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020may · 3 years

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a message to my teens...

I’m starting this letter to myself on May 15, 5 days before I turn 20. As my teen years come to an end, I want to take the time to reflect a bit on who I am, as I venture into my twenties.

13 was the age that you graduated elementary school, and started high school.

I remember being scared of the change into high school, and all the scary upperclassmen. I was worried how it would feel to not be in the same class all day with all the same classmates. But in a way, I suppose, I was excited to meet new friends. I was always told that in high school you make friends that you keep for a long time. And, I’m still friends with them today.

You wrote a letter to your future self when you were 13. In it you talked about how you were upset about the lack of a proper graduation ceremony and not being able to go to Playland or Cultus. I suppose I still wish we got to go, I know it would’ve been so fun. But I had other chances to go, and I had other opportunities to spend time and make memories with my friends and classmates. Something that you mentioned in your letter was that you were upset that you couldn’t walk criss-cross into the seats, and how it's the little things like this that make the ceremony something worth remembering. I don’t want to invalidate your feelings in any way, I know it was really upsetting, but I want you to know, in the future you completely forgot that walking in criss-cross was a thing. You’ll feel better about this with time.

To be honest, I don't feel like I can explicitly recall anything memorable from 14. I think this was when you started making some new friends, some of your closest friends to this day. I hope it brings you comfort to know that whatever troubles you were facing, future you doesn’t remember. Those social studies tests you worried and stressed so much about don’t mean anything now. Whatever grade you got on a project, really doesn’t affect you in the future.

I remember, when you turned 15, you had this epiphany of “oh my gosh I’m old”. 15 seemed like that age you always saw in movies and books and tv shows, and now all of a sudden you were that age. There was that time when you went to Vancouver Island, and at the ferry station, you were asked your age, and you weren’t used to being 15 so you said 14. It was a weird moment, and marked the moment where I started to become so self conscious of my age. At this age I started feeling old. (looking back you really were so young).

I think it was at this age, school started getting a bit more busy and started mattering more to you. Your course load was definitely harder than in grade 8 and 9, and grade 10 marks started showing up on your transcript. I think you were learning for the first time on how to deal with all of these tests and assignments and projects. It 15 was the first time you started feeling overwhelmed at times, and sometimes you had dark thoughts. I want you to know that you got through it all. That despite those worries you had, things were okay. You were strong.

You made a portfolio for Mr. Roberts’s English 10H class. It’s really nice to look back on sometimes. I hope that you’ll make one in the future again, or rewrite some of the stuff in there. 16 was another special age of growth. I think when you were 16, that’s when you started to really care about how you looked. And that meant you felt insecure a lot. And that meant you hated the way you looked a lot, you hated it so much.

You were in grade 11, and you started to feel pressure about university and what you would study in the future. Looking back in my diary, I can tell that you were stressed and you were lost and you were tired. I hope you know things will be okay. It’s okay to be lost sometimes. I hope you can learn to lean on the people around you. And don’t stress too much about university, you made it to one in the end.

At 17, you entered your last year of high school. 17 was another where I think I had an epiphany about my sudden oldness. I think the beginning may have been tough, you were worried about SATs and universities and essays and you doubted yourself a lot. At this age you started to care a bit less about others. Maybe it was because you were now part of the oldest students at school, and maybe it was because you knew all your classmates a bit better. You started to care a bit less about others, and you felt a bit more comfortable with class presentations, felt a bit more comfortable just being loud with your friends, but I know deep down you still cared a lot about what others thought. But I'm proud of how far you’ve come. I know at this age you definitely started reflecting a lot on your younger self, and you started thinking a lot about how you wished you did things differently when you were younger. I hope that you learn that this means you can start to change things going forward.

I think 17 was also an age where you started having more adventures with your friends, or just going out with them more. It was likely because you had more time after uni apps. But I really liked it. Artona pics, going out to eat, everything. They’re all precious memories. I think 17 was a really happy year for you.

18 was a very special age to you, and it’s a very special age to me now. It was a year of transition. Officially, you became an adult. You were old enough to vote. You graduated high school, and you moved to university. It was a new start into your adulthood, although it didn’t feel so much like adulthood and felt more like “what-the-hell-am-I-doing-hood”. A lot happened at 18.

At 18, you finished your last month of high school. Honestly, it was the best month of high school. You went to prom, you spent lots of time with your friends, had many new experiences. You graduated high school, and on the last day when you were getting your yearbook signed, you saw a lot of classmates for the last time. A lot of people you realized you would no longer have any reason to see anymore. After graduating high school, you and your friends went on a grad trip. You went to Korea and Taiwan with them, and later to Shanghai by yourself. It was the best summer. It’s one that I think I will always look back on. A trip representing youth. I miss it a lot.

You then moved to Toronto to go to University. In high school, you were always excited by the thought of University. You looked forward to the independence, being able to go out with friends late at night, and being in downtown Toronto, where it was easy to go anywhere. But you remember right? You were so scared when you first moved. You cried on the first night. Some time throughout the year you cried many times. You missed home. You missed the comfort of being in a city you knew. It was hard. You were also shy, and had a hard time making new friends. I want to tell you that it’s okay. It’s okay to cry and miss home, it’s okay to feel lonely. It’s okay. You’ll be okay.

And then covid-19 hit and you got sent home. And things started getting weird.

And this is where I am now. It’s May 19, 10:30pm and I’m trying to finish this letter before midnight hits.

This year was definitely special, not just for me but for the whole world. I spent the entirety of being 19 stuck in this pandemic. (I truly hope things can go back to normal soon.)

19 was definitely a tough year, and I really struggled a lot. With school being online, I found it hard to stay focused and motivated, and I fell behind a lot. I felt isolated. My mental health really plummeted, and I think it was lower than it has ever been in my life. I cried a lot, I was sad a lot, I thought about death a lot. It was a dark time, especially in the first half. I felt lonely a lot too.

I think I started to get a bit better with a bit of time, and I was able to carry on with a schedule. I’ve been happier, but I’ve also been sadder. This year just seemed to pass by, with days bleeding into each other. School scares me, and the future scares me. It’s hard to think that in less than 2 years I will be graduating and moving even further into adulthood. I’m so scared. I don’t think I can handle the responsibilities, and I don’t think I can manage everything, and I feel overwhelmed just thinking about it. I’m scared of growing up. I’m really scared.

Going into my twenties, I’m scared of so many things that lie ahead. My teen years have always felt like they were supposed to represent my youth. Leaving that behind and walking into what seems like a completely new world is scary. But I hope I can learn to trust myself just a little bit more.

