#choices positivity challenge

[inlocusmads]

Fandom Thank-Yous!

Thank you for sticking around! The Choices fandom has clearly been through so many ups and downs in the past, so let me take a moment to say, thank you...

To those writers who write for the "less" popular books, with so much love and care.

To those wonderful fanartists who bring the characters to life in their own ways.

To creators who go through so much - life, school, anxiety, work, depression and so on, just to make people happy.

To those motivated creators who program and develop their own unofficial sequels for FREE! Going through all that effort to assemble a team, get the best artists and writers and programmers to work on it and bring joy to the fandom! Thank you so much!

To those skilled graphic designers and writers who bring their characters to life, through their innovative designs, Pictagram edits, moodboards and so on! Your efforts will never go unnoticed!

To those kind souls who host challenges, prompts and send out Asks to motivate everyone. The fandom would practically be dead without your intervention. Thank you for everything that you do.

To the people who've already left us and have gone inactive. It's heartbreaking, yes, but their efforts and works will never die or lose their positive impact. They've all done a lot of brilliant things and the fandom would never be the same without them.

To the commenters and rebloggers and simply, people who leave a little heart and a nice comment once in a while. Thank you so much for providing your eternal support to these lovely creators! You are a pillar of strength in this community. You've brought so many writers and artists an insane amount of joy through your little words of encouragement and support. Thank you for everything that you do!

To the people who've been here since the early days, when the fandom was barely crawling. You are just downright awesome - having seen the good, bad and the ugly in this fandom and staying despite all the odds.

AND TO YOU! Even if you aren't a pioneer or a graphics artist, your everyday contributions to the fandom KEEPS IT ALIVE! Whether it be a meme-post on TNA and its obscure plotlines, starting an Is-Blades-Cancelled Support Group, fangirling over fictional pixelated love interests, bringing up "It's indescribable" as frequently as possible and are responsible for nearly 16384 inside jokes, you are just frickin awesome.

I love our little community so much, despite being here for a couple of months. Sure there's bits of the Bad, but the Good doesn't necessarily make the Bad so bad, because it brings me insurmountable joy to see everyone sort of crowding around in the reblogs and comments whenever someone commissions a piece of art, taking part in these long introspective discussions but at the same time being memeing trolls who embrace the chaos.

Thank you for everything and thank you for making everyday a little wonderful.

I'll be tagging everyone in my list, if that's okay! I might've definitely missed a bunch of people and I sincerely apologise for that ^_^

@aallotarenunelma @ao719 @a-crepusculo @burnsoslow @crazy-loca-blog @cariantha @dr-colossal-pita @cassie-thorne @farizrz @gutsfics @garrusknight @gryffindordaughterofathena @hydn-jpg @headoverheelsforramsey @hydn-jpg @jerzwriter @lilyoffandoms @lovealexhunt @lsvdw-blog @lucy-268 @liaromancewriter @missameliep @mvalentine @mysticalgalaxysstuff @mydemonsdrivealimo @niaellariious @openheartforeverinmyheart @ofmischiefandmedicine @potionsprefect @princess-geek @peonierose @phoenixrising308 @peonyblossom @queenrileyrose @quixoticdreamer16 @txemrn @rookiemartin @storyofmychoices @songsaboutgirls @tessa-liam @utterlyinevitable @writing-not

[curiositysavesthecat]

*this poll was submitted to us and we simply posted it so people could vote and discuss their opinions on the matter. if you’d like for us to ask the internet a question for you, feel free to drop the poll of your choice in our inbox and we’ll post them anonymously (for more info, please check our pinned post)

[borrelia]

Okay it's been one week.. even if you havent finished the story or even gotten to play, at this point you probably have SOME sort of opinion on the thing. So:

No "it's complicated" option bc of COURSE it is 🙄. Take a tally, weight it however you like, and then use the tags to show your work :)

(And please don't spoiler tag this; like i said, this isn't just for people who have finished the game!)

[phoenixcatch7]

Trying so hard to not start fic writing before I've even finished the game but I want so so bad to write a time travel fic where post totk wild gets sent back to pre calamity hyrule in the middle of a lynel or gleeok fight, like he's just covered in monster blood and guts with a mishmash of armour pieces (at least one barbarian piece) hair long and tangled, scars all over, wielding a ridiculously huge savage lynel spear tipped with dragon claw and dripping sizzling blood. Smoke coming off him. Arm looking half rotted.

In the middle of the throne room.

Several particularly delicate lords and ladies faint. All the guards are pointing spears. He nearly takes someone's eye out before realising where he is.

Once he realises when he is it becomes a race of time to make the right waves before zelda comes to pick him up.

[villainsidestep]

cyrus becker hates fate bc it is real and in this essay I will-

[herearedragons]

Ghilan’nain’s Trial

Here’s a bit of headcanon lore that was on my previous blog, but was deleted when I deactivated it. I still think it’s cool and @solas-backpack-mug just asked about it, so here it is! Again.

I did remember that it wasn’t a trial to receive one’s vallaslin but a trial to become a scout specifically, but it doesn’t really matter, since my Lavellan (Neilar) would have to take it either way. I’m pretty sure halla-keepers would have a different trial, though.

