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dfroza · 7 months

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“… we have been completely open to you.

We’ve exposed the truth, holding nothing back while our hearts open wide to take you in. We have revealed our affection toward you—though it’s obvious you have a hard time showing your affection toward us. If I could offer some fatherly advice: open yourselves up as children; share your hearts with us as we have done for you.”

Today’s reading of the Scriptures from the New Testament is the 6th chapter of the letter of 2nd Corinthians:

As for those of us working as His emissaries, we beg you not to take the grace of God lightly. For God says through Isaiah,

When the time was right, I listened to you;

and that day you were delivered, I was your help.

Look, now the time is right! See, your day of deliverance is here! We are careful in what we teach so that our words won’t be a stumbling block and so that no one will discredit our ministry. But as God’s servants, we commend ourselves in every situation. So that with great endurance we persevere even in anguish and hardship. We have been cornered by the enemy suffering beatings, imprisonments, uproars, toil, sleeplessness, and starvation. And by the Holy Spirit with purity, understanding, patience, kindness, and sincerest love we have proved ourselves. Now with the voice of truth and power of God—armed on the right and armed on the left with righteousness from God—we continue. Whether respected or loathed, praised or criticized as frauds, yet true, as unknown to this world, and yet well known to God, we serve Him. We are treated as dying and yet we live, as punished and yet we are not executed. Though we are sorrowful, we continually rejoice. As the poorest of the poor, we bring richness to all, and though we have nothing, we possess all things.

Corinthians, we have been completely open to you. We’ve exposed the truth, holding nothing back while our hearts open wide to take you in. We have revealed our affection toward you—though it’s obvious you have a hard time showing your affection toward us. If I could offer some fatherly advice: open yourselves up as children; share your hearts with us as we have done for you.

Don’t develop partnerships with those who are not followers of Jesus’ teachings. For what real connection can exist between righteousness and rebellion? How can light participate in darkness? What harmony can exist between the Anointed and Satan? Do the faithful and the faithless have anything in common? Can the temple of God find common ground with idols? Don’t you see that we house the temple of the living God within us? Remember when He said,

“I will make My home with them and walk among them.

I will be their God,

and they will be My people.

So then turn away from them,

turn away and leave without looking back,” says the Lord.

“Stay away from anything unclean, anything impure,

and I will welcome you.

And I will be for you as a father,

and you will be for Me as sons and daughters,”

Says the Lord Almighty!

The Letter of 2nd Corinthians, Chapter 6 (The Voice)

A note from The Voice translation:

The most important partnership in life is marriage. There are other kinds of union, but the union of husband and wife transcends any other. God created sexual intimacy as a unique gift to marriage. Its purpose goes beyond pleasure and procreation. As a man and a woman join their bodies together, the Spirit does a unique work of binding these two individuals as one person. But the involvement of the Spirit is not possible when a believer is intimate with a nonbeliever. They are not filled with the same Spirit and cannot experience the fullness God intends. Paul’s instructions are practical, simple, and clear.

Today’s paired chapter of the Testaments is the 23rd chapter of the book of Jeremiah about the danger of “lying” dreams:

Eternal One: Woe to the shepherds who slaughter and scatter the sheep of My pasture! This is what I, the Eternal God of Israel, have to say about the shepherds tending My people:

You have scattered My flock, driven them far away, and failed miserably at being their caregivers. So look! I will punish you for your negligence, for the careless evil you’ve done. I will personally gather the remnant of My sheep from the lands where I have driven them. I will bring them back to their home pasture where they will be fruitful and multiply. I will appoint new, responsible shepherds to take care of them, and My sheep will no longer have to be afraid. These new, responsible shepherds will make sure that none of My sheep go missing.

Watch! The days are coming when I will raise up a righteous Branch of David—an heir of his royal line—who will rule justly, act wisely and make things right again in the land. During His reign, Judah will be redeemed and Israel will be a safe place again. The name he is called will tell the story: The Eternal Is Our Righteousness!

So be ready and watch carefully. The days are coming when no one will say any longer, “As the Eternal lives, who brought the people of Israel out of slavery in the land of Egypt.” Instead, they will say, “As the Eternal lives, who brought the people of Israel out of exile in the lands of the north and out of all other countries where He had scattered them.” Then the Israelites will live securely in their own land.

As for the false prophets:

Deep in my chest, my heart is broken.

I am shaken to the core, like a man who is drunk,

overcome by too much wine

All because of the Eternal,

all because of His holy words.

Eternal One: The land is full of adulterers;

surely the curse is in effect and the land mourns.

The pastures in the wilderness are all dried up,

for they have set an evil course,

and their might is not right.

For even the prophets and priests are ungodly;

I have witnessed them perform wicked acts in My temple.

Now this path they are on will become treacherous, and they will slip and slide;

they will stumble and fall into the darkness, driven into the gloom.

For in the year of their punishment,

I will bring them to ruin.

I saw something repulsive

among the prophets of Samaria:

They prophesied in the name of Baal

and led My people, Israel, away from Me.

I have seen something horrible among the prophets of Jerusalem:

worship that is adulterous and deceitful.

They inspire and encourage people to even more evil;

now no one turns back from his sin.

The citizens of Jerusalem remind Me of the wicked people

who once lived in Sodom and Gomorrah.

So this is what the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, has to say about those prophets:

Eternal One: Watch, I will give them bitter food to eat and poisoned water to drink,

because the prophets of Jerusalem have released their ungodliness

And it has spread into all the land.

These are the words of the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies.

Eternal One: When these prophets “prophesy” to you, filling you with empty hopes, do not listen to one word! They do not speak for Me. They speak of visions they have only imagined. They keep saying to those who openly reject My word, “Don’t worry, the Eternal has promised you peace.” And to those stubborn souls who go their own way, they say, “Don’t worry, nothing bad will happen to you.”

Which one of these false prophets has stood in the presence of the Eternal

and heard His voice or seen His plan?

Who of them has paid attention to His word and truly listened?

Behold, the storm of the Eternal’s wrath will now break open,

swirling down out of the sky like a whirlwind onto the heads of the wicked.

The Eternal’s anger will not relent until He has carried out His most fervent plans.

You will understand all of this in the days to come.

Eternal One: I did not send these so-called prophets,

but they have run to you with their empty words.

I did not speak to them,

but they claim to speak for Me.

If only they had stood in My presence and heard My voice,

then they would have spoken My words to My people!

They would have turned this nation back from its evil ways and evil deeds.

Am I only a God who is close by, and not a God of the farthest reaches? Am I a God anyone can hide from? Do I not see what happens in secret? Am I not everywhere, filling heaven and earth? I have heard these prophets who speak lies in My name. They say, “I had a dream, I had a dream,” and claim it was Me speaking to them! How long will this go on? Will the hearts of these lying prophets ever change? How long will they deceive themselves and all who listen to them? They think they can make My people forget My name with all this talk of dreams—just as their ancestors forgot My name as they worshiped Baal. If a prophet has a dream, he should tell others of that dream. But the one who has My word should speak it with unshakable faith. For what is straw worth, when compared to grain? Does not My word burn like fire? Does it not shatter rock like a strong hammer? Look, this is why I oppose the prophets who steal My word from others and offer it as their own. I oppose the prophets whose tongues “declare” something, as if I, the Eternal, have declared it. I oppose the prophets who prophesy with lying dreams. They lead My people astray with their reckless lies. But I did not send these prophets or direct them to speak in My name, so they are of no use to My people.

This is what the Eternal declares.

Eternal One (to Jeremiah): When someone, some prophet or some priest, asks, “What is the message the Eternal burdened you with today, Jeremiah?” Simply answer, “[You are the burden, and] the Eternal declares, ‘I will cast you aside.’” If a prophet or priest or any of these people claim, “This is the burden of the Eternal,” let them be warned, I will punish that person and his family.