Good luck...

From,

19 year old Jessica

#jess writes

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bipolarbaddies69-blog · 3 years

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i have bipolar and im a bad bitch. PERIODT.

I have no idea what I am doing. No, seriously, I have no fucking clue what I am doing 90% of the time. It could be the ADHD, it could be the Bipolar Disorder, but it’s most likely just the experience I am meant to have. I have accepted that adulthood is scary and obsessed with that as my generation is, it’s no big deal anymore. Ya can’t change it so why not just flow with it?

I have always had a strong personality. ALWAYS. Home media can prove it. I am never one to back down from an argument and the idea of a challenge is what entices me to start new ventures like this one. My best friend, Jordin, and I are starting a podcast. We have no idea if we will make anything of it but it is worth a try, is it not? I feel compelled by the force of our friendship. We are a packaged deal in many ways and here is one more thing to bind us together. She, too, has a strong personality. We are dramatic bitches. We take up space in this world and aren’t ashamed of it. Well, it’s a work in progress but it is starting to really stick.

So, here we are. Well, here I am writing about it. I want to document this process. Jordin has been recording our conversations about our brainchild and I want to start to write it down. I made an informal Google Drive for it today as well as some framework starts to discuss with Jordin when she has some time away from her business.

I really just want to think about my personal goals for this venture. I’d like to reach someone. I’d like to create the content that I wish was already out there. I want to give my view of the world and connect with people through our shared experiences. Not just Bipolar but other mental and psychiatric diagnoses. It’s so intense yet so warm. I want to create an environment. A home for those who seek comfort and understanding.

I just am excited to see something through. It’s not my forte necessarily but I am gonna figure it out.

xoxo, bipolo bitch

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spiffylindster · 6 years

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Slytherin Incorporated

Part 1 -This is entirely @cirilee‘s fault and was inspired by this post they created featuring Shaggy as a Slytherin. While Shaggy does have Slytherin qualities, they aren’t qualities he really values in himself or really even sees in himself for the most part, so then I started to think about various ways Shaggy might end up in Slytherin, and then my hand slipped.

-(this was supposed to be a little one shot drabble, but it keeps getting longer so I’ve decided to break it up into what will likely be three parts, I hope everyone enjoys part 1 for now).

Receiving his Hogwarts acceptance letter had not been a particularly joyous occasion for young Shaggy Rogers. While he had long believed that magic and monsters were real, actually having others openly confirm it was new territory, and quite frankly a little unnerving, but learning he himself in part embodied that scary aspect of the world was all together terrifying. He did not want to be magic, no way no how, and he had every intention of declining attendance despite his family’s excitement. That is, until he found out his friends had each received acceptance letters as well.

The idea still didn’t sit well with him. He liked the way his school worked, you went for a few hours and then came home. Hogwarts though, he’d have to live there, and it was overseas no less. He especially disliked the idea of being away from his little sister Maggie, whom he’d nicknamed Sugie, for such a long time. Yet, the idea of attending the local public school without Fred, Daphne, and Velma was unbearable.

So, in the end, with his best friends being excited to attend, their families being excited for them to attend, the school agreeing to allow him to bring Scooby Doo, the terrifying concept of attending public school without his friends, and his friends’ frequent attempts to sway him with bribes of entire boxes of Scooby snacks, he finally caved..

The Jones’, Dinkley’s, Blake’s, and Rogers’ were apparently all seen as rather unconventional among the magical community, being that they all chose to live as muggles for the most part, which incidentally was why they chose to live in the same community. The families were largely made up of squibs and muggles with the occasional witch or wizard being born to or joining the family via marriage.

Due to this, they all let their children lead muggle lives growing up and waited to see if they received their letters upon turning 11. If they did, the magical world would be explained, and if not, they would continue letting them live on as muggles and inform them of the wizarding world as they drew closer to adulthood.

Either way, Shaggy, Daphne, Fred, and Velma were still raised with wizarding world terminology as well as stories, many factual but also some fairy-tales such as, “The Tales of Beedle the Bard”, so they weren’t completely out of the loop.

The families also researched and kept rather extensive records of their ancestry; Shaggy’s Uncle Shagworthy in particular was quite fanatic about proving that his ancestry line was descended from the great Merlin himself.

While keeping ancestral records was not uncommon in the wizarding world, it was those records which made the acceptance of their children into Hogwarts a possibility, being that they had ancestors who had attended Hogwarts, and they maintained ownership of homesteads and castles of their lineage throughout both the U.S.A. and Europe.

The Scooby Doo Detective Agency was dealt a small blow when they met in Shaggy’s treehouse to discuss which Houses they thought they’d end up in. In the end they had guessed that Daphne who was ambitious would probably be in Slytherin, Fred who was a brave leader would be in Gryffindor, Velma who was very smart would be in Ravenclaw, and Shaggy who was loyal and honest would be in Hufflepuff; plus the Fat Friar was one ghost he might manage to not be too afraid of. The idea of them each being in different houses was disappointing, but at least they’d be at the same school.

The trip to Diagon Alley had been interesting. Gringotts Wizarding Bank had been equally fascinating and nerve-wracking for the kids. Outside, Shaggy made sure to keep as much distance between himself and Knockturn Alley as he could. Despite his wariness, he did enjoy Gambol and Japes joke shop and was especially fond of Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlour.

Fred stumbled across copies of, “The Quibbler” and “The Daily Prophet” and was delighted to learn that his Uncle Eddie’s paper, “The National Exaggerator” was a specially tailored variation of the two, designed to be safely used in the muggle world, since some wizards, witches, squibs, and muggles who knew of magic, chose to live there. It was also simply enjoyed as entertainment or conspiracy propaganda by muggles who remained unaware of magic.

Both Fred and Velma were fascinated by Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment. Velma was delighted by all of the scientific gadgets found within, and Fred was delirious with joy as he puzzled out various ways the newfound objects could be used for setting traps. The entire gang thought Quality Quidditch Supplies and Slug and Jiggers Apothecary were pretty neat. Shaggy took interest in Potage’s Cauldron Shop, though not so much for potion making as fantasizing about the huge meals he could cook in some of them. The gang worried they might never get Velma to leave the book shop Flourish & Blotts.

Velma and Shaggy were content to get their robes at Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, while Fred and Daphne opted for Twilfitt and Tatting's. Despite the higher end store, Daphne was still less than thrilled with having to wear black robes as a school uniform, especially since she had also been given the option to attend Beauxbatons, where the uniforms were far more to her liking. She was however, quite delighted by the beautiful snowy owl she purchased at the Magical Menagerie.