Ghilan’nain’s Trial is a rite of passage in Clan Lavellan. There’s a Trial for every Evanuri; June’s would be a test of craftsmanship, Mythal’s would be a test of your judgement skill, etc. You must take one of these trials to be considered an adult and have the right to wear vallaslin; the one you take is determined by the vallaslin you choose and/or your future profession in the clan.

Ghilan’nain’s trial follows the myth about her ascension, where she is bound, wounded and left for dead in the forest. The ones undergoing the trial are woken in the middle of the night, bound and blindfolded, and then taken into the wilderness outside the clan’s camp.

There, they are given the choice of one handicap: either to keep their blindfold on, to keep their hands tied, or to keep their feet tied. With this handicap, they must make their way back to camp, relying only on their own survival skills. The trial-takers aren’t abandoned; the clan’s scouts will be watching over them from afar to protect them from danger, but asking them for help means admitting defeat.

Successfully making the journey back proves one capable of finding their way home no matter the circumstances, wounded or blinded or bound, which marks them as a capable guide for their people and a worthy follower of Ghilan’nain.

[shirkers2018dirsanditan]

the crazy thing that all influencer-led bastardizations of genuine movements for something (natural hair movement, body positivity, feminism lol) or just general online discourse is how destructive their construction of “shame” is. the idea is that shame is the most destructive force in the world. it’s the worst oppression, and the most important praxis is not “shaming” people for their condition. and sure, personal responsibility politics and individualism are some of the most rancid elements of american politics, and of oppressor politics in general. the idea that healthy, nutritious food is cheap and easy to get, the idea that sustainability through consumerism is something average people can do easily, the idea that conformity to beauty standards is a moral failure (it’s largely men that say this and they don’t even mean it when they do), etc…..are corrosive. the solution is not to insist on oppression as a natural feature or natural preference lol. it gets to a place where you start to insist that we accept what is oppression and that these things are neutral. and some of it is propaganda. and it’s transparent especially from people who are always trying to sell you something

[deneenritter]

Merry Christmas to all!!

It’s Friday y’all Spread kindness around like you throw confetti. At this time of year the lonely feel lonelier. Life moves at such a fast pace sometimes we forget common decency. This year my family has lost several friends, family, or loved ones.. Perhaps this holiday season you can honor your loved one by helping somebody else. An elderly person all alone. A homeless person sitting on the…

[jeanmoreaux]

rereading ck and “why do you keep staring at him?” Kuwei said. “i look just like him. you could look at me.” pls from minute one jesper could easily keep them apart they haven’t even kissed he’s just so tuned in to wylan as a person it’s all about who he is that intrigues jesper don’t you understand

[choicesfandomappreciation]

Connect 3 💖

I hope you enjoyed last week's Connect 3 prompts and were able to spread some kindness. I did hear from a few people who said they enjoyed participating and others enjoyed receiving new followers/kind reblogs. Let's keep it up this week!

Can you connect 3 things this week to spread some positivity in the fandom for yourself and others?

You can also leave shout outs here if you're looking for something else to do!

Have an idea for next week's positivity prompts? Send it to me. I'd love to include any ideas that come my way!

[avornalino]

teen-a-day day 10: 16 & pregnant

people who pass her in the halls always look at her sympathetically, but she could not be more in love with her son. her parents and her boyfriend are also super supportive and do whatever they can do for her and her child

[easchmidte]

Run-around

Oh sure the banner may be torn and the wind’s gotten colderPerhaps I’ve grown a little cynicalBut I know no matter what the waitress bringsI shall drink it and always be full, yeah I will drink it and always be full

[villainsidestep]

living up to the villain sidestep name (thinking of a Third puppet)

[renthony]

In Defense of Shitty Queer Art

Queer art has a long history of being censored and sidelined. In 1895, Oscar Wilde’s novel The Picture of Dorian Gray was used as evidence in the author’s sodomy trials. From the 1930s to the 1960s, the American Hays Code prohibited depictions of queerness in film, defining it as “sex perversion.” In 2020, the book Steven Universe: End of an Era by Chris McDonnell confirmed that Rebecca Sugar’s insistence on including a sapphic wedding in the show is what triggered its cancellation by Cartoon Network. According to the American Library Association, of the top ten most challenged books in 2023, seven were targeted for their queer content. Across time, place, and medium, queer art has been ruthlessly targeted by censors and protesters, and at times it seems there might be no end in sight.

So why, then, are queer spaces so viciously critical of queer art?

Name any piece of moderately-well-known queer media, and you can find immense, vitriolic discourse surrounding it. Audiences debate whether queer media is good representation, bad representation, or whether it’s otherwise too problematic to engage with. Artists are picked apart under a microscope to make sure their morals are pure enough and their identities queer enough. Every minor fault—real or perceived—is compiled in discourse dossiers and spread around online. Lines are drawn, and callout posts are made against those who get too close to “problematic art.”

