tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22987690612299613322024-03-19T02:34:09.710-05:00Petticoat Pedaler A little corner of the internet where I share my thoughts, advice, & cool things I’ve found.The Raven Lilianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14205423295730325583noreply@blogger.comBlogger562125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298769061229961332.post-27610088615752842192023-11-29T20:26:00.001-06:002023-11-29T20:26:00.129-06:00Is it Laziness or are you Recovering<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim3AsfuoSzizVBrsW9aimzybx3POHzA0oGJH8-pKK-Qkl-74A2afxzhf9JSeoVY5UgyLt-EnVcQqebXtVm4xiUMTwr-_fr9P5BlQqSQyKC4A-kLVp0WDr-FhteEUF2mX3rYF3rXLgOuvdr8KO-nK88x35z67bcqRPh5uTEK1Kk6LhGmTFIFMFzeiwCCVut/s3518/annie-spratt-n3T1gBYgkJo-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3238" data-original-width="3518" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim3AsfuoSzizVBrsW9aimzybx3POHzA0oGJH8-pKK-Qkl-74A2afxzhf9JSeoVY5UgyLt-EnVcQqebXtVm4xiUMTwr-_fr9P5BlQqSQyKC4A-kLVp0WDr-FhteEUF2mX3rYF3rXLgOuvdr8KO-nK88x35z67bcqRPh5uTEK1Kk6LhGmTFIFMFzeiwCCVut/s320/annie-spratt-n3T1gBYgkJo-unsplash.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="rTNyH RZQOk BYUog">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@anniespratt?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash">Annie Spratt</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/white-comforter-n3T1gBYgkJo?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash">Unsplash</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>There are lots of things I want to do. Things I feel very passionate about. But there never seems to be time to do them. </p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p><br /></p><p>I know we have to make time for the things that are important to us, but it is hard to do things when the mind is so unfocused and you feel yourself incapable of tackling complex matters. And it is certainly a recipe for disaster to use power tools when the mind is like this. </p><p><br /></p><p>But I wonder, why is it like this so often? I can get so little done and then I have to rest. And some things take so long. And other times I just hit a wall. </p><p><br /></p><p>I’ve taken time to look into this and I’ve found the issues. </p><p><br /></p><p>I am over stimulated, under fed, and nearly always masking. </p><p>So much of this time is my body and mind trying to recover. And it is hard to recover if you are not getting enough calories. </p><p><br /></p><p>So I am making adjustments. Setting up tracking systems to help me deal with things and see to my needs. It is a work in progress. But I am seeing improvements. </p><p><br /></p><p>I want to invite you to look at your situation and ask yourself am I being lazy or am I recovering.</p><p><br /></p><p>If our bodies or minds are trying to recover we need to be gentle with ourselves. </p><p><br /></p><p>But we can't just stop at realizing we're recovering. We need to figure out what we are recovering from. And if it is possible for us to make changes, improvements, or even remove ourselves from situations that are causing our need for recovery, that's the next step. </p><div><br /></div>The Raven Lilianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14205423295730325583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298769061229961332.post-5841961101951990462023-11-01T08:00:00.002-05:002023-11-01T08:00:00.143-05:00Everything Is A Lot And I've Decided I'm Doing Nanowrimo<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiMQHRXcJB1A6xhzwHNPOf_5tvXNSsN4zQexBWAJlEXRh948YhhYosc3oQGMVbbTLpC2vyUIF_AXWrTQOOr8O2Byy9uuH7oRfqFWr3dajLrM0j7a6eqddMQlZTRyBJgJmN90XIgo3olCeNAE4Syv9Kjo7gFrGfyrGXWvjmaa4YWAXOzxQGcMh0Opo8La6G/s1966/thom-milkovic-FTNGfpYCpGM-unsplash%20cropped.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="person using black typewriter" border="0" data-original-height="1392" data-original-width="1966" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiMQHRXcJB1A6xhzwHNPOf_5tvXNSsN4zQexBWAJlEXRh948YhhYosc3oQGMVbbTLpC2vyUIF_AXWrTQOOr8O2Byy9uuH7oRfqFWr3dajLrM0j7a6eqddMQlZTRyBJgJmN90XIgo3olCeNAE4Syv9Kjo7gFrGfyrGXWvjmaa4YWAXOzxQGcMh0Opo8La6G/w640-h454/thom-milkovic-FTNGfpYCpGM-unsplash%20cropped.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="rTNyH RZQOk">Cropped photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@thommilkovic?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash">Thom Milkovic</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/person-using-black-typewriter-FTNGfpYCpGM?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash">Unsplash</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p> There is just a lot going on right now that I need to handle, and you may think it's ill advised for me to decide I'm going to do 50,000 words of writing on top of all that. But I've come to realize, once again, that writing is important for me & my mental health. I need to do it often, even daily. And the stream of consciousness journaling I'm doing every day with 750 words is not enough. I need creative writing. I need to be able to take my thoughts and my feelings and my past experiences and weave them into something.</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p><br /></p><p> But I have this issue where I don't do that because I feel beholden to do what other people expect me to do before I get to the things I need to do. This never leaves energy for what I need to do let alone what I want to do. </p><p><br /></p><p> But these challenges give me the right reasons to do my things. Or rather they give me reasons no one can use any sort of twisted logic to coerce me out of. </p><p><br /></p><p> So 50,000 words in November. Let's go. </p><div><br /></div>The Raven Lilianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14205423295730325583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298769061229961332.post-38880141824995406152023-10-20T12:16:00.002-05:002023-10-20T12:16:00.147-05:00A Day to Relax<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRCHeMuYDBe4RFxLN2wRmHOllWLiVng4Y84shLVpXuERaAYJGLE_oRjSZgip0dhyXA0nbCU2A29By7i4DoambPRbQ1Wb7AhzRHvvSAHNwWz9TtjaLTFnc6dUHlqCF1UUJzgRBwnmAhulBRUco5sGjMvF_UEdqY2drMihyphenhyphenwVpY1nRKQsr5pcak7Rnvo108S/s888/Soalar%20Trip%20Header%20image.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Black fascinator hat with spider veil and protective solar glasses sitting on a small pile of books." border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="888" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRCHeMuYDBe4RFxLN2wRmHOllWLiVng4Y84shLVpXuERaAYJGLE_oRjSZgip0dhyXA0nbCU2A29By7i4DoambPRbQ1Wb7AhzRHvvSAHNwWz9TtjaLTFnc6dUHlqCF1UUJzgRBwnmAhulBRUco5sGjMvF_UEdqY2drMihyphenhyphenwVpY1nRKQsr5pcak7Rnvo108S/w640-h338/Soalar%20Trip%20Header%20image.png" title="Books and sun viewing" width="640" /></a></div><p> Saturday was a particularly busy and still relaxing one. If you're not aware, this past Saturday October the 14th of 2023, there was an annular solar eclipse and the eclipse traveled directly over the region I live in. I made arrangements to travel to a friend's and spend the day watching the event. I had a small handful of tasks to do on the way there and another on the way back, but otherwise the whole purpose was just to watch the eclipse. </p><p><br /></p><p> It was a wonderful day. <span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><br /></p><p> On the way there I talked to so many people while getting my errands done. Often about the eclipse. I posed with a stranger for a silly picture of the two of us in our whimsical, capricious fashions telling the clouds to stay clear for the eclipse. I was able to provide a bank teller with the local times of the eclipse as well as an extra pair of solar glasses I had been carrying with me for the exact purpose of giving away. </p><p><br /></p><p> We arrived and sat in the back garden in comfy chairs gazing up at the celestial event with our protective lenses. I've seen many an eclipse through live streams. I’ve even gotten to watch the Venus Transit through a live stream. And I've even been able to view a partial eclipse with pinhole projection. But there is something otherworldly about seeing the eclipse in person. </p><p><br /></p><p> The way the light changed and how it altered the colors of our surroundings. It was just enough difference from how it would look any other time of day that it was noticeable. I'm not even sure how to describe it or how to capture it in any other form of art other than possibly some high quality photography. The words “everything was a slightly different color" says what it was we saw, but it doesn't capture it unless you've actually seen a situation like that. The words feel almost meaningless otherwise. </p><p><br /></p><p> It was an incredible thing to see. </p><p><br /></p><p> Afterwards we spent time hanging out, chatting, and carving a pair of small pumpkins for a silly photo. I had not been planning to make mine into a face. I wanted to make a flower, which I did. My friend's mom pointed out that it looked like an upside down face. I had made an oop-tical illusion. </p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxAzwTe_g8jS0TbiQe4xGfyj_Op8LimBI23SSYIgkoSUs2QZ2qQwgbz6ctXgsyDz9T_GzjAsZPNpAzddXgsV3sgKBFVUgsxdEXl6pblvEiciGm4DUElJ8Az_i7n129CZAN11niidSCSaG5jaaMR-cTHm_rMihi9spnIzkfjwujHElu7-WBl2GXoYCa5DNE/s4080/Ooptical%20illusion%20pumpkin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Gender fluid person in purple dress wearing solar viewing glasses presenting to the camera a finished jack-o-lantern and a fist full of pumpkin guts." border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="4080" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxAzwTe_g8jS0TbiQe4xGfyj_Op8LimBI23SSYIgkoSUs2QZ2qQwgbz6ctXgsyDz9T_GzjAsZPNpAzddXgsV3sgKBFVUgsxdEXl6pblvEiciGm4DUElJ8Az_i7n129CZAN11niidSCSaG5jaaMR-cTHm_rMihi9spnIzkfjwujHElu7-WBl2GXoYCa5DNE/w400-h300/Ooptical%20illusion%20pumpkin.jpg" title="No one was hurt in the making of this pumpkin. I