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torialefay · 3 months

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🗝️ Sun in Scorpio ♠️

minho as your boyfriend!!! (pt. 1)

(based on astrology) 🔞

✨minho x reader (f); possessive fluff, slightly suggestive at the end

✨take a look into lee know’s natal chart to see what type of boyfriend he would be! in this post, i will be talking about his sun in scorpio. this is a series!!! so follow up later if u want more <3

✨i will give a brief synopsis of what each chart placement means (for all my non-astrology friends out there <3) and how that would affect minho in a relationship :)

✨word count: ~2k

✨ author’s notes:

★★ (1) i do do brief astrological compatibility readings if anyone wants one! if you’re interested, message me your birth date, time, and location OR lmk your placements. i’m gonna limit the reading to include you x 1 skz member only! just specify who you’d like.

(2) i am wanting to get better at using neutral-gendered pronouns so more people can feel included in my posts. i’m really struggling since i use phrases like “my girl” a lot. anyone who has some good alternatives or tips, please message and lmk! i really want to be able to start cranking out more gn options!

(3) the aspects in this reading are based solely on my opinions and interpretations! nothing about a person is set in stone simply because of astrology. please don’t use anything i say as canon :)

(4) i will not be going into ascendant or house placements because lee know’s birth time has not been confirmed for AM or PM

✨warnings: some explicit language

✨ tl/dr: minho as your boyfriend will spoil the shit out of you and charm you until you can’t help but live and breathe him. he’s got to keep a grasp on you at all times- literally AND figuratively.

Sun in Scorpio: Sun signs are all about personality- the face you show the world! It is also the lens through which you usually see yourself and how friends would describe you.

• Scorpio has two planetary rulers- Mars and Pluto. Mars is the ruler of action and aggression, while Pluto is the ruler of transformation and rebirth. Scorpio is an amazing mixture of the two, as it embodies strong desires, innate control, and deep mental and supraphysical understanding.

• Scorpios encapsulate passion. They tend to have a deep understanding of others and can utilize this power to their advantage. They are able to influence others to do as they wish. Scorpios have a deep understanding of beauty and admire things that could be seen as dark, different, or strange to others.

• Scorpios have a tendency to become obsessive, controlling even, if not careful. They get fully engrossed into who other people are and want others to fully engross themselves in them as well.

• Scorpios are known for their creative and expressive nature- something that comes naturally to them. Because of this, they can really shine in areas such as art or drama, historian or detective, intuitive research or psychology, and are amazing for dabbling in the occult.

As your boyfriend:

• He is super protective over you. He’s always watching behind you as you do something to make sure you’re okay and no one is bothering you… And to be honest, I don’t think many people WOULD bother you, knowing you were the person with a psycho boyfriend (in a good way <3).

• He would bring you lunch any chance he got. If you were at work/school and he knew you hadn’t brought lunch or hadn’t had lunch that day, he’d definitely bring you something- whether he picked it up or made it himself. It also gives him an excuse to see you and check on you during the day.

• He knows when you are having a bad day. And he knows exactly how you need him to act in order to help you deal with it. When he senses something is wrong, he will pull you onto his lap in a hug and tell you to talk to him about it.

• Other people think he’s cold, but he’s definitely not with you. He loves you and nurtures you. He takes pride in knowing every part of you. He loves that there is a side of him that is specifically for you and not for the rest of the world. He’d like it if you were the same.

• He loves when the both of you have a chance to get dressed up. To look good for one another and just enjoy the other’s company.

• He loves nice dates, ones where he can make a grand gesture to make you feel loved and special.

• That’s why it was no surprise when he’d texted you earlier to dress up pretty for him and he’d be at your apartment to pick you up at 8.

• This was a monthly occurrence. Him surprising you with a nice date- and when I say nice, I mean NICE.

• Yes, you went on smaller dates a lot too, but he made it a priority to spoil you with something bigger at least once a month.

• So here you were, all dressed up in your favorite dark blue satin dress. It looked absolutely enchanting with it’s spaghetti strap and cowl neck top with a deep slit running up the side.

• You made sure to do your hair his favorite way- loose curls all brought to one side.

• You gave yourself one final look in the mirror, swiping on a glossy coat over your lip stain before heading out the door. Minho was already waiting on you downstairs.

• When he saw you like this, he always smirked.

• ‘Looking so beautiful all for me,’ he thought.

• Once you got to him, he just smiled at you, taking your hand in his.

• “Now, are you going to tell me where we’re off to?” you asked.

• “Shhh, you’ll see,” he kissed your hand, leading you out to the car.

• He always made sure to open the car door for you and make sure you were buckled before you took off.

• And of course he always had to rest one hand in his favorite spot- gripping onto one of your thighs. It was harder when you had a dress on, but he’d never let that stop him. He needed to always have a hold on you.

• Arriving at your destination, it was a quaint building you didn’t recognize. You’d never been here before, but it seemed to be a small restaurant with only a few (very nice) cars in the parking lot.

• The valet rushed to the car to speak with Minho and grab the keys.

• You smiled up at your boyfriend as he walked around to your side of the car, opening the door for you and taking your hand in his to help you stand.

• As you made your way toward the restaurant, he made sure to hold tightly to the one hand, while the other stabilized on your hip, making sure you were safe while ascending the few steps in front of you.

• “Hello, can I get your name please?” the host of the restaurant asked as you stepped inside. It was a beautiful restaurant- dark and sensual. There was very minimal lighting, but what they did have gave a beautiful warm glow. The sleek bar to the right shined bright from the sparkly crystal bottles aligning each of the shelves- luxury liquor only.

• “Lee,” he said, matter of factly, only taking a brief moment to look at the host. Tonight, his eyes were only on you.

• The host presented a big smile before stepping to the side and motioning for you to follow him. “Great, Mr. Lee. Right this way.”

• Minho let you walk just slightly in front of him, always watching your back to make sure he had a full view of you. One hand continued to rest on your hip. It was like it was glued there. He never wanted to lose contact with you.

• The host led you down one of the dimly-lit aisles and to the back of the building. Off to itself, he rounded a corner to lead to a beautiful, private, screened-in room in the back. It sat adjacent to a huge lake, which could be seen through the mesh netting of the “walls” that enclosed you. With the moon shining bright over the water and the stars on full display, it was a captivating view.

• Minho pulled your seat out for you to sit before pushing you in towards the table. You allowed yourself this moment to look around the beautiful secluded room. It was still dark like the interior of the building, with the nice, warm lighting. But there was an even more bewitching feeling to it through the beautiful scenery and soft music that was emanating from afar. It was absolutely breathtaking.

• If there was anything Minho knew how to do, it was how to wine and dine you. He made sure to start the evening with ordering a full bottle of your favorite reserve red wine. He loved the way you looked and smiled at him after a glass or two- how lovey dovey you got for him and how you began to try and charm him, getting all giggly, before the night was over with.

• He encouraged you to get whatever you wanted off the menu- even if it was the most expensive thing by far, he wanted you to have it. He was never going to let you pay anyways.

• Once you decided what you wanted, he always wanted you to tell him so that he could order for you. It wasn’t that he thought you were incapable of ordering for yourself, but he wanted you to know that you would always be taken care of when he was there. He didn’t want you to have to take your attention off of him for one second.

• Your heart always swelled as you watched him order- for some odd reason. And he never ordered just what the two of you wanted. No way. He made sure to always order at least 3 or so dishes so that you could share with each other and sample everything. He would make sure to have something on the table that his baby loved.

• Even if you were absolutely stuffed, if he noticed there was still wine in your glass, he would always order a dessert for the two of you to share. And although he wouldn’t admit it, this was also a way to extend his time out with you.

• He’d make sure to do all the gross romantic stuff with you, like feeding you a bite of the crème brulèe straight from his spoon. He definitely didn’t want to overdo it though and would NOT do it unless you two were in private.

• At the end of the evening, after your head felt light and bubbly from the wine and your stomach was full, he made sure to tip the waiter very generously. You loved that about him. That’s why the restaurant owners and workers always loved to see the two of you back.

• Taking the last sip of your whine, you leaned in with a smile, half-whispering “thank you for dinner, jagi.”

• “Thank you for being here with me, love,” he said back. Slowly, he stood from his chair, so naturally you waited in yours as he always requested, so that he could again pull your chair out before you stood.

• He made his way over as usual, but he didn’t put his hands on the chair.

• Instead, he placed one hand on the nape of your neck, bending down to plant a soft kiss to your shoulder and then to the side of you neck.

• You let out a giggle as you started to blush. “Stop itttt, you know we can’t do that here.”

• “I know, but I had to at least get a little bit out,” he smiled smugly.

• Suddenly, you saw his hands both in front of you and a cold sensation on your chest. You looked down to see a beautiful silver pendant resting just between your collar bones.

• “What’s this?” you asked, as you felt his hands secure the latch at the back of your neck.

• He walked to your side so that he could see your face and bent down, resting one knee on the ground.

• “Why don’t you look at it and tell me?”

• You picked the small-ish pendant up to examine it. On the front, in dainty cursive font read “LMH”. Lee Min Ho.

• The back had a single, small diamond implanted in it. Around it’s edges, it had a Latin phrase inscription. You read it aloud. “Aut viam inveniam aut faciam?” You tried to make the words out, looking to your boyfriend for confirmation.

• “That’s right jagi. ‘I will either find a way or make one’. For you.” He smiled up at you, as your looked at him with eyes of endearment. The love you had for this man was unbearable. You could hardly stand the emotions that he made you feel.

• He gently reached out for your hand, planting a gentle kiss to it, before standing up and motioning for you to do the same.

• Once you were upright on your feet, he leaned in next to your ear. “It looks beautiful on you, by the way,” he whispered seductively.

• You smirked, the boldness of the wine starting to manifest out of you. “I’ll keep it on for you later. Everything else is coming off,” you winked.

• His eyes grew large for a split second before turning himself so that he body was right up against yours. He swiftly let his hands wonder to your waist, then hips, then grab lightly at your ass.

• “That sounds perfect,” he planted a small, sweet kiss to your lips. “But that necklace is never coming off of you. Promise me. Promise me you’ll wear it at all times, and I’ll always be with you.” He looked at you, his face full of sincerity and genuine lust.

• “Anything for you,” you gave in to him before leaning in for another slow kiss.

• You knew that’s exactly what he wanted. For you to give yourself fully to him. You’d play around with him later, but for now, you would give yourself up. He knew you were his.

———————————————————————————————————

✨ author’s note: lowkey thinking this man put a tracker in the necklace lol. he just wants to know you’re safe and also wants to be able to know where you are at all times. but it’s up to you what you want to think 🤷‍♀️

✨ if you enjoyed, please consider liking, commenting, or re-blogging <3

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moonylvi · 3 years

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Hey lucy~ can i request reaction nct 127 how their met their s/o?

A/N: Of course you can ^^ Thank you for requesting this.💕 Also please tell me if I made a mistake, English isn't my native language. Disclaimer: This is purely fictional, means it's an AU and in no way meant to harm anyone. Pairings: ¹/9 Nct 127 x gn!reader [Taeilxnormal!reader; Johnnyxbarista!childhoodfriend!reader; Taeyongxfamily-friend!reader; Yutaxtourist!reader; ...]

Warnings: I don't think there's anything that needs a warning except for my cringey writing XD Genre: Fluff, maybe bits of crack?, slice of life Taeil: You and him would probably meet in a situation where he was struggling with something little and you decide to help him. Maybe it was in a supermarket out of Korea and he couldn't find any salt. Nowhere! He checked the whole store, but didn't find anything. So he just stood there, looking utterly lost and confused. But don't worry, you're here to save him. Not only do you know the store like your own room, if not even better, you also showed him which salt is the best and helped him counting the money. He couldn't help but to invite you to have dinner with him one day.

Johnny: I needed to think a lot about this. He loves his parents so much and he would want a relationship which is similar in the closeness, based on trust. I could see him falling in love with a childhood friend. Or maybe a person he used to know, that he met again after not having any contact for years. Yeah, I think that's it. I'll just write the reunion :) Johnny and Mark just finished filming a new episode of JCC, when the staff suggested to stop by a small café they knew. Not expecting anything special, they entered and looked at the big chart which presented the different drinks and the small cakes coming along with it. Your café was something you were really proud of. Ever since you were little, you dreamed of owning a little space where people could step by to have a break from the rest of the world. Hearing the little bell ring, you quickly smiled at your reflection in the fridge door and hurried over to the counter. "Welcome to the small Refugium! How may I help you?" Upon hearing your voice Johnny's gaze switched from the chart to your direction, eyes widening in the process. "Y/N?" Your name fell from his lips before he could think more about it. Luckily you recognized him too, preventing an embarrassing situation to arise. "Johnny! Long time no see. How are you?" The small grin that adorned your lips, turned into a bright smile. Happily chatting, you nearly forgot that you had actual customers. Ignoring a confused Mark and an annoyed staff. That was, until the staff cleared their throat and brought you back to reality. "Oh, I'm sorry. What can I bring you?" You quickly switched back into your professional mode, taking the orders and preparing three cups, slipping a small note with your phone number between Johnny's cup and the paper sleeve. "Thank you for visiting, step by anytime soon again." Adding a little wink in Johnny's direction, you turned back around and started cleaning the surface of the counter, while they walked out of the door. Taeyong: He is the type to want his s/o to get along with his family. So maybe he finds himself having a particular interest in one of his sisters/her husband's friends or maybe a relative of his nephews friends, who already is close to his family, or at least to a few of them. Happily chatting with your little sister, you walked to her friends house for a birthday party. You knew his family, the Lee's, pretty well. Especially since not only your sister and their son were the same age, but you were just a few years younger than his mother, getting along with both parents easily. Which was one of the reasons you were invited along with your sister. The other reason was to have someone with experience helping of keeping a bunch of children happy. However what you didn't expect, knocking on the door, was the extremely handsome man opening it. "Oh, welcome. You must be Y/N and Y/S/N? I'm Taeyong, I'm..." "Oh, hi Y/N. I'm so glad you could make it. My brother just ruined the cake frosting and I need your help to fix it." Sparing him a glance, she pulled you and your sister to the kitchen, not giving you any chance to properly introduce yourself to Taeyong. Nearing the end of the party, the children happily ate their dinner, while you plopped down on the couch, groaning in relief of finally sitting down and closing your eyes. "Kids can be exhausting, huh?" Your eyes snapped back open, meeting his curious ones from the opposite side of the couch. "Yeah, they can. I never got to introduce myself properly though. I'm Y/F/N. Nice to meet you." Chuckling he responded with the same phrase. Yuta: Someone who loves his home. And by that I do not only mean Japan, his hometown or house, but also the people who mean a lot to him. He's the type to connect the feeling of being home with his s/o. Someone who stays by his side no matter what, someone who will always support him and care for him. Ethereal. There were no other words inside his head. Just Ethereal. Cherry blossoms decorated the floor, the trees and... you. It could've been a scene straight out of those

romantic movies which were full of cliches. Yet it was pure reality. YOU were real. As soon as that realization came, he walked into your direction, unsure what he was going to say. Reaching you, Yuta simply let the word that spooked around his mind since he saw you fall from his lips. Startled by his voice you spun around. "Wha...What?" "You look so ethereal! I couldn't stop myself from telling you, sorry if I scared you." A burning heat made it's way to your cheeks. "Oh, no, don't worry, I just got lost in though. It's my first time i Japan and all the impressions are so overwhelming and..." While you rambled on and on about how much you liked his country, he felt a warm feeling bloom in his chest, deciding to ask you out, once you needed to take a breath. Doyoung: He's the type to have a very passionate relationship Someone who worships his work. A person that admires him on a whole different level, not in an obsessed way though. Maybe in a way where they tell him about all the things barely acknowledged by everyone else. Someone who gives him their all, so he can give them his.

