up on halfway. Her strength comes not from ease but from endurance. Every task she masters, every setback she overcomes, makes her stronger and sharper. And slowly, without shortcuts or inherited advantages, she begins to rise. There’s something powerful about knowing you’ve earned every step of your success. You don’t owe it to connections. You don’t owe it to luck. You owe it to the days you didn’t give up. That kind of success can’t be bought. It’s built. And when you build it with your own hands, no one can take it from you. The world might respect privilege, but it never forgets those who earned their place through raw dedication. Hard work builds character. It teaches humility. It forces creativity. And it creates results that last. Privilege might shine fast, but hard work shines deep. It creates a foundation that doesn't crumble when times get tough. It prepares a person to lead, to inspire, and to understand the struggle of others. That's why hard work wins—because it transforms not just your life, but who you are as a person. When everything is against you, when nothing is handed to you, you learn to become your own power. And that, more than privilege, is what success truly requires. It’s not about where you started, but how fiercely you moved forward—and hard work always finds a way. Believe when no one else does—because sometimes, the only person who can truly see your potential is you. When the world is silent, when friends walk away, when family doesn’t understand your dream, that’s when your belief becomes your backbone. There are moments in life when no one claps for you, no one encourages you, and no one sees the fire you carry inside. And in those moments, what separates those who quit from those who rise is belief—unshaken, unwavering, unbreakable belief in oneself. A woman starting from zero faces this silence often. People look at her and don’t see greatness; they see struggle. They question her ambition. They doubt her abilities. They label her dreams as unrealistic or foolish. But what they fail to realize is that their doubt is irrelevant. What matters is what she tells herself in the dark, during those moments of defeat and loneliness. She may cry, she may fall, but deep down, a voice within whispers, “Keep going. You were made for more.” That voice is everything. It’s louder than the noise of rejection, stronger than the pull of fear, and clearer than the confusion of failure. That belief becomes a compass when the road isn’t clear. It becomes fuel when energy runs low. It becomes armor when criticism hits hard. And slowly, with each step forward, that belief starts to create results. Not overnight. Not easily. But surely. When no one else sees your vision, it's your job to protect it. To nurture it. To fight for it. You don’t need a crowd to believe in you—you need commitment to yourself. Even if you fall a hundred times, even if progress feels invisible, your belief will keep pushing you forward. That’s where true strength lies—not in outside support, but in the inner decision to keep going no matter what. Success stories are rarely about people who were always supported. They’re often about people who kept believing when no one else did. They didn’t need approval to move forward. They didn’t wait for validation. They became their own motivation, their own support system, and their own reason to rise. Belief isn’t just hope—it’s action. It’s showing up for yourself every single day even when there’s no applause, no attention, and no reward in sight. Because deep down, you know that the world may not believe in you now—but they will, once they see what belief built. From pain to power—that is the journey of transformation, the evolution of a soul that refuses to be broken. Pain is a universal experience, but what you do with it defines who you become.

#motivation #youtube #self improvement #tumblr milestone

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drkarenhawk · 6 months ago

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Healing from Childhood Trauma with Dr. Karen Hawk's Expert Care

Childhood trauma can have long-lasting effects on a person's emotional and psychological well-being, often influencing their relationships, behavior, and overall mental health into adulthood. Whether it involves physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, neglect, or witnessing traumatic events, the impact of these early experiences can be profound and difficult to overcome. However, with the right support and therapeutic approach, healing is possible. Dr. Karen Hawk, an experienced psychologist specializing in trauma care, offers compassionate and expert guidance to individuals navigating the complex journey of healing from childhood trauma. Through evidence-based therapies, emotional support, and a deep understanding of trauma’s effects, Dr. Hawk helps her clients reclaim their sense of safety, self-worth, and emotional resilience.

Understanding the Lasting Impact of Childhood Trauma: Dr. Karen Hawk’s Compassionate Approach

Dr Karen hawk psychologist The effects of childhood trauma are often far-reaching, leaving individuals to grapple with emotional challenges like anxiety, depression, difficulty forming healthy relationships, and low self-esteem. Dr. Karen Hawk emphasizes that trauma’s impact is not just psychological, but physical as well, as it can affect the nervous system and the body’s ability to regulate stress. Her compassionate approach begins with educating clients about the nature of trauma and its long-lasting effects. Dr. Hawk helps individuals understand that their struggles—whether it’s feeling unsafe in relationships, fear of abandonment, or difficulty trusting others—are often rooted in those early experiences. By acknowledging and normalizing these responses, Dr. Hawk creates a safe space where individuals feel heard, understood, and validated. This understanding serves as the first step in the healing process, as it helps individuals begin to make sense of their feelings and the impact trauma has had on their lives.

Building Safety and Trust: Dr. Karen Hawk’s Focus on Creating a Healing Environment

A crucial component of healing from childhood trauma is the establishment of safety and trust. Dr. Karen Hawk recognizes that individuals who have experienced trauma may struggle with trust, as their early experiences may have involved betrayal, neglect, or harm. In her therapeutic approach, Dr. Hawk prioritizes building a safe, non-judgmental, and supportive environment where clients feel comfortable exploring their trauma. She uses a gentle, empathetic approach to gradually help individuals open up about their experiences at their own pace. Through this secure therapeutic relationship, Dr. Hawk fosters an atmosphere of trust, allowing clients to feel safe enough to confront painful memories and emotions without fear of judgment or re-traumatization. Establishing this sense of safety is crucial to the healing process, as it lays the foundation for further therapeutic work.