promise." width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo taken by friend. </td></tr></tbody></table><p> We had to work quickly to get all the pictures while we still had good light out. Especially since it required some outfit changes. There was a pumpkin knight presenting a maiden with one of the jack-o'-lanterns and then there was a halberd wielding maiden presenting a pumpkin knight with the other jack-o'-lantern. It was quite silly and fun. We also took some photos based on a joke I had made about carving the pumpkin while wearing the solar glasses. Think of the caption, “See I told you nothing bad would happen.” I need to do some editing and figure out how to add chaos to the background. </p><p><br /></p><p> Then we had a snack. </p><p><br /></p><p> On the way home we stopped by the craft store to pick up some supplies and just dawdle for a bit. All the Halloween stuff is out and all of the autumn decor as well as the Christmas and winter. </p><p><br /></p><p> Overall it was a relaxing day and I needed it. This month has been a bit tumultuous, I've barely had any time at all to make art this month, so spending an afternoon making art with friends was so fulfilling. </p><div><br /></div>The Raven Lilianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14205423295730325583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298769061229961332.post-53636454827862301822023-04-02T17:05:00.004-05:002023-04-02T17:05:45.730-05:00Please Excuse the Dust<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTzVPxIO1enTflSWOATzND25-9SRwFGloab_Lnjw2QXR6EosjnBBX4R3SFAGnLKmvTGqrbxR2IEvWeHJzJuc43VHZZFZMVVD-r0yu03d9nqec2xnlKjm7lzIKruSmeYL_tQEIm814puCdDs6S9wNwnmIqGfhXKZeXrh1uo0k0MlTn9syYpyqzLgDI-Yg/s3680/jennifer-burk-wP9yLk_VKI8-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="[Image Description] Close up photo of a rustic sink and dish washing supplies." border="0" data-original-height="2456" data-original-width="3680" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTzVPxIO1enTflSWOATzND25-9SRwFGloab_Lnjw2QXR6EosjnBBX4R3SFAGnLKmvTGqrbxR2IEvWeHJzJuc43VHZZFZMVVD-r0yu03d9nqec2xnlKjm7lzIKruSmeYL_tQEIm814puCdDs6S9wNwnmIqGfhXKZeXrh1uo0k0MlTn9syYpyqzLgDI-Yg/w400-h268/jennifer-burk-wP9yLk_VKI8-unsplash.jpg" title="Cleaning things up and giving them a new coat of paint." width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@jenandjoon" target="_blank">Jennifer Burk</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/" target="_blank">Unsplash</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p> Doing some reworking of the blog and going to be changing stuff to make sure it all looks good. Just a warning. </p>The Raven Lilianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14205423295730325583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298769061229961332.post-82958298567419751162023-02-23T22:14:00.003-06:002023-02-23T22:14:45.253-06:00The First Step<p> Today I sat down and worked on my main writing project for the first time this year. I had sat down once or twice before to look over some of what I had written before to reorient myself, but today I actually changed and added words. It was only 408 new words. But it was the first step in rebuilding a habit that always makes me feel alive. </p><p> Is there something you want to start working on? </p>The Raven Lilianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14205423295730325583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298769061229961332.post-58988219689448316522022-08-30T12:00:00.004-05:002022-08-30T12:00:00.218-05:00Silly Little Things That Help<p>Let's talk about silly little things that help.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhof_k8JgTDfpGDZ0COdzK2jVNaDbw6HGm8Hp1TQPLxQyQhfbYarbBV9kXpwsqybT9UVT1mMzM95tB0ZVOLSsT7OnYdMqyITwSdB8NR37TKnU_ysT4lY-ZzFFtE4t7WUb0W0zfGfYmViucx7NTdilI9Lb45WdwPUbWMEsX8ekW9SR5Qz4UcyHG6jGeILQ/s4896/alex-alvarez-63YVMrL2d6g-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Woman standing in a cloud of bubbles." border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="4896" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhof_k8JgTDfpGDZ0COdzK2jVNaDbw6HGm8Hp1TQPLxQyQhfbYarbBV9kXpwsqybT9UVT1mMzM95tB0ZVOLSsT7OnYdMqyITwSdB8NR37TKnU_ysT4lY-ZzFFtE4t7WUb0W0zfGfYmViucx7NTdilI9Lb45WdwPUbWMEsX8ekW9SR5Qz4UcyHG6jGeILQ/w320-h213/alex-alvarez-63YVMrL2d6g-unsplash.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="rTNyH RZQOk">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@a2_foto?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Alex Alvarez</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/bubbles?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Things that other people say are silly, frivolous, and shouldn't work, but for you they help.</p><p><br /></p><p>I’ve found things like this that help me and I've had to learn not to listen to those other people. <span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p>My advice is to find the things that work for you and don't worry what other people think.</p><p><br /></p><p>As a friend quoted to me, “If it is stupid but it works, it isn't stupid.” I looked it up to see who the quote is from and it's from Mercedes Lackey. Fun. </p><p><br /></p><p>Here's a thing that helps me do stuff and a little story.</p><p><br /></p><p>Years ago I learned about morning pages and I really like the idea. Granted I don't do it in long form. With dyslexia and some manual dexterity issues in my hands it's very painful and stifling and doesn't really facilitate the stream-of-consciousness that you're going for when you do morning pages. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFeAdMNC0yAS7jDfOZrsbLdzOYlCHtVwZ6moDYc2W5KcW5rByoYDUF-o19-2Msgmd7tblCkLbspbewO8iPhK-HCvxrIf3FohIPwo2DSNYaPHMPJmfy-Kefn7GsmYc80Kg6DHARU2b4pcZOsF50zR43UhjUOb0XDwVRLUeHMxg28sR2bs_q1AFYgOdiBA/s4099/sixteen-miles-out-j5AniERgb-Q-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Blank lined journal and pink carnations." border="0" data-original-height="3279" data-original-width="4099" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFeAdMNC0yAS7jDfOZrsbLdzOYlCHtVwZ6moDYc2W5KcW5rByoYDUF-o19-2Msgmd7tblCkLbspbewO8iPhK-HCvxrIf3FohIPwo2DSNYaPHMPJmfy-Kefn7GsmYc80Kg6DHARU2b4pcZOsF50zR43UhjUOb0XDwVRLUeHMxg28sR2bs_q1AFYgOdiBA/w320-h256/sixteen-miles-out-j5AniERgb-Q-unsplash.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@sixteenmilesout?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content" target="_blank">Sixteen Miles Out</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content" target="_blank">Unsplash</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div>But there is this delightful website that I found somewhere along the line called <a href="https://new.750words.com/" target="_blank">750 words</a>. It's a website where you can do this stream-of-consciousness journaling and it even indicates to you when you've hit the 750 words mark. </div><div><br /></div><div>750 words because that's about the number of words on three pages of long-form writing. </div><div><br /></div><div>I have been trying for a long time to get back into a consistent groove of doing morning pages. I remember when I was seeing a good therapist, I found the morning pages had some of the same good feelings that I would get from untangling things in my head as when I would see that therapist. </div></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMisqbqIRf2mRQ8jzL-x5xpmFmlr_aFP6mNRaL363I_H7cflbO7B-hwd_95ohME1r8x346wk_PbKDrP8oumaSnt1QCD67Qq74G06AEoQcMZF_wDpY0G0Fl_8W55qgPTpwatX8HejcEGsA7_85gjz1nAFauRmPSRhaApUQWXVsK8i90vnvveK_h5rXGwQ/s3936/toa-heftiba-VE6m3nZALF4-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Woman with coffee mug looking out a window into the rain." border="0" data-original-height="3936" data-original-width="2624" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMisqbqIRf2mRQ8jzL-x5xpmFmlr_aFP6mNRaL363I_H7cflbO7B-hwd_95ohME1r8x346wk_PbKDrP8oumaSnt1QCD67Qq74G06AEoQcMZF_wDpY0G0Fl_8W55qgPTpwatX8HejcEGsA7_85gjz1nAFauRmPSRhaApUQWXVsK8i90vnvveK_h5rXGwQ/w213-h320/toa-heftiba-VE6m3nZALF4-unsplash.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@heftiba?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content" target="_blank">Toa Heftiba</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content" target="_blank">Unsplash</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>So this is a thing that I knew was good for me and I did enjoy doing it everyday, but for many reasons I wasn't doing it. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm sure plenty of us have had people tell us ‘that's not important, you should be doing this other thing instead.’ A lot of times they want you to do things that would serve them rather than spend time on yourself. It isn’t always something they’re consciously and maliciously doing, but eventually it doesn't really matter, it's still getting in your way of doing things that matter to you. Even after you no longer have contact with these people. And I'm sure there are lots of other things that have gotten in your way of doing something that you feel is really important to you. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm telling you right now, all of the people who are telling you “well if you couldn't do it then it wasn't that important” are absolutely full of garbage. </div><div><br /></div><div>Do not listen to them. </div><div><br /></div><div>Take your time to actually think about what it is that is stopping you from doing this thing. Don't just assume that you're a terrible or lazy person, especially if you find out ‘well I have trouble writing when there are too many sounds’ and you're not getting space to write in quiet. </div><div><br /></div><div>That is a problem that is solvable, granted depending on your situation it might be more difficult to solve, but it is a thing that you can zero in on and identify as something that is causing issues. </div><div><br /></div><div>So I was having all sorts of these little issues trying to build this habit and then I found something that motivated me and cut through all of the muck. 750 words has badges. </div><div><br /></div><div>That's right! Little badges. With cute little mascots on them.