Jaehyun: I don't know what to say except for Love at first sight. He could fall in love with someone in the most random situations. Many say that love at first sight doesn't exist and that you first need to get to know them better, but I see Jaehyun as a person who notices the small things and habits far before everyone else.

Jungwoo: Decisions, Decisions... After having a pretty long thought about him, I decided that he is most likely to want to get to know the person better before truly thinking of them as a possible s/o. He would initiate the romantical part once, he's completely sure about his feelings and knows that his interest is likely to be returned. But before that he rather stays back, gathering as many facts about them as possible without obviously showing it. Mark: Our confused boy would find himself falling for a person who leaves a big impact in his life without him being prepared. Haechan: I'm quite unsure if he's genuinely a romantic person, dreaming of meeting his s/o for ages, or more of a flirt, having no fixed picture of the situation in mind. I think it mainly depends on whether he wants the relationship to last since the beginning or slowly falls harder for the person, he initially wanted to just flirt with, not expecting much from it. If he has the fixed image he would be rather shy and far less annoying with them. However if it's 'just' a flirt, he does exactly that. Flirty small talk, clinging to them, bad pick-up lines and winking.

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davidardiansyah · 4 years

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2019: A Year in Kpop

Dickens once wrote in his novel, A Tale of Two Cities, “It was the best of the times, it was the worst of the times”. This phrase aptly sums up the year of 2019 for Kpop - a moniker for Korean Pop. Some called 2019 the best year for Kpop in this decade while others called it the worst year of Kpop.

In my last review, I wrote how 2018 was a big year for Kpop as it wrecked havoc much of the western world like a storm. And as expected, in year 2019, Kpop is just getting even bigger and gaining more momentum outside its safe haven of South Korea and the larger Asian continent in general. Known for its dedicated and strong fanbases, Kpop industry has become a commodity. The soft power of Kpop — and the corollary fashion and beauty industry — catapults the South Korean economy, racking in billions of dollars back into the country, especially with the success of the global acts like BTS and BlackPink. Suddenly, everyone wants a bit of Kpop. The western media were scurrying to appeal and sign on with Kpop acts such as BTS, BlackPink, Monster X, Ateez, TXT and SuperM to name a few. 2019 saw Kpop acts appear in many American TV shows and music festivals, as well as performing concerts in many cities. In all, it is safe to say that Kpop has taken ground in America.

To begin, 2019 is a year of BTS. A year ago I also said 2018 was the year of BTS. I told my friend that BTS has such an amazing year in 2018. To that, my friend replied: BTS hasn’t even reached their peak yet. I was a little skeptical back then. How much bigger would they get? Oh boy I was wrong. 2019 is a huge year for BTS — and even huge might be an understatement. For those who are still unaware, they are the biggest boyband in the world right now. A short for Bangtan Sonyeondan or literally Bulletproof Boyscouts, BTS broke many records and took home countless of awards this year with the release of Map of the Soul: Persona. The album takes inspiration from Jung’s thesis in psychology of the same name: Map of the Soul. Following Persona, fans are expecting that Shadow and Ego could be the next releases. For the first time since the Beatles, they had three number one album in Billboard 200 within a year. This year, the septet completed their world stadium tour and sold millions of seats, with historic performance in Wembley London and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. However, for me, it is the performance for the MMA stage that left strong impression, especially so the solo performances.

Moreover, their single Boy-with-Luv, a collaboration with Halsey, is named the song of the year in Korean year end music awards, broke the Youtube records, and last but not least loved by many. Boy-with-Luv (Korean name: A Poem for Small Things) is a catchy pop-song with bubbly and cheerful tones complementing the visuals.The B-side tracks also shine with Mikrokosmos being the feel-good song and Make it Right, composed by Ed Sheeran, as your mainstream chill-pop song. Home is my personal favourite with its jazz and R&B textures, followed by Jamais Vu for its interesting musicality. The album ends with Dionysus, a hard-hitting hip-hop of old school Bangtan.

If the Kpop boy group is dominated by BTS, one could said BlackPink is the counterpart for the girl group. BlackPink released its most anticipated comeback yet with Kill This Love which top many charts. Kill This Love was briefly named the most viewed MV in YouTube, only to be sidelined by BTS’ Boy-with-Luv just a week after. Kill This Love is a marching-band style hip hop song that is a typical of BlackPink hard-banging repertoire. This comeback pulled through YG amidst the scandals embroiling their senior group Big Bang and YG’s executives. Some might even call BlackPink as a saviour for YG. However, fans lamented for the lack of supports for BlackPink, arguably the sole powerhouse of YG right now, with Kill This Love remains but another mini album. To date, BlackPink, a three-year old group has not released a full album yet. In this album, Don’t Know What To Do is my personal favourite, followed by Kick It and Ddu Du Ddu Du remix. Admittedly, Ddu Du Ddu Du was the most successful BlackPink release ever, with the MV crossing the 1B stream in YouTube this year. BlackPink too went for a successful world tour and was featured in Coachella this year.

Now that we have cleared the big acts of 2019, let us sails through the rest of the Kpop acts. Older and senior groups like EXO and Super Junior made comebacks this year as well with Obsession and Super Clap respectively. With the members starting military services, remaining active EXO members such as Baekhyun and Chen releasing solo songs and Chanyeol and Sehun as duo. In addition to individual EXO members having busy schedule, it is no wonder and expected that we will only getting only one comeback each year. The following year we may expect more solo activities or subunits as well, especially with more members serving the military. Meanwhile, Super Junior is finally coming back as a full group, with Ryeowook and Kyuhyun ending their military service.

It is worth mentioning that Seventeen, another rising star in Kpop is having a big year in 2019 with three releases, Home, Hit and Fear. Of those, Home catapults Seventeen to greater height earlier in the year. In my opinion, Home appeals to larger audience, while Hit is a banger and Fear just okay. Seventeen, known for their amazing vocals and dance synchronisation, is going for world tour in 2020. We can expect big thing from Seventeen. Meanwhile, MonstaX has a bumpy year in 2019. Embroiled with controversies, MonstaX saw Wonho leaving the group in the second half of the year, shocking fans both in Korea and internationally. This was a major setback given 2018 had been a big year for MonstaX. They were featured in many American shows as well as making cameo in Bare Bears series. We can only hope Wonho and the rest of MonstaX members are are coping well through this unfortunate incident. Alligator and Follow were two major releases from MonstaX this year. Both are arguably typical MonstaX sounds. Other acts like Got7, Nuest, Winner, NCT also make comebacks, but are lacking the hypes compared to Seventeen and MonstaX. Perhaps, NCT 127 who are riding into their popularity in America is worth a special mention. However, Superhuman isn’t as powerful as Regular or Simon Says. NCT dream meanwhile, cameback with Boom Boom, which surprised me with catchy chorus.

In the girl group scenes, Twice has a good year as well. I mean when will Twice not have a good year right? This nation-loved girl group has two major releases with Fancy and Feel Special. Fancy is another Twice-ish song, loved by many and doing well in charts, but pales against Boy-with-Luv and internationally against Kill This Love. In fact, all these songs were released back to back. 2019 is indeed a year fandom war. Besides BlackPink and Twice, Red Velvet made three comebacks with Zimzalabim, Umpah Umpah and Psycho. The first two were the ‘Red’ sound while Psycho ‘Velvet’. To be honest, Psycho trumps them all. Befitting the name, the soft yet piercing high pitch sound is the unique signature of this song. It’s new and fresh. Similar concept to Peek-a-Boo and Bad Boy, Psycho is a must-listen. Unfortunately, Wendy, one of the members suffered injury during the year end music festival and I wish for a swift recovery for her.

Mamamoo was another big girl group that dominated 2019. Riding on the rising popularity in 2018 with their four seasons’ albums, Mamamoo had a comeback with Gogobebe and Hip. Both songs earned high spots in Korean major charts. One of the members, Hwasa also had a successful solo career with Twit, a catchy song laced with flute textures. Other acts such as GFriend, AOA and APink also made comebacks among others. APink, being a senior group among the rest, is worth mentioning for their comeback %%. If you haven’t listen to it, please do. %% was definitely a good song to start 2019.

In the rookie scene, Tomorrow by Together, the new Bighit boy group and the junior group to BTS had an amazing year with two major releases, Crown (Korean: One Day Horns Grew Out of my Head) being the debut song and Run Away (Korean: I Will Wait for You At Platform 9 3/4), their first comeback. Crown is the fun and bubbly pop song with Run Away delivering emo-rock style. We give a round of applaud to TXT (the short form — Bighit with its naming sense) for fresh sounds, setting them apart from the senior group BTS. ITZY, the new JYP girl group also had successful debut year. If TXT is called global Global Super Rookie, ITZY is the Monster Rookie for stellar performance in Korean charts and abroad especially wth Dalla Dalla — though not my kind of sound. One special mention is Oneus with Lit, a banger with Korean inspired sound — think of BTS’ Idol.

The budding acts like Ateez and (G)Idle both have two comebacks this year. The former with Wave, a tropical house sound and Wonderland, a marching band-inspired sound, while the latter, continuing the Latin vibes with Senorita and Lion. Everglow also had successful comeback with releases such as Bon Bon Chocolat and Adios. Both are good catchy summer songs, with Adios being another marching band-inspired sound. It seems that 2020 will see the trend shift to this style of music. Meanwhile, Pentagon made a comeback with Humph!. This was the first comeback after EDawn left the group earlier. Humph! continues to deliver the signature sound of Pentagon, with its minimal layers of instruments.

The solo scene is dominated by Chung Ha, with successful releases such as Gotta Go at the start of the year and Snapping the second half. Chung Ha overshadowed Sunmi, who made a comeback with Lalalay. Lalalay is unique for its retro high-pitch eastern inspired instrumental sound. Big acts like IU and Taeyeon also made huge comebacks this year. IU’s Love Poem and Blueming performed well in charts as usual. Taeyeon had two releases, one at the start of the year with Four Seasons and one at the end of the year with Spark. Both songs did well. In the R&B scene, Heize released We Don’t Talk Together, composed by BTS’ Suga. The song is laden thick with emotions coupled with melancholic instrumental and visual. It seems that females dominated the solo scene, even in the OSTs scenes, with songs from Hotel del Luna blocking the charts. Of which, Heize’s Can You See My Heart?, Taeyeon’s A Poem About You and Paul Kim’s Goodbye are my personal favourites. Correction, Paul Kim is perhaps the only male act worth mentioning here who had a successful year with Me after You, Goodbye and Every Day Every Moment (a 2018’s release!).

In the duo scene, Bolbbagan4 and AKMU had an amazing 2019. Being digital Monster, Bolbbagan4’s releases are loved by Koreans. This year, the duo cameback with Workaholic. Meanwhile, AKMU is finally making a comeback after Lee Chan Hyuk’s release from military service with How Can I Love the Heartbreak, You Are the One I Love. Both songs earned them Perfect-All-Kill (PAK) in Korean charts (after the new system). The other PAK worth mentioning are IU’s Love Poem and Blueming as well as BTS’ Boy-with-Luv — the only PAK with the old system, arguably harder to achieve. Congratulation to all winners.

The band scene saw the rise of Jannabi, the indie band with retro sound. For Lovers Who Hesitate is an ode to the nineties, with its warm and tender retro sound. It’s also worth mentioning that the vocalist of Jannabi has charming and swoon-worthy vocals. Although the band faced some bumpy road that ended up with one member leaving the team, Jannabi is an act to watch for. N-Flying also had a successful start of 2019 with Rooftop. Originally the song didn’t do well in the chart but slowly rising and top the rank eventually, making them a rising newcomer in this industry. That leaves us with mature group like Day6 who has had stable releases over the years. This year Day6 releases Sweet Chaos, an alternative-rock bop.

While 2019 was a good year for many acts, 2019 also saw the rear side of Kpop. I won’t go through them in detail but it’s good to reflect on these series of events and hopefully do better in the next decade. To begin, 2019 is marred by the Burning Sun prostitution and drugs scandal that led to Seungri quitting Big Bang and Yang Hyun Suk leaving YG. Following this, the Jung Joon Young’s scandal on the sharing of explicit content in KakaoTalk, a Korean messaging platform, caused many acts to retire from the entertainment industry and brought others into the spotlight. The floodgate didn’t just stop there, B.I., the leader of iKon was also reported to have purchased drugs some years ago. B.I. left iKon, who had a successful 2018. The end of the year, we also learnt that the Produce 101 series were rigged with briberies and vote manipulations. The producers reportedly picked the final line-ups prior to nation-producers’ final voting counts. That is why also X1 and IZ-one had tough year in 2019, despite both of them having good releases prior to the exposé. I wonder how their future will look like? Lastly, Park Kyung exposed some artists for suspicion of sajaegi, or chart manipulation, that sparked a nationwide discussion. In fact, the issue of sajaegi had been raised up multiple times in the recent years but seemed to have blown-up more this year, with many artists stand in solidarity against sajaegi and fairer system.