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT): Dr. Karen Hawk’s Effective Treatment Approach

One of the most effective therapeutic approaches that Dr. Karen Hawk utilizes for healing from childhood trauma is Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). This evidence-based approach is specifically designed to help individuals process and reframe trauma-related thoughts and behaviors. Dr. Hawk works with clients to identify and challenge the negative beliefs they may have developed about themselves, others, or the world as a result of their traumatic experiences. For example, clients may have internalized feelings of worthlessness or fear of rejection due to their past trauma. TF-CBT helps individuals confront these beliefs and replace them with healthier, more balanced perspectives. Additionally, TF-CBT provides clients with coping strategies to manage distressing emotions and memories, empowering them to regain control over their emotional responses. Through this structured approach, Dr. Hawk helps her clients gradually process their trauma, reduce distressing symptoms, and develop more positive thought patterns.

EMDR Therapy: Dr. Karen Hawk’s Approach to Processing Traumatic Memories

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is another powerful therapeutic tool that Dr. Karen Hawk uses to help individuals heal from childhood trauma. EMDR is designed to help clients process and reframe traumatic memories in a way that reduces their emotional charge. Dr. Hawk guides clients through a process where they recall their traumatic memories while engaging in bilateral stimulation (such as following a moving light with their eyes). This process helps the brain reprocess the trauma, reducing the emotional intensity attached to the memory. Many individuals who undergo EMDR report experiencing relief from intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, and overwhelming emotions related to past trauma. Dr. Hawk incorporates EMDR into her trauma recovery work to help clients heal from deep-seated wounds, allowing them to integrate painful memories into their life narrative in a healthier way.

Healing the Inner Child: Dr. Karen Hawk’s Focus on Emotional Healing

Dr. Karen Hawk’s approach to trauma healing also involves addressing the wounded "inner child." For many individuals who have experienced childhood trauma, the emotional needs they had as children were never fully met, leaving them with unresolved pain and unmet needs. Dr. Hawk helps clients reconnect with their inner child through guided exercises, mindfulness practices, and therapeutic dialogues. By nurturing the inner child, clients can learn to reparent themselves, offering love, validation, and care that may have been missing during childhood. Dr. Hawk helps individuals process feelings of abandonment, sadness, and fear that stem from childhood experiences, allowing them to cultivate self-compassion and emotional healing. Through this work, clients can begin to heal those parts of themselves that were neglected or harmed, ultimately leading to greater emotional resilience and wholeness.

Rebuilding Self-Worth: Dr. Karen Hawk’s Guidance for Developing Healthy Self-Esteem

Childhood trauma often leaves individuals with a diminished sense of self-worth, as they may have internalized negative messages about themselves as a result of their experiences. Dr. Karen Hawk places a strong emphasis on rebuilding self-esteem and self-worth as part of the healing process. She helps clients explore the messages they received growing up and how those messages shaped their perception of themselves. Through therapeutic techniques such as affirmations, self-compassion exercises, and exploring personal strengths, Dr. Hawk empowers individuals to rediscover their inherent worth and value. She works with clients to challenge the negative self-beliefs formed in childhood, replacing them with more positive and empowering views. By strengthening self-esteem, Dr. Hawk helps her clients build a foundation of self-love and confidence that is essential for healing from childhood trauma.

Addressing Relationship Patterns: Dr. Karen Hawk’s Support for Healthy Connections

Childhood trauma can significantly affect an individual’s ability to form and maintain healthy relationships. Individuals who have experienced trauma may struggle with trust, intimacy, or emotional regulation in their relationships. Dr. Karen Hawk helps clients explore how their past trauma may be influencing their current relationships, whether with romantic partners, friends, or family members. By examining unhealthy patterns, Dr. Hawk guides clients in learning how to establish and maintain healthy boundaries, communicate effectively, and build trust in relationships. She also helps clients understand how trauma may have shaped their expectations of others and themselves in relationships. Through this work, Dr. Hawk empowers her clients to create healthier, more fulfilling connections with others, free from the shadows of past trauma.

Mindfulness and Grounding Techniques: Dr. Karen Hawk’s Tools for Emotional Regulation

One of the most challenging aspects of healing from childhood trauma is managing overwhelming emotions in the present. Dr. Karen Hawk incorporates mindfulness and grounding techniques to help individuals regulate their emotional responses and stay present in the moment. These techniques can be particularly helpful for clients who experience flashbacks, dissociation, or intense emotional reactions when triggered by reminders of their past trauma. Dr. Hawk teaches clients how to use mindfulness practices such as deep breathing, body scans, and grounding exercises to center themselves and reduce emotional reactivity. By incorporating these tools into their daily lives, individuals can gain greater control over their emotions and reduce the frequency and intensity of trauma-related symptoms.

Conclusion: Embracing Healing with Dr. Karen Hawk’s Expert Care

Healing from childhood trauma is a deeply personal journey that requires patience, support, and the right therapeutic tools. Dr. Karen Hawk offers compassionate, trauma-informed care to help individuals navigate this challenging process. Through a combination of evidence-based therapies like TF-CBT and EMDR, emotional healing techniques, and a focus on rebuilding self-worth and healthy relationships, Dr. Hawk empowers her clients to move forward from their past and create a more positive and fulfilling future. Healing is possible, and with Dr. Hawk’s expert care, individuals can reclaim their sense of safety, confidence, and emotional resilience, ultimately finding peace and freedom from the pain of their childhood experiences.

#dr karen hawk psychologist #dr karen hawk #dr karen hawk gilbert

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stardustedknuckles · 3 years ago

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I just think it's incredible the way we fell in love with Beau at the same time as Yasha for the same reasons.

