parowanormal

[parowanormal]

if you want to experience life more deeply you have to find more beauty. stop training yourself to dismiss, to mock, to assume the worst all the time — when you do this you build walls between yourself and the world. and after a while you stop feeling the warmth of it entirely.

beauty requires openness. it asks you to let things reach you, to soften enough to be moved. it’s not naive to see beauty everywhere—it’s a skill, a form of intelligence, a kind of quiet bravery. because it is so much easier to critique than to create, to detach than to engage, to dismiss than to love.

let yourself be affected. let yourself find things beautiful and let that be enough. life is not asking you to be cool, sitting on the sidelines and nitpicking everything. it’s asking you to see life and experience it fully.

[parowanormal]

may 4

perhaps one of the most famous star wars quotes is "do or do not: there is no try." i feel mixed about yoda's advice. on one hand, it encourages me to just do what i need to do. on the other hand, it can make me feel like being a perfectionist. maybe what he's saying is that trying is doing after all, and you shouldn't kneecap your efforts with words like "try". i'll get back up tomorrow and try (do?) again. :3

[parowanormal]

may 2 and 3

haven't had a very healthy weekend, but that's okay. went to see family and celebrate a birthday. i went thrifting and found the perfect pair of mid 2000s low rise bootcut jeans for ONE dollar. the universe was kind to me this weekend, so i have to be kind to myself, too. no guilt, no starving myself, no beating myself up. i'm glad i fed myself with what i had available!

[parowanormal]

[parowanormal]

may 1

did a good job today! i didn't quite finish 4 bottles of water, but i did everything else. eating vegetables is hard, but green juice is making it easier. i've been drinking this v8 juice, but blending your own is also fun.

[parowanormal]

may all my dreams come true <3

[parowanormal]

Non-Aesthetic Fitness and Health Goals 🏃🏼‍♀️🥥🧘🏼‍♀️

Here are some health and wellness goals that don’t revolve around weight or appearances. Working out should always be for your health and well-being rather than looks. You have one body and you have to be able to make it last. Your body is the house where your soul lives.

To be able to fully touch your toes.

To run a mile nonstop (doesn’t matter the pace just to not stop)

Do a handstand

To be able to do the splits

10 regular push-up

10 pull ups unassisted

To be able to swim a mile nonstop (same as the running)

To have good posture and core strength

Walk/jog a 5k

To be able to lift half your body weight (great goal to build up to and very practical for real life)

To get off the ground without using your hands (amazing for as you age being able to get up easier)

Be able to balance on one foot for a minute at a time.

To be able to sit in an Asian squat (great for mobility in all your leg joints)

To reduce joint pain. (Depending on the specific joint pain it can be caused by lack of strength in the muscles around the leg and you can look up specific workouts for your problem)

To improve in your chosen sport

That’s all I have for now. I wanted these goals to be attainable (some are easier than others) and not based on how you look because not only is it discouraging but it’s also not as fun to only think about looks. These goals are also great for longevity of your body and also safety. Being strong and fit is a privilege. Let me know if you guys have any questions!

Xoxo 💋

[parowanormal]

.𖥔 ݁ ˖ rowan's health habit builder ˖ ݁݁ 𖥔.

challenging myself to take care of my health this month. i'm sticking with simple things that are proven to help - no fad supplements, 2-week-shred routines, viral smoothies, or restrictive diets. my goal is to build healthy habits that are sustainable in the long term!

every day, i will:

drink 4 bottles of water

stretch right after waking up

eat two or more servings of vegetables

shower

brush teeth

be in bed by midnight

will track my progress daily under #rhhb. wish me luck!

[parowanormal]

◜⁠✧ This month, I will stay strong through every challenge.

◜⁠✧ I refuse to give up on myself, no matter how hard it gets.

◜⁠✧ Every day, I grow stronger and closer to my goals.

◜⁠✧ I trust my journey and believe in my own power.

◜⁠✧ Giving up is not an option in May I am meant to rise and thrive.

◜⁠✧ I trust myself, and I know that this May will be full of progress.

[parowanormal]

long time no see :3 i've been busy out of my mind. but i got a lot done today!

put away laundry

changed sheets

rearranged living room

finished two overdue assignments

played games with my partner

took a nap

it's been a nice day. it stormed but i didn't have to go outside. and the cats got cozy with me.

how did you spend your day?