Before we end, allow us too a moment of silence. 2019 saw the passing of fx’s Sulli and Kara’s Hara, victims of malicious commenters and haters. It seems we didn’t learn from the passing of Jonghyun two years ago. While we are deeply mourning for the loss, I hope they are now in better place, happy and resting in peace.

In short, 2019 is indeed the best year of Kpop — and the worst at the same time. However, as previously said by Jang Geu Rae of Misaeng: when a project fails, it means we never planned properly, but we shouldn’t throw away the lessons from this failed project, we should learn from the setbacks and plan for better future. Echoing RM’s speech in Golden Disk Awards, we hope that Kpop artists will continue to work hard, produce good musics and be rewarded fairly. Let us hope for better Kpop scene in the new decade.

Happy New Year.

#MyGratitude

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hexdream18243 · 6 years

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Fanfiction: Crush

Little thing: This fanfiction I wrote only in English. So PLEASE tell me if you find mistakes (or typos)! It’s everything. Enjoy your time!

Relationships: analogical (friends), logicality Warnings: mention about car crash? Nothing much or significant. Please tell me if I should add something. Word count: 1772 Summary: Virgil stole his roommate’s phone and found out that he has... a crush?!

Part two

AO3 link

Virgil was bored. So unbelievably bored. So he did the most logical thing he could do. He stole his roommate’s phone. Well, not exactly stole. He came to their room (they were there), stood next to their table and took the phone without question. Logan just looked at him and went back to work. He hope it was work, not some new strange obsession about something. Logan’s obsession were hard to deal with. If he found something interesting, he wanted to know everything about it. Just. Everything. It was no way to have a normal conversation in days while he was doing his “research”. For “Do you want coffee?” or “Do we have a milk?” Logan answers always led to random information about his “topic number 1”. Virgil knew that these information were interesting, really, but he started to hate the phrase: “Do you know that…”

But it looks like Logan was just working. What a relief.

Virgil came out of Logan’s room and sat at the kitchen table in the living room. They had too small kitchen for furniture beside necessary like fridge, sink or oven. After getting himself comfortable, he got to work. First, he had to unlock the phone. It was their unspoken game. Logan changed his password, PIN or code and left hints about it around their apartment. Every time Virgil was bored or had others troubles he could take Logan’s phone and play as detective. It was fun for both sides. This time Logan had a password. Unfortunately, Virgil immediately knew it, because his roommate’s favorite jam brand released a new taste recently. Jam was in every corner of the kitchen. An answer was obvious. He wrote “Crofters” and was welcomed with a photo of Pluto with text “Pluto is a planet! Viva la Pluto!”. So puzzle were solved what’s next?

He know that Logan’s phone also was boring. Of course not if you didn’t know about his obsessions and others things like interesting music choices (Classical music, rap, rap to classical music. He didn’t have many songs of the last, but just because they were a little uncommon. Also he has a folder with songs from probably all genre from Disney to hard metal, at least one of each genre.) or strange high quality of organization. So Virgil started to look into contacts. It was nearly impossible that Logan met someone new recently but maybe? Some minutes passed but suddenly… Here it is! A new contact! And description was… interesting at least. “Crush”. Did Logan has a crush on someone? And he didn’t mention it?! Okay, they were roommates but sort of friends also, he guess? Usually Logan would say something, but not this time, he had to hide it. Virgil checked if they were texting. Nothing. Not even one call! So… Why not to text the mysterious crush? Virgil considered it. Logan wouldn’t kill him for that and it will be fun to watch this nerd flustered. Yes. He’ll do it.

What to write? If he was Logan, what he would write to his crush? Hm… How would Logan flirt? That was a good question. It definitely won’t be normal flirting or some simple pick up lines. It’s not his style. In his style is using big complicated words and strange comparisons. Or random information. Virgil looked into folders to find inspiration. He found something named as “Love”. He opened it and saw enormous amount of documents, photos, videos, charts and voice files. Everything had a connection with love. One of documents was named: “Pick up lines”. More out of curiosity, he opened it. Ok. He didn’t expect this. Of course, he saw document full of pick up lines, but some of them had a small note: “Can be used”. Seriously?! Logan thought that he could use them? HE? Virgil could not imagine it. But… It could be funny. Now he should just find a proper line.

He scrolled through them.

“I’m not an astronomer, but I still promise to give you the sun, moon, and stars.” – No. Line was crossed with comment “But I AM astronomer”. And it could be too much for the beginning if you ask Virgil. Other one: “You seem to be traveling at the speed of light because time always seems to stop when I look at you.” or “You must be a red blood cell because you take the oxygen out of my lungs and bring it right to my heart.”

He wasn’t sure which line will be the best, but one of them drew his attention. Yes. It will worked.

He sent a text just in time because suddenly Logan came out from his room, calling:

“Virgil? I need my phone, where are you? I have to check something on my e-mail but I’ve already turned off my computer so if you… Oh, here you are.” – He entered to the living room. Virgil raised his head and smirked.

“Catch” – He threw a phone. Logan was surprised but he caught that (with difficulty).

“You knew password?” – Logan asked, looking at the screen.

“It wasn’t hard to guess.”

“I see. So I have to change it. I hope you had fun playing with my phone.”

“Yeah. I hope you didn’t mind that I texted your crush.”

Logan stopped in his tracks back to his room.

“What do you mean by ‘my crush’?”

“Stop pretending. I know you know what I mean. I saw your folders.”

“I am not pretending anything. I know meaning of the word “crush” but I do not know who you meant by using that term.”

“Really? Are you kidding me? You saved their number in label ‘Crush’. I don’t know who it is.”

“Wait. You texted ‘Crush’?” – Logan seemed a little panicked. - “What have you wrote?”

“I wrote only one of your pick up lines. Nothing much, really, only something to start.”

“Which one?!”

“Jezz, Logan, calm down, please. Look at your messages. It was something like: ‘Hey! You know, I think you must have a charge because I am finding myself feeling very attracted to you’. It’s not so bad.”

“IT IS! Listen, Virgil, do you remember last week?”

“Yes, of course, it was eventful week, a meeting, I got a job, you had a car crash…”

“Exactly! A man from the second car gave me his phone number and I gave him mine, because it was my fault and I asked him to text me about price of repair. And look again” – Logan put phone to his eyes. – “How I wrote a word ‘Crush’?”

“By ‘u’.”

“What?!” – Logan looked again at the screen with wide eyes. Then he muttered under his breath: “Stupid autocorrect”.

“So… It isn’t someone you’re interested in, I guess? Sorry…”

“O, I wouldn’t say that I am not interested in him. He…” – Logan stopped when he realized what he just said. He tried to dismiss it but Virgil already was smirking.

“You say so?”

“Please, forget it.”

“Never.”

Logan shook his head.

“Anyhow, you’ve already texted Patton. I think now I should explain ‘my’ behavior to him.” – He sighed looking at his phone. He started writing an apology.

“If you remember his name why you didn’t named his number like that?” – Virgil asked.

“Because I would remember his name but I wouldn’t remember who it is and how I met him. I am not forgetting names. However autocorrect…” – Just when he hit button to send a text, ring interrupted his saying so he stopped. And paled.

“What?” – Virgil asked.

“He answered for your message.”

“WHAT?!” – Virgil jumped from his place to stand next to his roommate. – “What did he write? Tell me!”

It took a moment for read a text. Next Logan locked a phone with blank expression.

“I didn’t saw an answer. He took it bad?” – Logan gave device to Virgil. A message said: “I didn’t know that but I would love to stick to you like glu-cose <3” It left him speechless but he had a big grin. Logan was irritated.

“Stop smiling! Okay, he responded but maybe he likes pick up lines and he doesn’t take them seriously. Anyway I just wrote him that all was a big mistake! What should I do now?!”

“Wait?”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes.” – Virgil leaned on the wall with crossed arms. He tried. He fell because there was no wall behind him.

“Vigil! Be careful!” – Logan caught him just in time and pulled back on the feet. – “You can’t get hurt, you have to go to the job today.”

Vigil looked at the clock above them and cursed.

“Job! I have to go now! Good luck with your crush, Logan!” – He ran out the living room, caught a backpack from corridor and left a flat. Logan stayed alone in silence. The silence was broke by ring.

[You]: I’m sorry for that message. My roommate took my phone and texted you because he was convinced that you are my crush. Unfortunately, autocorrect in phone changed my description.

[Crush]: I didn’t know that but I would love to stick to you like glu-cose <3 <New>[Crush]: Oh! I didn’t expect this…

Logan winced.

[You]: I’m sorry again. [You]: Since we are talking, can you tell me if you went to mechanic with your car? I hope you did, it would be dangerous if you didn’t.

[Crush]: Um, yes! I went! It wasn’t a big damage, only a mirror.

[You]: So can you tell me about cost of repair? I promised that I will cover the costs.

[Crush]: Stop kidding, it’s nothing big!

[You]: I insist. Eventually, maybe I can make it up to you in another way?

The answer was almost immediately, but it didn’t make any sense.

[Crush]: hfmcdsvsd

[You]: ?

[Crush]: Sorry, my phone fell down. Perhaps we can have a dinner together? Tomorrow’s evening?

Logan’s eyes widened. He hesitated few minutes but finally typed an answer.

[You]: If you want, I do not mind. I can look for a good restaurant in the city and book the table. What time?

[Crush]: 5 pm?

[You]: Perfect. I’ll send you a name of the restaurant and an address. Should I pick you up or you want to go there by your car?

[Crush]: I don’t want to be a trouble, I can go by myself.

[You]: You wouldn’t be. Just text me an address and I’ll pick you up.

[Crush]: Okey dokey!

Logan sat down at the couch and sent Virgil a quick message.

[You]: I don’t know how but I guess that I have tomorrow a date.

[Virgil]: Cool. Does it mean you won’t change “crush” to “crash”?

[You]: … Probably not.

Quick note: I probably will write a second part of it from Patton’s perspective, because... This is how writing works. But I don’t know when I’ll finish, because I have exams at my university ^^”“ EDIT: I did it!

#Sanders Sides #Thomas Sanders #humanAU #fanfiction #my fanfiction #logicality #analogical #as friends #Virgil Sanders #Anxiety Sanders #Logan Sanders #Logic Sanders #Patton Sanders #Morality Sanders #crush

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soto-translates · 7 years

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Saiyuki: Love Quizzes

Big thanks to @flowermiko for the original scans!

Ever wonder which of the guys you're most like? Which one you should date? Wonder no more. With these charts from the Gensoumaden TV guide and OVA, you can find out X3

※ 天上転(天)下唯我独尊 [Ten Jyo Ten(Ten) Ge Yui Ga Doku Son] The proper phrase, meaning “I alone am holy throughout heaven and earth”, uses the character 天 (heaven) twice, so the quiz replaces the second 天 with the homophone 転 (turn, roll, change).

BIG Presentation of Chart Results Here’s the result explanations you’ve been waiting for!! The character corresponding to the word you arrived at on the previous page is absolutely your personality type. Like birds of a feather, your compatibility is on the mark!!

天 [Ten] Heaven SON GOKU ENERGETIC MOOD MAKER Always full of energy. At any rate, you’re the Goku type who prioritizes exercise. Because of that personality you often get those around you into trouble, but you’ve got a strange charm and for some reason everyone loves you. And of course, your insatiable curiosity and appetite (!?) are hard core!! ● I like this type of person -- Genjo Sanzo ー A guardian-like person who seems like he’d forgive selfishness. ● This type is popular -- Kanzeon Bosatsu ー You’ll be teased and played with ... don’t get too close!?

上 [Jyo] Above KOUGAIJI EXTREMELY SHY PRINCE You’re the Kougaiji type with a strong sense of responsibility and a kind soul that thinks of others. Sometimes you can be too serious and you’ve been left holding the bag more than once. However, you’re charismatic and quickly pull people to you; you blow away any difficulties. ● He’s the type that would make a good rival -- Son Goku ー It’s amazing watching him break through without any hesitation!! ● The type of person I want to be near -- Yaone ー She gently takes care of both his mind and body (she’s an alchemist, after all)

転 [Ten] Turn CHIN YISOU FAITHFUL TO HIS OWN SELF INTEREST You’re the Chin Yisou type who tends to get too obsessed with a single interest. In regards to interpersonal relations, you are unable to honestly voice your feelings or act on them. You should try to be more honest. ● The Chin type is definitely one I pay attention to -- Cho Hakkai ー Hakkai is also the type to straight-forwardly fall in love. He’ll be charmed!! ● On the other hand, what type likes him... ー Umm, he may be difficult to like as he is right now!?

下 [Ge] Below NII JIANYI SMILING MAD SCIENTIST!? You’re the Nii Jianyi type, bright-minded and not one to show your real intentions. Your words and actions tend to be unfathomable and your smile can be suspicious, so people around you may suspect that you’re “definitely plotting something”. ● I think I’d get along with someone like him -- Chin Yisou ー Two strange characters!? However, you must have a condescending attitude... ● It’s good luck to be beneath this sort of person!? -- Gyokumen Koushu ー It’ll be worth it someday to give in to his selfishness!?

唯 [Yui] Merely SHA GOJYO A SKIRT-CHASER, BUT ACTUALLY A SENSIBLE PERSON You usually take things lightly. Actually, you possess incredibly various talents. But no matter what you do you’re the jack of all trades, master of none -type for whom many things go unrewarded. You’re someone who can be relied on in a pinch, though you may grumble. You’re admired by everyone. ● The type of person I’d take as my sworn younger brother -- Son Goku ーA comrade he bickers with as soon as he’s near ● Popular with the opposite sex -- Woman at the bar ー Your witty conversation is spot on with anyone

我 [Ga] Oneself GENJO SANZO PRIDE HIGHER THAN A MOUNTAIN!? Quiet and blunt. You are the Sanzo type who is easily misunderstood by all. Your hand (paper fan) moves before your mouth, but that’s because you can’t show your emotions honestly. First, find a friend who can open your heart! ● This type of person can understand you very well -- Cho Hakkai ー Someone who understands your thoughts without saying a word ● What about the type that can open your heart? -- Goku and Lirin ー Uncalculating innocents. Are they small animals or babies!?