Everyone else had parts of their story revealed to the audience if not the Nein as a whole. And that was partially true of Beau too - who can forget her telling yasha about tori, or Fjord gently wiping away her tear - but those moments for Beau were just that. Moments. Largely without context. We knew as much about her as the rest of the Nein and that was good enough for us because she was enough with her present. We already appreciated Beau for who she was in the story. We didn't need her past to contextualize her, though of course we wanted to know everything.

Kamordah hit so hard because we had the perspective of the Nein. We had long been attached to her. There was nothing about her past that would have made us like her any less. We were already confident in who she was. And then the absolute bombshell of her family just wrecked those of us who could relate. Because it was comparably small, right? No pseudo gods, no transformation, no awful dark secret. She simply came from a family that was fundamentally incapable of seeing or accepting her, and - this is important - who were also doing their best. Because that's what sold it. That's what brute force kicked us in the chest. It would've been enough to have an intolerant family hell bent on doing things their way and who had disowned her outright without looking back.

But they were broken people locked into their own perceptions of the world, who loved as well as they could understand it, and best of all, that did. not. change. a thing.

All of us who have ever had sympathy for the people who hurt us because they don't know what else to do, all of us who gave too much of ourselves and our time to relationships we believed could get better if only we said the right things and held on, who blamed ourselves for the inevitable breakdown in communication - all of us were standing small in that fancy living room. It wasn't a great tragedy. It was mundane. Ordinary. It was everything.

And suddenly we didn't just enjoy Beau. We embraced her, heart and soul. I know at least for me there was a part of my essence as a person that felt seen and exposed and validated in a way I never expected. Beau's story pointed out a pattern that had been there from the start in the subtext of every word she spoke and decision she made, and not until it was illuminated could I see the entirety of what Marisha had been building with her.

She was always worthy of love. But seeing her turned inside out, watching the foundation of the ladder she'd built to haul herself into the light begin to wobble as everyone grasped exactly what we were looking at and exactly what she'd been up against this entire time... I don't mean to discredit Marisha's instincts as a creator - or Matt's as he took up this role for her so perfectly - but is there any way she could have truly known the kind of impact that backstory would have? Was it planned, that we as well as the Nein would know nothing until we knew everything?

I sincerely hope that when Matt brought her character justice - when he took the mundane trauma of Beau's rejection and gave it a resolution every bit as significant as broken mind control or the embrace of a new god and purpose - I hope the shock and the validation Marisha felt was even half as strong as what Beau brought to so many of us.

Stories are power. The stories told between friends even more so. The smallest gleam of hope is brightest in the darkest and most overlooked corners of our experiences as people. This was one corner I never expected to see lit up so kindly.

#beauregard lionett #CR c2 #This got rambly but like #Gods I could do ten more pages #And more

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enamouredfae · 4 years ago

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♡ Pick a Card ♡

Advice from your Spirit Guides!

This reading is for entertainment purposes only.

This is a timeless reading for the collective, therefore it is likely that some messages will not resonate with you. Please only take the messages that do! The messages that do not, are meant for somebody else. Remember that the future is never set in stone and that you possess free will! Love you! ♡

Pile 1

Charm: Shell

You may see shells as signs from the universe. You may have Venusian placements. You have a tough exterior, but once you finally open up to people you are a hidden gem! You are a person that values privacy.

Flower: Carnation

The meaning of carnation changes depending on its colour, since this one is a stripped purple carnation, it symbolizes rejection/refusal and capriciousness. It being a dry bud, for me at least, symbolizes that this is a small issue that isn't likely to grow! You might've been refused a caprice recently, or you may have too high expectations that are likely not going to be fulfilled.

Significator: Page of Cups

Self-sufficient is the word I thought of when I saw this card. I think that at the moment you are really starting to work through your emotions, you might be finally doing some introspection, journaling, talking to people, seeing a therapist, etc. You are beginning a journey of emotional growth. You might also be receiving a message soon, be aware of any symbols that matter to you or ask the universe for certain symbols for guidance.

Astro: Virgo and Capricorn

There is a high chance that you have Virgo or Capricorn placements. You may be earth dominant. You may be Mercury/Saturn dominant/ruled. This could also apply to the person you need advice on if that is the case.

I thought of soil when I saw these cards, not a plant, but very well-nourished soil. It seems like you are making a foundation for yourself that is not rooted in anyone else, it simply comes from you. You are the soil, the water, the nutrients, and your future self is the plant. Flower crowns may be significant to you as well, or you may find great healing by connecting with nature and connecting to nature's cycles.

What you need advice on:

VI of Wands and X of Pentacles (reversed)

There are a few possibilities I see here. You may be having a hard time getting your accomplishments noticed by others, you might not receive the praise you desire or feel you deserve. Another possibility is that you may have a hard time feeling successful due to your financial situation. You may have received a large sum of money that should make you happy, but it doesn't. You may be very well off financially, but it is causing some hardships, and others might not understand these hardships because they think that they'd be very happy in your position.

Advice:

King of Pentacles and XVIII. The Moon

I feel like at least one of you should monetize your intuition. Some of you have or will meet a person (very likely an earth placement), that is either a business partner or a lover/friend, that will somehow help you with your financial issue. They might recommend you to someone for example. Perhaps if you confide in the King of Pentacles, they'll help you immensely, they're someone you can rely on, if not financially, emotionally. Others should embody the King of Pentacles, be determined, stick to a routine. For others, someone could be hiding smth from you that would help you immensely with this issue. Listen to your intuition! Do not forget that your anxieties and fears are valid, and it is normal to be feeling like this! Your worth is not defined by your financial success!