The gang ventured into Ollivander’s one at a time, and all but Shaggy emerged with a wand in hand. The shop’s atmosphere as well as its keeper already had poor Shaggy feeling rather wary, yet he obediently tried the first wand Ollivander handed to him; to say it reacted violently was an understatement. A burst of wild energy exploded from the wand knocking over an entire shelf and began richoteting about the store.

As Ollivander tried to contain the magical outburst, Shaggy yelped and took cover in what should have been far too small of a cabinet drawer. Once the magical mishap had been successfully contained, Ollivander went to open the drawer only to find it empty. Perplexed, he looked up as a very skittish looking Shaggy slightly opened the door to the small closet he was in and peered nervously out.

Ollivander wasn’t entirely sure what Shaggy had done. Though similar to apparition, Shaggy’s location change had happened without the familiar popping sound, and most certainly without him being both familiar with and able to clearly visualize the inside of the broom closet. For someone to have performed such a feat with zero magical training, wandless, and without uttering an incantation was very curious.

Wands were of course tools to make magic use easier. All wizards were capable of magic without one, but very few were actually hindered rather than helped by their use. Ollivander would know, he remembered every wand he’d ever sold and the wielder it chose. Yet, he’d only heard of those who wielded magic at such an innate level in stories of old. To have such a rarity wander into his shop was more than a little incogitable. Ollivander would expect great things from Mr. Norville Rogers.

Shaggy was simultaneously unnerved as well as relieved by this information. He didn’t like learning that magic worked differently for him than basically every other living witch and wizard, but he did like the idea that disarming spells would have no impact on him, and he wouldn’t have to worry about constantly dropping the thing, which was something he’d been rather concerned about. He’d been different in the muggle world too, reading just didn’t work the same for him as it did for most others, yet with guidance, he’d managed to still be a successful student.

When the day came for the gang to leave by train for Hogwarts, they were each a bit hesitant about making their way through to Platform 9¾. In the end, they all closed their eyes and ran at the barrier together, making it safely to the other side.

Aboard the Hogwarts Express. they were pleased as punch to get a compartment all together and they happily chattered the journey away. When the trolley witch came by pushing her Honeydukes Express cart full of goodies, Shaggy and Scooby were of course starving and purchased the entire lot, though they did share some with the rest of the gang. Cart empty, the trolley lady merely reloaded with a summoning charm and continued on towards the next car.

After the train ride, the first years gathered together for their trip across the lake. It took a bit of coaxing to get Shaggy into one of the canoes, or rather, “death-traps” as he called them. That aside, crossing the lake by boat to reach the castle went without incident, and before they knew it, the time for the sorting ceremony had come.

#spiffy writes #scooby doo #shaggy rogers #fred jones #daphne blake #velma dinkley #hogwarts #story time #this is basically me trying to force a massive stream of headcanons into something resembling a story like format #headcanon that shaggy is dyslexic came from everystarstorm

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hypeathon · 6 years

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RWBY & Meaning in Cinematic Techniques, Part 2 - Volume 5′s Merits

If there was anything to take away from part one of this blog article series, it would hopefully be that RWBY has more going on with its visuals than just being prettier through an upgrade in animation software. Since volume 3, various scenes centered on various characters have used a combination of stage direction, camera framing, and even interesting use of transitioning shots to better depict the subtext behind one’s thoughts and intentions or at the very least be left open to interpretation. But so far, only examples through volume 4 of the long-running web series have been referred to. This then brings into question what about the cinematography of volume 5?

To say that the fifth volume of RWBY’s story had faced a large number of criticisms within its fanbase would be an understatement. Since even before it ended and the hiatus started, more people have poured out their frustrations and disappointments on a regular basis through Youtube videos and threads on forums and the RWBY sub-reddit. It’s gotten to the point that after lots of back-and-forth flinging of arguments regarding whether the director and writer, Kerry Shawcross and Miles Luna respectively, should be criticized harshly or not, has just utterly exhausted some fans. To be vividly clear, the goal of this blog article is not to be the end-all-be-all counter-argument that shuts down what has been uttered by critics. Nor is it meant to even imply that volume 5 is void of flaws. Rather, the intent is simply to help shift and refresh the discussion about volume 5 by centering on how its application of cinematography is one of its merits.

With that said, in what ways did volume 5 apply cinematic techniques? The answer to that actually depends on the character. To start, let’s refer to the chameleon-based faunus character, Ilia Amitola and her scenes with Blake. Ilia has a strong, yet misguided sense of justice where she believes in needing to be as aggressive as possible. In shots with her and Blake in volume 5, she positions herself at a greater height which makes sense considering she’s actually shorter than Blake. Even the volume 5 opening theme featuring their bout illustrates this. While opening themes in anime are generally known to excite viewers into a title they’re about to watch, they can also tease a story and its layers through snappy camera shots and imagery. To see how true this usually is, I highly suggest watching Geoff Thew, a.k.a, Mother’s Basement’s “What’s in an OP” video series on Youtube, who has provided thorough analysis on openings to anime like Death Note, both Fullmetal Alchemist series, Re:Zero, Spice & Wolf, Your Name, and the seasons of My Hero Academia to name a few.

Switching gears back to Blake and Ilia’s scenes in RWBY, the latter believed that fear is the only way to gain results and by standing taller than the former, Ilia’s ideals are seemingly stronger. But when Blake manages to finally pin Ilia down in their fight in chapter 10, Blake hammers as much sense into Ilia as she could and gets her to admit that she doesn’t know any other alternative.

With all that said, there’s another trait at play between Blake and Ilia’s scenes that needs to be mentioned. To do that, we need to first talk about a department in RWBY’s production that, like camera & layout, was also established since volume 3: the lighting team. In volumes 1 & 2, every scene with some attempt at lighting and shadow was actually faked, as there were no lighting artists yet. Even the scene between Roman Torchiwck and James Ironwood in chapter 12 of volume 2 had animator, Austin Hardwicke, use a trick in Poser to fake the shadow in Torchwick’s prison cell. But by volume 3, a lighting artist named Erica Burroughs was recruited to provide the rays of sunlight the lighting of green flames from the torches in the Beacon Academy vault, among other moments of lighting effects. By volume 4, a single lighting artist evolved to a whole team with Mark Osborne credited as the lead lighting artist. This helped contribute to making scenes more enticing to look at with each passing volume. Even volume 5 introduced a rim shot lighting on characters, which depending on the setting, such an accent can add to giving RWBY a more enticing aesthetic.