(to the people) Instead of making light of My declarations, from now on you should say to your friends and family, “What is the Eternal’s answer to you?” or “What is the Eternal saying to us?” Do not use the phrase “the burden of the Eternal” again. It means nothing to you. All people say they have a message from Me when they don’t. You are twisting the words of the living God, our God, the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies. You should say to the prophet, “What answer is the Eternal giving to you?” or “What is the Eternal saying to us?” But if you keep saying, “This is the burden of the Eternal,” expect Me to declare this: “You continued to use the phrase ‘the burden of the Eternal,’ even though I warned you not to use it. That is why I will forget you and cast you out of My presence, both you and the city I gave you and your ancestors. I will bring endless disgrace upon you—an enduring shame that no one will forget.”

The Book of Jeremiah, Chapter 23 (The Voice)

A set of notes from The Voice translation:

The shepherd-leaders and shepherd-teachers of God’s people have misled them, and the results have been disastrous. Now God intervenes. God Himself, personally, gathers His exiles from wherever He scattered them and places them under the guidance and tutelage of new shepherds, responsible leaders who will bring them home once again safe and secure. As if that is not enough, God will fulfill the covenant He made with King David hundreds of years earlier and establish a righteous branch of David to reign from Jerusalem. This king will be everything the earlier kings of Judah were not: just, fair, and wise. The restoration of God’s exiles and the installation of this new king—God’s anointed—will be so glorious, so momentous that it will change the course of history. It will surpass God’s rescue of the Hebrew slaves from Egypt.

Jeremiah’s prophecy of this coming king inspires many to look and long for God’s Anointed One, His Messiah, from among the sons of David. Indeed, some of the earliest followers of Jesus will find in Him the fulfillment of these hopes, dreams, and aspirations.

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Prophets stretch the meanings of words in order to instruct and challenge their audiences. Although it’s difficult to appreciate in translation, in the following passage Jeremiah uses an important Hebrew word that has a double meaning. It means “message,” as in the message from God that he is about to declare, but it also means “burden”; therefore, the “message” he receives from God—the “message” he must now declare—is a “burden” both to hear and deliver. As the message goes out of Jeremiah, others use this word to ridicule him and minimize what God is saying. In this passage, God makes it quite clear what He thinks of these mocking and sinful people.

A link to my personal reading of the Scriptures for Saturday, September 23 of 2023 with a paired chapter from each Testament of the Bible along with Today’s Proverbs and Psalms

A post by John Parsons about the significance of renewing the mind:

"Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. The one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life" (Gal. 6:8). Here we see the importance of feeding the divine nature given to us in Messiah - to "sow" or "plant" truth within our hearts so that we will yield the "fruit of righteousness."

On the other hand, feeding the lower nature, gratifying the desires of the flesh, disregarding the truth of eternity for the sake of temporal pleasure, and so on, leads to corruption and to death. Spirituality (רוּחניוּת), then, is of utmost importance to us, as we learn to "renew our minds" and yield ourselves to the truth of God (Gal. 5:16). We must set our hearts on things above, where Messiah is seated at the right hand of God (Col. 3:1-4).

We are engaged in the battle daily - an internal struggle to direct our hearts and to make the decision to be awake to the Lord’s Presence - or to surrender to our fallenness, fear, and despair. The Lord has promised us his very strength for the battle, but we must choose to believe in order to receive the blessing....

Since God has promised to help us as we seek to do His will (see 1 John 5:14), let us therefore draw near to the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Heb. 4:16). The LORD makes the way of escape for those who earnestly seek him (1 Cor. 10:13). He says to the heart of faith: "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God: I will strengthen you, yea, I will help you, yea, I will uphold you the right hand of my righteousness (Isa. 41:10).

[ Hebrew for Christians ]

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Isaiah 41:10 reading:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/isa41-10-jjp.mp3

Hebrew page (larger view):

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/isa41-10-lesson.pdf

9.21.23 • Facebook

from yesterday’s email by Israel 365:

Imagine yourself standing on a (rock) at Rosh Hanikra, a coastal region in the northern Israel where the sea meets the mountains. As you peer out over the Mediterranean Sea, the rhythmic waves crash into the rocks, each wave stronger and more intense than the last. This awe-inspiring sight, where the sheer power of nature meets tranquility, evokes feelings of humility and wonder. You can’t help but think: What force lies behind this magnificent spectacle?

Maimonides, a revered medieval Jewish scholar, presents two paths that bridge humanity and the Divine. The first path is the contemplation of God’s vast universe, His creation. By observing the intricacies and wonders of the world around us, from the vast cosmos to the tiny creatures that roam the Earth, we can’t help but be filled with love and awe for the Creator. The realization that amidst this immense universe, we, as humans, have a special place, fills us with an overwhelming sense of humility.

The second path is the study of God’s word. By studying and understanding His commandments and teachings, one draws closer to God’s wisdom. This path of contemplation not only complements the first but enhances it, offering a more profound connection to the Almighty. Together, these paths present a more comprehensive understanding of God; a combination of marveling at His creation and delving deep into His teachings.

Today’s message (Days of Praise) from the Institute for Creation Research

September 23, 2023

What Do Fig Trees Do?

“Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.” (James 3:12)

The answer to these rhetorical questions obviously is “no.” A fig tree cannot become an olive tree in one growing season, or in a million of them. Nor can a grapevine evolve into a fig tree, no matter what happens to it (grafts, mutations, chemicals, radiations, anything).

In the very first chapter of the Bible, each kind of plant God created was given the genetic information by its Maker to reproduce only its own “kind” of plant, not to diverge into some other kind, although its offspring could develop into many varieties of the parental kind (but even that only within strict limits). The same was true with the animals. Ten times in Genesis 1, God, in five verses, tells us that each created kind of plant and animal was coded to reproduce just its own kind (Genesis 1:11-12, 21, 24-25).

Just in the event that some skeptic might reject Genesis 1 as factual, the same theme is reiterated in the New Testament, not only in our text but in Paul’s great chapter on death and resurrection. “God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed its own body. All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds” (1 Corinthians 15:38-39).

This biblical truth is confirmed by every scientific observation ever made on plants and animals—whether living, dead, or fossilized. No one has ever seen a frog evolve into a prince, or a vine into an olive tree, either in the present or in the fossil record of the past. “I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that man should fear before him” (Ecclesiastes 3:14). HMM

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robininthelabyrinth · 3 years

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Hello! If this prompt is to your liking - something along the Ladyhawke plot? Basically, during the day LWJ is turned into an animal while WWX is human, and in the night returns to human but then WWX is turned into an animal :) Or, for simplicity’s sake, I‘d just like to see LWJ turned into a bunny XD attempting to communicate with WWX who is oblivious, as you’d expect. Thank you! Your writing is amazing and I’m so pleased to read it always.

The f‎irst thing Wei Wuxian was aware of in his new life, before he ever recalled his name or recovered his cultivation, was the feeling of safety and security that came from being held in the palms of two hands, strong but soft.

Wei Wuxian had been the last and smallest of a too-large litter, causing his mother to bare her teeth at him and chase him away no matter how pitifully he cried. By the laws of nature, he should have died, unloved, but even before he remembered his past deeds he was never one to be bound by those laws. He was lucky: the soft hands came for him then, lifting him high off the ground, letting him shiver against a warm breast and even faithfully feeding him milk from a hollow reed every time he was hungry.

After some time, the haze of infancy cleared from his eyes and, for the first time, the soft hands offered him a leaf instead of milk. It was a good leaf, too. Crunchy and firm, unmarred by any insect bites and still wet from the morning dew.