38. Willow and 5. Cerato and Honeysuckle

Willow talks about self-responsibility: make a plan, stick to it and, most importantly, try to stop complaining. You have the strength to get through this, complaining just engrains it in your head that you have a problem making it harder to get out of that mindset, instead try working on the solution. Cerato talks about the fact that no matter how many people you ask, no matter how many books you read, your gut knows best! Trust yourself and your intuition. Whatever feels right, is! Just know that domestic happiness is very important right now, cherish whoever that may be (King of Pentacles perhaps), be it your cat or even yourself if you live alone, give and accept affection! This could be a message for a specific person but I feel called to note that as I was shuffling the oracles I started singing "Runaway" by Aurora. Perhaps the lyrics are meaningful to one of you, or it can reassure you that this pile is meant for you if this is your favorite song.

Pile 2

Charm: Cactus

You may see cacti as signs from the universe or have a very strong emotional attachment to them due to a certain memory. I feel like a lot of people are attracted to you, but they feel that you will reject or hurt them if they get too close. Or you consciously or subconsciously hurt people when they get too close. You might think you don't deserve love, which is NOT TRUE. Love isn't something that has to be deserved! But if it were, you most certainly deserve it!

Flower: Freesia

Yellow freesias symbolize joy, renewal, and friendship. It is the go-to flower to convey to someone that you trust them. You are incredibly trustworthy, someone to whom your loved ones come for advice. You are a great listener, are very delicate and tactful in your interactions with others.

Significator: IX. The Hermit

You are doing a lot of self-reflection right now, sometimes the pondering even turns into daydreams. You may also be connecting with and thinking about your spiritual/religious beliefs. You are looking to understand the light that illuminates your path. You may have started meditating, or you should start! Spiritual awakening is happening or coming soon! You could be isolating yourself at the moment as well.

Astro: Jupiter and Libra

There is a high chance that you have Libra or Sagittarius placements. You may be air dominant. You may be Jupiter/Venus dominant/ruled. This could also apply to the person you need advice on if that is the case.

The words that I kept thinking about at this point in the reading were "letting karma do its job" and "visions of the future". You may be clairvoyant! But most of you act a lot like the Justice tarot card, you like balance and fairness, and have a life philosophy based on these ideas. Your higher education might've played a big role in this.

What you need advice on:

II of Cups (reversed) and Queen of Swords

Someone may be rationalizing or overthinking a perceived imbalance in a relationship. Of course, the Queen of Swords, likely an air placement, is intelligent, they may be right in their thinking but because of the advice received, I believe their judgment is clouded by insecurity. They may feel unworthy of what they receive, seeing that you chose the cactus charm and have libra as an astro card, it is very likely that this is you but this may be your person as well, both options are possible.

Advice:

King of Cups and IV of Swords (reversed)

See, the King of Cups is upright, this person, very likely a water placement, is very emotionally mature, compassionate, and understanding. Whereas the swords person is exhausted and stagnant due to the deep contemplation happening. I feel they may also be insecure, causing the overthinking. If this is you, trust me, you deserve the King of Cups! If this is your person, make them realize that they deserve you! They need a lot of reassurance.

1. Agrimony and 7. Chestnut Bud and Morning Glory

Love, whether romantic or platonic, requires hard work, determination, and affection. Agrimony talks about a person that needs balance, both inside and outside. You may find it by showing more of yourself, especially by starting with your loved ones. Because you might not be used to it, start little by little, and observe how accepting those you love can be. Chestnut Bud talks about focus and learning from experience. For me, it's another confirmation that someone is overthinking, see the girl looking very melancholic, whereas their counterpart is goofing around. Don't take life too seriously! Have fun with your loved one!

Pile 3

Charm: Leaf

You might see certain trees or leaves as signs from the universe. When I picked up this charm I immediately thought "Leave!" So if you were thinking about a voyage, there's your sign, just be mindful of covid regulations, please. The idea of falling also popped up, so you might be falling for someone rn or feeling like you're in a perpetual fall emotionally.

Flower: Orchid

I would just like to point out that, although this orchid dried white, it was actually a baby purple orchid when alive. I will therefore explain both colors: purple orchids represent royalty, admiration, and respect, whereas white ones symbolize purity and innocence. But they are, no matter what color, always a symbol of luxury, delicate beauty, and virility.

Significator: 0. The Fool

You may be starting smth new with confidence, smth you haven't done before, making you a bit inexperienced, but still willing to take the leap of faith. OR you may be acting foolishly by looking back or the opposite way of the thing you'd do with confidence. Let me explain, as you can see the Astro cards are both looking in one direction, with determination, and confidence. Whereas The Fool is looking the opposite way. Your significator may be saying that you're being foolish to look the other way, wondering what-ifs.

Astro: Sagittarius and Mars

There is a high chance that you have Sagittarius, Aries, or Scorpio placements. You may be fire dominant. You may be Jupiter/Mars dominant/ruled. This could also apply to the person you need advice on if that is the case.

You have a clear goal that you can easily reach through your actions. Look at Mars' demeanor, he knows Sagittarius is hitting the target. Do not doubt yourself, there's nothing to worry about. Stay focused!

What you need advice on:

XI. Justice (reversed) and Queen of Cups

Clearly, there is a decision to be made here, and you really want to listen to your heart. And you're questioning whether you should? I just want to reassure you, the Queen of Cups is highly in tune with their intuition and their emotions, you should trust yourself.

Advice:

X of Swords (reversed) and II of Pentacles

You are clearly in pain, whether or not it is talking about this decision that is eating you up. Healing and recovery are important right now! It's time to stop resisting an inevitable end, and start recovering. Look, the reversal allows for the swords to just fall out of your back, just look inwards! Don't forget to balance work with fun, you deserve to relax! Another way to see this is that you are restricting yourself by seeing this as a choice, why not do both? Although, if we are talking about people here, there better be a mutual agreement on polygamy! I will not invite you to cheat! If we are talking about activities, you are capable of doing both if it's too hard to choose, you just need to figure out how to balance them. A specific message is that some of you want to go back to doing smth you've dreamt of doing as a child, if that is the case, pls do it, at least as a hobby!