</div><div><br /></div><div>After 3 days of writing, whether they are consecutive or not, you get a little badge of a turkey. If they're not consecutive your turkey is black and white and then when you finally get 3 consecutive days of writing you get a colored in turkey badge. After 10 days you get a flamingo. And then after 30 you get an albatross. </div><div><br /></div><div>It's the albatross that did it for me. I had a little black and white albatross and I realized at that point that they got colored in when you completed the consecutive days. </div><div><br /></div><div>So I set up the goal, I wanted a colored in albatross badge. There were some unavoidable hiccups in my first attempt. I missed a day or two. Yet I just got back on the wagon and kept trying. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYeeJesOlzAbypx04e0FJmla5XsxmVe3Vj2CPddVogZOy9Z2lgD-nZchOlfvZf5_5hCxswyiHavsMOQ5JJ1fUIwNQCPm3AW83dNW1wNT2WChC_8ZH6GNCdB6ktJs4d2yqumWMeN2UbQNFYL6ywCajiXXn99yZGpfUAEm7Tzbqt_cglICHPlICmrdULag/s938/Coloring%20in%20the%20albatross%20badge.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Half colored in line art of an albatross head." border="0" data-original-height="938" data-original-width="938" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYeeJesOlzAbypx04e0FJmla5XsxmVe3Vj2CPddVogZOy9Z2lgD-nZchOlfvZf5_5hCxswyiHavsMOQ5JJ1fUIwNQCPm3AW83dNW1wNT2WChC_8ZH6GNCdB6ktJs4d2yqumWMeN2UbQNFYL6ywCajiXXn99yZGpfUAEm7Tzbqt_cglICHPlICmrdULag/w320-h320/Coloring%20in%20the%20albatross%20badge.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A combination of the colored & uncolored <br />albatross badges from <a href="https://new.750words.com/" target="_blank">750words.com</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>On February 19th I got my albatross badge. I was so excited and happy and wanted to see if I could do another month, which I successfully did and then I did another month after that. The next badge was a phoenix for 100 days and I went for it. </div><div><br /></div><div>On April 30th I had been going for 100 days and I got my colored in phoenix badge. I didn't want to stop and now as of writing this I am 4 days away from 200 consecutive days and a pterodactyl badge. </div><div><br /></div><div>It's silly and probably seems inconsequential to other people, but I think part of it is the silliness. There's no way someone can reason me out of wanting to get the badge. And it works. It clearly works. At least for me. </div><div><br /></div><div>So I've been wondering, is there a way that I can utilize this simple, adorable, and silly method of motivation? Can I use the idea of little badges as rewards to cut through all of the mental muck that other people's disapproval and unpleasant words left inside of my brain? </div><div><br /></div><div>Maybe. </div><div><br /></div><div>It's certainly worth a try. </div><div><br /></div><div>I've even made some cute little badges already with my vector art on Inkscape. So I'll be trying that out. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEEPOA_rh9Ias02B3wpHniwDTK_44ANNMUFtff-qJVcAYen5AWP9bdNVvxH2Q3T4rakUDftzxXNZyNcV5HsusxLq9towac1yKcVe9fWiXKeUDOp5nHA_5e9MkWcpt36h_-DvS2joHC4NQgN3EW_CFrEhD9vocnzShlOCeaXd6EJvsvKW_XNaGO-5YSgQ/s400/Badges%20on%20Display.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Two line art badges on a brown background. A piggy bank and a notebook." border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEEPOA_rh9Ias02B3wpHniwDTK_44ANNMUFtff-qJVcAYen5AWP9bdNVvxH2Q3T4rakUDftzxXNZyNcV5HsusxLq9towac1yKcVe9fWiXKeUDOp5nHA_5e9MkWcpt36h_-DvS2joHC4NQgN3EW_CFrEhD9vocnzShlOCeaXd6EJvsvKW_XNaGO-5YSgQ/w320-h240/Badges%20on%20Display.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A look at the badges I have been making.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>But what I want to tell you is this. If you manage to find something, even if you couldn't explain it to another person, but it works for you, don't worry about what they think. </div><div><br /></div><div>Don't worry about how they think a brain should work. If you figure out how your brain works, run with it. </div><div><br /></div><div>Don't undo your progress because it displeases others. </div><div><br /></div><div>And if you're resisting trying something that seems silly and inconsequential maybe give it a try. The worst that could happen is it doesn't work for you and now you know that. Take the time to really listen to yourself. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">P.S. For a look at the creation process of the badges and other art I make go to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC02kdbaKhZZNBSDgyWvA40w" target="_blank">Fairy Oasis</a> on YouTube.</div><div><br /></div>The Raven Lilianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14205423295730325583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298769061229961332.post-4627212320993750012022-02-06T08:00:00.004-06:002022-02-06T08:00:00.213-06:00Learning to run Dungeons & Dragons<p> <span style="font-family: Comfortaa, cursive; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 700; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">So I’ve been reading up on D&D, working my way through some of the core rule books as well as some supplements that really excite me. Recently I got access to a program called Foundry VTT which will help me facilitate games online. <span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-0edb2ed1-7fff-a662-7be9-0403b58573ce"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Comfortaa, cursive; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It has been a lot of learning. Foundry VTT has especially been exciting in the last month or so. Working my way through tutorials and testing out different parts. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Comfortaa, cursive; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Comfortaa, cursive; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Most recently I was practicing making characters and NPCs (non-player characters.) The next step was to try out how combat encounters worked. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Comfortaa, cursive; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Comfortaa, cursive; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I pitted 3 of my level one heroes against a trio of bandits I had modified for interest as well as figuring out how to modify them. And it was close. I nearly killed those three heroes. It lasted for at least an hour. Characters were up and down. But the heroes managed to win. I learned a lot from just that one combat. And it was exciting and fun. Plus having characters drop meant I got to test out death saving throws.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Comfortaa, cursive; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNYnKcajL9KehOz8672t6K_ioMLgHULRGLXMyyzvKYPBQ4vFn2Xs_JHZiGCYZKRugOYXpHxnjDXzcC6iOLP0RoDQk-mt-lDsY9Asw1eW--m0cU-NH4iu27bJOK2sPquTTJTO7NnA1amE_P2d6ltzfyIZz4V7Ujx_EabINB-f3ev3OIN-DZeTfoetkADg=s607" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A section of a line art map of a tavern." border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="607" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNYnKcajL9KehOz8672t6K_ioMLgHULRGLXMyyzvKYPBQ4vFn2Xs_JHZiGCYZKRugOYXpHxnjDXzcC6iOLP0RoDQk-mt-lDsY9Asw1eW--m0cU-NH4iu27bJOK2sPquTTJTO7NnA1amE_P2d6ltzfyIZz4V7Ujx_EabINB-f3ev3OIN-DZeTfoetkADg=w320-h306" title="Dungeondraft is cool!" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Comfortaa, cursive; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Comfortaa, cursive; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am excited to continue. I’m not sure what is next, but I’m sure it will be fun. </span></p><div><span style="font-family: Comfortaa, cursive; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>The Raven Lilianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14205423295730325583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298769061229961332.post-86613988600078475582021-11-11T06:00:00.010-06:002021-11-11T06:00:00.167-06:00Small Delights & Recovery<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJY5pswz4CXCsP1r80dC_ox_ypdvGDL_SxzJO4cGses3boZ9xswgErzXZ30tUQmJLfmEZCYNjSFywmM_xnVPF00LyAD-ZTs4bPekqyhpszh-dJG4-N59elqebvUO3vJMciQqJFWbY5jOY/s2048/loverna-journey-5kb0HwTHqTg-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="[Image Description] Top down photo of a cup of tea on a saucer on a wooden table with yellow fresh cut flowers and a black and white floral cloth, as well as an open book." border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1639" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJY5pswz4CXCsP1r80dC_ox_ypdvGDL_SxzJO4cGses3boZ9xswgErzXZ30tUQmJLfmEZCYNjSFywmM_xnVPF00LyAD-ZTs4bPekqyhpszh-dJG4-N59elqebvUO3vJMciQqJFWbY5jOY/w256-h320/loverna-journey-5kb0HwTHqTg-unsplash.