Wei Wuxian gnawed on it, quite content, and reached up with his left hindleg to lazily scratch at his long floppy ear. For a rabbit, this was the very definition‎ of paradise.

Not bad at all, he thought to himself, quite smug, and not for the first time considered himself rather lucky in comparison to his stronger brothers and sisters, who were probably being taught to forage even now. They might have a mother, but Wei Wuxian has a pair of soft hands framed by long, sweeping white sleeves, and he thought that he did quite well out the bargain.

With such thoughts, he was naturally reluctant to be left behind. He followed those hands on their daily rounds, hopping‎ down dabbled forest pathways made of stone and painstakingly climbing steps to sit in cold rooms that smelt of sandalwood while the soft hands plucked at the strings of a guqin. He wouldn't hold himself back, either: he would nuzzle a kneeling thigh or try to clamber onto the man's belly to sleep, and he was never rejected. Even when he couldn't keep up, he shamelessly cried until the hands came and gathered him up close, letting him rest his sable head against the stark white robes and listen to the comforting sound of a strong heartbeat.

All things considered, Wei Wuxian was quite pleased with his life, a state of affairs that lasted right up until the first time the hands wrapped up the guqin in a white cloth, drew an ice-pale sword from its sheath and took to the air, leaving Wei Wuxian behind, abandoned and bereft.

Obviously, this was absolutely intolerable.

Wei Wuxian settled himself down on the bed and began loudly crying. Other pairs of hands, smaller ones that sometimes brought treats, sought to comfort him‎, but he remained steadfast in his misery, lying prone on his side and weeping until he fell asleep and then waking up and starting all over again.

"He missed you a lot," the white-clad ‎child murmured anxiously to the soft hands when they return a few endless days later. "He wouldn't even eat - I even tried offering him some of the pickled cabbage he's always stealing from your table, but he wouldn't take it. Forgive me, Hanguang-Jun -"

"Forgiven."

Something about that voice echoed in his mind as familiar, but Wei Wuxian was distracted by picking himself up and throwing himself at his pair of soft hands at once, unable to hold a grudge and act indifferent the way he'd schemed he would, taking a mighty leap that did not even begin to trouble his pillar of stability though it did make the child giggle.

"I told you he missed you!"

"En."

The soft hands caressed Wei Wuxian quietly, then - as if familiar with the pain of separation, the torture of longing for what is not there - did not put him down. Instead, they brought close a dish of leaves and grasses for him to eat while still pressed up close to that broad chest, his ears full of that strong heartbeat that showed he was still alive, warmed by the bright golden core within.

Wei Wuxian, as always, forgot his woes, and was happy.

He was full, he was warm, tucked in safely into the collar of long white robes embroidered with clouds‎, and he could think of nothing at all that might disturb his joy.

That state of affairs lasted for about an hour, until another voice, also familiar but less so, said, "I am pleased that you have returned safely, Wangji."

Wei Wuxian opened his eyes, startled out of his planned nap.

Wangji? Lan Wangji - Lan-er-gongzi - Lan Zhan -

White robes, like mourning; clouds, to signify the main family; soft hands, a gentle voice, upright manner, the guqin -

His soft hands were Lan Wangji!

‎Wei Wuxian remembered, suddenly, all of his past life of toil and hardship - his carefree youth at Yunmeng, his brief time at the Cloud Recesses, his wide broad road turning narrow and dark -

He dismissed the latter part as unimportant.

"It seems your pet rabbit had also missed you," Lan Xichen, now recognizable, added, his voice slightly mischievous in a way that was familiar as well.

"En," Lan Wangji replied, calm as ever.

Wei Wuxian began cackling at once, little huffing rabbit sounds.

Who would think, he thought to himself gleefully as he raised up his head to take a look, that Lan Wangji, of all people, would break the rules of his sect to adopt ‎-

To adopt -

A rabbit.

A rabbit!

He was a rabbit! Wei Wuxian, Wei Ying, Yiling Patriarch, demonic cultivator -

He was the rabbit Lan Wangji had broken his sect's rules to adopt!

Wei Wuxian's head lolled back, stunned into a daze that did not abate even when Lan Wangji gently caressed his small head with his soft hands.

Of course Lan Wangji would adopt a demonic cultivator rabbit, he thought. That would just be his luck, breaking his precious rules for me of all people. But what did I do wrong to be reborn as an animal?

Well, actually, he'd done rather a few things wrong, come to think about it. And even if he was a rabbit, he'd had the best possible‎ life as one - he barely had to twitch his nose for a half dozen Lan disciples, not to mention the great Hanguang-jun himself, to scurry over to tend to his every need, so clearly the heavens weren’t intending on punishing him that badly.

Not to mention, he ‎seemed to still have his spiritual awareness - something of a new development, in fact, as he'd only noticed Lan Wangji's golden core for the first time today.

Of course, that didn't really matter. What use was spiritual awareness to a rabbit? All it meant was that he was now a yao, capable of cultivating and, if he turned evil, to be a target for a night hunt led by righteous cultivators.

He'd had quite enough of tha‎t in his last lifetime, thank you.

No, there was no benefit, except maybe the possibility of one day cultivating enough to form a beast core and transform into a human being -

Hm.

"Are you sure you will head out again so soon?" Lan Xichen asked. "You are still barely recovered from your injuries; for you to go out alone could be dangerous -"

Wait, what? Lan Wangji? Injured? Alone?

Absolutely unacceptable!

Clearly Wei Wuxian was going to need to get on that yao cultivation business sooner rather than later. Someone needed to take care of Lan Wangji, if he wasn’t willing to do it himself – and why not him?

After all, Lan Wangji was his pet human.

#mdzs #wei wuxian #lan wangji #wangxian #my fic #my fics #okay this is the exact opposite of one of your prompts #but hopefully it still works for you #untillambsbecomelionss

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writingwithcolor · 4 years

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Including diversity where there may be little

Including diversity where there may be little: Black Radium Girls as example

post-scriptvm asked: [ask clipped for length]

I have an interest in the ‘Radium Girls’, groups of women who worked at studios in America from the late 1910s onwards painting radium onto clock faces, and later took their companies to court for the horrible impacts the radium had on their body.

I want to make a musical, just for fun. I’ve decided to use a fictionalized version of events, with composite characters based on multiple different women, rather than one of the real-life groups and the actual women from them. It will be mostly set in New Jersey, in the roaring 20s.

Neither of the two real-life groups I know of had any Black women in them, and I can’t see any Black women in any of the big group photos of the dial factories’ employees. But I know there’s a lot of Black history and culture in that time and place bc of the great migration and stuff, so I feel like if I’m not going to use the real life ladies, I should probably take the opportunity to also make some of them Black, bc making a whole cast of white ladies in the name of potentially wrong ‘historical accuracy’ seems like a bad thing.

My question is, should I? [ask clipped for length]

I wouldn’t be surprised if there were African American radium girls. Speculating People of Color/Women of Color’s involvement is far more realistic than portraying everyone as white. Go for it!

Perhaps look into what other races were predominantly in the New Jersey area for inspiration, too.

Hidden History

This section features just a few examples of PoC in lesser known historical settings.

The histories of People of Color are highly and actively erased. Women of Color especially get their stories left to footnotes in the textbooks. You hear about certain amazing women again and again, but there’s so many others that don’t get their time of day.

Hidden Figures (book and movie) is a prime example of that erasure and lesser known history. To summarize: It’s “the powerful story of four African-American female mathematicians at NASA who helped achieve some of the greatest moments in our space program.”

Here’s another example:

Photo of female firefights on Pearl Harbor, 1941. Identities unknown

It would be nice to know more about these women, and i’ve seen inquiries from people requesting info from anyone who may know. This struggle to find details is a prime example of that erasure in itself.

