#tough advic

[untangled-life]

Overcome any Obstacle and move forward in life.

Life is a series of experiences that present both joy and sorrow. Accept life as it is. Embrace pain, and also seek out joy. Live each moment fully and find joy in the journey called life.

[parasocial-paradox]

"Heart-eyes Howell" actually common misconception. Dan perceives the audience and/or real human faces via refraction [1] off the Phil, who effectively functions as a wireless conduit for his thoughts, paradoxically dampening intelligence via blonde photo-resistor and amplifying homosexual signals through the mirrored perception of the self. [2]

References: [1] one-quarter of an engineering degree

[2] trust me bro

[shiftinghoesblog]

Dude, I have to get this off my chest. Some people get way too comfortable in the shifting community because they would treat people who have already shifted as a sort of shifting wikipidia. Look, we can't tell you how to shift only, YOU know the answer, I can't stress this enough, and the shifting journey is personal. You have to figure out what works for you on your OWN, damn and thank you for coming to today's ted talk, honestly when I permashift/respawn I'll just leave all together, I don't want the version of myself that I have left in this reality being bombarded with questions. Not targeted to anyone in general, I'm speaking from what I've been seeing.

[leopardusk]

Content warning: panic attacks, self-loathing

Morningspot is outside for too long, and gets heat exhaustion. She's dazed and anxious, and Brackenfreckle reassures her in an... interesting manner. Somehow, it stupefies her out of her anxiety.

———

That’s not him.

The phrase spun in Morningspot’s heat-addled mind, twisting and echoing until it was senseless nothing, a scream, a cry, a call for help.

PLEASE HELP ME

That’s not him that’s not him STAY AWAY THAT’S NOT HIM

She couldn’t even claw at her own head to banish the screams. Her body was heavy and far, wrapping around her like roots, strangling vines, a corpse to be twisted and dragged her voice ripped open and screaming for help for her prey—

I’m not a mindless monster. I’m Morningspot. Not a monster not-

YOU LEFT HIM TO DIE.

The words still howled.

HE WAS HUNTING FOR YOU.

That’s not him that’s not him

Not anymore.

YOU KILLED HIM TWICE.

No no no get back that’s not him get back

KILLED PERCHPAW ONCE. IS THAT ENOUGH?

Morningspot moaned softly, pushing her head against the cool soil. The air was too thick in the medicine den, too many breathing bodies there could be one less STOP THAT and a humid night regardless. The water-soaked moss felt hot to the touch.

No relief.

It’s only fair.

His eyes were blue in her dreams. They were blue, not black, not a void stuffed with grasping vines, why were they dark again why were they dark—

I thought I was better now.

The rampaging thoughts only grew stronger has her body weakened. The heat broke down all of the barriers she had so carefully been building, stone by stone, against the waves. You didn’t protect Perchpaw. Now she’s dead dead dead woodcrawler bait just like you killing everyone like you did. She’s dead you’re dead everyone is dead we’re all going to die there’s no hope with all these monsters and you just added to it closing the deadline what a good warrior you are. Your apprentice is dead and they will all be too.

No, that’s not right.

Perchpaw is alive. I got her back home.

But she could be dead. She’s badly injured. Any moment she could stop breathing and nobody would know until sunrise.

Her eyes were heavy as bone, but still they opened, just enough to make out Perchpaw’s blurry form. She was laying on her stomach turned away from Morningspot, tail barely grazing Riftpaw’s.

She was still.

Morningspot’s panic rose every heartbeat that hers did not. She was dead, she was dead, and she couldn’t do anything, could barely move can’t help her —

Her chest rose once, lightly, expelling a shallow breath. Another now.

She’s okay.

She might not be. Any second now. It could happen any time.

She’s okay.

She’s going to stop breathing you have to catch it you can’t let it happen—

Something heavy fell on Morningspot’s muzzle, wrapping around her and digging its claws its roots. She would have screamed, but it held her tight, stopping her breath I’ll die first then

“Jeez, do you always snore so loud? You’re going to wake up the entire den.” A low voice rumbled, pulling away the roots. They came into shape before her lidded eyes, a dark grey paw set on the dirt, claws sheathing, growing out from a familiar stygian form. Talontooth is dead.