13. Gorse and 32. Vine and Trumpet Gentian

There is a need to heal some inner wounds. I immediately thought of inner child work when I saw the Trumpet Gentian in combination with the Vine. Vine talks about acts of service and leadership skills, try parenting yourself/your inner child, give yourself the love that you may have lacked as a kid. You are worthy of it! Gorse is all about perspective and imagination. Do a brainstorming of possible outcomes depending on the decision you take, you can do this alone, but the input of loved ones that can be honest with you would do wonders. Don't forget your future can go in many different ways, and whichever decision you take is the right one!

Pile 4

Charm: Angel

You may see angels or angel numbers as signs from the universe. You are a person that is divinely guided and divinely protected. It seems to me like you have a very strong intuition or are very aware of your divine gifts.

Flower: Rose

Of course, roses are always symbolic of love. Therefore I believe it is more note-worthy here to talk about the size. This is a tiny rose. Just like the carnation bud, it did not have time to grow and is now immortalized in its youth stage. You may be inexperienced in love, or hold naive beliefs about it. You might be experiencing youthful romance right now.

Significator: XV. The Devil

What I find interesting here is that you got the angel charm with the devil significator. This is very conflicting energy. The sentence that I kept thinking throughout the reading is "wolf in sheep clothing" or "sheep in wolf's clothing", I kept mixing up the words, just very contradictory energy. The way you present yourself to the world is very different from how you truly are. You might also be a person prone to obsessing over people, things, interests, etc. I also would like to note here that this pile was the hardest to get the cards, the amount of shuffling I did here until the cards flew made me sweat hahaha. It's also a very confusing reading. Therefore, I believe you carry a lot of confusion yourself, although your intuition is incredibly powerful, you might suffer from being very paranoid, and sometimes being unable to differentiate your intuition from your delusions. I also think you're very secretive, you do not want people to know or understand you.

Astro: Neptune and Moon

There is a high chance that you have Pisces or Cancer placements. You may be water dominant. You may be Neptune/Moon dominant/ruled. You could have a Neptune/Moon aspect. This could also apply to the person you need advice on if that is the case.

"This is a time of great psychic sensitivity for you. Trust your intuition and follow its guidance." You should try to differentiate emotions from intuition, I know it's hard, but they are different things, and it's very important to tell them apart! Your dreams may hold messages, try having a dream journal and interpreting them if you don't do that already.

What you need advice on:

IX of Wands (reversed) and V of Swords (reversed)

As you can see ALL of the tarot cards I've received in this reading are reversed, implying inner conflicts that require inner change/work. You might've said/done smth you now regret, and you hate yourself for it, you may also be incredibly paranoid that others will find out. You want the paranoia to end. You want to make amends, to reconciliate/atone, but are unsure on whether you should do it. Perhaps you don't feel emotionally prepared to reopen that wound.

Advice:

V. The Hierophant (reversed) and VII of Wands (reversed)

What I noticed here is that The Hierophant mirrors The Devil, not as perfectly as The Lovers, but it is incredibly similar. Once again that energy of opposition, contradiction, and confusion appears, "the wolf in sheep's clothing". For some, my fixation on this phrase could be a warning. For others an invitation to look in the mirror... Try looking at the situation from the other person's point of view! I'm not saying you are a "wolf in sheep's clothing", but that might be how you're being perceived. You are exhausted, remorse is eating up all of your energy. The Hierophant is saying that you should stay true to your personal beliefs, so if you believe apologizing is necessary to move on, do it!

This could be unrelated and for a specific person, but don't be afraid of challenging the status quo! If it hurts none, do as you will, embody your true self! I just want to remind you that going against your loved one's idea of "normalcy" is not hurting them, it's loving yourself. But remember that you also don't owe anyone a "coming out", you are valid whether or not you tell people! Do whatever your heart tells you and please be safe!

!!! : Of course, this doesn't count if what's challenging the status quo doesn't respect others' identity/ sexuality/ ethnicity/ religion/ etc. If challenging the status quo comes from a place of hate please block me. Nobody is using this reading as a sign to do some fucked up shit.

3. Beech and 2. Aspen and Lily

When I saw Beech I immediately thought "talk to someone, or you could spiral." Beech talks about self-acceptance and self-compassion. You must first accept yourself as you are, an imperfect human being, like all humans, before starting to work on embodying your highest self. Stay open-minded! Aspen, on the other hand, invites you to connect with others, not only for advice or consoling but for quality time! I have a feeling that you have very high morals, but having them isn't enough, you must act accordingly!

Thank you for reading! Love you all.♡

You can buy me a coffee if you feel called to do so! This is never necessary, but always appreciated! ♡

#this took SO long #im sorry the messages seem to be all over the place and not necessarily coherent there were just a LOT of possibilities #take what resonates #pick a card #pick a pile #fortune telling #divination #collective reading #collective tarot reading #free tarot #tarot #tarot cards #tarot reading #oracle #oracles #oracle cards #witchcraft #enamouredfae #enamouredfaepickacard

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captnjacksparrow · 4 years ago

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Not exactly SNS but I just think it's funny how Naruto liked Sakura for literally his entire life (from the beginning of Naruto to the end of Naruto Shippuden) and they kinda just randomly stuck him with Hinata with no real closure or end to the Naruto liking Sakura thing. Its so wishy washy and sudden that even if you were someone who liked Naruto and Hinata together, you wouldn't be quite satisfied with.