Enemies in Love: A German POW, a Black Nurse, and an Unlikely Romance by Alexis Clark

The book pictured above is the true story of a Black nurse and German Prisoner of War who fall in love during World War II. They face many hardships (disowning from his family, racism, and shunning from towns) but stay together for their whole lives, marry, and have children (One of their sons highly informed the writing of the book!)

This book discusses the discrimination the Black soldiers and nurses faced. They struggled to even be allowed to serve their country, and were treated worse than POWs.

Video: The Unlikely Romance of a Black Nurse & German P.O.W. in WW II

Research

Research “[RACE] + Firsts” and find many more examples of little unknown bits of history where they’ve been involved.

First doesn’t mean it came without limitations, discrimination or hardships. But they happened, and many sooner than you’d think.

Explore beyond what you know about whitewashed history and learn the true stories of People of Color.

Making it “realistic”

People will question how “realistic” it is to feature a Black women in this position for the time period, unfortunately. It doesn’t hurt to provide an explanation until we get to a place where diversity isn’t interrogated when it shows up.

Giving her backstory.

You can briefly explain the journey to the job, such as shortages due to a war. Take a look at those real world firsts for inspiration.

Especially take a look at the specific region of the story. What firsts were there? Any government power influences? How did PoC break barriers to make the strides they did?

Use the web, but also go beyond. Seek books, historians, artwork. Search those “footnotes” for that one sentence mention. (That’s actually how the writer of Enemies in Love found their story. Just a quick sentence and a search for the story began. It helped that she was a journalist!)

Relationships with Peers:

“I will cut off this right arm of mine before I will ever work or demand the ballot for the Negro and not the woman.” - Susan B. Anthony

White women weren’t, historically, welcoming to Black women. For example, white sufferists insisted Black women march in the back of the protests for, allegedly, both their rights. You’ll need to decide how your Black woman is treated in this situation.

You might face the following from peers, superiors, or others:

Hesitation to work or interact with her

Curiosity and intrigue (The “Other”

Unsure of how to approach or be friends with her

Microaggressions

Blatant racism

Your musical doesn’t seem like it is meant to focus too heavily on the hardships. It begs a mention, but just how much is up to you.

Call the Midwife, period racism example

Call the Midwife (BBC) is set in East End London, Late 1950s, early 1960s. The show features a Black midwife named Lucille Anderson. There’s a shortage on nurses so Caribbean nurses were being called in to support the growing population.

Call the Midwife is from a midwife, Jennifer Worth’s, memoir, so it’s based on history.

Check out this short clip: Nurse Lucille Anderson - Call the Midwife

Lucille on Call the Midwife (Take notes!)

The show handles racism and microaggressions very well. It’s not overdone.

Lucille is accepted by her peers and is especially close to one of the girls.

There’s an episode where she actively faces blame and discrimination during a case. It’s a major story line of the episode.

She does face occasional micro-aggressions where she is othered, but it is not every single time she is on screen and not every episode.

Her peers talk to her about her experiences and in the case where she had an aggressive family member to deal with, they tried to protect her by reassigning her from the family. Lucille asks to handle it her way and they respect her decision.

Lucille can mostly perform her job and have peace, and is treated kindly by patients.

She has a personality, a romantic life, family & friendships.

It’s about 90% allowing her to exist, 10% navigating racism/microaggressions. That’s a comfortable, realist balance for such a story and setting.

If you want to check out how they handled these issues for yourself, the show is on Netflix as of this post (2020). She’s introduced in Season 7. (I highly recommend watching this show from the beginning. I cry like every episode, and the diversity of several ethnic backgrounds picks up a lot mid season!)

I’ll kick you three scenarios for your Black radium girl:

Peer Acceptance, Initial Hesitation

awkward friendliness & initial hesitation, perhaps more fear of the unknown vs. hostility

Upon having interactions and talking to her, they become comfortable and accept her. It could take just one simple conversation. Perhaps they’re more used to listening to Black music or have Black staff who work for them, but haven’t had an equal one-on-one experience with WoC without a power dynamic or service involved. Now, with a Black fellow radium girl thrown in a similar situation as them, they could develop kinship.

This might not describe every one of the woman at all. Others might be just fine with her with no awkwardness.

Types of racism experienced:

some micro-aggressions (likely ignorance from peers)

no major racism experienced

Most Peer Acceptance, Racism From Some Peers

Most peers have no problem with her, even if they have their initial awkwardness. 1-2 more aggressive racists who don’t want her there.

Sometimes everyone else gets along, but there’s that 1 bully and their minion, and they feed off each other. If the BS isn’t tolerated by the other girls, it could shut them up to make peace or at least behave themselves. It’s likely someone like this would remain hatefully stubborn, but would grimace from the corner if outnumbered.

In the case you create a situation where someone is hostile to the Black girl but learns better: real apologies and efforts should be made if this occurs. It also doesn’t excuse their past behavior. Read our posts on redemption arcs for more info. We’re not fans, personally.

In an intense racial situation, it would be nice if the girls (with sense) protected and defended her instead of standing idly by. They’re strong enough to rise up against the agencies who poisoned them, so they can fight for their fellow radium sisters if one’s being targeted.

Types of racism experienced:

several micro-aggressions

maybe 1 major incident

Peer Acceptance, Racism from Other People

Radium girl acceptance within, but experiences racism from others she interacts with on/off the job.

The Call the Midwife example fits this one. Lucille’s peers are comfortable with her. It’s some of the ladies she care for and/or their families that may have negative things to say or show hesitance.

I’ll repeat what I said above: it’d be nice if the girls protected and defended her and didn’t stand by idly. Solidarity is important for establishing kinship and trust when it comes to white - woc friendships.

Types of racism experienced:

could vary from some to several micro-aggressions

maybe 1 major incident

Balancing race issues in the musical

Give the intersections of your Black girl’s situation proper attention. You can achieve this without overdoing it or making her whole arc about facing racism.

Perhaps the Black radium girl(s) has a song to express major woes, like segregation and poor treatment, or experiencing dismay over even less of a fighting chance in this fight for their rights.

If anyone does know anything but radium girls of color, please share!

–Mod Colette

#intersectionality #intersectional feminism #women #black #black women #woc #women of color #diversity #poc in history #radium girls #musicials #asks #submission

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dwellordream · 3 years

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“…When the two lovers meet after Parliament's decision, Criseyde offers Troilus the opportunity to "ravish her" as her uncle has suggested. She begs for his aid, crying "Help, Troilus!" (IV, 1150) and falling into a dead faint. For once, she wishes that another would take control and make decisions for her. Not realizing that Troilus has relapsed into an impotent, emasculated state, Criseyde expects him to interpret successfully her intent and to act boldly in order to rescue her from her terrible plight. Troilus, however, is no longer the valiant, empathetic young man transformed by Criseyde's love; consequently, he fails to play the role of the manly hero. He does not seize this moment to carry the maiden off; instead, he convinces himself that she has died and poetically beseeches the heavens to hasten his own demise (IV, 1191-1211).

His behavior contrasts greatly with Criseyde's when he had fainted. She roused herself to action, doing all in her power to revive her lover, who, like Criseyde in this later scene, seemed at the precipice of death. Criseyde begins to argue eloquently upon the advantages of biding her time behind enemy lines only after she awakes to discover that Troilus has not heeded her cry for help. A careful reader would recognize, how ever, that she still yearns for her lover to prevent the exchange, for she interrupts her own argument to assure Troilus "what so ye me comaunde,/ That wol I don, for that is no demaunde" (IV, 1294-95). In arguing in favor of removing to the Greek camp, Criseyde tests the extent of Troilus's affection. …Criseyde thought that surely a man willing to slay himself for her would be willing to risk ruining his reputation for her love, but Troilus finds himself incapable of performing such a heroic feat.