Lighting doesn’t just help make the show prettier-looking though. Depending on the context, it can also help better communicate the story visually-speaking. And Blake and Ilia’s scenes are the biggest examples of this. It goes without saying that the color black is Blake’s motif. But it can also extend to how the color represents her story arc when associated with lighting or rather lack thereof. Every scene where Blake confronts against the White Fang in previous volumes have been in settings with lack of light, be it in the middle of the night or underground at Mountain Glenn. In volume 4 though, lighting as a visual story element provides an interesting twist to scenes with her parents, being either in broad daylight or in a bright, warmly-lit room. With Blake, there’s this awkwardness when communicating with her parents, as welcoming and forgiving as Ghira and Kali are. In chapter 8, she hesitantly stays stares the outside of her father’s office in the dark, only to hesitantly step in and eventually pour out her deep guilt towards her father. She wants to be more open in the light, but is far too scared to.

The motif of light and darkness can also apply in relation to Sun Wukong. In chapter 3 of volume 4, Blake refused to explain why she kept distance from everyone including her teammates at a scene at night. But in chapter 11, not only is she forced to admit her reason after Sun got injured in the daytime, but the latter in response criticizes her way of going about her problems. This is complimented by some framing between the two and the large Menagerie painting in the background. What all of this has to do with Blake and Ilia is that the former in volume 5 is framed to be associated with bright and natural lights while the latter is associated with darkness and shadows. One of the major exceptions to this is in both character’s speeches in chapters 3 & 10, providing an interesting contrast. Ilia in chapter 3 is vocally fighting in Blake’s domain in broad daylight whereas Blake in chapter 10 argues back with her own speech in Ilia’s domain at night.

Though Blake and Ilia’s scenes were greatly emphasized by certain cinematic techniques, their characters weren’t the only ones with scenes affected in that sense. Other characters throughout the volume had techniques applied to their scenes to varying degrees and Ruby Rose was one of them. It’s not a secret that the inconsistent focus of the main protagonist of this web series has fueled the fandom’s frustrations this volume. And while the following can’t alleviate it, her scene with Oscar in chapter 5 is worth mentioning. It’s minor, but when Ruby is given the time to explain her optimistic demeanor to Oscar, there’s an interesting framing with her and the interior. In certain shots, she’s seen surrounded by the entrance to the training room where the outside is nothing but forests at night. The forest setting, especially at night, is a recurring setting with Ruby’s character as made evident in both her character short and in the volume 5 opening. But it’s also a setting with meaning regarding the story of the character she’s inspired by. One interpretation of a few variations of the Little Red Riding Hood story is that the forest serves as part of the character of the same name’s transition from childhood to adulthood, partly due to the forest being unknown and potentially dangerous territory.

What Ruby expresses to Oscar about what she’s afraid of can also be a callback to Oscar expressing to Ozpin how scary it is venturing out on his own in the forest for a cause beyond his comprehension. But where he has struggled to overcome his anxiety, Ruby has a firm-enough grip of it to stay motivated on her objective. The framing between her and the open entrance with the forest in the background, while just one simple cinematic technique, is also arguably effective at helping present Ruby’s mindset. The training room scene is also a good opportunity to talk about cinematography applied to Oscar’s scenes. In volume 4, chapter 7, his scene made him treat Ozpin as an invader of his mind and livelihood. The shades of brown and red and dim lighting makes Oscar feel utterly disturbed, overwhelmed, and unwilling to accept Ozpin’s words. But their scene in chapter 5 changes that. The interior in comparison is much brighter, bigger, and even with more shades of green, which is representative of Ozpin’s color motif. As a result, he no longer feels mentally tense by Ozpin’s presence and even trusts him for a little insight.

There’s also another small scene with Oscar in chapter 11 of volume 5, where he faces Leonardo Lionheart. Although brief, there’s an instance where as he steps up, the camera is framing him at a low angle, indicating that he’s more resolute. The motivation itself could be due to either slowly accepting his role in the story or to follow Ruby’s example. Speaking of Oscar and Lionheart’s face-off, now is where the latter’s scenes can be visually deciphered. The Haven academy headmaster has certain scenes that support the Cowardly Lion theme that he alludes to. In earlier-mentioned scene, Lionheart expresses his intentions after realizing that Ozpin had already been reincarnated. Note the long, overhead shot followed by a closer overhead shot of Lionheart looking up. The camera is utilized the same, exact way as with Tyrian’s Callows’s shots in volume 4 of chapter 7 . This is not necessarily coincidental when you consider who both of them refer to: Salem. Despite not much yet being known about her, the camera communicates how both Tyrian and Lionheart see Salem, albeit for nuanced reasons. To them, Salem is omnipotent and even omnipresent, and her will and desires are absolute, which leads to them expressing how they share the need to please her.

Next is the matter of Yang and Weiss’s scene in chapter 8. What makes this scene fascinating is how it combines two other scenes in past volumes. The first is Blake and Yang’s scene in chapter 6 of volume 2 and the other is Team RWBY’s dorm room scene in chapter 8 of volume 3. One applies a similar daylight lighting while the other frames the beds and initially, the two characters the same way. This helps indicate the shifting of roles with Yang and Weiss’s characters. Yang goes from being the one needing to get through to Blake by explaining a piece of her backstory to being the one who needs to be emotionally connected through by Weiss about Blake through her own backstory. Meanwhile, Weiss went from being negatively knee-jerk reactive to Blake’s hesitantly believing Yang in the dorm room scene to be more comforting and concerning in response to Yang’s prior overreaction.

The last character to highlight who has been associated with her own set of cinematic techniques in volume 5 is Raven Branwen, specifically in scenes she shares with Yang. In their scenes, a few techniques come to mind. The first is of shots where Raven faces the camera when she talks about Qrow, Ozpin, and Salem in chapters four, six, & fourteen. She puts on a very serious expression to the viewer, but doesn’t face her own daughter in these instances. By itself, these shots may not mean much. But if they were to be complimented by another technique, the medium shots of Raven and Yang facing each other in two of the same chapters, then there’s more depth behind her character.