独 [Doku] Alone RIKUDO RACE WITH YOUR IMPULSE! You’re the Rikudo type who is moved by emotion, unable to suppress your impulses. Thus, you tend to cause trouble for others, but in the end you know where to draw the line. You’re someone who can easily take things too far, so be careful! ● This is the only person who can suppress you! -- Genjo Sanzo ー This is the person you want to be recognized by. Your embarrassed feelings are important!! ● The person of the opposite sex who will come to like you -- ...... ー Unfortunately right now... And you were such a catch before

尊 [Son] Noble CHO HAKKAI DON’T BE FOOLED BY THE NONCHALANT SMILE You’re the Hakkai type who is good at looking after others and is kind to all. You’re liked by everyone: man or woman, young or old. And, you can calmly make decisions and possess the strength of spirit to use your smile as a weapon (!?) and overcome any situation you get dropped into. ● You can’t leave this kinda guy alone! -- Sha Gojyo ー You have your hands full dealing with the sloppy Gojyo ● This sort of person is a good match -- Kanan ー Anyway, their wavelengths are √+. The perpetually smiling couple.

LOVE LOVE Compatability Check Sanzo, Goku, Gojyo, Hakkai ...... Which character is compatable with you in LOVE LOVE?

Fortunes by Kanon Miwa Profile: Astrologer who loves music, reading and ballet. Pisces. Type O Motto: The grass is greener on the other side. ※ Birthdates are taken into account, so fortunes will be different from start sign -only ones.

GENJO SANZO Birth: November 29, Sagittarius Age: 23 Blood type: A He’s a person who discovers a new self through knowledge and understanding, and strengthens his own power by exchanging energy with others. He can fully demonstrate his powers as a leader and will continue on toward his lofty goal so long as he is in unrestrained. But he tends to abandon his efforts when faced with an obstacle rather than endure it, so when sensitive people get close to him they end up hurt... Also, he will run with wild ideas when pressed. Keywords: Aim high and move your pieces forward

SON GOKU Birth: April 5, Aries Age: 18 Blood type: O Bright and full of charm! But he can be absent-minded, and this has hurt the people around him. But he has no evil intentions! He is the type to attempt things normal people would never think to try, and this awakens his hidden talents. However, he has a habit of jumping into dangerous situations, so be careful! He is the type to become extremely down when depressed, but shows an innocent selfishness when loved. Keywords: Has good intentions...

SHA GOJYO Birth: November 9, Scorpio Age: 22 Blood type: B A passionate person who combines acute human observation skills with precise powers of deduction. His mysterious aura often sets hearts abuzz, but also displays a friendly side when he gets used to his surroundings. Because he’s a passionate person, when he is unable to control himself he can suddenly become deeply jealous. Until he achieves his wish he may fail or arouse the suspicions of the people around him, but he is the type to grow into a trustworthy person while going through many hardships. Keywords: Broad-minded

CHO HAKKAI Birth: September 21, Virgo Age: 22 Blood type: AB Sensitive, and even though he shoulders a burden, he won’t let you know it. He’s the type to soothe people with his elegant charm. However, once he breaks through a wall he suddenly races to the limits and egoistically go out of control, so be careful! Even though he appears to act wildly, in actuality he is unconsciously calculating. He is absolutely an indefatigable person. Keyword: Indefatigable

GENJO SANZO, Sagittarius △ Good 【Cancer】You end up worrying about him. He’ll interact with you more easily if you’re more aggressive! 【Virgo】If you interact with him like a young lady would, he may instead pull away. Interact with him as an equal and he will value you more than anyone else. 【Scorpio】If you approach him too aggressively he tends to be surprised and cool down. First, firmly press forward and then mysteriously attack - that’s the key to success ♡ 【Pisces】Even though you actually have a lot in common, you tend to end up butting heads. Watch over him kindly. ◯ Better 【Taurus】First, put yourself out there with your own original approach. Don’t worry about being too bold; that level is perfect for the two of you. 【Libra】First, start with being friends. As you gradually get closer, he may naturally come to feel more possessive of you. 【Sagittarius】Seems like you could have a telepathic relationship if you don’t restrain each other. Jealousy and the urge to monopolize each other are the sources of your conflicts, so watch out! 【Capricorn】Precisely because you’re a steady person, you can support his unconventional areas! Compromising with each other is important ◎ Best 【Aries】Once the flame is lit, your love will grow bright enough to consume you both. However, if it interferes too much the fire will spread to unrelated areas. 【Gemini】The strength he receives from the sensitive you is the source of his courage. His somewhat rough words are because he trusts you. Don’t worry about it! 【Leo】Your existence is connected to his confidence. The more you love him, the brighter the fire that burns deep within him will burn. Push forward hand in hand! 【Aquarius】Even he acknowledges your superiority, creative as you are. Open his heart little by little through casual conversation!

SON GOKU, Aries △ Good 【Cancer】Your sensitivity tends to awaken his teasing nature. But he actually understands the same pain, so don’t take it to heart! 【Virgo】He easily troubles your intense feelings. Actively promote yourself and restore balance. 【Capricorn】You both tend to get obstinate. Don’t mind the small things; you can have a happy relationship if you can be honest with each other. 【Pisces】When you just can’t seem to understand one another, smile! Cultivate trust by easily smiling at each other. ◯ Better 【Taurus】Heal him with your tolerance and broad-mindedness. If you do that, he’ll come flying into your heart!! 【Leo】Support him even when he goes so crazy you can’t keep up with him. If you do that, you’ll have a good relationship. 【Scropio】At first glance you two stand in contrast to one another, but you definitely have that “something” that connects you deep down. Build up trust thoroughly. 【Aquarius】You’ll progress from an important friend to a best friend he can easily talk with. A deep bond will form from your almost familial relationship. ◎ Best 【Aries】The fact that you two take on unknown things is the secret to your long-continuing, stimulating relationship. You’ll have a bright and happy love like a burning flame ♡ 【Gemini】You two get along very well. If you smile and forgive he selfishness, his kindness will rise even more. 【Libra】You’re the best couple when his power and your wits combine. However, you may need to be cautious when he gets too excited. 【Sagittarius】Right now, it’s important to take just a few more steps. If you can share various dreams and goals, you can have a very good relationship beneficial to you both.

SHA GOJYO, Scorpio △ Good 【Gemini】You may end up hurting one another with a careless comment if the two of you don’t watch your words. Kind words are important. 【Leo】Your upright pride may be too bright for him. If you listen to him carefully, he’ll find it easier to talk to you too. 【Sagittarius】You’re both filled with vitality, but even if you do the same thing you may be thinking completely different things. Keep trying to understand each other! 【Aquarius】If you go at your own pace, he’ll go at his own pace. A tip to have things go well is for both of you to aim for a reliable course. ◯ Better 【Aries】He may dodge you if you bump into him head-on. Get him to honestly view you as the person fascinated with his behavior that you are! 【Virgo】Even if your values differ, he’s a comrade you can live alongside of. Your coolness with light a fire within him. 【Libra】To him, you are a bit of a strange existence. He’ll surely come to understand you if you actively approach him. 【Scorpio】Mightn’t both of you have parts you can’t see because you’re too close? If you patiently listen to each other, you can deepen your bond. ◎ Best 【Taurus】You should be able to accept his tendency to burn himself with the flames of a dark passion. If you devote yourself to healing and amusing him, you could have the best relationship! 【Cancer】He will catch hold of your deep sensitivity. However, be careful of a deep and dangerous corrupting love. 【Capricorn】Although at first glance your personalities are different, your straight-forward approach hits his sweet spot. You two are strangely suitable for one another. ♡ 【Pisces】A very good union. However, be careful you don’t see too much of each other’s good and bad points! Firmly accept his passion.

CHO HAKKAI, Gemini △ Good 【Aries】Be careful not to rub his sensitive feelings the wrong way! If you do you can maintain a very good relationship. 【Gemini】Be careful of your pride and his bumping into one another! While he can be kind he can also be stubborn, so try yielding the first step. 【Sagittarius】He may be puzzled by your assertiveness. However, fun conversations will develop if you listen closely to what he says. 【Aquarius】There’s a possibility you two will become an interesting couple. In order to do so, police your plans without acting on impulse! ◯ Better 【Taurus】A slightly plain but stable union. Cut down on selfishness and follow his lead, and you’ll have a very good relationship. 【Leo】In comparison to his calmness, your feelings tend to jump ahead. You can slow down, it’s okay! 【Virgo】The longer you carefreely chat, the more your hearts will be soothed. Things get tense for some reason when you stay silent, so be careful! 【Libra】You two enjoy conversations full of wit. In order to proceed from friendship to love, the most important thing is to actively push! ◎ Best 【Cancer】He properly understands your feelings. Respect for one another is the best. 【Capricorn】A good union. Your feelings for one another envelop you two like a quiet wave. Don’t forget to add some excitement to your lives. 【Pisces】He’s sensitive and you’re free. You’re contrasting, but actually you have a destined tie. However, don’t hold up in your own world! 【Scorpio】You both find what you lack in the other, and are charmed by it. It will take time for love to bloom, but that’s just the strength of your bond.

※Play the ladder game to find your perfect girlfriend. Pick a letter to start on and follow the line to the left. When you hit a vertical or diagonal line, follow that to the next horizontal line, and continue left from there. The vertical lines with semi-circles 'jump' over the horizontal line. Keep going until you reach your girl! XD

Please let me know if the translated images are too small to read the text, or you want to see the originals. And again, big thanks to @flowermiko for the original scans!

#saiyuki #translation #scans

88 notes · View notes

momtaku · 7 years

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SnK Chapter 93 Poll Results

The chapter 93 poll closed with 1,143 entries. Can I start with a wow? With so many responses, this is going to be a long one.

RATE THE CHAPTER (1024 responses)

The Marley Files continue to grow on us. 77% of respondents rated Chapter 93 very highly.

Best chapter I've ever reviewed in a while. I hope next month will deliver heavy stuff.

My Jaeger reunion hype was amplified by 3000 eggplants after this chapter

Loved the diversity in the new characters. Riener is so torn mentally & emotionally. I believe few more pages on the warrior are still needed before getting back to Paradise. I sense a glimpse of hope in escaping a doomed end. somebody will live & achieve freedom. who? hard to tell.

Everybody has different opinions about the plot, but I do not think anyone can argue about the art. Love this manga. Want to see Levi again!

I never imagined I could love these characters even more. Now I do. Bravo Isayama-sensei, I never felt so hyped for this chapter for the longest time!

Stop trying to make these new kids happen, Isayama. It's not going to happen.

My interest in the manga is reaching an all time low with this focus on Marley. And it looks like we'll still be there next month. I'm so done.

I haven't minded these recent chapters, but I haven't felt like I enjoyed them since its a virtually unknown cast. I did however enjoy chapter 93!

I am loving these chapters. I know they're not everyone's favorites - not by a longshot - but I am so happy to have focus on Reiner and the warriors. The viewpoint from Marley is greatly expanding the scope of the world in SNK, and giving us some much needed backstory. Also, I love the interaction of the warrior cadets with the shifters, and it gives us important insight into how RBAM were prior to becoming shifters, and also helps explain their motivation.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE MOMENT OF THE CHAPTER? (1029 responses)

WHAT IS YOUR SECOND FAVORITE MOMENT? (1027 responses)

I’m combining these two questions since it’s the sum of both that gives us the answer. Clearly there was a lot to love in this chapter, but news about our main cast was cited most frequently as favorite. Learning that Eren and Armin have been smashing Marley ships and discovering that the Ackermans were a"byproduct of titan science” were our #1 and #2 favorite chapter moments.

I think these topping the list tells a lot about where our heart are. While the story is interesting, we are desperate for any news of Paradis.

Meeting Pieck and Galliard was #3. For write-in entries, moments with Reiner were the most common including: Reiner being a big brother, Reiner being alive, Reiner being hot , Reiner dialog with Falco, Reiner growing a spine, Reiner’s PTSD and Seeing the "real" Reiner.

A combination of the Ackermans and Eren/Armin's ship smashing - even if temporary, watching the main characters being set up as mysterious, daunting figures (even to the audience who have gotten to know these characters so thoroughly) is a very interesting approach to starting this new arc. It's probably one of the reasons I don't mind the time skip very much.

All of the above

all of the above...again

I WANT TO KNOW THE ZEKRET

I think the whole Reiner flashback scenes are completely underrated, and are important in really seeing his character development.

BEST NEW CHARACTER? (1048 responses)

Pieck is best girl. I can’t believe Mads got only 11% of the vote!

Why is pieck so popular? She had, like, two lines. Mads and Galliard have more characterisation. Is it because she's a cute girl? *sigh*

After this chapter, if I have to choose side, I'll choose Mads Mikklesen (Hannibal) side better; coz with him, at least he can cook with anything flawlessly, artistically and deliciously. Unlike the other side (Eldia), they eat them meat alive, kicking, crying and raw with blood everywhere...so unrefined taste and way of eating =P

Fuckin Mads Mikkelsen. Dudes a boss even when it's not him

"Can we get a titan ... that can grow wings?" - Mads Mikkelsen 2017

I like how everyone is shipping Galliard x Pieck. I love them too.

someone please give Pieck a medal, not only she's really cute and funny but she's also the best girl and Marley's mvp

Colt is officially my favorite of the new kids. Jerwin ftw

WHY IS EVERYONE SO OBSESSED WITH PIECK

I’m kinda bummed the official translation changed Mads from Admiral to General. Now we can't call him Mads-miral

I voted again just to say how much disappointed left me Mad Mikkelsen is not the best new character for you all

ON A SCALE FROM FALCO TO GABI, HOW BADLY DO YOU WANT REINER TO RUFFLE YOUR HAIR? (1063 responses)

While the majority would willingly submit to a Reiner Hair Ruffle, more than 30% of you would turn it down. Imagine how horrified Gabi would be!