When Troilus fails to make even the slightest attempt to rescue his ill fated lover, Criseyde realizes that she must bring about her own salvation. As she spins out her plan, she gains more confidence in her abilities to effect her own rescue. Sheltered within the walls of Troy, Criseyde knows little of the true horrors of war, only what she has gleaned from gossip and from the books that she has read in her cloistered garden. Her overconfidence stems both from her ignorance concerning the actual situation facing her nation and from her earlier successes in effecting her will.

In contrast, Troilus has been out in the trenches, and he should recognize the implausibility of Criseyde's plan of action. His attempts to dissuade her, however, seem half-hearted at best. Indeed, he feels relieved that she seems to exonerate him from taking any rash action, for such a view accords with his own and enables him to rationalize his impotence as simply a chivalric attempt to uphold his lady's desire: This Troilus, with herte and erys spradde,/Herde al this thyng devysen to and fro,/And verrayliche him semed that he hadde The selve wit. . . (IV, 1422-25) Although Troilus finally does argue with Criseyde that they should elope (IV, 1503), he does so only to determine the extent of her loyalty, for he beseeches her "That of hire heste he myghte her trewe fynde" (IV, 1439).

For nine stanzas he dwells on his potential desolation should Criseyde forsake him and displays little concern as to whether she might suffer from the trade as well (IV, 1436-98). He does not want Criseyde to abandon her plans but only to assure him that she will remain stead fast in her love for the Trojan prince. Troilus now behaves like Percival's maid, arguing against his lover's bold plan only to make her more resolved to carry it out. He succeeds, for Criseyde dismisses his worries, assuring him that she can achieve all that she has set out to accomplish. Thinking of the state of her city that "hath now swich nede / Of help" (IV, 1558-59), she chides Troilus for wanting to abandon his home, reminding him that he plays a vital role in his city's defense.

Concern for his city, however, does not motivate Troilus in his insistence that he and Criseyde run off; rather, his hesitancy to allow her to leave stems from his hitherto unwarranted fear that Criseyde will prove untrue. After Criseyde's eloquent argument, which included an impassioned declaration that she would remain constant in her love (IV, 1527-54), Troilus still asks her to leave with him: "But for the love of God, if it be may,/So late us stelen priveliche away;/For evere in oon, as for to lyve in reste,/Myn herte seyth that it wol be the beste." (IV, 1600-1604)

After listening to this plea, Criseyde finally experiences an awakening, realizing that her lover does not hold the values that she herself cherishes. She recognizes his plea stems only from jealousy and not from any noble concern for her or for their country's grave situation. Sighing with exasperation, she once again defends herself against the charge of infidelity: "I se wel now that ye mystrusten me, For by youre wordes it is wel yseene./Now for the love of Cinthia the sheene, Mistrust me nought thus ca?seles, for routhe,/Syn to be trewe I have yow plight my trouthe." (IV, 1606-10)

Criseyde now recognizes that Troilus, who had shunned jealousy during his earlier blissful state (III, 1805-6), has relapsed into a suspicious suitor, one who holds little faith in his love's sincerity. He has forgotten that the last time he questioned Criseyde's trustworthiness he nearly lost her favor (III, 1054-85). Troilus's hypocrisy at Criseyde's departure serves only to alienate her further and to make her resolve to return to Troy begin to evaporate. The Trojan prince not only refuses to heed Pandarus's advice and openly declare his love; he also feigns joy at the arrival of Antenor (V, 77). Even if he believed that openly expressing his love for Criseyde would imperil her, he need not seem joyous concerning the exchange. Criseyde does not mask her emotions so easily but instead weeps piteously as Diomede leads her away (V, 82). She feels distraught not only because she must leave Troilus and Troy but also because she now recognizes that she has misread her lover's nature.

Troilus's behavior undercuts the narrator's contention that the young prince refuses to act only because he fears some harm may befall Criseyde: But why he nolde don so fel a dede,/That shal I seyn, and whi hym liste it spare:/He hadde in herte alweyes a manere drede/Lest that Criseyde, in rumour of this fare,/Sholde han ben slayn; lo, this was al his care./And ellis, certeyn, as I seyde yore,/He hadde it don, wi thou ten wordes more.(V, 50-56) These assurances concerning Troilus's desire to behave valiantly seem to reflect anxiety on the part of the narrator, who suspects, perhaps, that he recounts not the tale of a hero but of a coward.

W. A. Davenport believes Troilus's poetic apostrophes to his lost love as he waits for her in Troy indicate that the young prince's despair is primarily a pose. Troilus's letters also reveal that he continues to play a role. These solipsistic missives to Criseyde seal his fate, for they leave no question that Troilus remains a courtly lover. He does not consider the needs of his auditor, for instead of tender, solicitous queries concerning the hardships she must have endured, he stresses his own affliction. Cox comments that "Troilus sings of his woe with little regard for Criseyde, . . . and his letter, . . . full of fin’amors platitudes, blames her for going to the Greeks."

As in Book I, where he allowed his misery to paralyze him, Troilus has succeeded in making himself overwrought. It is as if the communion he experienced with Criseyde in Book III never occurred, for the Trojan prince once again acts like the lovelorn suitor of a lady he scarcely knows, whom he can address only in the most artificial, contrived manner. Troilus pens his letter ostensibly to convince Criseyde to return to Troy. Such a demand, however, is absurd, and he knows it. He, who remained completely passive while the Trojans forced his love to leave, now expects Criseyde to risk her life by rushing across the battlefield to return to him. Even if she succeeded in reaching Troy, Troilus knows his father would send her back to the Greeks.

Troilus does not really expect Criseyde to reunite with him; rather, he expects her to behave like a proper lady and die for her love. One can speculate that he wants her to act like the nondescript tragic heroines in the Legend of Good Women, to pine away like Ariadne or to commit suicide like Dido. Such behavior would prove a fitting end for the object of Troilus's desire, enabling him to compose tragic lays about the death of his beautiful, beloved dame. Criseyde sees through Troilus's importunate letter, and, instead of playing the expected role of the bereft lady, she assumes the role of a courtly lover herself. As Davis notes, "when his [Troilus's] thou becomes an it, it rightly opts out." Criseyde might have risked her life or wasted away for the valiant Troilus of Book III, but she deems this poseur unworthy of such deep, abiding affection.

John McKinnell contrasts the structure of Criseyde's letter to Troilus's, noting that her epistle flows eloquently and follows the rules of artes dictamen. Criseyde's controlled prose reflects her nature; she will determine her own actions and certainly will not be dictated to by a man whose own convoluted letter displays an utter lack of composure or self-discipline. The time for impulsive behavior on the part of Troilus has passed. He should have displayed such passion when Criseyde was taken from him; he should have acted rashly when such behavior would have proved effective. Now his raving falls on deaf ears, and his former lover tersely retorts "Nor other thyng nys in youre remembraunce, / As thynketh me, but only youre plesaunce" (V, 1607-8).

In abandoning Troilus and accepting Diomede's suit, Criseyde behaves like a male lover jilting a woman with whom he has grown weary. Criseyde knows that men behave in this manner, for prior to accepting Troilus's advances, she complains about the faithlessness of men: "ek men ben so un trewe,/That right anon as cessed is hire lest,/So cesseth love, and forth to love a newe./But harm ydoon is doon, whoso it rewe:,For though thise men for love hem first torende,/Ful sharp bygynnyng breketh ofte at ende."(II, 786-91) Criseyde follows the consummate courtly lover's, Pandarus's, advice to Troilus, an act that leaves both uncle and lover astounded. Her behavior provokes Pandarus's violent exclamation "I hate, ywis, Cryseyde; / And, God woot, I wol hate hire evermore!" (V, 1732-33), as well as his wish that she will die soon, a desire to which Troilus, by not gainsaying, seems to give his silent assent.