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@loverna" target="_blank">Loverna Journey</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/" target="_blank">Unsplash</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p> I've been a bit out of sorts and off the grid for the better part of two weeks. The Friday before Halloween I was struck with terrible pain. Luckily I have some medication that could handle it. I had to go on a liquid diet though and I had oral surgery the next week to deal with the issue. I am slowly introducing solid food back into my diet, but I still have difficulty opening my mouth enough to actually chew. </p><p> In an unpleasant and yet statistically humorous turn of events, my housemate fell and broke her wrist the day after my surgery. Things were not going well for the household. But I can say it is nice to have friends that are willing to help out. </p><p> I had to miss out on participating in a lolita meet and I am not sure how well I will be able to eat by Thanksgiving. But people have been rather nice. </p><p> I've also been able to do some art in all of this. I was working on a miniature bedroom before the issue and I've managed to continue working on it even during recovery. Even if the progress has been slower. </p><p> I've also been taking advantage of accessible reading to learn about D&D and running D&D. </p><p> I am hoping I can start working more now that I am a week into recovery. I hope you are all doing well. How are you all? </p><p> Also I miss tea. I haven't had tea in about two weeks. </p>The Raven Lilianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14205423295730325583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298769061229961332.post-75181777724540124062021-10-21T23:49:00.001-05:002021-10-21T23:49:34.696-05:00Small Delights: Mental Health<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfeIdbPodzeEnQlmVFsQpumbpBmA3anlWZDS2dSU8LLnWnA8nkClmOsFk1j3V68DKAXn3ctjJ2lM20pkK_7jZh0wTiJOxnAZLMZWYAaHMb9pte9tuItuQlngQWa24Rx0GGyaUoUGVJXUWg/s2048/20211021_110645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="[Image Description] Small painting laying on a paper trimmer. Painting is of bats flying in the night sky with a full moon in the background." border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfeIdbPodzeEnQlmVFsQpumbpBmA3anlWZDS2dSU8LLnWnA8nkClmOsFk1j3V68DKAXn3ctjJ2lM20pkK_7jZh0wTiJOxnAZLMZWYAaHMb9pte9tuItuQlngQWa24Rx0GGyaUoUGVJXUWg/w320-h240/20211021_110645.jpg" title="Miniature Art" width="320" /></a></div> This week has been nice. Very hectic, but I am finding my mental health has been improving more and more. I still have dysthymia and I have to take my medicine, but I am finding a balance that is working. <p></p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p> One thing I really have to remember about myself that I keep forgetting is that I am happy when I am creating and learning. When I am writing, painting, sculpting it feels like I am alive. And sometimes that feeling is so intense that it is as though I have not been living and merely existing the rest of the time. Everything is so fast paced and productivity based that it is easy to set aside the stuff that is really important to us because some people don't see its inherent value. I hope I can hold on to this. <div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPPWygp1zCfs90tWJQvfaObWkrKpl-JKUxzZyXTLd2dJKMoZ2JvcPwbYVQqHXXKiI_CmC9BMY6AmOgaSBLyhypLbr2-W_unRfldY3UNWkLdEqrzty6lVUGnkoCwlbMlzVuWOqHiHR4EWb9/s2048/20211021_204720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="[Image Description] Miniature painting standing up against a large jar of water for brush cleaning. Painting is of gold stars staring to fill a purple sky just as the sun is setting behind shadowy hills." border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPPWygp1zCfs90tWJQvfaObWkrKpl-JKUxzZyXTLd2dJKMoZ2JvcPwbYVQqHXXKiI_CmC9BMY6AmOgaSBLyhypLbr2-W_unRfldY3UNWkLdEqrzty6lVUGnkoCwlbMlzVuWOqHiHR4EWb9/w320-h240/20211021_204720.jpg" title="Water Color and Acrylic" width="320" /></a></div></div><div> I've been doing a lot of inner work and journaling. And I have made so much progress of recent that it is a little overwhelming. The last two days I started just doing more art. I finally pulled out the paints to do miniature watercolors. I haven't done them since January. Though honestly the the polar vortex and the grid failing in February messed me up. But I am so in love with my work. </div><div><br /></div><div> I hope you are too. </div><div><br /></div><div>Lilian</div>The Raven Lilianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14205423295730325583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298769061229961332.post-31380007163007823592021-10-14T06:00:00.024-05:002021-10-14T06:00:00.168-05:00Self Care After A Pain Flare<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxEwVvd-bd4W8lGvuSvkzErPJwBBpjyGxwo1ElFrY_2cz7ap08xXydUtOCIO9RTgUu2vaFhGYUTMuDl_Kiq_cpUeufXG_B4_XoJ5E8h-mxwtjKEeX3SKkazaF7Ua9UEtRabd4pYC72poIK/s2048/justin-dream-m71cxXE2wws-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="[Image Description] Close-up of plant life growing out of a stump. Forest landscape out of focus in background." border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxEwVvd-bd4W8lGvuSvkzErPJwBBpjyGxwo1ElFrY_2cz7ap08xXydUtOCIO9RTgUu2vaFhGYUTMuDl_Kiq_cpUeufXG_B4_XoJ5E8h-mxwtjKEeX3SKkazaF7Ua9UEtRabd4pYC72poIK/w320-h213/justin-dream-m71cxXE2wws-unsplash.jpg" title="Recovery" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #111111; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">Photo by </span><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, San Francisco, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, Segoe UI, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #111111;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><a href="https://unsplash.com/@jujudreaminx" target="_blank">Justin Dream</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/" target="_blank">Unsplash</a></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p> There is something to be said for taking the time for ourselves. </p><p> I'd noticed that I'd stopped taking the time to recover after my pain flares and it was not serving me. I would throw myself back into work and it was not always the work that was most important or the work I truly wanted to do. Things would be forgotten and I would often run myself to the point of burn out. Because days you don't work because you are in terrible pain are not days of any sort of rest and recuperation. </p><p> So when my pain flare started this weekend I decided that I would stick to the recovery routine this time. It was rough at first. I really wanted to throw myself back into work immediately, but I resisted. And I feel pretty good about it. I even have a list of things to work on that I made as part of the routine. Things I'd been working on before the flare and things I needed to work on. That way I didn't forget these things. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCIJg_tLDxu2o_fwijd72hkqDtDemzhT5u7N8wBx6U6HTf_XhxBpKMO1NJO7kRVN3pA9CuGq6yWfM94LdlH3RUMmyQg7YLX45kngmv6mGdTdE59t4rKYXoqHE0FjxZLESk_oEOYCBYm2-8/s2048/annie-spratt-kC8N-_czXy4-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="[Image Description] Hand written book like a journal and loose papers laying on bedsheets. Vase of flowers in background on a nightstand." border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1366" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCIJg_tLDxu2o_fwijd72hkqDtDemzhT5u7N8wBx6U6HTf_XhxBpKMO1NJO7kRVN3pA9CuGq6yWfM94LdlH3RUMmyQg7YLX45kngmv6mGdTdE59t4rKYXoqHE0FjxZLESk_oEOYCBYm2-8/w213-h320/annie-spratt-kC8N-_czXy4-unsplash.jpg" title="Rest" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #111111; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">Photo by </span><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, San Francisco, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, Segoe UI, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #111111;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><a href="https://unsplash.com/@anniespratt" target="_blank">Annie Spratt</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/" target="_blank">Unsplash</a></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p> I can say so far there have been some good side effects. My pain flares usually knock my sleep schedule so far off kilter that it is difficult for me to have any semblance of a regular sleep schedule long term. But it wasn't as bad this time. I'll have to see how things go. And see if I can do this again after my next pain flare. </p><p> Tata,</p><p> Lilian</p>The Raven Lilianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14205423295730325583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298769061229961332.post-62351607736352098072021-10-07T06:00:00.003-05:002021-10-07T06:06:59.777-05:00Small Delights: Coloring Page Art & Card Captor Sakura<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxKkfGyGBw7AUbqazGrqBfu5swv_JQuzmz3ira_w0QibGAIyYzklX6VmR7pt8ogzs3OGej758LdnwPUUeFixo5YtvPnxNTJhNXC_GRzgqfLaHZih059TsKWYHk0twK_NOT_hMuEprpwLqn/s1094/Small+Delights+01+Colored+branded.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="[Image Description] Simple drawing of three strawberries and the words "Small Delights." Image is colored in like a coloring page." border="0" data-original-height="761" data-original-width="1094" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxKkfGyGBw7AUbqazGrqBfu5swv_JQuzmz3ira_w0QibGAIyYzklX6VmR7pt8ogzs3OGej758LdnwPUUeFixo5YtvPnxNTJhNXC_GRzgqfLaHZih059TsKWYHk0twK_NOT_hMuEprpwLqn/w320-h223/Small+Delights+01+Colored+branded.png" title="Tasty strawberries" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p></p>It's been a while. Time to bring back the gratitude lists of Things I Love Thursday with a new name and maybe a different tone. Guess we'll find out. <div><br /></div><div>I've been loving making art with vectors. The perfect combination of math and art. Today I tried making a strawberry for the image of this post. There will be an uncolored one below. </div><div><br /></div><div>Other things I am happy about. </div><div><br /></div><div>Card captor Sakura! I never got to see much of the anime back in the 90's, but I did have all the manga. And now they have the Clear Card arc out. Netflix has the old seasons and I am finally getting to see them there. It's fun to see how they did things differently in the anime. And I just finished season one yesterday. </div><div><br /></div><div>It will be especially exciting to see the Clear Card arc when I get there. Because even the manga is new and I have NO idea what is going on. It will all be new. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV12uCV8hYWKuZodeyltJYozqnFM1_dkMIUcH-UrR1CPnhk5u6fhhwhFg-htLdMFa9Mkqh32XP5d_HBXP5kc4zFyrQNzqFjS8CzLJnhjIAi0uOKNV9dtKF1vc-JO3a2A1d5eT2ZGM0grgQ/s1094/Small+Delights+01+FO+Brand.