In chapter 6, Raven faces Yang eye-to-eye and then stoically turns her back towards her. But in chapter 14, Raven submissively let’s Yang walk past her while being shoved aside. Between these shots and the previous sets mentioned, this suggests that Raven has been too unwilling to admit her fears to herself and to her daughter. In turn, Yang expresses the willingness to confront her mother’s arguments and be strong the way she could not. But there’s also a layer of frustration underneath with Yang. While the phrase, “mother of the year” is appropriate to sarcastically describe Raven, bear in mind that she’s a character whose mystery has lingered in Yang’s mind since she was a child. She had very vague ideas of why her blood mother would leave her family. As much as she hardly respects someone like that, she can’t help but want to better comprehend such a character. When Raven does finally accept that she’s too scared to face the Salem’s overwhelming presence, she let’s Yang shove past her and weeps a tear, apologizing over how flawed she has been before continuing to do so as she flees.

Viewers may respond with, “good riddance”, but the above shot depicts a different response. When Yang turns around after hearing her Mom flee, all she sees is a feather drifting down. With the opened door to Spring Maiden vault framed to be behind her the way it is, it shows that Yang is immediately feeling isolated. The anger and frustration she harbored has been converted to depression. Yang by this point now knows everything she needs to know about her mom. Raven admits she’s a coward, but she’s also too much of one to properly stay by her daughter’s side, which makes Yang feel isolated and thus saddened that this is the reality.

All in all, volume 5 has managed to carry on the matter of using cinematic techniques in various ways as volume 4 did. As said before, none of these examples are expected to sway an entire fandom’s response to RWBY’s most current volume as of the time this blog article is posted. But hopefully after reading all of this, some credit can be given where it’s due of how one aspect of the show’s production and presentation has been given more thought and attention over time. Here is also hoping that said-aspect will be maintained in future volumes.

#rwby #rwby6 #rwby5 #rwby analysis #crwby #cinematography #storyboards #kerry shawcross #kerry #shawcross #rachel doda #rachel #doda #joe macdonald #joe #macdonald

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jaketheaudiophile · 4 years

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Best Albums of 2019

Well hello there! Long time, no see.

In keeping up with my lazy past tactics, I really only use this blog for end-of-the-year recaps anymore, which I’m completely fine with. I still listen to music as much as I always have, but have lost the desire to constantly write about it. I guess this is adulthood, or having a “real job” or something.

Either way, here are my top 15 albums of 2019. What were yours?

HONORABLE MENTION

DELTA SLEEP: “Younger Years” EP

released September 27 via Big Scary Monsters

Delta Sleep completely surprised everyone this year by releasing this EP without any prior announcement or notice. No teaser tracks, no hints at studio time, just completely out of the blue. Props to these British math-rock legends for their secrecy; it was certainly a fun thing to wake up and see all over social media on a random Saturday in September. These guys definitely have a formula or format they stick to on their releases, so this is more of the same for longtime fans, and that’s largely a good thing. I still think they tend to rely on filler tracks or noise too frequently, but the good definitely outweighs the bad. This was easily my favorite EP of 2019 and is definitely worth mentioning for this list.

#15

UNWED SAILOR: “Heavy Age”

released May 3 via Current Taste / Johnathan Ford

Man, was I really looking forward to this one. My favorite band releasing their first full-length album in 11 years? And their first new music in 6 years in general? What could go wrong? Not much, to be honest, but I felt overall underwhelmed with “Heavy Age”. Most of the songs run together or could use editing instead of just repeating passes ad naseum. Also, the 13-minute-plus album closer “When You Want Me There” is largely meandering and pointless. Still, I love Johnathan Ford and his merry band of musicians for a reason, and there are definitely quality songs and moments on this record. I worry that I might be including them here out of obligation, but it still was better than other records I left off my list this year. The band has also already announced another new record in 2020, and I’ll go into that with the same reckless abandon of excitement as I did this album.

#14

SOMOS: “Prison On A Hill”

released August 30 via Tiny Engines

I really, really, really wanted to love this record. Boston’s Somos had been teasing this album’s progress for over a year, and their previous releases have been some of my favorite pop and punk from the decade. I’m not always the biggest proponent of politically charged art, but Somos always did it in a way that was sensible and understated. Unfortunately, this album’s release came prematurely due to tragic passing of guitarist Phil Haggerty. The band was able to put out the album earlier than anticipated with all funding going to Haggerty’s funeral expenses and family, which was a wonderful move by record label Tiny Engines. The album doesn’t feel rushed or unfinished, but is a bit too muddled and all-over-the-place for my liking. Longtime drummer Evan Deges left the band prior to the recording of “Prison”, and Somos decided to go the route of programmed drums instead of a session musician or new band member. The result is sadly a bit soulless, although it does compliment some of the more electronic leans in the band’s sound as well. The truly sad thing is that this will most likely be the last release by this band per their social media and interviews post-release, and I wish that tragedy would not have struck them during a time of a seemingly musical lack of focus.

#13

COUNTERPARTS: “Nothing Left to Love”

released November 1 via Pure Noise Records

I’ve been a huge fan of these Canadian melodic hardcore mainstays for ages, but I wasn’t crazy about their last release, 2017′s “You’re Not You Anymore”. Two of my favorite members (drummer Kelly Bilal and guitarist Jesse Doreen) quit the band right before it came out, and the resulting record felt unpolished and rushed. Thankfully, a bit more seasoning for the new members on the road and in the studio seems to have worked wonders, as “Nothing Left to Love” is back on the quality path for these bruisers. I’ve always adored vocalist Brendan Murphy’s delivery, and it’s legit stunning that he still has a throat after years of brutal barking, let alone how good it sounds on this release. Additionally, the band has a clever skill of interweaving cool triplets or other rhythms and complex structures underneath otherwise traditional breakdowns or song structures, which puts them in rarified air in a traditionally by-the-numbers genre. All this said, the title track / album closer sort of ruins the album for me. It’s essentially an unnecessary clean, polished filler track and feels tacked on to extend the length of the record, and I almost always skip it. Still, it was excellent to hear these guys back on their game, and I’m excited to see where they go from here.

#12

STATE FAULTS: “Clairvoyant”

released June 21 via No Sleep Records

I can’t say that this is the most original record I’ve ever heard. Anyone who is a fan of Deafheaven or any similar noisy / thrashy metal outfits will certainly find this sound familiar. However, it’s done with an unabashed energy and brutality alongside a sincerity that is truly refreshing. There’s a fascinating rawness to both Johnny Andrew’s shrieking vocals and the utter cacophony his bandmates whip up throughout their songs. The dedication to melody throughout everything also makes the songs memorable. This album caught me completely out of nowhere via an Anthony Fantano shoutout and resonated in all its ugly glory.