[parowanormal]

.𖥔 ݁ ˖ computer specs explained - processors ˖ ݁݁ 𖥔.

shopping for a laptop (or determining what your laptop can do) can be confusing. even as a computer science major, it took me a long time to get familiar with all of it! in this series, i'm breaking down each term, number, and specification, so you can determine what's best for you.

if you have more specific questions, my askbox is open, or feel free to send me a DM. let's talk processors!

what does the processor do?

the processor (also called the CPU) is the brain of a computer. it executes all the instructions needed to run applications. your internet browser, video editing software, games, and messaging apps are all managed by your processor. the code that makes them run is sent to your processor piece by piece, and the processor executes all of them simultaneously. it's the most important part of your computer!

what do the numbers mean?

two things determine how well your processor will perform: number of cores and clock speed. these numbers are often thrown all together when talking about the processor: e.g., "AMD Ryzen 7 7730U 2.0GHz Processor". AMD is the brand, Ryzen 7 7730U is the specific model, and 2.0GHz is the clock speed.

the number of cores determines how many of those individual instructions the computer can run at once. in other words, it's how much "brain space" your processor has. more cores means your computer can run more complicated programs.

each core may have 1 or 2 threads, which divide the core into pieces to run smaller programs more efficiently. a complicated program may need multiple threads or multiple cores, but simple programs can fit onto a single thread of a single core.

the clock speed is measured in gigahertz (GHz), which you may recognize as a frequency measurement. without getting too much into how processors work, the clock speed indicates how quickly your computer can execute instructions. it has to do with how quickly electrical pulses are sent through the CPU.

most CPUs have at least 4 cores and a clock speed of around 2.0GHz. modern Intel brand processors have two types of core: higher clock speed "P-cores" (for performance), and lower clock speed "E-cores" (for efficiency). in this case, the important number of cores to look at are the P-cores; more E-cores will just mean your machine is better at multi-tasking.

rowan recommends...

...as much processor as you'll realistically use. don't spend a lot on a powerful processor if you only surf the web, and don't try to cut corners if you like to play games or use video editing software.

there are two major CPU manufacturers: Intel and AMD. i've only personally used Intel CPUs, but most people won't notice the difference between an Intel and an AMD. if you're choosing between two similarly priced processors, choose the one with a higher clock speed.

for surfing the web, word processors, and small apps like Discord or Spotify: an Intel i3/AMD Ryzen 3 is perfectly fine.

for simple programming, music production, or games like Minecraft or Stardew Valley: choose an Intel i5/AMD Ryzen 5 with a clock speed of at least 2.0GHz.

for video editing, rendering, 3D modeling, complex programming, or high-performance games: an Intel i7 or i9, or an AMD Ryzen 7, with as high of a clock speed as you can afford.

thanks for reading and good luck! again, if you have specific questions, feel free to ask a question or DM. :3

next in series: memory

[parowanormal]

had a really nice day today :) here's everything i got done:

-> got up on time (7am) -> yoga -> 2hrs work on paper -> meditation -> cleaned kitchen -> cut up vegetables for lunches this week -> unpacked my new stationery -> packed my backpack -> talked to my roommate about roller coasters -> took a nap -> made dinner (teriyaki chicken, broccoli and steamed rice) -> played stardew valley

not every day will look like this. but these are the kinds of days that make the hard work feel worth it. and i need to reevaluate the way i think about productivity: i tend to compartmentalize my days into "work days" and "rest days", but today was both and it was so nice.

[parowanormal]

Things I’m no longer apologizing for

My feelings

Having firm boundaries

Saying no to something

Being emotional or crying

Needing to take a break

Asking for clarity when I don’t understand

How other people behave

Changing and becoming better

Not agreeing with someone

Putting myself first

Letting go when I need to

Healing at my own pace

Please feel free to add your own suggestions in the comments ♥

[parowanormal]

pov: the girl who notices every little detail

[parowanormal]

.𖥔 ݁ ˖ 2025 ins and outs ˖ ݁݁ 𖥔.

i've seen a lot of cute ins/outs journals, so i wanted to make one for myself. i pulled out all my fun journaling supplies to make it extra pretty <3. transcription:

-> ins: getting up with the sun, paper sudoku and crossword puzzles, beautiful notes on beautiful stationery, Gunpla, skeletons, making cardboard cutouts, physical media -> outs: impulsive purchases, FOMO via social media, phone in bed, skipping meals, excessive self-infantilization, talking to fill pauses in conversation, mourning my childhood

i also wrote out ways to satisfy my intellectual, sensory, and emotional needs. usually, when i'm not doing what i'm supposed to be doing, it's because one of those needs is unmet. social media often blends all your needs into a never-ending feed of Posts: infographics, ASMR slime videos, room tours, outfit videos, world news, cute baby animals...it's really hard to determine what you need at the moment when you're being bombarded with every type of fulfillment all at once.

the @catcrumb cat at the bottom is one of my mantras this year! it's silly but it's easy to remember and makes me happy when i say it. pause. assess. okay. continue normalstyle. i need to be more mindful of what i'm feeling instead of ignoring it.

[parowanormal]

💌 Food gave me the energy to live life as vibrantly as I did in 2024, and will continue to give me energy to achieve all my goals in 2025!

[parowanormal]

this year will be wonderful. you will meet new people who will feel like sunlight. someone out there will be lucky enough to meet you. you will see breathtaking views. you will learn so much knowledge from your studies and gain so much wisdom. there will be bad days but you will heal and start again in the morning. you will discover what makes you happy. you will fill up journals with scribbles and messy drawings. you will feel low and make mistakes but they will help you become a stronger person. you will pick up new things that give your life meaning and you will pour your heart into it. you will find songs that speak to you more than anything else in the world. you will grow. this year is waiting for you and it’s beautiful.