If Kishimoto was gonna make such a bad ending and continued to ruin his legacy with Boruto he should've left the ending of Naruto open ended. OR, hear me out, made SNS canon, 2 middle fingers up to the haters and fall of the face of the earth, just never seen again. Maybe on a private island with the loads of money he made from Naruto.

Uhhh....????!!!!! 🙄🙄🙄 Entire Life????

Since when did this development happen which I failed to watch??? Where are the clues??? I think, Anon, You must start to READ THE MANGA instead of watching filler stuffs.

Movies, OVAS, Filler Episodes are not canon.... In the movies, SP tried to portray a different Sakura (a pleasant Sakura) from how Kishimoto originally designed her (A total Ass-Hole)... Kishimoto had nothing to do with any of those fillers.

I’ll tell you one thing..... There are few drawing errors, unresolved plotlines and minor plot holes in this story. Yes, I agree with it. But plot wise.... Kishimoto gave every characters a reason for why they do what they do... It’s not random, it’s not meaningless or anything. NaruSaku bond is one such.

Naruto never loved her.... Not in the beginning.... DEFINITELY NOT TILL THE ENDING. I think I wrote 2 big posts with all the valid panels to make sure of that. [Post 1] and [Post 2]. In Both of these posts, I focused only on NS but it will blatantly give you SNS vibes throughout.... Because NS bond was built upon the foundation of a 3rd person called Sasuke. Without Sasuke, NS is nothing.

Again I repeat..... NS is a Red Herring Bond in Naruto series to mask Naruto’s feelings for Sasuke. For Example, Say you have a ‘Prophesized Saviour’ thing in a TV series.... All the Prophesies will be fulfilled by Character A which will be blatantly evident to our eyes and will make you believe that Character A was indeed the ‘One’.... But the real ‘Prophesized One’ will be hiding some where else... Only very perceptive readers who picks up the clues and patterns of the author can find the real one.... NS is something very similar to that...

Even if Naruto superficially "liked" her... It was all over the moment he Kissed Sasuke accidentally. And his crush was definitely over the moment he tried to kiss Sakura in Chapter 3. It's one of the fakest bond in Narutoverse where both the parties involved have no interest in each other.... Not in 'that way'...

Here's the thing, Anime knew about SNS bond because they are the one who converts picture into a visual media, they look for all hints thoroughly and know almost everything... It’s because of this very reason, they desperately add lots of extra scenes between Naruto and Sakura. If Naruto goes totally Lovey Dovey about Sakura in a filler... Then it means Naruto is going to be angsty about Sasuke in the Canon episodes.

Just to make Naruto look like an hetero boy, Anime added tons of extra scenes..... In order to reduce Naruto's obvious Gayness.....

In the Manga, he never once claimed, he loved her. This is all Anime's doing.

They kinda just randomly stuck him with Hinata with no real closure or end to the Naruto liking Sakura thing.

What about that time Naruto blatantly rejected her proposal by recalling the moment she said, “I want your acknowledgement, Sasuke-kun”????.... So, Naruto knew that she loved Sasuke from the day Team 7 was formed and that’s why he rejected her outright. What more closure do you expect???? He was masking his feelings for Sasuke and he was lying to himself by flirting with Sakura because wanted to stay in that Closet forever. You should read those attached posts to understand what I am saying.

make SNS canon, 2 middle fingers up to the haters and fall of the face of the earth, just never seen again.

As for that SNS becoming Canon.... This world is not ready for it. Expecting such an ending is very futile, imo.

If Kishimoto was gonna make such a bad ending and continued to ruin his legacy with Boruto he should've left the ending of Naruto open ended.

As for that Boruto part.... I've made peace with it and I am not really bitter anymore. Because if he truly wanted to make so much money, he would've given us a Happy Hetero Ending and write Boruto to be even more interesting which would fetch him a lot of money.

HE ALWAYS INTENDED TO GO FOR AN OPEN ENDING....

Especially he knew the Ending while he was drawing the Pain Arc.... And this is 2009 we are talking about.

This is one of the Official Commentary from Kishimoto which he used to mention in every volume of Naruto Manga. This piece is from Volume 47. I mean right after Naruto lands in Konoha (in Pain Arc) to find it has been reduced to a Dry Desert.

So.... At this point Kishimoto knew whom he was gonna pair Naruto with. And it’s not surprising that he brought Hinata’s confession out of nowhere, in this Arc, only to make her yeeted out in the very same chapter.

Also, it’s funny that he used the word, “The general script guides are already agreed until the end of the series”.....

Agreed with whom???? He is the story writer after all.... So, his editors had a say in the script. Even if his Editors did had a say, why couldn’t they make Kishi to develop NH into another MinaKushi instead of making Neji into a Pathetic Love Broker and some disturbing horny reference???? Why couldn’t they stop Kishi to draw Under the Bridge scene in a different way??? Why couldn’t they force Kishi to develop SS in a positive way??? So, Kaguya shit wasn’t planned at this time, eh????

Hilariously after this arc,

Naruto ignored Hinata & her confession (NH is ignored)....

Sasuke stabbed Karin (SK is crushed here)....

Naruto blatantly rejected Sakura’s confession... (NS is officially buried here)....

Sasuke tried to kill Sakura twice as a counter attack (SS became a butt-end of a Joke here)....

Whereas, Sasuke stopped his rampage and Naruto confessed to Sasuke and also he promised to die with him together (like some star-crossed lovers).......

Kishimoto mercilessly destroyed/ignored every other ships after the Pain Arc and kept only the SNS bond intact even though he knew the ending.