"Never thought I'd see the phrase "rough me up Reiner" yet here I am, agreeing with it wholeheartedly

ON A SCALE OF GALLIARD (1) TO 5, HOW MUCH SYMPATHY DO YOU HAVE FOR REINER? (1083 responses)

I love when charts are perfect stair steps, so thank you! Galliard blamed Reiner for basically everything wrong in the world and apparently 7% agree with that assessment. 36.7% support him with Gabi-level intensity.

I'm in physical pain seeing Reiner like this. Why do I have such an unfortunate taste in favourite characters??

Reiner and the kids hit me right in the eldest sibling feels! I'm an adult with a preteen sister like Gabi and I've really started to sympathize with Reiner more now.

I used to not know if I could hate Reiner or not. I knew there must have been something behind their betrayal, and the last few chapters have cleared this up. Seeing his flashbacks to his friends gave me hope (which I know is a bad thing to have in this series.)

WHICH OF THE WARRIORS DO YOU FEEL MOST SYMPATHY TOWARDS? (1086 responses)

Reiner pulled off a last minute victory, edging our Annie by less than 1%.

Reiner is the best dad. The very best. Not that he has a lot of competition in this show, but still.

I'm not as interested in the "B cast" but seeing Reiner act as a big brother and have PTSD is so heartbreaking

The flashback with Reiner and the older warriors made me want to carve my heart out with a teaspoon.

WHICH OF THE WARRIORS WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO SEE SWITCH SIDES? (1047 responses)

While Reiner was narrowly named most sympathetic, there’s some mad love for Annie and plenty of hope that she’ll return to the Survey Corps. 50.6% would like to see Annie switch side.

when will my wife, annie leonhardt, ever return home from the war? i miss her.

I think right now is the golden opportunity to bring Annie back into the narrative and give her the damn redemption arc she deserves

i always saw reiner helping the sc in the future and i really hope he will switch sides

I want redemption for Annie but after this chapter I lost almost all my hope.

Plot twist: Annie's been helping Paradis destroy those ships and Zeke's seemingly accurate speculation will get shit on

WHEN ANNIE COMES OUT OF THE CRYSTAL, WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING? (1036 responses)

I have to think that seeing Ymir’s fate caused this answer to take a swing towards the negative. 39.3% think Annie will be killed quickly after leaving the crystal.

I don't know if "join the survey corps" is exactly accurate, but I do think she will aid them (mainly because I don't see narrative options for who could take her titan--presumably it would be a woman, it won't be Historia, Sasha or Hange wouldn't make much sense, and Mikasa's whole arc is about learning to live even if she loses her loved ones so I don't see her getting this way out of that.).

I don't think she'll join SC otherwise she will join SC when she was caught. She crystallized herself because she didn't want to join.

Is she guaranteed to come out? I am staring to think the crystalization was a last resort, as in she might as well be dead inside the crystal because she can't get out.

probably something tragic :// thanks isayama... i mean if she ever DOES come out

I think I'll cry no matter what.

IS THERE ANY CHANCE YMIR IS STILL ALIVE? (1066 responses)

I count myself among those who think “not exactly dead” best sums up Ymir. I see too many missing pieces in her story, including her resemblance to the “devil” to accept her fate, but clearly I’m in the minority.

I am so sad about Ymir and hope Historia gets to whoop Galliard's ass for killing her gf

Well if my theory that all past and future Eldians and their memories are connected through the Path (remember Kruger comment) in a sort of lifestream, technically no one is really dead-dead. This theory is called "Ymir is dead: how to cope".

about Ymir - let me hope D;

I REFUSE TO BELIEVE YMIRS DEAD SHE WANTED TO LIVE FOR HERSELF NO WAY IN HELL WOULD SHE LET HER POWERS BE TRADED IN FOR A FUCKBOY LOOKIN ASS BOY LIKE GALLIARD

Of course Ymir is dead. Galliard said he saw her memories of Reiner and the 104th, so he obviously ate her. How can there be any doubt?!

I hope we see more Ymir, flashbacks or otherwise. I found her death incredibly disappointing (a side comment of 'oh yeah btw she's dead' and 2 small panels...really?). Other than that, I enjoyed the chapter.

I haven been waiting so long for Ymir to return... I have to say my reaction was similar to Historia's reading the letters: 'That's all?'

WHY DID ISAYAMA KILL YMIR OFF PANNELS . WHY DID HE KILL HER AT ALL. ITS BEEN YEARS AND ALL WE GOT WAS A LETTER AND A "oh yeah and she's dead".

WILL THE 9TH TITAN HAVE WINGS? (1003 responses)

Welp.

NEED WINGED TITAN

i hope we will never see a titan with wings it would be ridiculous

WHO IS THE CHARACTER IN THE FOREGROUND? (1039 responses)

This was closer than I thought. While the majority think this character is important, a huge number think s/he was a well placed nobody in the foreground of the street scene. Popular write-in suggestions were Eren, Ymir or a Marleyan operative spying on Reiner. The best answer was that it was Isayama himself.

Hajime Isayama wondering how we could ruin the peaceful moment of the warriors and make them suffer

Isayama cameo-ing in his own story (who is also the 9th titan)

It's Eren, are you blind? I don't think there is enough person on Paradis with that hair combined with such low intelligence.

I was KINDA holding out hope that Ymir WASNT dead and that the mysterious person at the end was actually Ymir but.....that's just wishful thinking lol.

BY THE END OF THE SERIES ARMIN WILL VIEW THE OCEAN AS: (1022 responses)

Ok, granted this was a dumb question, but the contrast of Zophia’s view of the ocean as piss water and Armin, who’s dreamed of it his whole life was too cute not to mention. Thankfully one person took me seriously.

Armin is brilliant, so let's not downplay what the ocean means to him. It is more than just a vast body of endless salt water, it represents freedom. As a child Armin didn't just dream of seeing the ocean, he dreamed of seeing the world because that is freedom to him. Zophia's comical comment isn't going to change Armin's outlook. Besides he's 19 years old now, his common sense should tell him that people piss in it.

Your opinions are piss water.

These polls are stupid

These polls aren't even entertaining and are inaccurate. Stop wasting your time.

DO YOU THINK ARMIN IS A COLOSSAL TITAN? (1041 responses)

Welp 2.0

Armin being showns as Colossal Titan was awesome

VERY curious about Armin's mental state at this point.

Our blonde coconut is definitely Alolan Exeggutor now

ON A SCALE OF MAGATH TO ZEKE, HOW BADLY DO YOU WANT TO RETURN TO THE ORIGINAL CAST ON PARADIS? (1098 responses)

I hope we get back to the main cast soon, I'm getting desperate.

I wanna see Levi's ponytail. Yeah I am happy with very little

Wow, the question about returning to the original cast has me divided. Of course I want to see them again, but... BOI, what a chapter this has been. So much information given in such a natural way (unlike 91's f***ing convenient amnesia). Reiner's mental state and what's going on in his head is also enough to make me interested in more Marley episodes. It's natural people want to go back to Paradis, though, it's been more than half a year without seeing much of the original cast.

Stick with the new guys! I really want to see more of them. I trust Isayama can pull this off.

Please god, no more Levi Man Pain hour. Give me more of this sweet warrior development and shades of grey. Many chapters without Levi continue to be good chapters.

I like the idea of a full Marley volume. I think that by the end of it we will meet up with the Paradis crew again.

Seeing even a glimpse of the main cast was enough to get me nostalgic. I'm all for introducing new characters but this late in the series, I want to be with the characters I've already grown to love.

I love that we are finally getting a view of what the other side is like and I would have loved to see more if it weren't for the time-skip. I am at the point where I'm desperate to know what happened to our main crew and how much things have changed for them.

Everyone needs to chill. My faves may be in the main cast, but I've waited forever to get POV chapters dedicated to the warrior side.

WHICH CHARACTERS DO YOU GENERALLY ENJOY THE MOST? (1081 responses)

My beloved vets continue to take a hit both in canon and in the poll. Last month the Vets were at 34.7%. This month that number was down to 23.2%. Meanwhile, the Warriors are up 4% over last month. Support for the 104th remains consistently strong

Final comments

With over a thousand entries, I can’t publish them all, but here’s a sample of the comments. As always, I thank you for the support.

Colt's comment about being honored to have been there while Zeke spoke his mind reminded me of Marco and his motivation for wanting to join the MPs for some reason. I can't unsee this comparison now.

I found it interesting that not only does Zeke have the trust of the Marley government but we also saw another hint that he has a secret agenda. Reiner being protective of the kids was heart-warming! A little more info about the Ackermans being a result of Titan blood science made my inner scientist go beserk with joy! At last we were introduced to Galliard and Pieck in human form.

Lost all faith in Isayama's writing skills after killing Ymir like that...like stop with the years of character development if you will throw it away like that, with just one panel of her sad gay freckled face. Also Mikasa and Levi going captain america yo! nice

I am intrigued by the fact that Marley's titans are beginning to become less powerful in the face of more advanced technology and I'm interested in seeing where the story goes from there.

I would love to free the shifters from the curse. Reiner deserves better, Ymir should be alive... Oh, and I love Colt's drunk side. Hannes would be proud.

I can't help but feel uneasy about the transfer of Marley's Titan Powers. There's been too much time put into these new warriors. They have to play some part in this story, but having Reiner get killed off by just handing over his life, after all this shit he's been through and all the unfinished business he has with the main cast doesn't feel right. I don't want Reiner to go out quietly.

I love this "outside world" arc, we learned a lot of stuff. It's also a hot mess currently, but that's what the series have been and that's why I fucking love it. Not everyone might be a fan of the shifting (hhehe) point of view, but I love how this portrays them as a "good" side, with Paradise being the "bad" side. Like there is no cliche of just black and white, but a hell lot of greys. It reminds me of when Bertholdt screamed "Who do you think actually wants to kill people!?" and "Someone will have to stain their hands with blood!" I'm getting the feeling that Isayama is building up characterization for these new characters, make us care for them (to be honest, I hope they get enough screentime for that), and sympathize them later on. Heck, we'd probably feel bad for them too when all hell breaks loose, and we readers will probably feel conflicted on who to root for. I can see that happening.

I like the Warriors a lot more than I thought I would, and even though I'm dying to get back to the main crew I’ve really enjoyed these chapters and am surprised by how much these new guys are growing on me. I think the pacing will feel a lot better on a reread, it's just hard when you read it monthly.

Reiner, you better get some goddamn agency and protect your pack of children. It may be too late for you, but they can still make it out of this!

This chapter bored me to death. I mean, I understand that this chapter was full of important information and is a pre cooking for the real cooking show but I just couldn't enjoy it. The last 2 chapters have been exhausting to read to the point that it's physically painful. I know a lot of people already loves Gabi and Falco and I know I'm gonna get so much hate for this, but I just couldn't bring myself to get invested or even so much as to like them as I have with the original characters. I mean, I do sympathize them for what they go through and I'm glad we see that because now I have a better grasp of how RBA's childhood was like but everytime they were on, or just the entirety of the last 2 chapters I've been looking for Armin, Eren, Mikasa, Sasha, Jean... And especially since Ymir died this chapter, I felt empty of her death like, I wasn't satisfied of it. I wasn't even convinced. It was like when RB said they were the CT and AT but that was exciting and this was.. heartbreaking. Long story short, this chapter and the previous chapter made me not want to read snk...

I got hyped again! This chapter was by all means, I won't say better or more important, because a story naturally needs descriptive parts like 91 & 92, but more enjoyable. This mainly is due to it building connections between the two sides we have seen in the rest of the series, for example with the Ackermans being revealed as a subproduct of titan science, thus creating suspense. The plot itself, standing still in 91 & 92, starts to move on at least a bit, and indicates a lot of progression for next chapters as well as creating a foundation for new theories and headcanons about the snk world. I personally suspect that, since the Ackermans were supporting the Eldians way before Marley oppressed them and established a titan science program, titan science, a result being the Ackermans, was practiced in Eldia as well. This could mean that Ymir Fritz's encounter with the devil was actually a metaphoric paraphrasing of a scientific breakthrough, which will lead to us hopefully getting a more realistic description of how the titans were created. But back to the chapter. Character wise, I began to sympathize with the warrior kids a lot more as they gained more depth, and Reiner made my heart break in even more pieces than last month. I just feel so sorry for him! But fortunately, Pieck could fix the damage with her beauty. I don't really like Galliard that much but maybe that'll change...let's see! As for Ymir, I sure felt sorry for her, but even though I truly adore her character and look up to her a lot, I didn't really feel that bad about her dying, unlike the majority of the Tumblr community. But that's not because I don't want her to be happy or anything, it's just that Snk is and stays a dark fantasy and drama series where death is a totally normal thing. I actually wouldn't like it if everyone just magically survived, because the story would feel less real and mature to me. And I think that she's got way more character closure than some others, and last but not least we still have her memories. So all in all, this has been a great chapter, I got all my hopes back for the final arc and I can't wait for June to arrive. (This is like waaaaay to long for a poll comment but well....)

EXTRA DANCC

#snk chapter 93 poll #snk poll #snk 93 #snk analysis #snk poll result #thank you to everyone who participated!

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weightlossfitness2 · 4 years

Text

Foods to Avoid to Lose Weight

At Precision Nutrition, we don’t inform our purchasers precisely what to eat—or what to not eat.

In truth, we boldly say: “There are no bad foods.”

Our stance tends to spark tons and many questions, which is why we determined to take a deep dive into the entire “good foods vs. bad foods” debate.

In this text we’ll:

discover how good vs. dangerous considering can really set individuals as much as eat MORE of the “bad” meals

provide an alternate method to consider sweets, chips, and different low-nutrient meals

present strategies we use to assist to liberate purchasers from the great vs. dangerous mindset.

We’ll be trustworthy. The “no bad foods” philosophy could be actually scary, particularly for individuals who’ve spent years organizing meals into good and dangerous classes.

But it may also be equally transformative.