“I wasn’t sleeping,” Morningspot mumbled, struggling not to slur her speech. “What’re you doing?…”

The dark studied her, expecting a trick, then shook their head. “Whatever. Your heat exhaustion is just getting worse, so I’ll just have to deal with heavy breathing.” They swept out a paw, pressing against the moss covering on her head. Morningspot flinched, but it was little more than a dying twitch.

“Your moss is almost dry.” Something in their tone had changed, but she couldn’t begin to guess what. “I’ll refill it and leave you alone.” The weight was lifted off her head, and surprising both cats with a strength she didn’t have, Morningspot wrapped her paws around the cat’s leg.

“Don’t go,” she mumbled. “Not yet.”

The cats surprised yelp was muffled by the moss in their mouth. They were completely still.

“… Get off of me.”

“Don’t go,” she whispered to the dark-furred cat. Talontooth is dead. She still had to warn him. “Please, not for me- the woods are hungry and you can’t- you can’t go. Not for me. It’s not worth it I’m not.”

They carefully pulled away from her. “I’m… going to re-soak your compress. You’re bordering on heatstroke, and it’s messing with your mind I think.”

“Don’t go,” Morningspot moaned, eyes closing despite her efforts. “Please, Talontooth.”

The dark cat paused. “That’s what you called me when you first… oh, mousedung.” A short shuffling sound accompanied that, and a paw rested on Morningspot’s. “Hey. Not sure what’s going on in there, but I’m Brackenfreckle. Riftpaw’s sister. Not Talontooth. I guess I look like them, and I guess something bad happened, but I’m not them. I’d tell you to get that through your thick skull, but I’ll cut you some slack since your brain is melting.” A firm fwap against her nose. “Don’t get used to it. Hey, look at me.”

Her eyelids opened a crack, but it was harder by the moment. Her fur was damp. Was she crying? How was that possible? “You’re…”

“Not them,” Brackenfreckle confirmed. “I get it. Stuff happens. Sometimes to people you care about. Nothing you can do but keep living, even if they’re not. That’s all there is”

Morningspot tried to shake her head, but only managed to roll it to the side. “Can I? Keep living, when ev- everything’s so...”

Brackenfreckle shrugged. “You are now, so you’re doing something right. Might as well keep at it.”

She said it like it was so easy. Like any moment it wouldn’t come crashing down, the roots seeping in, tangled voices, Perchpaw, Talontooth-

“Aaaand she’s hyperventilating again,” Brackenfreckle muttered. “No good at this stuff… What would Rift do…”

Morningspot’s sob was cut off by a paw wrapping around her, a chin resting on her head. She tried to open her eyes, but her vision was blurry, and all she could see was a dark shape against the darker night.

“This okay?” Brackenfreckle muttered, her breath in Morningspot’s ear. She shivered. “Body heat’s not great for you right now, but you cultists are touchy, so. Try and relax.”

Morningspot stammered, but even that was tiring. Out of words, she snuggled closer, squeezing her eyes shut as tears kept pouring. Her fur felt like it was on fire now everywhere there was contact, but the comfort of an embrace meant more than that now.

“Uh huh, there there,” the dark cat muttered noncommittally, flicking her tail to wrap around the other. Morningspot’s tail curled around hers, breathing in the smell of marigold to chase away the rot.

They stayed that way for a moment, which could have stretched for hours. Eventually Brackenfreckle pulled away with a small sigh. “I still need to re-soak your compress, and I’m not staying like this all night. I’ll just be ten seconds, time me.”

Morningspot could barely keep her eyes open to track her as she moved to the back of the den. Time was a long dragging tail, flicking at any moment, but it couldn’t have been long at all before Brackenfreckle returned, pressing the soaked moss against Morningspot’s head. Cool water dripped between her fur. “Try not to squish it. I’m going back to my nest now, okay? It’s just inside the alcove. You’ll be fine alone until morning.”

Unable to vocalize a response, Morningspot could only purr, ears pinned and tail twitching. Brackenfreckle took two steps before looking back and seeing her forlorned expression.

“Spirits that be… okay, fine” Brackenfreckle looked back at the healer’s alcove and shook her head. “Shiverstep talks too much in her sleep anyway. Hang on, I’ll drag my nest out here.”