#11

KING GIZZARD AND THE LIZARD WIZARD: “Fishing For Fishies”

released April 26 via Flightless Records / ATO Records

Speaking of the Internet’s Busiest Music Nerd, I first heard of these Australian weirdos thru the Needle Drop’s channel, but didn’t really fully deep dive into their prolific catalogue until this year. The fact that they released 2 full-length albums in 2019 is impressive enough (let alone releasing FIVE in 2017), but it’s jaw-dropping that the two most recent efforts are on complete opposite ends in terms of sound and genre. I personally prefer the blues-rock goodness of “Fishies” to the thrash-metal leanings of “Infest The Rat’s Nest”, but unending respect to these dudes for managing to pull both off convincingly. . The album closer “Cyboogie” is a bit too overlong and bizarre for me, but it works as a nice transition to the concepts the band bring out for “Infest The Rat’s Nest”, so I get where they are coming from. This album has some of the most infectious grooves and blues guitar riffs I’ve heard while passing along a necessary message on environmental concerns and conservationalism. The serious bits aren’t require, though, and it’s certainly plenty of fun to kick out the jams and enjoy the ride.

#10

INFANT ANNIHILATOR: “The Battle of Yaldabaoth”

Self-released by the band on September 11

Ok, ok...I get it. Most people will dismiss these grindcore hooligans as an internet joke band. That’s really what I went into this record expecting: Absurd lyrics, hilarious-yet-impressive vocals, blistering blastbeats, etc. I was instead greeted by one of the impressive and intricate technical death metal albums I’ve experienced. Vocalist Dickie Allen truly outdoes himself with his quite frankly ridiculous vocal range, but Eddie Pickard truly deserves credit for the album’s newfound ventures. His guitar and bass work is over-the-top but mesmerizing, and the riffs and structures he crafts here are all sorts of brilliant. As funny as it feels to type out, this band really needs to be taken seriously, or at the very least should be commended for leaning into the joke and delivering something complex, disgusting and awe-inspiring.

JIMMY EAT WORLD: “Surviving”

released October 18 via Exotic Location and RCA Records

Speaking of things I didn’t see coming this year...I adore Jimmy Eat World. “Clarity” is one of my favorite albums of all time, but I’ve largely fallen off keeping up with the band’s recent releases. Some good friends (+realfriends) talked up their latest and 10th release, “Surviving”, so I picked it up out of curiosity and was stunned at how competent and compelling it is. I even love the song with no obvious guitars or drums that I would have probably normally panned as a grab at radio airplay (”555″), and generally find the album to be completely badass. Kudos to JEW for proving they still belong in the upper echelon of emo and rock.

THE GET UP KIDS: “Problems”

released May 10 via Polyvinyl Record Co.

...speaking of comeback records...well, maybe that’s not quite accurate, but this was another surprise from a band I grew up loving that had largely lapses in my regular rotation. I guess 2019 had a theme of revisiting bands of my youth due to them reforming, doing anniversary tours, or releasing new music for the first time in ages. The Get Up Kids fly back to the heights of old with a manic punk barrage of joy. It’s probably my fault for not keeping tabs on these guys, but this record is gutsy and charming and lovely. It’s not really reinventing the wheel, but GUK basically constructed the wheel to begin with, so we really owe them more credit all around.

BARS OF GOLD: “Shelters”

released April 12 via Equal Vision Records

Bars of Gold have been an enigma of sorts throughout their existence. Largely well-known due to rising from the ashes of indie / screamo miasma BEARVSSHARK, the band is content to rest on their laurels and release music and play shows whenever they feel like it, largely due to family and other commitments. This leaves fans like me tripping over their own feet whenever something does come out. The Michiganders truly feel like a group of dads finding the one day a month when they all have a free evening to plug in their guitars and whip up some chaos, and it’s always fun to see the results. Marc Paffi has also always been one of my favorite vocalists, so the opportunity to hear his wacky lyrics and throat is always cherished. Here’s hoping we don’t need to wait 5 or so years for another album, but patience has been rewarded with these guys.

ORIGAMI ANGEL: “Somewhere City”

released November 15th via Chatterbot Records

Props to my buddy Steve Lee for turning me on to this band (as well as 2 others in my top 5). Origami Angel are one of those bands that defies logic: “How can two dudes make so much noise?”, “How can he play guitar like that while singing?”, “How did these guys put out one of the best indie rock records of the year seemingly out of nowhere?”, etc. Regardless of any questions, I was floored by this album and it was definitely the band I listened to the most for the last part of the year. It’s catchy, diverse, well-rounded and doesn’t overstay its welcome by being just under 30 minutes long with all the fat trimmed off. What more could you want?

PEDRO THE LION: “Phoenix”

released January 18 via Polyvinyl Record Co.

I had a strange moment at some point this year where I found a YouTube video of David Bazan performing a song from Pedro The Lion’s first release (2001′s It’s Hard To Find a Friend”). I was struck by how different his voice sounded nearly 2 decades later thanks to touring and life in general. It certainly was not a bad change, but just one that struck me as a sign of the passage of time. That sort of nostalgia and reflection is all over “Phoenix”, which is largely Bazan dusting off his childhood diary and describing memories of his hometown, tales of school, church, regret, family, plans and tragedies. It’s a celebration of memories, lessons learned and where one comes from, and Bazan’s direct delivery and brilliant-yet-understated lyrics paint perfect pictures. Hopefully it doesn’t take us over a decade for another Pedro release, but Bazan and company cement their status as songwriters and storytellers with this release.

PUP: “Morbid Stuff”

released April 5 via Rise Records and Little Dipper

PUP was a new phenomenon for me this year. These Canadian rockers are full of piss and vinegar, supercharging a sound that is simultaneously infectious and off-putting in the best possible way. They take a genre that can be same-y and repetitive and inject a lesser band’s whole back-catalogues’ worth of creativity and energy, leaving the listener enthralled and endlessly guessing what will happen next. Vocalist Stefan Babcock takes some getting used to, but his permanent-sneer delivery and slam poetry has a charm that compliments his playful and honest lyrics. However, it’s the moments where he busts out of his speak-singing or general hollering to delivery a super catchy hook or chorus that truly put him at another level and proves PUP to be one of the most exciting things to happen in the punk and rock genre.