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="[Image Description] Uncolored copy of the coloring page at the top of the post. Simple drawing of three strawberries and the words "Small Delights."" border="0" data-original-height="761" data-original-width="1094" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV12uCV8hYWKuZodeyltJYozqnFM1_dkMIUcH-UrR1CPnhk5u6fhhwhFg-htLdMFa9Mkqh32XP5d_HBXP5kc4zFyrQNzqFjS8CzLJnhjIAi0uOKNV9dtKF1vc-JO3a2A1d5eT2ZGM0grgQ/w320-h223/Small+Delights+01+FO+Brand.png" title="Color if you like." width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>What are some things that you are excited about? </div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /><p><br /></p></div>The Raven Lilianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14205423295730325583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298769061229961332.post-88283113954099187252021-09-06T09:00:00.001-05:002021-09-06T09:00:00.245-05:00An Improvement to my Positive Affirmations<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpSWiSHTMprk3OkPgiznknPFu5I5Or8wRQmzANTYmX-5-8Y1FDLvp6BONssciFDWpw9rXKXcrBWmm-tTP3Dd1q-eNLcwyEgcQS8gxUagvJKsWq2vmrR1cTwT1U5lFt0J7IsHFIYg4wl3he/s2048/Better+Affirmations+Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="[Image Description] Photo of a purple flower over a clover look alike ground cover with a white dashed border and the words, Better Affirmations." border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpSWiSHTMprk3OkPgiznknPFu5I5Or8wRQmzANTYmX-5-8Y1FDLvp6BONssciFDWpw9rXKXcrBWmm-tTP3Dd1q-eNLcwyEgcQS8gxUagvJKsWq2vmrR1cTwT1U5lFt0J7IsHFIYg4wl3he/w400-h266/Better+Affirmations+Title.png" title="Positive Affirmations" width="400" /></a></div><p> Affirmations can be very helpful. The right affirmations, over time, can help you unlearn thought patterns and instill yourself with more confidence & self worth.</p><p><span> </span>I've been utilizing them as a tool for my mental health for years now. It took me some time to figure out exactly how to use them, but they've been doing me very well since.</p><p><span> </span>Recently I tried a seemingly small change to this habit which had an immediate impact.<span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><span> </span>Normally I would just say my affirmation such as:</p><p style="text-align: center;">I am loved.</p><p><span> </span>But for some reason I decided to try starting with declaring my name followed by the affirmation.</p><p style="text-align: center;">My name is Lilian Brennan and I am loved.</p><p><span> </span>There was something immediately empowering about declaring my name with confidence. I've been using this in my affirmations for at least a month now and it still feels so good.</p><p><span> </span>Give it a try. See how it makes you feel. And if you’ve never tried reciting affirmations to yourself or into a mirror, see if it can help you. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_bkyNdHdRoXgzAQKtusEcWmp8FqkxwBWmqh1McamAQnTeaD9bh2poDUtmj084e5kfXfmIHED4gBKlcbMRuEtzBCJi3i4CMwkHMJ4JeuLUFCUZhJh6TokoZmOY6rRiLdsAbDzbWC2sPTks/s2048/Affirmations+Simple+001.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="[Image Description] Photo of a green vine over a brick wall with a white dashed border and the words, You Are Amazing!" border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_bkyNdHdRoXgzAQKtusEcWmp8FqkxwBWmqh1McamAQnTeaD9bh2poDUtmj084e5kfXfmIHED4gBKlcbMRuEtzBCJi3i4CMwkHMJ4JeuLUFCUZhJh6TokoZmOY6rRiLdsAbDzbWC2sPTks/w400-h266/Affirmations+Simple+001.png" title="Believe in yourself." width="400" /></a></div><p><span> </span>It may feel weird or silly at first, but keep at it. You may find some wordings work better for you. Or that it is easier to start small and work your way up to stronger affirmations over several weeks or months. The only way to find out is to try. Good luck. And </p><p><span> </span>You Are Loved.</p><div><br /></div>The Raven Lilianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14205423295730325583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298769061229961332.post-56074957405432413472021-06-25T06:36:00.001-05:002021-06-25T06:36:25.351-05:00Lolita Fashion and my Jewelry<p><span> </span>As a lolita I've never been as into the chunky plastic or resin jewelry as a lot of my fellow lolitas. Don't get me wrong they are super cute, however it's just not quite my style. I've always been more drawn to the delicate, unique things I find at thrift stores. Pearls, semi-precious gemstones, and unique metal charms all make my heart sparkle with delight. This collection of jewelry tastes serves me particularly well. They work with my lolita fashion. They work with my steampunk. They even work with a lot of my Renaissance garb. Over the years I have amassed quite a variety of interesting pieces of jewelry, many of which have found their way into one or more of my lolita outfits. <span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><span> </span>From the very beginning I loved detailed brooches. Not always the easiest to find outside of a thrift store or antique shop. However, I found two particular types of accessories that fill my desire for brooch-like jewelry. Over the years I've collected a small handful of button badges. Some are delicate and pretty; often sold by indie lolita brands. Others are funny like my chemistry joke “the element of surprise” pin a friend got me years ago. But the recent popularity of enamel pins is amazing. So many interesting designs. From cute & delicate to straight-up snarky. No, recently a friend gave me a pin that literally says snarky. It's sparkly and I love it. </p><p><span> </span>I've also not really been excited about wrist cuffs. Granted if I were wearing full length sleeves I do like the idea of the kind of wrist cuffs that would make the sleeves look longer with lace trim. However, I love bracelets and bangles. I will stack on a bunch and I just feel fabulous. The little clinking sound as they tap against each other brings me a small amount of joy. When I was first seeing wrist cuffs people weren’t wearing bracelets with them. That seems to have changed in recent years. But I think personally I'll stick with my silly amount of wrist jewelry. </p><p><span> </span>There's so many fun and interesting things you can find as jewelry and finding them has become so much easier over the years. It feels like people have more opportunities to get their designs made and tell others about them. This makes me really happy. But I still hope to get back to visiting thrift stores and antique shops soon. Especially if I can introduce others in my community to the places I like to hunt for the perfect addition to my jewelry box. What are some of the kinds of jewelry you love wearing with your fashion? </p><p> </p>The Raven Lilianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14205423295730325583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298769061229961332.post-87139532202923608542021-05-27T07:00:00.005-05:002021-05-27T07:00:00.259-05:00Things I Love Thursday: Joy During Bedrest<p> Yesterday was brilliant! </p><p> I had to stick to bedrest a good bit of the day due to a bad dizzy spell but I saw some amazing things and had wonderful experiences. I watched the live recording of <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/cosmoquestx" target="_blank">Daily Space</a> on Twitch and the story of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skylab_2" target="_blank">Skylab 2</a> repairs led to laughter and joy as well as a host having to stop to stop herself from dying of laughter. Afterwards the stream raided an artist on Twitch by the name of <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/ishirna" target="_blank">Ishirna</a> who does glass art. </p><p> It was amazing and I enjoyed being able to chat with her, asking questions in the comments. Being able to see how glass art works and hear the similarities and differences from polymer clay. I was filled with such joy. I love art. And I love talking shop; to the point that when I go to conventions it is one of the main things I do. I talk to artists and crafters about our similar or differing crafts. I have enjoyed more than one or two conversations with other bakers. Talking shop is such a fulfilling joy. </p><p> And seeing her work her art on Twitch led my mind and excitement to an idea I have toyed with before. Perhaps I could try streaming art. It might not work out, but it would be fun to try. Better to try and fall flat than to never try and always wonder. </p><p>Tata for now. </p><p><br /></p><p>Love,</p><p>Lilian</p>The Raven Lilianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14205423295730325583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298769061229961332.post-12305253469983982852021-05-20T07:00:00.013-05:002021-05-20T07:00:00.216-05:00Things I Love Thursday: All the Plants<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9xaCiaFgrk_3fnAW7IznF2JNt-QzNlOwFbweIOW2iT8VUa4ZYlyZbZ6PKMhjRG1QHhD07eWgAMn03wl6oh1guWdyxl0MiQo4eUK0lsqJwr1bocXk6oK39dCBL-FSynJGe0Cqo-Znrmnjg/s2048/Magical+Girl+Galaxy+Tile+Things+I+Love+Thursday.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="[Image Description] the words "Things I Love Thursday" written in a cream colored boxy Ariel font over a purple starry background." border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9xaCiaFgrk_3fnAW7IznF2JNt-QzNlOwFbweIOW2iT8VUa4ZYlyZbZ6PKMhjRG1QHhD07eWgAMn03wl6oh1guWdyxl0MiQo4eUK0lsqJwr1bocXk6oK39dCBL-FSynJGe0Cqo-Znrmnjg/w320-h320/Magical+Girl+Galaxy+Tile+Things+I+Love+Thursday.png" title="Gratitude List" width="320" /></a></p><p><br /> <span> Well it has been a bit. I got my second does of the vaccine last month. I also realized my garden has gotten kind of big. Or plant collection. They are almost all in pots. I have also gotten my nephew learning to grow things. He has some cucumber plants that are growing well so far. He is excited about it to. But yesterday I had to move all the plants into the garage for a bit because there is a lot of rain. And with them all bunched up I just felt so proud. <span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><h3><span style="color: #800180;">♥</span> Happy List of Things <span style="color: #800180;">♥</span></h3><div><ul><li>Building in Minecraft</li><li>Writing</li><li>Finishing tasks on the to-do list</li><li>Finishing long overdue tasks on the to-do list</li><li>Learning and improving new skills </li><li>Vector programs </li><li>Friends </li><li>Creativity </li><li>Solving problems </li><li>Finding productivity tools that work for me</li></ul></div><h3><span style="color: #800180;"><br /></span></h3><h3><span style="color: #800180;">♥</span> Happy Pins <span style="color: #800180;">♥</span></h3><div><iframe src="https://assets.pinterest.com/ext/embed.html?id=513903007488221369" height="449" width="345" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" ></iframe>