Modern examples abound, such as the TV show Steven Universe, the video game Dream Daddy, or the webcomic Boyfriends, but it’s far from a new phenomenon. In his book Hi Honey, I’m Homo!, queer pop culture analyst Matt Baume writes about an example from the 1970s, where the ABC sitcom titled Soap was protested by homophobes and queer audiences alike—before a single episode of the show ever aired. Audiences didn’t wait to actually watch the show before passing judgment and writing protest letters.

After so many years starved for positive representation, it’s understandable for queer audiences to crave depictions where we’re treated well. It’s exhausting to only ever see the same tired gay tropes and subtext, and queer audiences deserve more. Yet the way to more, better, varied representation is not to insist on perfection. The pursuit of perfection is poison in art, and it’s no different when that art happens to be queer.

When the pool of queer art is so limited, it feels horrible when a piece of queer art doesn’t live up to expectations. Even if the representation is technically good, it’s disappointing to get excited for a queer story only for that story to underwhelm and frustrate you.

But the world needs that disappointing art. It needs mediocre art. It even needs the bad art. The world needs to reach a point where queer artists can fearlessly make a mess, because if queer artists can only strive for perfection, the less art they can make. They may eventually produce a masterpiece, but a single masterpiece is still a drop in the bucket compared to the oceans of censorship. The only way to drown out bigotry and offensive stereotypes created by bigots is to allow queer artists the ability to experiment, learn through making mistakes, and represent their queer truth even if it clashes with someone else’s.

If queer artists aren’t allowed to make garbage, we can never make those masterpieces everyone craves. If queer artists are terrified at all times that their art will be targeted both by bigots and their own queer communities, queer art cannot thrive.

Let queer artists make shitty art. Let allies to queer people try their hand at representation, even if they miss the mark. Let queer art be messy, and let the artists screw up without fear of overblown retribution.

It’s the only way we’ll ever get more queer art.

_

Like this essay? Tip me on Ko-Fi, pledge to my Patreon, or commission an essay on the topic of your choice!

[theambitiouswoman]

How to Be The ✨Main Character✨ of Your Life 👑

Being the main character of your life means taking charge of your own narrative, making intentional choices, and living authentically. This doesn't mean life will be perfect. It means you're actively participating in your journey, making choices that align with your values, and striving to live a fulfilling life.

Understand yourself. Your desires, strengths, weaknesses, and emotions. What you like and do not like. Reflect on your actions and decisions regularly.

Figure out, decide and commit to the life you want.Both short term and long term. Break these goals down into small steps.

Take action. Don't wait for things to happen; make them happen.

Every main character faces obstacles. They build you. They show you, and others, how bad you want it. Instead of avoiding challenges, face them head-on. They're opportunities for growth.

Physical, emotional, and mental well-being are crucial. Regular exercise, a balanced diet, meditation, and adequate sleep can make a huge difference. How you treat yourself is how much you do or do not love yourself.

Surround yourself with positive influences and people who uplift you. Limit exposure to negative media or toxic individuals.

The world is full of knowledge. Always be curious. Read books and take courses. Always learn.

Connect deeply with others. Genuine relationships add richness to life.

Be true to yourself. Don't live to meet others' expectations. Celebrate your uniqueness.

Regularly acknowledge and appreciate the good in your life. There is always something to be grateful for. It shifts your focus from what's lacking to what's abundant. How you look at life is what you will attract.

Find balance in work, relationships, and personal time. Create a life that is fulfilling. You are not just one aspect of your life.

Imagine yourself succeeding and achieving your goals. This positive visualization can be a powerful motivator. Live your life as if it is already done.

Life will have its ups and downs. Resilience is the ability to bounce back from setbacks and keep moving forward.

[flammableheart]

I was talking with the GC last night about why Aziraphale looks so damn angry after the kiss, and I think it's about choices - specifically being forced to make a hard choice.

Look how happy Aziraphale is when he tells Crowley what Metatron said. This offer is the best thing ever! Crowley gets to come home and Aziraphale is the one who gets to give him that gift.

He can make Crowley smile like this again:

But Crowley says no. He says NO. He won't listen, he doesn't understand. He wants to run away, Aziraphale wants to make a difference. It hurts. It's breaking Aziraphale's heart. But it's Crowley's fault. Crowley is the one walking away. Crowley is the one rejecting him. Aziraphale has the moral high ground.

And then Crowley flips everything upside down by kissing him. Crowley clings on to him and pours all his love and all his desperation into this kiss.

Suddenly Aziraphale is the one rejecting Crowley - and Crowley has put him in that position. He can't claim this was Crowley's choice anymore. It's on him now.

But how can that be? Aziraphale is making the right choice... isn't he? He's the good one, Heaven is the good side, Aziraphale is on the right side. How dare Crowley make it hurt so much? How dare Crowley make him doubt?

For all that Crowley has always been the one to challenge Aziraphale, Aziraphale has never been able to let go of the idea that Heaven is the side of good and light. Ascending as the Supreme Archangel should be the greatest moment of Aziraphale's existence but Crowley has made it hard. As much as it hurt seeing Crowley walk away, it hurts so much more to be the one walking away from Crowley.

"Be not faithless, but believing", says the Bible. Crowley has made him doubt, and that's the worst thing he could have done.

Crowley really had it right when he asked how someone so clever could be so stupid.