I was like, “Are you guys fucking kidding me??????”

Added to this, Kishimoto always knew the ending he wanted to achieve right after he drew VoTE1. Part 2 of the Manga is all about to reach that ending in a convincing way.

The following is the interview excerpt from 2006 about the Ending he envisioned.

Again, in 2015, he references the interview he gave back in 2006 and reveals what was the ending he really envisioned....

And his envisioned ending is to make Naruto and Sasuke to reconcile with each other.

Where is Sakura and Hinata in any of this????

Now people will pull up the “Kishimoto don’t know how to write Romance” card.... But that’s not true at all.... And I have some Official Receipts here.... LOL...

In Chapter 498, We got this short and cute Love Story...

The following panels are from Chapter 511.... This is almost 80 chapters after Pain Arc. YahiKonan is an unneeded and unnecessary ship, from Narrative POV. It didn’t affect the story in any way. And yet he went onto convey a cute romance in 3 panels.

And he also gave a very good closure to DanTsunade in the War Arc... Just developed a bit about ShikaTema since it was already well-developed....

Don’t you find this weird??? Like, After Pain Arc, he introduced 2 short love stories.... But didn’t give 2 fucks about developing a healthy love story for his own Main Characters????

Instead he found million different ways to mock Hinata and Sakura in an obvious and hilarious ways. I am going to talk only about Hinata mockery here.

For Example....

Mockery No. 1

Hinata is gleefully watching her beloved “Naruto-Kun” getting hugged by another Girl..... Like.... Is this necessary??? When Hinata literally gave her life to protect Naruto (Which she dramatically failed anyway), why make Sakura to hug him??? And make Hinata watch them right under their panel???? Hinata’s smile is so pure and precious.... isn’t it???

This scene is also another way to mock Sakura as well... Which I will explain in some other post... [[Don’t assume that this is some Romantic NaruS*k* moment...]]

But Hinata was horribly ridiculed here....

Mockery No. 2

We already knew Naruto’s impression about Hinata in Part 1.

Naruto finds her “Weird”....

And In Chapter 504,

Kushina POINTEDLY & SPECIFICALLY asked Naruto to not look for a “Weird One”..... I checked the Japanese Raws and I heard the word pronounced here... Both are same, just in case if you think that it’s a translation error.

Why is Kishi mocking NH again if he knew who Naruto was gonna end up with????

So, this Kishimoto don’t know how to write Romance is all some bullshit. If he can develop some unnecessary ship like YahiKonan... He could’ve did a lot better for his Main Characters.

Now, all that’s left is to say is, “Oh, Kishimoto don’t know how to write Female Characters.... He is a Misogynist”

And I’d suggest you to read Chapter 509, 510, 511 where Konan fought with the main villain of the story and almost killed him using her 600 Billion paper bombs. And then there is Tsunade vs Madara fight.... every Kages were knocked down and she was the only one who desperately tried to save him. And then during chapters 501, 502, 503 we see Kushina’s sacrifice to save Naruto and the Village.

Am not going to say.... All these chapters are some GREATEST FEMINIST LITERATURE or something... But, he did gave some strong, resilient, selfless, have a strong conviction oriented women after the Pain Arc.... Which he intentionally failed to do for Sakura and Hinata.

Anyways... What we can understand so far is that Kishimoto can write good Female Characters, he can write an excellent Romance.... He knew the general script of how it’s going to end and yet he intentionally failed to give any scope for SS or NH or NS or SK..... He never made the boys to reciprocate or to give a damn about any of those girls’ advance while SNS was the only one to remain intact.

So, What was Kishimoto planning anyway???? He can neither put N and S together nor did he attempted to give anything for other ships!!! Where is this Manga going and what was his End Game???

Much later,

Here comes that shitty Last Movie announcement in December 2012.... [Link]

At this time, Naruto Manga was at Chapter 596 or 597 where Kakashi found out the Man behind that Mask was Obito all along. And four months down the line in April 2013, in Chapter 613 or 614, we get Neji’s death. Still no hint of Kaguya Nonsense. Naruto just held Hinata’s hands with no romantic intention from his side whereas Hinata was getting ready to be hornily pounded in front of Neji’s dead body.

All this means, Boruto shit sequel hasn’t been planned. Otherwise Kishimoto could’ve easily introduced Kaguya plotline at this time.

So, no matter how some Movie announcement was happening from SP’s side, Kishi didn’t bother to develop any of the Hetero couples in this series. He was very content with his envisioned ending all along. Meanwhile he gave a good amount of Fanservice to all other ships. Like letting Karin hug Sasuke, Sasuke holding Sakura, Naruto calling Sakura as his Girl Friend, Sakura giving Lip to Lip CPR to Naruto.... But he never consolidated any ships.

Mockery No. 3

I mean it’s confusing.... He knew who Naruto was gonna end up with.... He made Naruto “hold” her hands at the expense of Neji’s death and right after that, he did this...

This is another mockery from Kishimoto.... Like Why???? The purpose of this scene is to make Naruto look cool before his Dad.... But he could’ve easily pointed out that Hinata was his Girlfriend.

Mockery No. 4

As you can see Hinata-Sama was desperately trying to save her Naruto-kun but failing so spectacularly.... What a Fun Stuff!!!

Mockery No. 5

This is just 9 chapters before the Manga was about to be over... That is literally 2 Months before this Saga was going to be completed.... This is the perfect place for Naruto to confess the Girl he found to be similar to Kushina.... NaruS*k*s shamelessly claim Sakura as Kushina Personified.... Then why couldn’t Naruto say it out loud??? If not Sakura, why not Kishi made Naruto to say. “I found Hinata”.... Because at this time, That Abominated Last Movie was already made and was waiting for a release. It doesn’t hurt to consolidate NH here, you see.