<iframe src="https://assets.pinterest.com/ext/embed.html?id=513903007488221321" height="421" width="345" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" ></iframe>
<iframe src="https://assets.pinterest.com/ext/embed.html?id=513903007488230928" height="566" width="345" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" ></iframe>
</div><div><br /></div><h3><span style="color: #800180;">♥</span> Happy Videos <span style="color: #800180;">♥</span></h3><div><iframe width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/D-LUDZNKZSs" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<iframe width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WicbZvLr0AE" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<iframe width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wapsi8w0UNA" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><div><br /></div><p><span><span></span></span></p><div><span> I hope everyone is doing well. Tell me what's making you smile. </span><br /></div><div><span><br /></span></div>The Raven Lilianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14205423295730325583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298769061229961332.post-36028127808863281892021-04-22T07:00:00.022-05:002021-04-22T07:00:00.224-05:00Things I Love Thursday: Reading<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9xaCiaFgrk_3fnAW7IznF2JNt-QzNlOwFbweIOW2iT8VUa4ZYlyZbZ6PKMhjRG1QHhD07eWgAMn03wl6oh1guWdyxl0MiQo4eUK0lsqJwr1bocXk6oK39dCBL-FSynJGe0Cqo-Znrmnjg/s2048/Magical+Girl+Galaxy+Tile+Things+I+Love+Thursday.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="[Image Description] the words "Things I Love Thursday" written in a cream colored boxy Ariel font over a purple starry background." border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9xaCiaFgrk_3fnAW7IznF2JNt-QzNlOwFbweIOW2iT8VUa4ZYlyZbZ6PKMhjRG1QHhD07eWgAMn03wl6oh1guWdyxl0MiQo4eUK0lsqJwr1bocXk6oK39dCBL-FSynJGe0Cqo-Znrmnjg/w320-h320/Magical+Girl+Galaxy+Tile+Things+I+Love+Thursday.png" title="Gratitude List" width="320" /></a></p><p><br /> <span> Weird week so far. Bouncing between super productive and super sleepy. I got my second vaccine last week. I am very grateful for that. <span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><h3><span style="color: #800180;">♥</span> Happy List of Things <span style="color: #800180;">♥</span></h3><div><ul><li>Legally Blonde </li><li>Popcorn </li><li>Chatting with friends </li><li>Science </li><li>Talking with other dyslexic science nerds</li><li>Actual, fully functioning accessibility. </li><li>Critical Role </li><li>Reading about D&D </li><li>Reading about other stuff too. </li><li>Reading</li><li>And always tea</li></ul></div><h3><span style="color: #800180;"><br /></span></h3><h3><span style="color: #800180;">♥</span> Happy Pins <span style="color: #800180;">♥</span></h3><div><iframe src="https://assets.pinterest.com/ext/embed.html?id=513903007487981209" height="1179" width="345" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" ></iframe>
<iframe src="https://assets.pinterest.com/ext/embed.html?id=513903007487929492" height="754" width="345" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" ></iframe>
<iframe src="https://assets.pinterest.com/ext/embed.html?id=513903007487930332" height="560" width="345" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" ></iframe>
<iframe src="https://assets.pinterest.com/ext/embed.html?id=513903007487905666" height="532" width="345" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" ></iframe>
</div><div><br /></div><h3><span style="color: #800180;">♥</span> Happy Videos <span style="color: #800180;">♥</span></h3><div><iframe width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YuKQ46g4mN0" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<iframe width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3DYzlPYrEAs" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<iframe width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2v4Yn1h1Eks" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<iframe width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/seWZDi4w1cE" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><div><br /></div><p><span><span></span></span></p><div><span> I hope you are all doing well. What brought you joy these past few weeks? </span><br /></div><div><span><br /></span></div>The Raven Lilianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14205423295730325583noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298769061229961332.post-50288029655156231752021-04-05T06:00:00.002-05:002021-04-05T06:00:00.238-05:00It Is Absolutely Okay To Cut People Out Of Your Life<p><span style="font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijnABSC_xVh_Dk5lprp85iWqmFYnc3eZT8ht2KNUk2NGQb2z4EKA1c9UFIAlHXhHPSROSgDDJWQo941vD1pfMmRSP9ijfP83ivIvLThABIynrMC8OpI67YQlYj1eRxHSV86tDNOS5k2Wyg/s2513/Rose+after+the+freeze+2021+elipce.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="[Image Description] Elliptical photo of a bright pink rose blooming on a bush." border="0" data-original-height="1251" data-original-width="2513" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijnABSC_xVh_Dk5lprp85iWqmFYnc3eZT8ht2KNUk2NGQb2z4EKA1c9UFIAlHXhHPSROSgDDJWQo941vD1pfMmRSP9ijfP83ivIvLThABIynrMC8OpI67YQlYj1eRxHSV86tDNOS5k2Wyg/w400-h199/Rose+after+the+freeze+2021+elipce.png" title="Take care of yourself." width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p>It is absolutely okay to cut people out of your life for your own safety. And you don't owe them one thing.</span><p></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-ecf1ea60-7fff-7545-114d-30c810fef300"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I repeat.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It is 100% absolutely okay to cut people out of your life for your own safety.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">No matter who they are.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">No matter how you met.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">No matter how you are related.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Your safety is more important than people's comfort.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Your safety is more important than people's convenience.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Your safety is more important than other people's image of the situation.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And you don't owe them ONE SINGLE THING. </span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: Comfortaa, cursive; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>The Raven Lilianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14205423295730325583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298769061229961332.post-39825870272850518502021-04-02T06:00:00.001-05:002021-04-02T06:00:00.639-05:00Learning to Take My Own Advice<span id="docs-internal-guid-116b4a04-7fff-37f1-73dd-2eb767a4a32c"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_vJqj748qSeM66XHgrAkLFdxwtOgkKyRyFmFjQEYPuOHOjCIG4bd_cl-DuASpmCYM5Pt7d43i_xl4Zxvkedlebn1NmnTk90LeCrs_hTBp6SdHP6HUrh8oLtxyKKow5YYfSwqLmDaYKmGg/s1600/two-girls-playing-antiqueimages.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="[image Description] Line drawing of two girls in dresses with puff sleeves and black stockings. One is playing with a skip rope and the other is reading a newspaper." border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1266" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_vJqj748qSeM66XHgrAkLFdxwtOgkKyRyFmFjQEYPuOHOjCIG4bd_cl-DuASpmCYM5Pt7d43i_xl4Zxvkedlebn1NmnTk90LeCrs_hTBp6SdHP6HUrh8oLtxyKKow5YYfSwqLmDaYKmGg/w253-h320/two-girls-playing-antiqueimages.jpg" title="Play More" width="253" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from <a href="https://antiqueimages.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Antique Images</a></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A few years ago I gave a piece of advice to a pair of friends who run their own business. I told them it is important to take time off. Life gets busy and our schedules fill up fast. So you need to schedule your time off ahead of time. I told them they should schedule at least one day a month for time off. To block the day out and to not schedule any work that day. Maybe plan what they wanted to do. One of them loves the beach. Going to see the beach and the ocean is like going home for her. So I suggested they schedule those kinds of times well in advance. <span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A few months later one of them came to me and told me what great advice it was and I told him, “Now if only I could take my own advice.” </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtfVW4Z_OsRMi-lQ9uZZ2Azt7NzYLmR09J97svN04kjjwUK75PNO8grwxRufUC50WQKDi7P3DrMaLqunIOhmqpbArC6pOTEJ6A0rj0BycJQBWcKYChwMOnZ5LuRnWwua_5j980FGJXhaCn/s1500/Vintage-Get-Well-Image-GraphicsFairy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="[image Description] Line drawing of two girls. One in bed wearing a nightgown. The other fully dressed in Edwardian or Victorian dress with black ankle high boots offering a small plant as a gift." border="0" data-original-height="1137" data-original-width="1500" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtfVW4Z_OsRMi-lQ9uZZ2Azt7NzYLmR09J97svN04kjjwUK75PNO8grwxRufUC50WQKDi7P3DrMaLqunIOhmqpbArC6pOTEJ6A0rj0BycJQBWcKYChwMOnZ5LuRnWwua_5j980FGJXhaCn/w320-h243/Vintage-Get-Well-Image-GraphicsFairy.jpg" title="Rest before your body forces you to stop." width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from <a href="https://thegraphicsfairy.com/" target="_blank">The Graphics Fairy</a></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As a spoonie and a disabled person I often feel like I have to do more to be as worthy as other people. I will have pain flares that leave me unable to work and then as soon as I can work again I am not always good about taking the time to recover. I just go go go. And this is not good for me. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">These pain flares also do not count as time off. Though I often feel like I can’t take time off because I have already not been working. I am trying to unlearn this. I am trying to make a habit of taking care of myself. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Because of this bad habit of working when I should be resting I end up overworking myself or just not attending to all of my needs. Social needs, sleep, food, even playtime is important to my mental well being. And I will run myself until I hit a point where I can not work, because one of my needs is so out of balance that I can not focus. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6BZn4790ENtkq554SVYrsaAjw5hj6ElPscdQRzZTYUiFHQLdKSyBUmmWZxqyBjWbKuLNMa7DfTUGaamZ9v5ZDWZKgvFVJb5VU2jxs3SqxPQLZJaTGjW4Qj8jRlnSn1D6xLQUF_Q88P5dj/s2048/WP_000975.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="[image Description] Photo of a colorful joystick held by two hands in black fingerless gloves and black leather jacket." border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6BZn4790ENtkq554SVYrsaAjw5hj6ElPscdQRzZTYUiFHQLdKSyBUmmWZxqyBjWbKuLNMa7DfTUGaamZ9v5ZDWZKgvFVJb5VU2jxs3SqxPQLZJaTGjW4Qj8jRlnSn1D6xLQUF_Q88P5dj/w240-h320/WP_000975.jpg" title="Play!" width="240" /></a></span></div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have been working to get better at taking time off recently. I try to take a day or two off every week. I try to schedule it when I schedule the rest of my week, but I somehow keep having to convince my mind it is important. Society can be very good at teaching us not to tend to our own needs. Yet I have found some overwhelming proof that time off is important. I am so much more creative the day after I take a day off and just enjoy myself. I am creative and productive and I feel on top of the world. Now if I can just remember that each week as I plan out my schedule, I’ll be set. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This week not only did I schedule days off, I set activities for those days. Not a whole itinerary. But one thing each. One movie or show I wanted to watch. Tuesday I finally got around to watching Abominable. It was adorable and heart warming. I want to see it again. And I probably never would have gotten around to seeing it if I didn’t take my own advice and schedule time off. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So yeah I am learning to take my own good advice. One try at a time. I may not always succeed. But I can always try again. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>The Raven Lilianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14205423295730325583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298769061229961332.post-56175824363982088652021-04-01T12:00:00.002-05:002021-04-01T12:00:05.147-05:00April Poetry Reading Challenge<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiya3Yye04f0YJQyOLcjDIUFjIC5tv8RK0QvUWnEUZaq6dSeh-0FZ5WGOnaCKFEYJmSy9jY8FRHcnIfiGaR0Q_XzJWPwKvm1E5xnB_cFZPb6EPSjkSu5g3TtHCwEYlObp7DA83G1iTDMCN9/s1800/Floral-Designs-GraphicsFairy_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="([Image Description] Vintage painting of yellow daffodils on tall green and rust stems. Cream background has green splashes of color behind the flowers.)" border="0" data-original-height="1622" data-original-width="1800" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiya3Yye04f0YJQyOLcjDIUFjIC5tv8RK0QvUWnEUZaq6dSeh-0FZ5WGOnaCKFEYJmSy9jY8FRHcnIfiGaR0Q_XzJWPwKvm1E5xnB_cFZPb6EPSjkSu5g3TtHCwEYlObp7DA83G1iTDMCN9/w320-h288/Floral-Designs-GraphicsFairy_2.jpg" title="Yellow Daffodils" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from The <a href="https://thegraphicsfairy.com/" target="_blank">Graphics Fairy</a></td></tr></tbody></table></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-ed6587d1-7fff-e3f5-0988-e91628156d7e"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Every year, for April, I want to do something with poetry. And every year it just doesn’t happen. I’m not even sure why. But this year I have an idea and I am going to try following through with it. <span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a></span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This April I aim to read poetry every single day. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thirty consecutive days of reading poetry. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That should be a good way to celebrate <a href="https://poets.org/national-poetry-month/faq" target="_blank">National Poetry Month</a>. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What do you think? </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Who and what should I read? Where can I find accessible poetry? Interesting poetry? Public domain poetry? Culturally diverse poetry? </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Time to jump in and find out. </span></p></span>The Raven Lilianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14205423295730325583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298769061229961332.post-87824352790673464952021-04-01T03:00:00.001-05:002021-04-01T12:16:11.262-05:00Things I Love Thursday: Steamed Buns with Red Bean Filling<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9xaCiaFgrk_3fnAW7IznF2JNt-QzNlOwFbweIOW2iT8VUa4ZYlyZbZ6PKMhjRG1QHhD07eWgAMn03wl6oh1guWdyxl0MiQo4eUK0lsqJwr1bocXk6oK39dCBL-FSynJGe0Cqo-Znrmnjg/s2048/Magical+Girl+Galaxy+Tile+Things+I+Love+Thursday.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="[Image Description] the words "Things I Love Thursday" written in a cream colored boxy Ariel font over a purple starry background." border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9xaCiaFgrk_3fnAW7IznF2JNt-QzNlOwFbweIOW2iT8VUa4ZYlyZbZ6PKMhjRG1QHhD07eWgAMn03wl6oh1guWdyxl0MiQo4eUK0lsqJwr1bocXk6oK39dCBL-FSynJGe0Cqo-Znrmnjg/w320-h320/Magical+Girl+Galaxy+Tile+Things+I+Love+Thursday.png" title="Gratitude List" width="320" /></a></p><p><br /> <span> Happy April Fools Day! Remember to be nice. This is a great day to be weird and silly. But don't be a jerk to people or hurt their feelings. <span></span></span></p><p><span> My hose mate recently picked up frozen steamed buns filled with red beans from the local Asian Market. I had been wanting red beans or something with red beans so I was very happy. I've never steamed stuff though. When I got around to cooking them I thought looking up how would be a good idea, but decided to just give it a try. We had a steamer basket and it sort of fit in the big pot I cook popcorn in. So I set it up and gave it a try. I had some idea of how to steam stuff. Very similar to creating a double boiler. You just wouldn't want the water in contact with the bottom of the basket or the food would get soggy. </span></p><p><span> The problem is the lid didn't close. The steamer basket stuck up out of the pot about a centimeter or two. I rested the lid on top of the basket and let it heat for the 10 minutes the instructions said. I was worried that without the steam trapped in it might not cook properly, but I had a thermometer so I could check the internal temperature of the food. After ten minutes I stuck the thermometer in and found the temperature lacking. So I got some aluminum foil and closed it over the top of the pot. this worked much better. </span></p><p><span> The buns were delicious and I am looking forward to having more. I also may want to try steaming vegetables or something else, just to explore how steaming affects the food. </span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><h3><span style="color: #800180;">♥</span> Happy List of Things <span style="color: #800180;">♥</span></h3><div><ul><li>Abominable</li><li>Critical Role</li><li>Creating miniatures</li><li>Polymer clay</li><li>The Sims </li><li>Cute spiders, especially the hoppy kind</li></ul></div><h3><br /></h3><p><span><span></span></span></p><div><span> I hope your week is going well. Have you learned anything new this week? </span><br /></div><div><span><br /></span></div>The Raven Lilianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14205423295730325583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298769061229961332.post-45824950345790284902021-03-31T06:00:00.005-05:002021-03-31T06:00:11.216-05:00Celebrate April Fools Day without being a Jerk<span id="docs-internal-guid-93a5544a-7fff-2952-a1d6-ec15da35bd19"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg12LXo2E3LRYHucI08IIOw9BfUK_6ur1-v3U0wiKzd4M9A489U503V3nndrShcVMN8srezivHOiTc-Awjbz35KzYHNmxOa-1rg5yHB1arzNppCnkyJRNTGRljqWuU7YZg3J3hrQwjbY6aK/s2048/Bath+time+with+Sparky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="[Image Description] Photo of a blue shark pool toy set up in a bath tub to look like they are going to bath. Photo bordered in black." border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg12LXo2E3LRYHucI08IIOw9BfUK_6ur1-v3U0wiKzd4M9A489U503V3nndrShcVMN8srezivHOiTc-Awjbz35KzYHNmxOa-1rg5yHB1arzNppCnkyJRNTGRljqWuU7YZg3J3hrQwjbY6aK/w320-h240/Bath+time+with+Sparky.jpg" title="Make Fun Art" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I like April Fools Day. I understand people's aversion to it though. Way too many people get carried away or just downright mean with the things they do as pranks. Honestly I am not even really into pranks. I have a suggestion for enjoying April the First. <span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a></span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ditch the pranks and opt for silliness. You can be weird, tell jokes, and create silly displays. All without being mean. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">No one wants their hopes built up and then dashed upon the rocks. No one wants to be made fun of. If you are the only one laughing, you’re probably being a jerk. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now if people are just a little confused that might be okay too. Like they come into work and there are googly eyes on all of the work equipment. Nondestructive silly gags can kick the mundane humdrum in the teeth and give everyone a well needed laugh. Just look at GISH and the spontaneous art projects, acts of kindness, and general weirdness we get to in that international scavenger hunt. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So this April 1st I encourage you to be weird and spread some joy. Don’t lie to someone and tell them their favorite show is coming back only to see their disappointment. Do get everyone at the office to wear silly hats. Don’t put rocks in the rock candy to hurt people. Do add food coloring to your food so it's a weird color. You’ve heard of red velvet cake, well today we are having purple velvet cake. Play a fun game with your friends of making up words and then see who can invent the most outlandish definition for it. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Be silly. Be friendly. Be nice. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>The Raven Lilianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14205423295730325583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298769061229961332.post-9777978058098481412021-03-29T06:00:00.008-05:002021-03-29T06:00:06.347-05:00Three Years Chocolate Free<p> March has some significance for me. The first of the month marked the three year anniversary of my quitting chocolate cold turkey. <span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p> I have not had a single drop of chocolate in three years. I didn’t set out to go this long. In 2018 I had a problem. I was eating chocolate even when I didn’t want to. Essentially I was addicted to it. </p><p> So toward the end of February I decided to try to go the whole of March without it. I moved the chocolates we did have up to higher shelves so I would have to work to get them. </p><p> It was rough. I took it one day at a time and had to deal with hours of my brain screaming at me that it needed the endorphins. But I made it through March. </p><p> So I decided to try and go without In April too. </p><p>I continued like this one month after the other. No long term goal in mind, just a personal challenge to see how long I could go. </p><p> I passed a year and then two years and now three. </p><p> Honestly by seven months or so it was way easier. I know I was grateful when I got sick that year and lost the ability to eat dairy for having already given up chocolate. It made it easier to deal with the new food restrictions. </p><p> At about one year of not having chocolate it rarely bothered me anymore. I actually made an effort then to reduce my sugar intake. I didn’t worry about my meals so much but I tried to keep my excess sugar under a certain number. Things like dessert and snacks. </p><p> Having already given up the problem food it worked remarkably easy. I know some people have to suddenly cut all their sugar down significantly because of things like diabetes. And I know it is a thing in my family medical history. So that was part of the reason I wanted to reduce my sugar. But I was lucky I was able to just reduce in areas to build better habits since I still had no signs of diabetes. </p><p> I haven’t kept track of the sugar as well since then, but the chocolate is rather easy at this point. I do occasionally have dreams of eating chocolate and then realizing what I have done. But I wake up and realize it was just a dream. </p><p> I know there are things I still have to deal with. I used chocolate as a way to alter my mood and manage some of my dysthymia symptoms. I need to deal with some of those issues. But that is a long process and for now I can celebrate my small wins. </p><p> </p>The Raven Lilianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14205423295730325583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298769061229961332.post-44977338898174261812021-03-25T10:35:00.001-05:002021-03-25T10:35:38.548-05:00Things I Love Thursday: March 25th of 2021<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9xaCiaFgrk_3fnAW7IznF2JNt-QzNlOwFbweIOW2iT8VUa4ZYlyZbZ6PKMhjRG1QHhD07eWgAMn03wl6oh1guWdyxl0MiQo4eUK0lsqJwr1bocXk6oK39dCBL-FSynJGe0Cqo-Znrmnjg/s2048/Magical+Girl+Galaxy+Tile+Things+I+Love+Thursday.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="[Image Description] the words "Things I Love Thursday" written in a cream colored boxy Ariel font over a purple starry background." border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9xaCiaFgrk_3fnAW7IznF2JNt-QzNlOwFbweIOW2iT8VUa4ZYlyZbZ6PKMhjRG1QHhD07eWgAMn03wl6oh1guWdyxl0MiQo4eUK0lsqJwr1bocXk6oK39dCBL-FSynJGe0Cqo-Znrmnjg/w320-h320/Magical+Girl+Galaxy+Tile+Things+I+Love+Thursday.png" title="Gratitude List" width="320" /></a></p><p><br /> <span> Howdy there everyone. Sorry I have been absent for a bit. Things got a weird combination of slow and busy after the freeze. There has been a lot of stuff happening. I have my first vaccine. And I have new plants. I also have a life changing thing that has come up since my last post. I keep trying to write about it, but I get all tangled up in how to write it. I hope you are all doing well. For now tata. It is bed time for this nocturnal bird. </span></p>The Raven Lilianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14205423295730325583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298769061229961332.post-42627275594603704712021-02-25T06:00:00.069-06:002021-02-25T06:00:06.419-06:00In the Cold I am Grateful <p>I am grateful for living in a house with a fireplace. </p><p>I am grateful for neighbors and friends willing to share their supplies. </p><p>I am grateful for frozen vegetables and aluminum foil. </p><p>I am grateful for the years I worked at camp and learned how to cook in a campfire. </p><p>I am grateful for the lessons I learned living through hardship. </p><p>I am grateful for my sports radio so I can try to get news. </p><p>I am grateful for plenty of blankets. </p><p>I am grateful for the love of warm fuzzy animals. </p><p>I am grateful for my knack for ingenuity. </p><p>I am grateful for all the plants that survived. </p><p>I am grateful for a source of drinkable water. </p><p>I am grateful for candles, matches, and lighters. </p><p>I am grateful for the beautiful night sky. </p><p>I am tired of politicians playing politics with our lives. </p>The Raven Lilianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14205423295730325583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298769061229961332.post-88256853691092949772021-02-11T06:00:00.056-06:002021-02-11T06:00:00.261-06:00Things I Love Thursday: Flowery Letters to Friends<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9xaCiaFgrk_3fnAW7IznF2JNt-QzNlOwFbweIOW2iT8VUa4ZYlyZbZ6PKMhjRG1QHhD07eWgAMn03wl6oh1guWdyxl0MiQo4eUK0lsqJwr1bocXk6oK39dCBL-FSynJGe0Cqo-Znrmnjg/s2048/Magical+Girl+Galaxy+Tile+Things+I+Love+Thursday.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="[Image Description] the words "Things I Love Thursday" written in a cream colored boxy Ariel font over a purple starry background." border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9xaCiaFgrk_3fnAW7IznF2JNt-QzNlOwFbweIOW2iT8VUa4ZYlyZbZ6PKMhjRG1QHhD07eWgAMn03wl6oh1guWdyxl0MiQo4eUK0lsqJwr1bocXk6oK39dCBL-FSynJGe0Cqo-Znrmnjg/w320-h320/Magical+Girl+Galaxy+Tile+Things+I+Love+Thursday.png" title="Gratitude List" width="320" /></a></p><p><br /> <span> I have been doing a lot of work and creating and learning this week. I'm almost not sure where all the time went, but at the same time it seems like it has been forever. It's sort of weird and comforting. <span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><h3><span style="color: #800180;">♥</span> Happy List of Things <span style="color: #800180;">♥</span></h3><div><ul><li>Learning new stuff</li><li>Relearning and jogging old skills </li><li>New equipment </li><li>Science! </li><li>Talking to people</li><li>Figuring out how to focus my mind </li><li>Art </li><li>Crocheting a collection of bees </li><li>Studying the plants in the yard </li><li>Writing over verbose, flowery letters to friends </li></ul></div><h3><span style="color: #800180;"><br /></span></h3><h3><span style="color: #800180;">♥</span> Happy Pins <span style="color: #800180;">♥</span></h3><div><iframe src="https://assets.pinterest.com/ext/embed.html?id=513903007487196924" height="618" width="345" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" ></iframe>
</div><div><br /></div><h3><span style="color: #800180;">♥</span> Happy Videos <span style="color: #800180;">♥</span></h3><div><iframe width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EeGz7KGno1A" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<iframe width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4dgULOD0iog" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<iframe width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ia5vxCSiwm4" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div><div><br /></div><p><span><span></span></span></p><div><span> Have you ever tried writing flowery letters to your friends? The kind that draw inspiration from literature and letters from the past. The kind that would make historians say you were just "really friendly with each other." "They were roommates." It's kind of fun. Especially if you have friends who will totally enjoy it and not be weirded out. </span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span><span> </span>Try it. </span><br /></div><div><span><br /></span></div>The Raven Lilianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14205423295730325583noreply@blogger.com0