That’s not him. With Brackenfreckle gone, the worries started up again, digging the same grooves, biting the same marks. That’s not him stay away. She couldn’t expect to have someone at her side like this all the time to banish it all. It wouldn’t work forever.

You’re right, that’s not him, she thought fiercely, as if trying to take her own thoughts by surprise. It almost worked, in the silence that followed. That’s Brackenfreckle. I brought her home to her brother. Talontooth is… is gone, but I’m still here, and I’m going to keep being here. I- I feel guilty still, but- stuff happens, sometimes to the people you care about.

It‘s not my fault he’s dead. I was too slow to stop Perchpaw, but I will do better if- if this happens again.

It felt bold, but the words rang hollow in her mind, doing little to banish the swallowing guilt. Within moments, the circling continued, it’s not him, get back, your fault, your fault.

But those words rang a little more hollow too. Not enough, but it was a start. Enough for the spark of hope to keep glowing.

Brackenfreckle returned, dropping a clump of soft moss and feathers on the packed dirt and settling into it. They weren’t touching anymore, which seemed to be the darker’s preference, but she was near, and the circling thoughts grew quieter still.

Morning would come, and nothing would change. Perchpaw’s jaw will still be broken, her own anxieties firmly in place, Talontooth’s body still half-buried in the roots. But her jaw will be a little stronger, and his body reclaimed a little more, back to the earth and free of the branches.

And as for Morningspot… piece by piece, the circle would someday lose its shape, allowing the endless thoughts to free themselves from their rut.

It’s an ambitious thought. But what could be more ambitious than choosing to live another day?

————

Back again with fanfic of a fanfic of a crossover, we got a missing scene for @forestclan-clangen. I need all of you to join me on the Morningbracken ship, as I share my beautiful vision with you. Take my hand.

Inspired by an issue of Pinepaw and the Forgotten world, “Your Voice Was So Soft.”

[good-advice-ganondorf]

hey diva i am terrified of the future and going to college and leaving everything i've ever known behind 🔥

[yukaro353]

Korra!Alpha asks for help from the only polyamorous people she knows and receives unworkable advice.

Or yes?

The Omegaverse is one of those AU variants that I love, but I have explored it very little with Avatar....So let's do it just to give Pemlinzin (Pemlin, specifically) a baby.

Her name is Shanti.

[chocodile]

Your color choices are always fantastic. Every single color either feels very harmonious or beautifully contrasting, which can be so difficult with so many vibrant colors. How do you do it?

Aw, thank you so much!

Advice is under the cut (gets a little long with images):

Pay attention to color tints. Pink-red and orange-red have completely different feelings. One might look great on your piece and one might look mediocre... if you're unsure, try both (if you're doing digital) and see which looks better! Over time you'll develop a sense for when one tint or another is appropriate.

If you're not happy with your colors, take that sucker into Photoshop (or whatever) and play with Levels and Hue/Saturation. You can take finished pieces in there, duplicate the layer so the original is preserved, and futz with the colors, seeing if you like it brighter, darker, more or less saturated, with super vivid pinks instead of reds, etc. This makes experimentation very easy... and if you dislike it you can just delete the layer. Over time, this sort of thing helps you develop a sense for what color schemes work and don't work. I used to lean on this heavily when I was younger, and still consider it a critical Hail Mary step in trying to salvage pieces I'm not happy with.

Take inspiration from other artists. Sometimes I see people post pieces that have finishing effects or color schemes I might second-guess if I had drawn it myself, but as an external observer of someone else's art I can appreciate it in a way I wouldn't if I'd drawn it myself (if that makes sense). Basically: "If this guy can get away with drawing this, so can I! I should be more bold and not second-guess myself next time!" In general, trying something memorably ambitious or weird and missing the mark a little is cooler than playing it safe.

Also, frankly, I reuse colorschemes a lot. I feel like I have two default modes:

You can see that I reuse them a LOT with minor variations...

Once you have a few favorite color profiles in mind, it becomes relatively easy to make modified versions of it for new pieces. You don't have to invent the whole color scheme from scratch each time, more like pick a preset selection of colors you already know are balanced and adjust it as the piece calls for.