MASKED INTRUDER: “III”

released March 1 via Pure Noise Records

With the exception of Unwed Sailor, this was my most anticipated record of 2019. Masked Intruder is one of those bands I listen to constantly. I usually default to putting my iTunes or Spotify on shuffle, and find it always makes me happier. For “III” the band hotwired their usual fun, tongue-in-cheek poperpop and craft a pretty perfect record in the process. Previous MI albums had a skippable track here and there, but this one is all killer, no filler. I’ve always adored the underlying Motown or doo-wop foundations in their songwriting and vocal harmonies, which add a timeless throwback quality to their song structures. The heart-on-sleeve lonely lyrics and constant references to petty crimes and best-laid plans are the icing on the top of this sugary musical sundae. It might be irreverent and occasionally basic, but sometimes that is all I wanted in music, and these guys delivered it in spades with this record.

FREE THROW: “What’s Past is Prologue”

released March 29 via Triple Crown Records

From the opposite end of the emotional spectrum, Nashville’s Free Throw released a quality emo record that doesn’t focus on pining for lost loves or revisiting relationship heartbreak and instead dives into one’s personal mental health and well-being. Props to vocalist Cory Castro and the rest of the band for completely baring all and channeling their honesty into this powerhouse album. However, there’s also plenty of diversity in the band’s sound and delivery. No song really sounds like the next, largely thanks to the band employing 3 guitar players who rarely play the same thing as each other. Some emo staples are here, though, such as frenetic drumming, clever tapping riffs, and stripped down moments with just a guitar and Castro’s vocals. All in all, this record makes you feel better about yourself and truly feels like the band came to the same conclusion while making it, which is gargantuan. When Castro belts out “TODAY I FINALLY LEARNED TO SAY I LOVE MYSELF” towards the end of the album-closing title track, you can’t help but root for him in his own journey towards mental health, but to not feel inspiring to do the same for yourself. It will encourage and inspire you, and feels deeply personal and universal all at the same time.

SNOOZE: “Familiaris”

Self-released by the band on May 3

There were so many times during this past year where I’d be driving, doing chores, at the gym or doing some sort of menial task where I’d decide to put on music and stop myself short of putting on this record again. I’d say “OK, you have to listen to something else besides the Snooze album. You’re doing to get sick of it if you keep listening to it this much. We don’t want that to happen.” Despite these odd concerns, I can say that this truly never happened. This album is effortlessly relistenable to me and has become my anti-depressant. I can’t help but feel charged up on happiness and charm while this is playing. It’s so chock full of killer vocal harmonies, clever yet crazy guitar riffs, well-restrained double-bass fills and brilliant song arrangements. It’s also a cyclical record, meaning one song runs right into the next and the end of the album theoretically plays right into the start, which makes turning it off quite difficult indeed. Add to all this the fact that it’s a concept album about how amazing dogs are, and you’re left with a spellbinding listening experience. This is one of the best records I’ve heard this decade, let alone this year, and essentially locked its place as my album of the year during my first playthru. Well done, Snooze. Who’s a good boy?

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docandprof · 4 years

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Am I Crazy, Or Am I Just Unsure?

Good Evening Monsieur,

Lemme just start off by saying that it is so refreshing to have such a calming voice talk me off the ledge of stressed out adulthood. The world is a scary place that can chew you up and spit you out before you even know it happens. And unfortunately, sometimes I get swallowed up in the unhealthy mindset that I have to have my shit together and have all the answers. Luckily, the world can also be a pretty beautiful place, made peaceful and bearable by the people you have in your life - and a little whimsy doesn’t hurt either. You ask me what I would want to do if there were no limitations of money and status, and that is exactly what I ask myself on a daily basis. If I am being honest, I think I would want to hang out with my friends on a professional level. Watching Critical Role and other content creators, it is so heart warming to see friends living and working together, being their authentic selves and creating something that they love. Maybe that is why I am so drawn to D&D, because there is an element of creation and personality that is so tightly interwoven with the relationships of the people around the table (or in the Discord). Plus, I am a huge nerd. But I guess all I want in life is to create something with people that I love. Being a doctor would be lead to an awesome life, and I think I would be pretty good at it, but who knows if I have what it takes to make it there? I love history, but what would I do? It is the story that draws me to history. I tell everyone that my favorite aspect of history as a whole is the oddness of it all. Here are these series of events that happened to a bunch of random people in random places, all sounding like a made up story, yet they all ACTUALLY happened! A Roman emperor actually appointed his horse to the Council! I am just torn on what it is that God has in store for me. I know He has a plan, and all things will work together in my favor, but the mortal in me cries out for clarity and a roadmap. But until the day comes for me to make those decisions, I am taking it as it comes.

I’m glad you talked about books so much. Even before I moved into my new place, I was thinking about getting back into reading. So I had my parents bring me the rest of the GoT books (2-5). I haven’t started reading 2 again, but I am slowly starting to lean towards picking it back up. I have this great corner in my room next to a lamp, a window, and my small bedside table that is just screaming for a comfortable leather recliner to find its home there. If I just had that, I would read so much. But that is just an excuse for not reading.

Speaking of literature, Lenny was a really fun character to write and act out. We started the campaign last week and it is looking like he will be coming out to play every Wednesday night. He is a Leonin (lion-man) Barbarian. Absolute tower of muscle, but just the sweetest guy. While he has the intelligence of 7, he is actually revered as the smartest member of his tribe. As the prince, he has been called to embark on the right of the kings, a great hunt that every leonin prince of his tribe must endure, venturing out into the great beyond to slay vile monstrosities of nature like chimeras, manticores, and owlbears; beasts of unnatural combination. Only when he has slain these beasts of legend, may he return, offering up a trophy of his conquest, earning him the right to succeed his father as king. I’m gonna have a ton of fun playing this guy, wielding “Maw,” his glaive-sword, and just being a comedic relief for the party. Hopefully, I can play it just right where nobody really believes my story and takes me for a simple brute, only to find that everything I have been saying is true, but that depends on how well I can RP that.

D&D has been the only real noteworthy aspect of my life other than work. It can be a tad lonely here in Nashville, even though I have a few guys still here in Nashville, as well as roommates. But I just miss the day-to-day communication and excitement that comes with talking to someone about their day. I had that for most of quarantine with a certain lady friend from back home, but the trail has gone cold on that for the past month or so, which has been a pretty big downer for me. I am sure you understand who it is I am talking about and the very nature of this person may not surprise you when it comes to communication problems. And I must admit, I am not surprised that this very scenario has occurred, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t hurt. So I think the re-publication of this blog has come at a very good time for me.