We’ve discovered that after our purchasers welcome the meals they love again into their lives—with out worry and with out guilt—they wrestle much less, get pleasure from consuming extra, and, lastly, are capable of overcome obstacles that stand between them and their wholesome consuming objectives.

Why the great vs. dangerous strategy simply doesn’t work.

Many individuals divide meals into simply two classes.

Good meals: Vegetables, legumes, complete grains, fish, lean meat, and different minimally-processed, nutrient-dense meals.

Bad meals: Sweets, chips, crackers, white bread, fries, and different highly-processed meals that provide little to no dietary worth.

And earlier than we clarify why we don’t kind meals into “good” and “bad” buckets, we need to be very clear. The dietary variations between these two classes are fairly straightforward to identify.

Many of the so-called “bad” meals, in excessive quantities, can elevate the danger for a wide range of ailments.

They’re additionally extremely arduous to withstand. (The meals business actually has created low-cost, simply accessible merchandise that our style buds and brains love.)

But are they dangerous?

We don’t use that terminology—for six main causes.

Reason #1: One single meals doesn’t outline your whole weight loss program.

Maybe you’ve heard of a youngster who ate simply 4 meals for many of his life: fries, chips, white bread, and processed pork.1

And then he went blind.

It’s a cautionary story, for certain, however it’s necessary to maintain one factor in perspective: That teen is an outlier. Most individuals don’t eat simply 4 meals.

They eat a range.

And the fries, chips, bread, and pork didn’t trigger the teenager’s blindness immediately.

They precipitated it not directly—by crowding out meals wanted for good eye well being.

What really issues for good well being? Balance.

In different phrases, you don’t need your toaster pastries, spray cheese-like product, and crescent rolls to crowd out veggies, fruit, beans, nuts, recent meats, seafood, and different nutrient-dense complete meals.

If they do, like the teenager we talked about, you run the danger of deficiency.

So the query is: Are you in stability?

We expertise huge advantages (fats loss, improved well being) once we go from poor diet to common or above common.

But ultimately, we see diminishing returns.

As this chart exhibits, not solely are positive aspects a lot tougher to see after 80 to 90 p.c of your weight loss program consists of complete, minimally-processed meals, you additionally run the danger of consuming problems like orthorexia (an unhealthy obsession with wholesome consuming).

Is most (80 to 90 p.c) of what you eat nutrient-dense and minimally processed? (Think veggies, fruit, meat, fish, nuts, seeds, beans, lentils, complete grains.) Then there’s seemingly room for much less nutritious meals.

Is most of what you eat highly-processed and nutrient-poor? (Think sweets and chips.) Consider small actions to make your weight loss program just a bit bit higher. Slowly add extra nutrient-dense meals (veggies, fruit, fish, poultry, and so forth) to every meal. Use our “What Should I Eat?” infographic for steering.

Reason #2: No one meals is dangerous for all individuals in all conditions.

To illustrate this level, Precision Nutrition Master Coach Kate Solovieva typically brings up cola.

Many individuals see it as a foul meals. Because it’s loaded with sugar and missing in nutritional vitamins and minerals.

But is cola dangerous in all conditions?

“Let’s say you’re visiting a country with no safe drinking water,” says Solovieva. “In that case, cola—with its air-tight seal—is a much better option than water.”

Or, possibly you’re sixty sweaty miles right into a 100-mile bike race and your blood sugar is so low that you simply’re hallucinating flying pink elephants. In that case, the sugar and caffeine within the cola may make the distinction between ending the race and a DNF.

Our particular person physiology and psychology additionally have an effect on what occurs once we eat particular meals.

Added sugar, for instance, impacts somebody with sort 2 diabetes otherwise than it impacts somebody whose cells are insulin delicate. And it could have an effect on the identical individual otherwise relying on whether or not they’re sleep disadvantaged.

At PN, we discuss lots about deep well being—which describes a lot greater than our weight, ldl cholesterol degree, and blood sugar.

Deep well being contains the place we stay and the way we really feel and who we spend time with. It’s about each side of who we’re.

When you think about well being on this mild, the precise meals grow to be much less necessary, and the general consuming sample and full context of somebody’s life turns into much more necessary.

Reason #three: Demonizing sure meals could make them much more interesting.

Lots of individuals inform us that 100 p.c abstaining from “bad foods” is the one method they will keep any smidgen of management round their consuming.

If they are saying “okay” to 1 “bad” meals, they fear they’ll open the floodgates to a weight loss program swollen with cookies, brownies, chips, and fries—in addition to devoid of veggies and different complete meals.

Here’s the factor:

There’s a delicate distinction between demonizing a meals and merely abstaining from it as a result of you understand you are likely to overeat it.

When we demonize meals, we “moralize these foods—thinking of ourselves as bad people for eating them,” says Solovieva.

This paradoxically can enhance our want for the very meals we’re making an attempt to not eat. When researchers from Arizona State University confirmed dieters damaging messages about unhealthy meals, the dieters skilled elevated cravings for these meals—and ate extra of them.2

It’s true that some individuals can prohibit sure “bad” meals for some time.

But, for lots of people, cravings ultimately overwhelm their skill to limit. And once they eat one thing “bad”—they really feel responsible. So they eat much more—and should even cease making an attempt to achieve their objectives. This can create a vicious circle, because the graphic under exhibits.

Now, allow us to be clear: For some individuals, sure meals will not be definitely worth the wrestle—no less than for now. They might determine that, in the event that they’re round sure meals, they’re going to overeat them. So they get them out of the home.

And that technique can work. In truth, we encourage our purchasers to do kitchen makeovers and take away meals they have a tendency to overeat.

But it’s not the identical factor as labeling a meals as “bad.”

When we label meals “something I tend to overeat” quite than “bad,” we’re higher capable of loosen up, stay versatile, and, doubtlessly, develop into somebody who can get pleasure from the identical meals, carefully.

Reason #four: Categorizing meals as “good” and “bad” can work—however often just for some time.

Having coached greater than 100,000 purchasers, we are able to say with confidence that “all or nothing” hardly ever will get us “all.”

Instead, it typically will get us nothing.

For instance, when somebody decides to cease consuming “bad” meals, often they fight actually arduous to remain true to their aim. They’re dedicated, and so they even might keep on with avoiding an extended checklist of forbidden meals… for a bit.

But then one thing goes incorrect.

Maybe they go to work and discover that a coworker left home made brownies on their desk.

Or each a part of their day goes sideways and, within the night, they discover themselves head down in a gallon of chocolate chip cookie dough as they suppose “This is bad.”

Or they’re driving for hours to go to kinfolk, pull right into a relaxation cease, and all they discover to eat: the stuff on their forbidden meals checklist.

Rigidity—good or dangerous, all or nothing—is the enemy of consistency.

But on the flipside, flexibility helps you keep extra constant. That’s as a result of it lets you lean into all of the options out there to you.

Flexibility additionally frees individuals to make use of inner steering—quite than another person’s exterior guidelines—to determine what meals to eat, when to eat them, and why.

So, for instance, quite than avoiding sugar simply because a well being website informed them to cease consuming it, somebody may think about:

Am I hungry?

Am I careworn?

Is this meals value it to me?

What else have I eaten at present?

What would enable me to really get pleasure from this meals—with out going overboard?

That inner steering may enable that individual with the brownie to say, “You know, I really like brownies, but I’m going to save this until after lunch, when I’m not as hungry, so I can eat it slowly and truly savor it.”

Or that one who is head down within the gallon of ice cream to say, “Okay, so this was probably more ice cream than my body really needed. True. No getting around that. How can I avoid feeling this triggered in the future? And are there other ways I can comfort myself that don’t involve raiding the freezer?”

And for that individual on the relaxation cease, flexibility permits them to scan their decisions and go for the most effective meal for them at that second.

Reason #5: It’s actually okay—and fully regular—to eat for pleasure.

Food serves many functions far past simply flooding somebody’s physique with vitamins and energy.

Some meals aren’t essentially loaded with vitamins, however they:

Taste wonderful.

Connect us with associates and households.

Create a way of belonging.

Make celebrations worthwhile.

In different phrases, meals isn’t simply gasoline. It’s additionally love and tradition and pleasure—and an entire lot extra.

When you consider meals on this method, every little thing—even your grandma’s particular black forest cake—can have a goal and a spot.

Rather than an inventory of meals you possibly can or can’t eat, you as an alternative have decisions. You have meals you select to eat for vitality, for pleasure, for well being, and lots of different necessary causes.

Reason #6: When we obsess over “bad foods,” we rob ourselves of the power to evolve.

Rigidly abstaining can train us to get actually good at… abstaining.

And when you’re okay with abstaining from an extended checklist of meals for the remainder of your life, there’s nothing incorrect with that strategy.

But when you’re not okay with a life sentence of no cookies, no brownies, no cake, no bread, and no pasta, then you might be completely happy to study that there’s an alternate strategy. It entails getting inquisitive about why you wrestle to average your consumption of sure meals.

Consider:

What results in feeling out-of-control?

What triggers the “I need this” and the “I can’t stop eating this” ideas?

When is it doable to eat this meals in average quantities (if ever)? When isn’t it?

The level: Rather than zeroing in on “bad foods,” search for the underlying causes (known as triggers) that lead you to wrestle.

A set off generally is a:

Feeling. We may eat extra once we’re careworn, lonely, or bored. Food fills the void.

Time of day. We at all times have a cookie at 11 am, or a soda at three pm. It’s simply a part of our routine.

Social setting. Hey, everybody else is having beer and hen wings, so may as effectively be a part of the completely happy hour!

Place. For some purpose, a darkish movie show or our mother and father’ kitchen may make us need to munch.

Thought sample. Thinking “I deserve this” or “Life is too hard to chew kale” may steer us towards the drive-thru window.

To uncover triggers, we regularly ask our purchasers to maintain a meals journal—writing down every little thing they eat and drink for per week or two. When they discover themselves craving or feeling uncontrolled, we ask them to jot down the solutions to questions like:

What am I feeling?

What time is it?

Who am I with?

Where am I?

What ideas am I having?

They strategy it with a “feedback not failure” mentality.

The level isn’t to catch them doing one thing incorrect. It’s to assist them assess what’s actually occurring.

Once we perceive why our purchasers are reaching for these meals, we’re better-equipped to counsel actions that actually assist them transfer in direction of a more healthy relationship with all meals.

One Man’s Evolution Away From Bad Foods

Dominic Matteo grew up studying bodybuilding magazines. For most of his life, he considered veggies, hen breast, egg whites, candy potatoes, oats, and some different meals as “good.”

All different meals? Bad.

These distinctions didn’t hassle him when he wasn’t making an attempt to shed fats.

But as soon as he began making an attempt to limit his consumption, the label “bad” functioned like a tractor beam that drew him straight to the ice cream.

“That’s when I was like, ‘Oh, this is a problem,’” he says.

For a number of months, he fully abstained from all sweets. He simply didn’t eat sugar—in any respect.

But he knew that wasn’t a sustainable—or fulfilling—technique to stay.

After making use of Precision Nutrition methods, nonetheless, Matteo began to view his checklist of dangerous meals otherwise. Rather than seeing ice cream as “bad,” he considered it as “a food I enjoy, but slows my progress.”

That new label allowed him to contemplate how and underneath what circumstances he would coexist with this candy deal with.

“Now, if I do eat it, it will be under certain conditions that I can feel happy about,” he says.

For instance, he likes to take pleasure in ice cream from outlets that make it recent that day. But lower-quality ice cream isn’t value it for him.

Today, Matteo is greater than 100 kilos lighter and, as a Precision Nutrition Master Coach, he’s serving to others to observe in his footsteps.

“If there are no good or bad foods, how can anyone ever know what to eat—and what to limit?”

We hear this lots.

That’s as a result of some individuals assume that “no bad foods” is synonymous with “all foods are good so eat whatever you want.”

But that’s not what we’re saying in any respect.

We are, nonetheless, saying this: Rather than sorting meals into simply two buckets—good and dangerous—it’s often extra useful for most individuals to see meals as a continuum of eat extra, eat some, and eat much less.

This may, at first, merely sound like one other technique to kind meals into classes.

But it’s not.

Unlike lists of dangerous meals, which are typically universally inflexible, a continuum “allows everything to be contextual and personalized,” explains Precision Nutrition Master Coach Dominic Matteo.

“If my goal is muscle gain, my continuum will look different than if my goal is fat loss,” Matteo says.

Once individuals outline that continuum for themselves, we then work with them to seek out methods to incorporate extra “eat more” meals and fewer “eat less” meals, aiming to make every meal just a bit bit higher.

For instance, earlier than Matteo grew to become a Precision Nutrition Master Coach, he was a consumer who needed to lose fats. This is how “just a little bit better” regarded like for him for a selected quick meals lunch.

He ultimately ended up in an identical place that some forbidden meals lists might have despatched him, however he did it in small steps, and in a method that was finally extra sustainable.

What’s extra, it didn’t imply he might by no means have a double bacon cheeseburger once more. Sometimes he does, however he enjoys it—on his phrases.

“My client believes in bad foods—as if they were a religion. Help!”

Saying, “there are no bad foods” often ends in a clean stare.

So, faux you don’t know the solutions, says Kate Solovieva.

Assume a poker face, and ask questions that appear apparent.

What follows is a dialog Solovieva had with a consumer about this very matter.

Client: Bad meals are my drawback. I want to chop them out. I simply can’t eat them.

Coach: So, are you able to inform me slightly bit extra. When you speak about chopping out the dangerous meals, what does that appear like?

Client: Taking sugar out of my weight loss program.

Coach: So whenever you say sugar, what are among the issues you might be considering of?

Client: Cookies. Pastries. Chocolate—chocolate is my weak spot.

Coach: So… you actually get pleasure from chocolate?

Client: I do.

Coach: Help me perceive. What is it that you simply get pleasure from?

Client: I don’t know if it’s the frenzy of consuming the chocolate bar itself. Or possibly it’s the truth that I don’t have it on a regular basis. I don’t know. There’s one thing about chocolate.

Coach: So, in some methods, it makes you’re feeling tremendous good. And it clearly provides you pleasure. What makes you label it as dangerous?

Client: It’s the high-calorie rely and the quantity—the portion.