[serpentface]

reading all about the white calf, love your work, can i just say. gonna put some hibrides appreciation out there because damn. nobody in this story is lucky but she in particular seems to be having a Bad Time

Yeah a lot of things suck pretty bad for her. Unwittingly in a lavender marriage, mutual dislike between her and her dogshit husband, extremely strained relationship to her former best friend/gay quasi-boyfriend/father of her children who alternates between avoiding her and desperate attempts to make her love him again, having to constantly maintain multiple levels of facade to socially protect their throuple and therefore herself, shy and socially isolated, dealing with trauma that she doesn't even begin to recognize as such because 'nothing bad actually happened', pretty sure something is deeply wrong with her, living under a damocles sword of catastrophic social consequences should her children be exposed as bastards, has discovered an unexpected and mostly unwanted pregnancy while on a months long cross-country trek, etc.

She's also someone who prides herself in being rational, put together, stoic against adversity, and not overly emotional and weak, which basically means all of this is getting suppressed and compartmentalized away like crazy.

She HAS managed to fall into a rhythm with it all and her life IS NOT constant misery and agony. But the situation she's in for the duration of the story completely tears her out of this rhythm and makes all these factors very acute (though also opens her up to new opportunities, new and more positive/differently complex relationships, and much bigger things to worry about than her domestic life).

Unrelated drawing of her struggling not to lose her shit in public (in this case trying not to laugh)

[llamaisllama777]

DAILY*/WEEKLY* LAES, TSAMS, EAPS REVIEW! 👏 👏 👏

Yesterday's episode were great I wonder what today's episodes will bring...

HE'S HERE!!! TAURUS IS HERE! EVERYONE PANIC! let's see how badly this ends....

Surprisingly well actually.

The music in this episode was also really good. I usually don't pay attention to the background music, but the music in this episode was really good it kinda reminded me of Walking Dead mixed with Last of Us. I'm not sure if that was the intent, but it works really well I feel for this situation.

Taurus is obviously menacing, but he's also oddly calm. Not what I expected from a destroyer of worlds. He says he's just here to observe Lunar and the others and decided if Lunar and probably the whole world should live.

I ain't gonna lie, I don't have hope for this world.

Taurus is gonna take one look at the whole place and decided everyone is better off dead. Which will probably lead to some kinda of Astrals civil war or Nexus showing up and whooping Taurus and the others Astrals behinds and Lunar having to step in and save the Astrals. But that's a pipe dream I guess. We'll have to wait and see.

I can. Nebula isn't a big fan of Taurus, and he clearly isn't a big fan of her. The way he talks to her, I get she's just the messager, but she's still a person. Taurus is gonna be observing everyone and his next stop his Sun and Moon, and I don't have high hopes for what he'll say or think of them. Him and the other Astrals know about Nexus and his little stunt with star power. Sun, Moon, you guys better have a good space lawyer. I know Earth plans to befriend Taurus and make things easier on Lunar, but I have a feeling Taurus isn't the friend making type.

Gemini did say Taurus would threaten Lunar's family to get a reaction out of him. Taurus, I swear to gosh! If you hurt any of them.

Also, I think it's a matter of time until Earth runs into Nebula again, and if she does, I hope she can convince Nebula to help them with EVERYTHING going on.

We'll have to wait and see.

Now, let's see what Sun and Moon are up to maybe they'll have a calmer episode today...

Nope. Just trauma and sadness.

Solar and New Moon reunite.

Probably not the way either of them wanted but here they are.

Okay, Nexus has just completely gone off the rocker!

"All it takes is one bad day" -Joker

Guess that saying was right for Nexus (Not really but still)

Solar tries to reason with Nexus and even says he can help him come back to the family, and Nexus just laughs! He starts spouting off all these lies about the family, like how Lunar never cared about him. He did! That Earth was just trying to fill the void cause her dad didn't love her. Earth still believed the creator loved her at that time, so that's a lie! And that Sun never cared and just took pity on Nexus. Nexus, you dense mother.... Nexus, you are just a terrible person. Knock off the oc act and get a life! Seeing as how you lost the one you had. I mean, you'll probably get yourself killed soon anyways so what's the point. But we probably should worry. Someone pointed out to me that Nexus could be a part of Rez's plan, and it's definitely looking like it. Maybe Dark Sun is Rez's master or at least is in league with Rez and his boss. I feel so bad for everyone here. (And I kinda feel bad for Nexus.... but not by a lot.) I more pity Nexus cause one day I hope he'll realize that he lost the BEST thing that ever happened to him and will never get it back and I hope he dies knowing that.