Alright, wrap up time! My weekly recommendation will actually be two recommendations: 1) say “I love you” to someone you don’t say it too very often, because words have meaning and people need to hear how much people care about them, and 2) listen to “Bye Bye Lil Sebastian” from Parks and Rec because the song is stuck in my head today. Ponderance of the week: If you could host any TV game show for the foreseeable future (meaning not just a one-time gig but not for life), which would you choose? Felt like letting some of the randomness of my brain out and ending this week on a whacky note.

With love,

El Niño

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greggory--lee · 7 years

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Redefining Age

The sound of the music had me dancing in my seat. As I watched the couples gliding across the floor, their movements telling a story of love, heartache, failure, and triumph, I imagined myself on that dance floor telling my own story. One filled with death, struggle, survival, happiness, and freedom. We all have a story to tell and I am going to share some of mine. But first, let’s go back to the dancing.

I was enthralled. For a period of time I was taken to another world, one where music and dance intertwined and the spoken word is not needed. I have always loved to dance so to see a Tango show up close and personal was exciting. However, to see it where Tango originated, Argentina, on my 40th birthday was remarkable. My husband joined me as we ventured the beautiful city of Buenos Aires and celebrated by 40th birthday all week long. Why such a celebration? Why not? I deserved to mark the 40 years I have been on this earth. Somehow as women we started to envision getting older as a scary event, like a doomsday. Some began lying about their age or refusing to acknowledge it. The thought of approaching yet another decade can make a man or a woman cringe with fear. Getting older became synonymous with dying. As women continue to live longer, they must begin to change their mentality and learn how to use their age as a tool in rediscovering another part of themselves that perhaps has been shelved due to any number of reasons, such as; becoming mothers or wives; focusing on our careers; or health limitations. Reaching a milestone birthday should be a time of reflection- what has happened, where are you at now, and where do you want to be in one, three, five, or ten years. How have you changed as a person, as a woman?

For me, having to deal with the death of my mother at 21yrs old certainly changed how I viewed myself back then. It was a time when most 21yr olds are relishing in young adulthood, I was grieving. I was mourning not just my mother, but of a time of my life that I would not be able to live with abandon. Looking back, I can see how it was the catalyst of how I chose to view life. The premise being that life is short. We have all heard that expression. For those who have experienced the death of a loved one, this truth is ever more prominent. During that period I made a lot of mistakes and endured the consequences of poor decisions. However, it began to shape the person I am today because I learned from those mistakes and as the years passed, gained valuable lessons.

My twenties was about failing, surviving, and struggling. In my thirties I found emotional freedom, and now that I am in my forties, I know myself. I am aware of what I want and I am not afraid to voice it. I am confident in my ability to endure confrontations, mature enough to admit my mistakes, and smart enough to know when to move on. My evolution is ongoing. I may know who I am, however, I can continue to grow. I meditate, practice yoga, and write as a way to break through any blockages that keeps me stuck. Through these mediums, I learn more about myself everyday. What do you do to learn about yourself?

Whatever your age is, think about what that means to you. How do you define your age? If you lie about your age, aren’t you really denying your rightful place at that stage of your life? You earned every wrinkle, stretch mark, or scar. Be proud. Use that to recognize the strength you have within you. If you are a mother and have a daughter, how is your perception of age affecting her? If you have a niece or younger sister, how are your views possibly affecting how she thinks of women and ageing? They see and hear everything, even when you think they don’t. Collectively, we must begin to change the concept of women getting old and men becoming distinguished. There are a number of successful, accomplished women who have defied time and used their age as a tool rather than a hazard. With age comes knowledge, confidence, maturity – I could go on and on. The point is, you must begin to shift your thinking from I am getting older to I embody youth, wisdom, and vitality.

At 42, I feel grateful that I was able to graduate from college, survive the death of my mother, have a successful social work career, get married, give birth to a healthy child, and start a business. These huge accomplishments were accompanied by stress, grief, anger, fear, doubt, happiness, and laughter. These experiences are a part of me. I would not trade one challenge for anything in the world. Our experiences and decisions guide us where we are meant to go – our path stretches out before us.

Our strength comes from past and current experiences, good and bad – like a rock pounded by the waves, we are shaped and weathered, and powerful beyond measure.

Ask yourself, “Why are you afraid of getting older? What is the fear that resides inside of you?”

As you begin to uncover the reasons behind your fear of aging, you will notice that you will embrace your age instead of avoiding it. You must surrender to the aging process, in order to reap the benefits of the bounty that life has to offer. I can honestly say that I have never had any issues with my age. I entered each decade with reverence. Why? Well I am grateful for the following reasons: I have not just lived another year but 42 of them; I have had my health and my life is full of love and career fulfillment. I welcome the daily challenges, and I have always been thankful for waking up every morning being able to see, hear, walk, and talk.

As you get older, it’s about coming into awareness of who you truly are, your authentic self. It’s about acceptance and letting go. I would rather not relive my twenties; in my thirties I reveled in every experience; and in my forties I focus on accepting people as they are, forgiveness, and self-care.

Forget for a moment how old you are. When you think about your ideal life, what does that look like? Do you think it is possible to achieve that? Well, I am here to tell you that it is possible – there are always opportunities for you to accomplish things you thought you couldn’t – if you stay open to serendipity. You can get that high school or college degree, you can switch careers – perhaps not from rocket science to a career as a ballerina, as you imagined as a child, but you could certainly find a way to use your strengths in a brand new industry. What is your passion? What brings you joy and happiness?

My son makes me laugh every day, and I love settling down with a good book on my deck. Sometimes I get lost in the moment.

Time should be your focus, not age. How are you going to use your time on this earth? Are you going to perseverate about your age, or accept it and truly live? Take advantage of the fact that you are still alive! Use any opportunity you have to finally take that course, ask that guy out, or to treat yourself. Refocus your attention to living for today. I’m not suggesting that you neglect your responsibilities, but to insert taking care of yourself into your daily routine. Start to check off all the items on your bucket list. We do not know what the future holds or how much time we have been given, so choose wisely and remember – numbers are just numbers – it’s only when we put meaning to something that it becomes more than what it is.

Source by Christine Bellise

Source: http://bitcoinswiz.com/redefining-age-2/

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greggory--lee · 7 years

Text

Redefining Age

Our strength comes from past and current experiences, good and bad – like a rock pounded by the waves, we are shaped and weathered, and powerful beyond measure.

Ask yourself, “Why are you afraid of getting older? What is the fear that resides inside of you?”

My son makes me laugh every day, and I love settling down with a good book on my deck. Sometimes I get lost in the moment.

Source by Christine Bellise

Source: http://bitcoinswiz.com/redefining-age/

0 notes