Coach: So the excessive variety of energy makes it dangerous? Can you clarify?

Client: Well, for me, it results in weight achieve.

Coach: So what I’m listening to is that it’s not the chocolate that’s dangerous. It’s the load achieve that’s dangerous. Is that proper?

Client: Pretty a lot. Exactly.

Coach: So I’m inquisitive about one thing you mentioned. You love chocolate. You get pleasure from it. You just like the style of it. When I requested why it’s dangerous, you informed me concerning the energy and the parts. Can you inform me extra?

Client: Well, I can’t simply have one or two squares. Ideally I shouldn’t have any greater than 5 squares—half a bar. But I don’t have that management. The second I style it, I’ve to have increasingly more and extra.

Coach: So what occurs whenever you don’t have chocolate in any respect?

Client: I’ve gone months with out it. And it’s nice! But then I find yourself consuming it—like on a special day. And then I binge. And then every little thing goes downhill. So I’m higher off not having it in any respect.

Coach: What do you suppose would occur when you had slightly bit… on a regular basis? Like on goal.

Client: I don’t know…I don’t suppose I’ve that management. Should I attempt that?

Coach: I don’t know. Should you?

Client: (Sounding tentative) Sure, possibly I can attempt that?

Coach: Well, what I’m listening to is that you simply get pleasure from it. And it sounds just like the bingeing conduct is going on since you don’t have it every single day. So possibly you possibly can do this as an experiment. Maybe you see what occurs if, each single day, you might have this factor that you simply get pleasure from. And whenever you eat it, in order for you extra, you possibly can simply remind your self which you could have extra—tomorrow. Are you with me?

Client: Yes.

Coach: It’s a scary experiment. But when you determine to provide it a shot, let me know, okay?

Client: Okay, I’ll. I’m kinda nervous about it, however I’ll attempt it.

And then the dialog can go on to outline the experiment: How a lot chocolate? What time of day? How will you eat it?

And it doesn’t matter what the consumer finally does—whether or not the consumer tries the suggestion or not—“you’re in a position for them to come back to you without feeling judged,” Solovieva says.

“Isn’t it just easier to not eat certain foods?”

For some individuals in some conditions at sure factors of their journey: sure.

But this have to abstain doesn’t need to be a everlasting scenario. Once they develop a spread of habits, many individuals can shift from abstaining from sure meals to moderating them.

That’s why we wish to ask our purchasers to contemplate two questions concerning the meals they consider as dangerous:

What does this meals do—for you?

What would you like it to do?

For instance, possibly, proper now, sure meals make you’re feeling uncontrolled since you wrestle to cease consuming them when you begin. But you’d like them to merely grow to be meals you get pleasure from carefully.

What are the entire doable methods of going from level A (uncontrolled) to level B (one thing I get pleasure from carefully)?

There are dozens of different prospects that we didn’t even checklist on the chart above. You may attempt one. You may attempt a number of. You may attempt all of them.

The level: You might discover that liberating your self from the great vs. dangerous mindset frees you to see extra prospects than ever earlier than.

And, alongside the best way, you may additionally uncover that this broader, extra versatile mindset permits you not solely to get pleasure from each meal a heck of much more—but additionally to achieve your objectives extra rapidly.

References

Click right here to view the data sources referenced on this article.

If you’re a coach, otherwise you need to be…

Learning methods to coach purchasers, sufferers, associates, or members of the family by way of wholesome consuming and life-style modifications—in a method that provides them flexibility and matches their private preferences—is each an artwork and a science.

If you’d wish to study extra about each, think about the Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certification. The subsequent group kicks off shortly.

What’s all of it about?

The Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certification is the world’s most revered diet schooling program. It provides you the information, techniques, and instruments you want to actually perceive how meals influences an individual’s well being and health. Plus the power to show that information right into a thriving teaching observe.

Developed over 15 years, and confirmed with over 100,000 purchasers and sufferers, the Level 1 curriculum stands alone because the authority on the science of diet and the artwork of teaching.

Whether you’re already mid-career, or simply beginning out, the Level 1 Certification is your springboard to a deeper understanding of diet, the authority to educate it, and the skill to show what you understand into outcomes.

[Of course, when you’re already a pupil or graduate of the Level 1 Certification, try our Level 2 Certification Master Class. It’s an unique, year-long mentorship designed for elite professionals trying to grasp the artwork of teaching and be a part of the highest 1% of well being and health coaches on this planet.]

Interested? Add your title to the presale checklist. You’ll save as much as 30% and safe your spot 24 hours earlier than everybody else.

We’ll be opening up spots in our subsequent Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certification on Wednesday, April eighth, 2020.

If you need to discover out extra, we’ve arrange the next presale checklist, which provides you two benefits.

Pay lower than everybody else. We wish to reward people who find themselves keen to spice up their credentials and are able to decide to getting the schooling they want. So we’re providing a reduction of as much as 30% off the overall worth whenever you join the presale checklist.

Sign up 24 hours earlier than most of the people and enhance your probabilities of getting a spot. We solely open the certification program twice per yr. Due to excessive demand, spots in this system are restricted and have traditionally offered out in a matter of hours. But whenever you join the presale checklist, we’ll provide the alternative to register a full 24 hours earlier than anybody else.

If you’re prepared for a deeper understanding of diet, the authority to educate it, and the skill to show what you understand into outcomes… that is your probability to see what the world’s high skilled diet teaching system can do for you.

The post Foods to Avoid to Lose Weight appeared first on Weight Loss Fitness.

from Weight Loss Fitness https://weightlossfitnesss.info/foods-to-avoid-to-lose-weight/

0 notes

likefusion · 7 years

Text

7 Ways to Use Your Personal Brand to Find More Clients: I've used a lot of different digital marketing tactics over the years. SEO has been the main one. Content marketing comes a close second. But I've also used social media marketing, influencer marketing, video marketing, pay per click advertising, affiliate marketing, email marketing…. If it's “digital” and “marketing,” I've probably done it. But there's one form of marketing that doesn't fit neatly into the “digital” category. It's a mashup of personal, professional, digital, social, content, and whatever else. It's personal branding. Personal branding is huge. In fact, if you expect to succeed in any way in today's socially-connected and digitally-driven world, you have to build your personal brand. Personal branding isn't just for celebrities. It's not just for big-shot entrepreneurs. It's not just for wantrepreneurs. It's not just for selfie-obsessed egotists. It's for everybody! An article in Elite Daily puts it like this: We often think about branding as something done only by large corporations, but everyone has a personal brand. Everyone. You may fill a back-office role in a massive agency, but you still need personal branding. You may be an introvert who avoids other humans, but you still need personal branding. If I were to pick one form of marketing that has been crucial to my personal development, professional success, and level of achievement, I'd have to say it's personal branding. In fact, I can point to a number of occasions when my personal brand has provided me with clients. Over the years, I've learned several super helpful tips for cultivating my personal brand to build my client base. My new audiences have not always grown quickly. It takes years to create credibility and grow your influence. Personal branding is hard that way. You can't simply pull out a few tactics, throw some money at it, and expect it to work. Thankfully, however, there are some tried-and-true tactics that will give you a real edge. Some of them are really basic, e.g., being honest and authentic. Others are creative, e.g., investing in strong visuals. But all of them work. Give them a try. Take some time, and your personal brand can become a source of clients, just as it has with me. The tips that follow are slanted towards content. Along with your personal brand building, you should also be using content marketing for your growth. Tip #1: Show you're an expert The number one method for demonstrating your expertise is through rock-solid, long-form, super-helpful content. Content wins the day. It's just that simple. You have to set yourself apart in an online space, where you are competing with other brands for the attention of your new customers. To do this, show you are an expert in your field. You can do this by establishing your credibility through talking about the clients you have worked with and the years you have been in the industry. But you can also communicate this more creatively through tip sheets and Buzzfeed-like lists, which can give your audience information that matters in their lives. Obviously, showing you're an expert means two things: Choosing an area of expertise. Being an actual expert. Don't let number two trip you up. Have you ever heard the phrase “fake it till you make it?” There's some truth to that. If you don't feel like an expert, don't sweat it. Just act like one. Pretty soon, you'll become one (even if you don't feel it). Then, you can show you're one. Tip #2: Appeal to Millennials You can't leave Millennials out of the mix when you are building your personal brand to leverage a new audience. Want to know why? Here's why. Millennials will be the number one demographic that sees and responds to your personal brand. One of the most important changes you can make in your branding communication is the social platforms you use and the kinds of content you create. Why? Because Millennials are the socially connected generation. Use popular social networks such as Instagram and Snapchat to market your personal brand. In addition, create content such as videos to grab the attention of your audience and market your expertise. Tip #3: Be authentic and transparent One of the most important things you can do as you market your personal brand is to remain authentic and transparent. Case in point is entrepreneur and coach Leigh Louey-Gung, who created a strong business for himself through a process of radical honesty. Leigh was passionate about helping other entrepreneurs and created Secure Thoughts to help educate them about maintaining privacy on the web. We are marketers at the end of the day, and you are crafting a specific narrative about yourself. Remember, you always have to come through on your promises and back up what you say to your audience. If you don't, they will have no problem walking away. Many of the clients I serve today came to me because they were scammed by some other agency. I was able to maintain my integrity, keep my promises, and give them results. Tip #4: Invest in strong visuals I hate to say it, but if someone sees low quality photos on your site, they will subconsciously perceive you as not trustworthy or as unprofessional. Get ahead of the game by having professional photos of yourself taken for your website. Your photos and website may be your new customer's first impression of you! When I'm looking for a new hire, I can't help but base my impression of them on their LinkedIn photo. I'm trying very hard not to be biased against a blurry or drunken party profile pic, but it's hard! One of the best ways to get clients through your personal branding is simply to look the part! Tip #5: Incentivize your target audience One of the fastest ways you can use your personal brand to build your target audience is by giving something away. And I don't mean just anything. If you can give away a great product related to your personal brand, you have a greater chance of attracting a new audience. Entrepreneur Magazine, for example, highlights the case study of a women's boutique that gave away a kimono in order to attract new customers. This strategy works really well for building a personal brand. Let's say you're building a personal brand as a copywriter. Attract customers by asking them to enter a contest by submitting their email addresses. The prize could be free copywriting for a week or copywriting for a special project. Simple? Sure. But effective? Absolutely. Tip #6: Be known for something different Have you noticed a lot of people's Twitter bios sound the same? Social marketing guru. Coffee aficionado. Cat lover. If you're not intentional, your effort at personal branding might not be making you known. Sounds familiar, right? There are ways to set yourself apart, but it might feel uncomfortable. For example, I learned (by accident) that wearing sunglasses (even at night) allowed me to build my personal brand. (You can read more about why I wear them here.) The people who do really well at personal branding, always have one thing they're well known for. It might be weird. It might be uncomfortable. But it makes them memorable! What about face-to-face networking and personal brand building? You need to have a business card on hand that sets you apart. Think creatively, but make sure your card is simple and provides the information a new client needs. Try a card, for example, that's made of a smooth paper, has a non-standard shape, or is a die-cut. These cards are more interesting and can leave a bigger impression. Tip #7: Form strong online relationships with influencers who can help Even though we call it personal branding, it's really not 100% personal. Basically, you can't do this on your own. And you shouldn't even try. Personal branding is all about connecting with others, serving others, helping others, getting to know others, learning from others, adding value to others. If you view personal branding as a form of marketing (which it is), you have to remember what the heart of marketing is. What's the heart of marketing? No, it's not shouting your message to the masses. It's giving value to the right people! Some of my best clients started out as friends of friends. For example, early in my career, I met an individual at a conference. To be honest, his personal demeanor and \grooming left a lot to be desired. Most people ignored the guy. I spent some time with him and helped him out, doing what I could. Eventually, he introduced me to more clients! I didn't realize it when I helped him the first time, but this guy was connected! And through him, I earned many more clients. Over time, your relationships will help boost your personal brand and lead to a growing audience. You may not be able to become BFFs with Tim Ferriss in your first few days of personal branding. Over time, however, you'll build the right connections with the right audience and get the right clients. Conclusion Experiment with these seven pro tips for leveraging your personal brand to find a larger, more committed target audience. As marketers, we have to be willing to take a few risks and to be creative in our approach. You can use these tips to cultivate and attract your audience, but you'll need to deliver on your content promises. Your customers won't be pleased in the long run if you're not giving them new valuable information applicable to their lives or products that can make a difference for them personally. If you're ready to start building your audience and to attract new customers, use the tips in this article—they've worked for me as I've built my personal brand. You'll be on your way to charting a new path for your company and creating energy around your products and services. Are you ready for an overhaul of your personal brand? http://bit.ly/2rgYgEM

0 notes

reverseskydives · 7 years

Text

7 Ways to Use Your Personal Brand to Find More Clients

I’ve used a lot of different digital marketing tactics over the years.

SEO has been the main one.

Content marketing comes a close second.

But I’ve also used social media marketing, influencer marketing, video marketing, pay per click advertising, affiliate marketing, email marketing….

If it’s “digital” and “marketing,” I’ve probably done it.

But there’s one form of marketing that doesn’t fit neatly into the “digital” category.

It’s a mashup of personal, professional, digital, social, content, and whatever else.

It’s personal branding.

Personal branding is huge.

In fact, if you expect to succeed in any way in today’s socially-connected and digitally-driven world, you have to build your personal brand.

Personal branding isn’t just for celebrities.

It’s not just for big-shot entrepreneurs.

It’s not just for wantrepreneurs.

It’s not just for selfie-obsessed egotists.

It’s for everybody!

An article in Elite Daily puts it like this:

We often think about branding as something done only by large corporations, but everyone has a personal brand.

Everyone.

You may fill a back-office role in a massive agency, but you still need personal branding.

You may be an introvert who avoids other humans, but you still need personal branding.

If I were to pick one form of marketing that has been crucial to my personal development, professional success, and level of achievement, I’d have to say it’s personal branding.

In fact, I can point to a number of occasions when my personal brand has provided me with clients.

Over the years, I’ve learned several super helpful tips for cultivating my personal brand to build my client base.

My new audiences have not always grown quickly. It takes years to create credibility and grow your influence.