I more so feel bad for Sun and Solar.

Solar already had to kill his Moon once... and now he has to do it again. And Sun sounded so shocked and saddened when Solar suggested they kill Nexus. Nexus/New Moon was the Moon who actually showed he cared for sun. And he did at one point, but now he can't even say Sun's name without wanting to gag! Oof.

This is just sad all around.

And now they have Nexus, Taurus, and Creator after them.... LOVELY!

This is all going to boiling over and culminate in some crazy Infinity war level poo I hope.

And now, it's a less sad one but still equally as worrying.

Puppet and Solar reunite! Yay! At least one of his reunions went well today.

Puppet filled in Solar to everything that has happened. Gosh, that must have been fun. This is like the second time someone has had to explain to him what's been happening since he's been dead.

Solar gave Puppet some advice on what to do about Eclipse, and Sun gave her some advice on what to do about the other Sun and Moon. I hope their advice works. Puppet expressed at the very end of the episode her wish to leave this new dimension and return to the old one.... Puppet...

WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST STAY IN THE OTHER DIMENSION THEN?!

Puppet, you left that universe to protect everyone from Puppeteer. Now, I'm not sure what the deal with Puppeteer is now. He's been weakened cause Puppet herself has been weakened, but there is still the risk of him coming back. Are you really gonna take that chance, Puppet?

Also, Puppet, you uprooted your entire family's life to go here. You don't have that apartment anymore! You can't just decide to move to a whole other universe and bond to said universe only to decide to leave it after what 3 weeks?

Yes, I know Foxy chose to go with her, and he could have chosen not to but did, but still, you can't just decide to ditch when the going gets tough Puppet, you stick it out and ride the waves till it all calms. I hope everything works out for Puppet and Eclipse and hope Sun and Solar's advice to her works. Also, sorry if it seems like I hate Puppet's character, I don't. I love her character and this flaw of hers. I'm just being critical.

11/10 TAURUS HAS ARRIVED.

[theodorejamisonseville]

"This is my message to anyone struggling with feeling overwhelmed and too weak. YOU'RE ALL TOUGH COOKIES! Don't let life drag you down to the dumps. Just keep doing the best you can and saving time for self-care!"

[thegamingcatmom]

Okay but

"A scoff left your lips, accompanied by a disbelieving shake of your head."

is the same as

"You scoffed, shaking your head in disbelief."

What I'm trying to say is:

Writing doesn't always have to be super extra to be a banger. On the contrary.

[ysaefinn]

This is a safe space for everyone who's fucking tired of telling their friend to leave that toxic crusty fuck btw

[good-advice-ganondorf]

ganondorf should i break up w my girlfriend (IM NOT ACTUALLY GOING TO CONSIDER THE REPLY WHILE THINKING ABOUT THIS DW)

[morningstarwrites]

Hi! I love OSAS but I was curious to ask about your writing style/writing process? OSAS has such detail and flow that half the time I don't realize I'm reading something!

As a fellow writer I find it hard to make sure there's a good balance between detail and flow without over powering the story. I have to keep going back through over and over editing.

If you're comfy talking about it (and I'm sorry if it's been asked before!) what process do you use while writing? Are there specific things you do when going over your writing to strengthen it?

Really? 🥹 Thank you so much! It's hard to explain, I kind of just go by vibes and gut instinct.

My process is pretty basic, I write down the main plot points in the notes app, and then I write a rly horrible draft (around 2K words). And then I just reread and keep carving away until it sounds good to me? My preferred word count is 6K per chapter.

I think, above all else, just write the story that you'd like to read. So that's why OSAS is like that - I have rly specific taste, and also i like a certain poetic aesthetic. It's super hard for me to find stories that I enjoy LOL

[shiftingwaizee]

HOW TO REPROGRAM YOUR MIND TO SHIFT.

Your not the problem, its your mindset.