Criseyde's unconventional behavior confounds the narrator as well. He cannot quite grasp why she gives Diomede Troilus's brooch, for instance, despairing that there "was litel nede" for such a deed (V, 1040). The narrator cannot admit that Troilus deserves to be abandoned by Criseyde, for to do so would be to recognize that he has recounted the story of a dithering, self-consumed man. By giving Diomede her brooch, Criseyde sends Troilus a clear message that no matter how much he rants and raves she no longer will accommodate his desires. She lets him know that not only does she refuse to return to Troy; she also refuses to waste away for love of him. Criseyde never wanted to involve herself in an affair constrained by the rules of courtly love, and she takes up with a new lover, who, like her, eschews such conventions.

Diomede's desire for Criseyde does not emasculate him, and he never complains of her cruel heart or hints that she causes him great pain. Instead, he treats her as his equal, engaging her in an intellectual conversation concerning the siege and seeking her opinion about the war: He gan first fallen of the werre in speche Bitwixe hem and the folk of Troie town;/And of th'assege he gan hire ek biseche To telle hym what was hire opynyoun. (V, 855-58) Diomede understands Criseyde's nature, for he recognizes that she is a woman interested in much more than silly love games. Instead of harping about himself, as Troilus tends to do, Diomede at least feigns empathy for Criseyde's plight, telling her he has noticed her sorrow and wondering if she laments a lost love (V, 871-82).

His concern indeed may be motivated merely by lust, but compared to Troilus's self pitying posturing, it strikes the Trojan beauty as a welcome change. In Criseyde's estimation, Diomede now seems much closer to the ideal she seeks than the Trojan prince, for Diomede pretends at least to admire both her beauty and her intellect. Indeed, Chaucer hints that Diomede may prove a much better match for feisty Criseyde than the young, oversensitive prince. The poet reveals that the Greek warrior and the Trojan beauty share the same pragmatic philosophy. Determined to court Criseyde, Diomede reminds himself that "he that naught n'asaieth naught n'acheveth" (V, 784). His words echo Criseyde's own, who, while contemplating Troilus's suit, mused that "'He which that nothing undertaketh, / Nothyng n'acheveth, be hym looth or deere'" (II, 807-8). Troilus, significantly, does not subscribe to this self-sufficient view.

Readers should not scorn Criseyde for turning toward Diomede. After being so bitterly disappointed in Troilus, who proved himself incapable of transcending the conventional, Criseyde continues to believe in the possibility of attaining the ideal in love. She may not remain loyal to a man who has failed her, but she does remain loyal to the notion of a healthy, wholesome love, a love based on mutual desire and a meeting of minds. Her passion for Troilus has changed her; she does not revert back to the cynical young widow of Book II, who regarded love as little more than a trap set by men. For one fleeting moment, Criseyde found her affair with Troilus liberating, because it enabled her to express and to sate finally her own desires. She embarks on a relationship with Diomede yearning to recapture the bliss that she once felt with her Trojan prince. Diomede, she hopes, will prove a more worthy recipient of her stalwart heart.

Troilus also finds himself altered by his love affair with Criseyde, but his transformation occurs only after his death. His demise releases him from the courtly love conventions that he found impossible to escape while on earth. In Reading Lolita in Tehran, Azar Nafisi describes the metamorphosis that occurs when her female students remove their mandatory black robes in the sanctuary of their professor's apartment. Freed from these black garbs, symbols of the repressive Iranian regime, they indulge in the luxury of laughter. Upon his death, Troilus finds himself similarly released from the strictures of his society. He can now shed his pose as a courtly lover, and, looking at the world from his heavenly perch, he too can laugh, both at his weakness in constantly allowing the values of the majority to dictate his actions and at the temerity of the woman he once loved, who refused to do so.”

- Mary Behrman, “Heroic Criseyde.”

#troilus and criseyde #geoffrey chaucer #medieval literature #mary behrman #courtly love

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randomfandomimagine · 4 years

Text

I Still Love You (Jaskier x Reader)

Characters: Jaskier, Geralt

Fandom: The Witcher

Tags: Angst, songfic

Warnings: Mentions of blood and injury

Word Count: 3k words

Requested by @caritobbg: Hello! Could you write a ficlet with Jaskier and a Fem!Reader where they are with Geralt in a tavern and, as she saw Jaskier flirt with other women, she was encouraged to sing a song that she would have written (it occurred to me Love of My Life by Queen) and then she runs from there to the woods when she finishes singing it and is attacked by a werewolf. Jaskier goes off to look for her alongside Geralt who was also concerned and had given his friend reasons to realize how she felt about him?❤️

A/N: This is angsty and bittersweet but I quite like how it turned out, hope you like it!

Jaskier x Female Reader

Everything about him seemed absolutely flawless. You were so madly in love with Jaskier that you found even his flaws endearing. For this very reason, you couldn’t help staring at him and admiring his handsome face, and the way his soft brown hair fell over his piercing and beautiful ocean blue eyes, which fondly stared at you.

He seemed to have noticed you were quite absent, because he chuckled and tilted his head at you in an adorable way.

“What’s the matter, Y/N?” Jaskier asked you, gently nudging you and accompanying the gesture with a bright grin. “Are you tired, love?”

“A bit” You admitted, still lovingly staring at him. “Although it’s nothing that your company can’t fix”

“You’re such a flatterer” He fondly wrinkled his nose, leaning in to tap his finger against your nose. “As if your lovely company isn’t a blessing”

You stared at each other in silence for a moment. Seeing his bright grin stirred something within you, reminding you how beautiful it was and how smitten you were.

“If you don’t mind…” You started, trying to confess what had been eating you inside for such a long time. “I wanted to tell you something, Jaskier”

“I’m all ears, love” He absently leaned his shoulder against the wall, crossing his arms and intently listening to you. “What is it?”

“You may know already…” Although you nervously chuckled, you truly hoped he had noticed something. As perceptive as Jaskier could be, he seemed completely oblivious to the nature of your affections. “But the truth is I see you a certain way”

“Uh-huh… go on” He nodded his head, even if his eyes were now focused on something that seemed more interesting to him than you. “Sure, right…”

“I have stopped talking” You told him, even if you knew he wasn’t listening at all.

“You’re absolutely right, Y/N” Jaskier continued to nod his head as though he was catching every word you said, which he clearly wasn’t. “But if you’ll excuse me, I have some business to tend to”

Like moved by an invisible force, the bard quickly scurried off to the other end of the tavern. The murmur that surrounded you filled your quietness, though it was not enough to fill the true void of the silence.

Jaskier had found an attractive blond woman who he started enthusiastically talking to. The mere sight was too painful to stand and so you turned your head away.

He seemed to find her to be better company despite the fact that he had never seen her before. Somehow, she was more enticing than you even if you and Jaskier had known each other for so long now, even if you had traveled together and endured countless hardships with each other.

Your eyes suddenly stung with unshed tears. In an attempt to distract from that woe, you searched Geralt with your gaze. Soon you spotted him sitting at the table still, enjoying his solitude in peace as he calmly drank is ale. For the first time since you started traveling together, you understood why he isolated himself in such a way. It was the only way to avoid getting hurt.

With a will of their own, your eyes searched Jaskier once more. He was dedicating her that smile, the one he usually saved only for you. Or so you thought. You could have sworn you felt how your heart broke, as though it was made out of glass and it shattered into a million pieces, causing the shards to consume you from the inside. At the same time, however, a burning anger erupted inside you. Did he not see how much it hurt you? Did Jaskier not realize how deeply in love you were? Or did he just decide to ignore it and continue courting other women? Whatever the case, you were tired. Tired of waiting for him, of holding on to hope that he might reciprocate someday, that he could love you back.