The Point is.... Why is he mocking his Titular Character’s ship which was decided from the Pain Arc???? Especially after that, he wrote 2 short and cute Love stories that involved another pair. He could’ve easily made NH into another MinaKushi and be done with it.

Even till the very end, he deliberately didn’t validate any ships even though he had ample time to do it. Ample time is the understatement to be honest.... Pain Arc happened in 2009.... And the Manga ended in 2014.

That Guy had 5 whole years to do it.... He could’ve added as little as 6 panels to show Naruto and Hinata have some romantic moments in all those 5 years.. And yet he intentionally didn’t.

So, Yeah....

Kishimoto had an ending in his mind right after drawing VoTE1.... Part 2 was all about how Naruto reconciling with Sasuke.

And in every Arc, Naruto’s desperation and obsession to save Sasuke was very Obvious.

In the Gaara Retrieval Arc, Naruto and Sakura were literally discussing about “How to save Sasuke?”....

In the Sasuke-Sai Arc, Well... You know what happened....

In the Kakuzu-Hidan Arc, Naruto was developing a new jutsu called Sasuke-Shuriken... Ooops... Sorry.... Rasen-Shuriken.... by constantly thinking about him even under the Shooting stars.

In the Itachi pursuit arc... Well... Again, he brought 2 teams to pursue Sasuke and bring him back to the Village....

In the Pain Arc, Naruto may not have thought about Sasuke... But here’s the plot twist... Kishimoto designed that Entire Arc to make Naruto understand Sasuke’s Pain.... He even killed Jiraiya for that exact same reason. And also to make Naruto into a forgivable person so that in the end, Naruto could easily forgive Sasuke. He even confessed this in an Interview.

“I wanted one of the themes of the end to be Naruto forgiving Sasuke.... I wanted to make sure the intervening story (Pain Arc) lead naturally to that in a realistic way to make it plausible.... Because if one minute they’re fighting and then ‘Oh, I forgive you!’ would be weird.”

And this panel consolidates it...

So, an entire arc was dedicated to the Protagonist in order to understand the feelings of his Deuteragonist.... Only for Naruto to confess these feelings to Sasuke in the very next Arc by ignoring a proposal from the girl and rejecting another proposal... Such a dedication for making N understands S.... Why couldn’t he put 0.5% of this dedication to his Titular Character’s ‘Supposed’ Love Interest???

In the Kage Summit Arc, Naruto declared his feelings in the most dramatic way (with romantic undertones) that he will bear the burdens of Sasuke and die with him together.

In the Final Arc, Naruto reconciled with Sasuke.

All of this clearly shows that he planned to end the Manga open ended and let the Last Movie handle the romance part of Naruto so that he could mockingly call the movie as Canon. Because, in this way, he get the ending he always wanted in his own Manga and the Movie team can have their own ending and call it as Canon. Best of both worlds. Just like how SP made many people believe that Naruto loved Sakura by spamming us with filler bullshit and made a fool out of everyone.

But since, SP decided to go for a Sequel, Kishi had to introduce Kaguya crap out of nowhere at around Chapter 646 and he nerfed Madara like a clown and ended up drawing Chapter 700 as a Prologue for Boruto Manga by making everyone marry and have kids.... Otherwise he would’ve made Chapter 700 as to how Naruto became an Hokage.

Just to finish this off,

Kishimoto had no obligation or necessity to write a story about two boys finding Love in each other. HE ABSOLUTELY DON’T NEED TO. And yet he did.

After the Pain Arc, he could’ve easily wrapped his ‘Boy’s Love’ Element and started to go ‘Dude Bruhhhhh’ and focus only on the story. All the while he could’ve made those boys develop a Nice Relationship with those girls. This would have given a Happy Hetero ending in a traditional sense.

But all he did was to intentionally deride Sakura and Hinata at every given chance especially in the War Arc and made those boys to remain indifferent to their romantic Advances.

I don’t know how much he must have fought with his editors to reach his envisioned ending by not giving any content for SS and NH.... Like, Don’t you think, there wasn’t one person from the Manga editing team would have questioned, “Why do you have to kill Neji to bring Naruto and Hinata together and right after that he forgot about her completely??? You could’ve easily made it so much better!!”.... He himself acknowledged that there is a pressure from the Management regarding Boruto series and we don’t know the extent of the pressure he had faced...

He kept his ending in his heart all throughout these years and he gave all out to reach that destination despite facing lot of pressure from the management. I could see his desperate efforts throughout the Manga and it shows.

He must have planned for the Open Ending for as long as he can... Even after the Last Movie announcement.... But because of the sequel, he must have decided to keep all the 699 chapters for himself and let that 700 as a prologue for Next Generation series. Even in the NextGen series, he never stopped mocking NH and SS.

We can either stop at Chapter 699/698 (Phase 1) or we can go ahead and read Boruto Manga to find that ‘There’s no NH or SS in any of this’ and find some faint happiness (Phase 2). It’s up to us.

I was in Phase 1 for very long and moved onto Phase 2 and I am no longer Bitter. Because I got what I wanted from this SNS bond... that is for them to Be Soulmates.

Point me any other Daring Shounen Mangakas who wrote a bond where 2 Boys find Love in each other and almost kept them as the ‘De Facto’ Couple for 99.9% of the Manga.... Show me and I’ll start to get bitter about Kishimoto... Until then, I have no issues and I understand why he did what he did because of his sincere efforts.

#sns #sasunaru #narusasu #sasunarusasu

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