Personal branding is hard that way. You can’t simply pull out a few tactics, throw some money at it, and expect it to work.

Thankfully, however, there are some tried-and-true tactics that will give you a real edge. Some of them are really basic, e.g., being honest and authentic.

Others are creative, e.g., investing in strong visuals.

But all of them work. Give them a try. Take some time, and your personal brand can become a source of clients, just as it has with me.

The tips that follow are slanted towards content. Along with your personal brand building, you should also be using content marketing for your growth.

Tip #1: Show you’re an expert

The number one method for demonstrating your expertise is through rock-solid, long-form, super-helpful content.

Content wins the day. It’s just that simple.

You have to set yourself apart in an online space, where you are competing with other brands for the attention of your new customers.

To do this, show you are an expert in your field.

You can do this by establishing your credibility through talking about the clients you have worked with and the years you have been in the industry.

But you can also communicate this more creatively through tip sheets and Buzzfeed-like lists, which can give your audience information that matters in their lives.

Obviously, showing you’re an expert means two things:

Choosing an area of expertise.

Being an actual expert.

Don’t let number two trip you up.

Have you ever heard the phrase “fake it till you make it?”

There’s some truth to that. If you don’t feel like an expert, don’t sweat it. Just act like one.

Pretty soon, you’ll become one (even if you don’t feel it). Then, you can show you’re one.

Tip #2: Appeal to Millennials

You can’t leave Millennials out of the mix when you are building your personal brand to leverage a new audience.

Want to know why?

Here’s why.

Millennials will be the number one demographic that sees and responds to your personal brand.

One of the most important changes you can make in your branding communication is the social platforms you use and the kinds of content you create.

Why? Because Millennials are the socially connected generation.

Use popular social networks such as Instagram and Snapchat to market your personal brand.

In addition, create content such as videos to grab the attention of your audience and market your expertise.

Tip #3: Be authentic and transparent

One of the most important things you can do as you market your personal brand is to remain authentic and transparent.

Case in point is entrepreneur and coach Leigh Louey-Gung, who created a strong business for himself through a process of radical honesty.

Leigh was passionate about helping other entrepreneurs and created Secure Thoughts to help educate them about maintaining privacy on the web.

We are marketers at the end of the day, and you are crafting a specific narrative about yourself.

Remember, you always have to come through on your promises and back up what you say to your audience.

If you don’t, they will have no problem walking away.

Many of the clients I serve today came to me because they were scammed by some other agency.

I was able to maintain my integrity, keep my promises, and give them results.

Tip #4: Invest in strong visuals

I hate to say it, but if someone sees low quality photos on your site, they will subconsciously perceive you as not trustworthy or as unprofessional.

Get ahead of the game by having professional photos of yourself taken for your website.

Your photos and website may be your new customer’s first impression of you!

When I’m looking for a new hire, I can’t help but base my impression of them on their LinkedIn photo.

I’m trying very hard not to be biased against a blurry or drunken party profile pic, but it’s hard!

One of the best ways to get clients through your personal branding is simply to look the part!

Tip #5: Incentivize your target audience

One of the fastest ways you can use your personal brand to build your target audience is by giving something away.

And I don’t mean just anything. If you can give away a great product related to your personal brand, you have a greater chance of attracting a new audience.

Entrepreneur Magazine, for example, highlights the case study of a women’s boutique that gave away a kimono in order to attract new customers.

This strategy works really well for building a personal brand.

Let’s say you’re building a personal brand as a copywriter.

Attract customers by asking them to enter a contest by submitting their email addresses. The prize could be free copywriting for a week or copywriting for a special project.

Simple? Sure. But effective? Absolutely.

Tip #6: Be known for something different

Have you noticed a lot of people’s Twitter bios sound the same?

Social marketing guru. Coffee aficionado. Cat lover.

If you’re not intentional, your effort at personal branding might not be making you known.

Sounds familiar, right?

There are ways to set yourself apart, but it might feel uncomfortable.

For example, I learned (by accident) that wearing sunglasses (even at night) allowed me to build my personal brand.

(You can read more about why I wear them here.)

The people who do really well at personal branding, always have one thing they’re well known for.

It might be weird. It might be uncomfortable. But it makes them memorable!

What about face-to-face networking and personal brand building?

You need to have a business card on hand that sets you apart. Think creatively, but make sure your card is simple and provides the information a new client needs.

Try a card, for example, that’s made of a smooth paper, has a non-standard shape, or is a die-cut. These cards are more interesting and can leave a bigger impression.

Tip #7: Form strong online relationships with influencers who can help

Even though we call it personal branding, it’s really not 100% personal.

Basically, you can’t do this on your own. And you shouldn’t even try.

Personal branding is all about connecting with others, serving others, helping others, getting to know others, learning from others, adding value to others.

If you view personal branding as a form of marketing (which it is), you have to remember what the heart of marketing is.

What’s the heart of marketing?

No, it’s not shouting your message to the masses.

It’s giving value to the right people!

Some of my best clients started out as friends of friends.

For example, early in my career, I met an individual at a conference. To be honest, his personal demeanor and \grooming left a lot to be desired.

Most people ignored the guy. I spent some time with him and helped him out, doing what I could.

Eventually, he introduced me to more clients!

I didn’t realize it when I helped him the first time, but this guy was connected! And through him, I earned many more clients.

Over time, your relationships will help boost your personal brand and lead to a growing audience.

You may not be able to become BFFs with Tim Ferriss in your first few days of personal branding. Over time, however, you’ll build the right connections with the right audience and get the right clients.

Conclusion

Experiment with these seven pro tips for leveraging your personal brand to find a larger, more committed target audience.

As marketers, we have to be willing to take a few risks and to be creative in our approach.

You can use these tips to cultivate and attract your audience, but you’ll need to deliver on your content promises.

Your customers won’t be pleased in the long run if you’re not giving them new valuable information applicable to their lives or products that can make a difference for them personally.

If you’re ready to start building your audience and to attract new customers, use the tips in this article—they’ve worked for me as I’ve built my personal brand.

You’ll be on your way to charting a new path for your company and creating energy around your products and services.

Are you ready for an overhaul of your personal brand?

from Social Media Marketing http://ift.tt/2q9xLUj via Social Media Marketing

#Social Media Marketing

0 notes

hilarycollins · 7 years

Text

Widow

By HILARY COLLINS

I told him over the phone that he was one of my best friends. He made an awkward joke, did not reciprocate the sentiment. I had not expected him to.

This was about a year before he died. At the bar I worked at, everyone knew him. My friends were his friends. I was attending the university he had just graduated from—our time there had never overlapped. My best friend was his best friend. Our best friend and I would go visit him in Houston, sit on his couch, look at pictures of him as a kid. I became friends with their friends, got invited to their weddings and birthday parties, became a part of a group who had been close since high school.

When he died, I was living an hour away. I no longer spent all of my time surrounded by mutual friends. My life was no longer defined by him. We talked on the phone in spurts, every day for a few days, then a month or so of silence. I was still in love with him. I still thought that in time we would start dating again, that we would end up together in the end. When I mourned him, I was mourning not only the loss of his actual self, the man who called me when he was standing in the checkout line and then after a minute of chatting, informed me he had to go with some irritation, as if it was me who had called him at a bad time. I was also mourning the future possibility of him, the man I could imagine living in Houston with, who I would stay in Texas for, who I could imagine holding our baby in his family’s pink living room.

In my 19th-century poetry course, our professor spent two weeks discussing the culture of dying that pervaded the states during the Civil War. Mourning was codified. The grieving were given a wardrobe, a timeline, a set of rules, a process to follow.

Women were prescribed black clothes, down to their underwear. A black handkerchief. A black veil. Widows would wear this for at least a year, sometimes much longer. Grief as performance. Grief as code. Grief made manifest.

If he had died in the Civil War, the extent of my mourning would have been a scandal. He was not my husband, my fiancé, my father, or my brother. I would be assigned three weeks of mourning, if that—the amount appropriate for a friend or distant relative. Barely a nod to death.

A large part of my grieving process involved embarrassment. I knew my grief was real and sincere but I felt defensive about it. When I expressed my grief to people who didn’t know him, I felt like I was cheating—and sometimes I did cheat. They couldn’t question my proximity because they didn’t know the situation. He could have been my neighbor I had spoken to twice for all they knew. When I called him my boyfriend to strangers, I used it as shorthand to explain the emotional truth of what he meant to me. I had lost someone I was in love with and had imagined a life with.

With our mutual friends, I felt even stranger. They had known how important he was to me, but they had also known that my love was, to some degree, unrequited. What was embarrassing when he was alive was exponentially more embarrassing now that he was dead. I complicated this embarrassment by doing embarrassing things: calling them crying to say I miss him, asking if he knew that I loved him. What a thing to ask. I never asked if he loved me. I don’t think any of us knew. I don’t think he knew.

I did not get to wear formal mourning garb like a Civil War widow, but we had our own form of denotation. I got an orange rubbery bracelet, like a Livestrong bracelet, that said TEAM RICHEY. I keep it in a box with his funeral program, a prayer card I was given at his mass, and the cap of the first beer I drank the night he died. It’s big on my wrist and I’ve never worn it. There was a memorial T-shirt, but I didn’t get one.

A memorial T-shirt makes death everyday, casual. I wanted my grief advertised, but I wanted it to be taken very seriously. I did not want to play down my loss, but I needed to dignify it. I wanted to be a silent, weeping figure, devastated, barely holding on. Not someone grieving on the go, who seamlessly incorporated their mourning into their workout regimen and other errands. Part of the appeal of Civil War mourning was that it separated the grieving from the everyday.

Of course, back during the Civil War, a dress was roughly the equivalent of a T-shirt. Even with a corset and a hoopskirt, it was everyday wear for women. Perhaps I wanted Civil War-era mourning in the present time: to sweep into the supermarket in costume, a caricature of grief. Not just grieving, but mad with grief. Not just a performance of grief, but a showstopper.

I think a lot about what he would say if he knew that I was still writing about him. If he was alive, I think he would be angry that I was writing about him, but also, deep underneath, pleased. He was so much like me, a wedge of narcissism in the pie chart of our personalities, and I think people like us are somewhat satisfied by being the subject of someone’s obsession.

I think if he knows, in the spirit world or wherever he is, that I’m writing a book about him, story after story about him, he is gently annoyed, but more than anything just tired of my bullshit. This is why I imagine he doesn’t come visit me in dreams or as a ghost, even though I beg him to. He is exhausted by my grief, and will not give me the validation of a haunting. My obsession is unrequited in death, as my best-friendship was in life.

After his death, when I began seeing a therapist, we talked a lot about my embarrassment. I was embarrassed for loving and grieving someone who wouldn’t have done the same for me, and I was also embarrassed of how I had treated him. Our relationship was pockmarked with petty fights, drunk arguments, manipulations, and liberal use of the silent treatment. When we first met, our connection was immediate and obvious. For the first month or two, he was the one who cared more, tried more, called me three times a day, came to see me every weekend, showed me all the good spots in town. I pretended to hate him, an adolescent but effective flirting strategy, shutting him down when he complimented me, pretending indifference or doubt when he talked. Then, the tide turned. As soon as his feelings were requited, he lost interest.

For the next two years we would go back and forth. He began cancelling visits for no reason, ending phone calls in a huff, acting rude and aggressive at times, or sulky and withholding. And I followed his example, and our relationship became the bizarre and confusing power struggle it would remain until his death, in which we used how much we liked each other as a weapon. The first time he dumped me, I spent three days in my closet with a handle of vodka. The second time, I fucked one of his friends.

In retrospect, I think he just preferred the thrill of the chase—stereotypical male. But after his death I was ashamed that I hadn’t behaved better. I told my therapist stories about us, more and more and more of our stories, waiting for her verdict: was my grief valid?

These are the stories I told my therapist.

In the hotel in New Orleans we jumped from bed to bed, timing it so we crossed paths mid-air, screaming.

Him at the party, pulling me into his lap.

The time we woke up in the morning and I got dressed in the closet while he got dressed in the bathroom, and we met in the bedroom wearing identical outfits.

How he wanted us to match. How I changed my shirt.

How from that day onward he tried to dress like me, both because he liked when we matched and because it made me angry.

How he wanted to drive thirty minutes out of our way en route to dinner to show me where he and our best friend went to high school.

How I marked the days where he came to visit with the Star of David on my calendar.

How when we met he told me I was the coolest girl he’d ever met.

How the first time we rode in his car he had his iPod on shuffle and I knew every song that played by heart.

How there seemed to be no end to our common ground. I didn’t know it was possible to have so much in common with someone else.

How he loved my turns of phrase. When he complained of a dry spell in his sex life, I boasted of “a wet spell”. When I called a girl we both hated “Cuntburger.” How he would lovingly repeat my words, memorize them and save them up to use in the future.

Eventually, my therapist said what I wanted her to say: “At first, you talked about not knowing if he loved you back, if you ‘earned’ your right to grieve, and honestly, I didn’t know either. I thought perhaps your feelings were one-sided. But I’ve come to believe that he did feel the same way about you.”

She also said: “One of the great things about love is that, in a sense, it doesn’t matter if they love you back or not. You love them and there’s nothing they can do about it.”

I assume that she said the first part because she knew I needed to hear it, and the second part because it was true.

There are a lot of articles on the Internet about losing an ex-spouse. I have yet to find one about losing an ex who you stayed friends with and fought with and slept with and stayed in love with. This is why I need my grief legitimized so badly. If this were the Civil War, I would have to keep quiet or suffer the judgment of polite society.

Of course, there were also not many ex-husbands back then.

Sometimes I imagine that I’m the one who dies in a brutal car accident. He’s the one who survives. Does he grieve? He would be forced to acknowledge my death. But I don’t know if he would come to my funeral. I think that even if he wouldn’t show it, he would be devastated by my loss in the same way I was by his. Even if he wasn’t in love with me, even if he didn’t think we would end up together, he was always calling me on the phone. Even if he didn’t want what I wanted, he had the same deep, permanent need to talk to me that I had to talk to him. This might be the only thing I’m confident was requited.

This essay appeared on the Rumpus on March 20, 2016. You can access it online here.

#creative

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