Forgetting about the pain and trying to hold on to that anger, you walked directly towards him. Not paying mind to the woman he was so bluntly flirting with, you shoved him a little.

“Oi!” He complained, watching you up and down in a mixture between confusion and outrage. “What’s the matter with you, Y/N?”

“I’ll tell you in a way you can finally get it through your thick skull, bard” Even if you were still angry, your voice only held all that pain that you felt inside.

Jaskier frowned sadly, frozen in place even as you took the lute hanging from his back and claimed it as your own. You felt his eyes follow you as you adamantly stood on a table and began strumming the chords, gathering the attention from everyone at the tavern. Geralt’s golden eyes fell on you as well, and you paused as you exchanged a glance with him. Recognizing the resignation and empathy in his eyes, you continued on. Ready to finally pour your heart out to Jaskier, or at least what was left of it.

That song had been hidden for too long, locked in your heart and in your mind. You were never brave enough to bring it out into the world, especially not when the bearer of your affections was unbeknownst to it all. It had been a difficult decision, but you had chosen his definite friendship over a possible romance, but you couldn’t handle the consequences any longer. That romance would never exist. It was but a mirage, an impossible daydream.

Moved by the sorrow that made your chest hurt, you began singing the ballad you had composed, that one which so perfectly explained your feelings as he hadn’t been able to recognize them on his own.

Love of my life, you've hurt me You've broken my heart, and now you leave me

When your eyes met with Jaskier’s, a lump formed in your throat. His saddened frown had only deepened as he intently listened to your every sung word. His face, however, blurred as the tears inevitably arrived to your eyes. In spite of it all, you pushed through and carried on.

Love of my life, can't you see? Bring it back, bring it back, don't take it away from me Because you don't know what it means to me Love of my life, don't leave me You've taken my love, and now desert me

It all suddenly became too much. The song was interrupted by your strong sobs and you felt unable to continue. The world became a place too hard for such a hurt girl like you. Shaking your head, you jumped down the table and returned by his side. Your bottom lip trembled as you reached him, and yet you still tried to lift your chin up in pride.

For once, Jaskier was rendered speechless. He observed you in silence, and the distress in his beautiful lively blue eyes somehow was yet another blow to your bleeding heart.

“You’ve broken my heart” You repeated as though the song hadn’t ended, angrily pushing the lute against his chest and facing your back to him.

“Y/N… did you write that?” He finally asked once you did. When he realized you weren’t turning back to him, a sudden urgency arrived to his voice. “Wait, h-hang on!”

His heart wildly raced, bringing a dull ache to his chest with every beat. Jaskier felt guilty and stupid, having been too frivolous to truly understand. You had been trying to tell him something important, and he only got distracted by a pretty face. As if you weren’t beautiful and right in front of him all along.

He blindly followed after you, yet a strong had pushed against his chest to keep him in place. Jaskier tried to pass the witcher by, but Geralt was adamant on intercepting his friend.

“Leave her”

“N-No! She’s upset and-“

“She doesn’t want to talk to you right now, Jaskier”

“What do you mean?”

“Are you really that fucking stupid?”

“What?”

“You really didn’t realize her feelings?”

“Well, now I do… She was trying to tell me but-“

“She’s been trying to tell you ever since she joined us”

“Come now, Geralt… If I were to truly believe every woman I talk to is enamored with me…”

“Yes, but that one really loved you. And she just walked away”

Jaskier froze in place, quitting his attempts to go over the witcher’s block. He gulped, realizing the implications of what Geralt was saying. It made your behavior all the more understandable while at the same time all the more heartbreaking. And it was all his fault.

“Jask… you stupid, stupid man…” He chastised himself under his breath before looking back up to his friend. “We should go after her, should we not?”

Geralt’s expression suddenly shifted, from utterly annoyed to alert. The bard had seen that expression many times, and a nasty feeling arrived to the pit of his stomach.

“W-What?” He uttered in fright. “What is it?”

“The woods” Geralt clenched his jaw as he retrieved both his swords. “It’s filled with werewolves”

“Shit” Before the witcher could say anything else, Jaskier began running.

He ran outside of the tavern, leaving behind his long forgotten female companion. He ran like he had never run in his life, completely ignoring the way his heart hammered against his ribcage or the feeling of not having enough oxygen in his lungs to breathe. Jaskier run as though the most important person in his life was in danger, because she was.

Perhaps he had been too blind or too stupid to realize you were the person he cared for most, but you were. Perhaps he had been completely oblivious to the feelings you harbored for him, but you did nonetheless. And it was his reckless behavior that gave you such spite, caused by him, that threw you to venture into the lion’s den.

As he ran breathlessly, not caring to wait for Geralt, Jaskier realized… he would never forgive himself if something happened to his dear Y/N. _

By the time they arrived into the woods, it was nighttime. The pair had looked for you in many other places, being sure to check quickly in case the worst case scenario was the reality: you had ventured into the dangerous woods on your own, feeling sad and miserable and being more vulnerable to an attack.

Jaskier couldn’t breathe, he could not focus as his mind could only return to you. He heard it just as he immersed further into the woods, with Geralt closely following behind. A woman was screaming, and he shivered at the thought that it was his beloved Y/N, who was in deathly peril.

“Y/N!” The bard yelled back, already moving to go to your rescue.

“Jaskier” Geralt stopped him, pulling back at his doublet. “Wait”

“What?” The aforesaid replied in outrage. “Y/N is out there, probably scared out of her mind right now, and it is all my fault, and you want me to w-“

Another sound interrupted him, one that took his breath away. It had sounded like a wolf howling, but the bard had enough experience thanks to the witcher to realize it was no ordinary wolf. No, that sounded far too strange to be a normal creature.

“A werewolf” Geralt muttered, pulling out his silver sword.

“How can you be so sure?” Jaskier stuttered, intently looking at his friend.

With no need for words, the witcher only pointed a gloved finger upwards. Following that direction, Jaskier realized what he was saying. There was a full moon looming over them, magical and mysterious as well as intimidating, if not for herself, for the creatures that lurked in her name.

“I’ll get the werewolf” Geralt whispered, finally letting go of him. “You circle around it and find Y/N”

Determined, Jaskier nodded his head and stepped away from the place the howling sound had originated from. He was adamant on his mission, as finding you seemed the most important thing he would have to do in his life. He only prayed that you weren’t injured.

Searching for any signs of your presence, he moved slowly, too afraid to miss any of the signs that you might be close by. The dry leaves crunched beneath his boots, yet no sound seemed loud enough to overpower that of his racing heart and his erratic breathing. His hands nervously closed and opened as his fingers nervously fidgeted.

“No…” Jaskier suddenly felt dizzy when he spotted something crimson staining the leaves. “Y/N?”

They were only a few droplets of blood, but it was more than enough to have Jaskier stop in his tracks and bend over weakly. His stomach churned, his mind was racing with terrible thoughts of what could have happened to you.

“Y/N? God, I hope you’re alright” He whispered. “Where are you, love?”

Just as he took another step, something caught his attention. A whimpering noise sounded to his right, and so he didn’t think twice to head in that direction. What he found was a figure, huddled behind a tree trunk, hiding her face on her knees and bawling her eyes out.

“Y/N!” Jaskier threw himself to his knees, gently laying a hand atop your shoulder.

“No!” You moved away from his touch, waving your hands in the air as though trying to swat him off you. “Don’t hurt me, please!”

“It’s me! It’s me, love, it’s Jaskier!”

When you dared look up, he paused. You were still breathing rapidly, tears rolling down your cheeks as your bawling started coming to a halt.

“T-The werewolf!”