(ALL INFO FROM REYA SINGH <3)

Before we start, lets fix some of your thoughts.

“Oh im stuck here! I cant shift! my method didnt work!” SHUT UP. YOUR NOT STUCK, YOUR JUST NOT PUTTING YOUR INTENTION IN. EVERYONE CAN SHIFT, WE WERE BORN WITH THE ABILITY TO SHIFT.

Think of shifting as a BIRTHDAY PARTY. You were invited on this specific date and time, right? You dont question if the invite is real, you dont question if the party is real. YOU JUST GO. So, why question shifting, it was MEANT FOR YOU.

Now, this experiment is a FOUR DAY thing to REPROGRAM YOUR MIND TO SHIFT. Lets get into day one ~

DAY ONE: The invite.

On this day, you will make a list of your BELIEFS and NON BELIEFS, this could be on a notebook or paper or notes or whatever, literally whatever. You will make something like this

BELIEFS NON BELIEFS

My hair is (color) my skin is pink

They can be just as simple as that, they can be any type of beliefs, literally anything. Its all up to you, but at the end of the beliefs section, put “I can, will shift.” and reread this throughout the day, reminding yourself that youve known shifting before you could WALK. Before you could TALK. You HAVE shifted, so why complicate it?

These beliefs are the things your gonna hang onto, your hair is blonde? You believe it? Then shifting is also achievable. No matter who you are, how much you doubt yourself, That invite was sent to you, wasnt it? That party is real, and just for you. Believe that, remember it.

DAY 2: Gratitude

Be happy, be grateful. You can do this.

On this day, you will meditate, while meditating all you think about is SHIFTING. You will be happy this extraordinary topic came to YOU. You will see everything that reminds you of your dr, and be HAPPY, SHOW GRATITUDE from it, for example

I have a ring in my CR, and my S/O has the same one in my DR, i never take it off, everytime i look at the ring i smile and be grateful of my S/O, and of Shifting. This could work with LITERALLY anything. Books, music, drawings, anything. A piece of clothing could work. Just show gratitude and meditate, be excited for this ‘Birthday party.’

DAY 3: Gratitude for others.

On this day, this is the day before your ‘Birthday party.’ You can plan what time you want to shift, AKA the ‘Birthday Party’, and on this day you can watch peoples shifting stories, and try to connect with the feeling that they explained, this ENTIRE day will be about SHIFTING.

Try to relate to the feelings they share, the methods they used, try to connect to your DR as much as you can throughout this day.

DAY 4: The Birthday Party

On this day. EVERYTHING IS SHIFTING!

Today you have your time scheduled to shift, until that specific time. Plan out everything, You see a song that reminds you of your DR? “Oh, thats gonna make me shift!” A certain object? “I will shift with that object!”

Literally you could look at a washing machine, the way the water swirls and turns. “Oh? Thats how i will visualise a portal to shift!” Or something, literally anything. Today is YOUR day, and the day will be yours to shift. All it takes is INTENTION and BELIEF.

YOU CAN DO THIS.

[rythms-of-synthax]

"The first step is always the hardest."

You’ve probably heard this before, haven’t you?

Well, I don’t agree.

I don’t agree because everyone can take the first step – it’s not a big deal. Anyone can decide they need a change and think about how they’ll implement it in their day-to-day life. “On Monday, I’ll start dieting.” “I’ll wake up at 5 AM and hit the gym.” Sounds familiar, right?

The thing is, every person you see on the street can do what they say they will.

Once. And then it’s over.

Your neighbor (yes, the one who drinks beer and watches TV all day) can go to the gym once because he doesn’t know how difficult it is. His brain (and our brains, in fact) cannot imagine pain. He’ll enter the gym and start running on the treadmill. Then he’ll lift some weights, but it will feel uncomfortable. Now the brain knows: Gym = pain. Beer + TV = comfort.

The next day, comfort wins.

See why everyone can take the first step? It’s not that hard.

What’s actually difficult is sticking to the plan. Not giving up is difficult. Discipline is difficult. Not eating sugar for one day is alright. Not eating sugar for a month is painful.

When you start your self-improvement journey, you have to think about what you’ll do once the illusion is gone. You have to decide that you’ll do it again and again, no matter how hard it is.

Your journey means more than your first day.