“It’s alright, Geralt’s gone and get it”

The air turned cold as you grew silent. Jaskier watched you in anguish, wanting to ask if you were alright but nearly fearing he had lost the right to even ask that. It was his fault that you were there on the first place. Bearing heavy thoughts of your own, you remained quiet. You locked eyes with Jaskier as contradictory feelings overwhelmed you.

Love of my life, can't you see? Bring it back, bring it back, don't take it away from me Because you don't know what it means to me You will remember, when this is blown over And everything's all by the way When I grow older, I will be there at your side To remind you how I still love you

Back, hurry back, please bring it back home to me Because you don't know what it means to me

“I’m sorry…” He whispered, even though his voice came out strangled and it was barely audible. “I’m so sorry, Y/N, I’m-“

Much to his astonishment, you threw yourself to him. Your arms urgently wrapped around his neck as you cowered into his shoulder. All possible unwell within you both seemed to vanish as you collided in an urgent embrace.

“Oh, thank the gods I found you…” Jaskier sighed in relief, cradling your head as he held you tightly against him. “Are you hurt? I saw…”

“It scratched me…” You pulled away, holding your arm up to show him the garments torn to shreds and the superficial wound still pouring blood. “But it didn’t bite me”

“Thank the heavens…” He embraced you again, being taken by such relief that he now experienced an entire different kind of dizziness as he gingerly pressed your frame against his chest. “I’m so sorry, love, none of this would have happened if I hadn’t been so bloody stupid”

You were silent as you let him hold you. While your fresh wound was a duller ache, your head hurt as your love for Jaskier as well as your resentment for his demeanor fought for dominance within you.

“You’re mad, aren’t you?” He uttered, knowing how to interpret your silence. “I don’t blame you, honestly, I would-“

“Now you know” You interrupted him, realizing he was about to ramble as he usually did. “What do you have to say about it?”

“Yes, it is absolutely my bad” Jaskier vehemently nodded his head. “Had I realized what your true feelings were, I could have saved you so much pain and… I suppose I just didn’t see the signs that you-“

“Jaskier” You only called him, bearing unshed tears in your glassy eyes.

“I don’t know” He honestly replied, feeling more genuine and vulnerable than you had ever seen him. “I don’t know if I love you back, I just know that I care about you”

“I still love you…” You stuttered, letting out a nervous chuckle to hide the fact that your tears had overflown and were now rolling down your face once more.

“And I… I love you too, but… I don’t know in which way I love you, I just know I was terrified out of my mind when you ran away” He sighed, passing a nervous hand through his thick brown hair. “I might realize I hold romantic feelings for you soon or I might not, but… I want you to know that you hold a special place in my heart one way or the other”

Not knowing what to do or say, you only nodded your head. Feeling uncomfortable, you instead tried to stand up and Jaskier didn’t lose one second to help you to your feet.

“I promise you one thing, though” He tenderly held your hand. “I won’t ever allow myself to hurt you like this ever again”

“Okay…” You could only mutter, still recovering from the pain that day held for you.

“Come here, love” Jaskier wrapped his arms around you a third time, this time never wanting to let you go. He clung on to you, just like you were. Perhaps you loved each other in different ways, and whether that would change or not, you had each other at the moment.

The bard looked up when he thought he heard something. In the distance, he spotted Geralt standing there, carrying the blood stained sword. The two looked at each other as they were facing one another, and nodded their heads. They didn’t say anything, only resigning themselves to the way things ended. There was nothing to say anymore after all.

Tag list: @call-me-harley-quinn / @wonderlandfandomkingdom / @kingniazx / @greeniemoon / @they-call-me-thewildrose / @jasper-the-stan / @v3nusc3 / @breezyfails / @squirrel-saloli / @saveatruckrideoptimusprime / @ultracolorfulnerdcollection / @creativemayhems / @bands-messed-me-up / @pantrashtic / @buckyness-intensifies / @drunkonbuckybarnes / @kkcline123 / @designfailure56 / @this-is-whump-dammit / @anderfelll-s / @x-joie-x / @waitingtobeimpressed / @legallyblindgamer727 / @goldenhoney-cas / @bravelittlesunflower / @lilyevans1 / @imaginealllthefandoms // If you want to be added or taken off the tag list for these fandoms or characters, let me know!! // Reblogs and comments are appreciated!

#rfi writings #ficlet #jaskier x reader #the witcher #the witcher ficlet #witcher #witcher ficlet #jaskier #geralt #geralt ficlet #geralt of rivia #reader insert #requested

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heathermason · 3 years

Text

pick a crystal for what you need to know this new moon- 2021 (april 11th-12th depending where you live)

labradorite, rubilite, citrine, fushite

Reblog with ur crystal choice pleaseee 🥰

labradorite

the hierophant reversed: you’re restricting yourself too much, you might not be listening to someone with experience or their advice. It’s time to let yourself flow.

moldavite: there’s transformation all around you. Reach inside to see your own soul- what does it need to tell you? Release yourself from the physical land of earth and go with the dramatic changes that are coming afoot. Good luck will happen soon

the child I was meant to be: go into the depths of your heart and childhood. You have to heal the past to heal the present. It’s time to be hopeful, you deserve it.

white rose- this is a time to connect to yourself and your thoughts and emotions. Keep yourself grounded with your emotions, you’ll be able to find out more about yourself and who you really are inside your soul

Rubilite

10 of wands: you are carrying a heavy burden right now. you hold it alone, without relying on anyone. let other people help you.

chrysocolla: you need to love yourself. build up strength through these challenges you’re going through. forgive yourself. Learn to talk, and learn to stay silent in situations that you go through. Dont be bitter and don’t let self doubt enter

addiction- there is tension, or problems, in regard of feeling lost without something in your life. It takes a lot of effort to stand up, but for now, you might be stuck feeling addicted to something and unable to reach out to seek freedom, for it isn’t as appealing at the moment.

Asters- you do not need to rush yourself to get things done, take your time. You’ll be successful as long as you are willing to wait.

Citrine

Wheel of fortune- with life comes our ups and downs. We feel lucky, we feel unlucky. With despair comes the dawn of hope, and vise versa. Right now, luck will be on your side.

Purpurite- it’s time to get rid of clutter and accept the new in life. Get rid of bad habits, patterns, and anything that only brings you backwards in terms of healing. Someone may be wishing ill will on you, so you need to be careful. You might be influenced easily during this time period, negative and positive ways. Send unconditional love and forgiveness to people around you. “The past creates the present, but the past can be repaired and the present healed.”

The temple of my body- you don’t feel good enough, like you aren’t worth it. You don’t feel like you know yourself and the body you reside in, but you also need that that is your only body. You deserve to love yourself and your body, despite the flaws you may see. You need to.

Gladiola- you’ll go through a period of time where you need to live through hardship. But with it comes soul lessons that harden who you are and what you know. You’ll be successful in the end of this, it’ll be as if things in your life have suddenly go away like the clouds on a sunny day, like you have a clear vision of the future. Onward!

Fushite

King of pentacles: you will meet, or embody, the king of pentacles! A wise and maternally wealthy man, he has everything he wanted. You’re ready to help others in need around you. You’re willing to share your success and abundance with the less fortunate. Live good, help others, and your soul will find true luxury in life.

Citrine- be joyful and reach into yourself to connect with what you once love. Abundance of things is coming into your life. There’s a sense of inner calm after worrying so much about stresses in life (family, home, finances). You will be successful as long as you are willing to help manifest it- your thoughts create your life! Don’t think negatively or it’ll come true. Think positively, and abundance will come into your life. Nurture yourself, and true riches will come soon.

Envious gluttony: there is an unpleasant, raw darkness growing within you. It’s something that holds you back, something you try hiding from others for it is more like the stench of rotting flesh rather than the woes of heart break. You don’t want to acknowledge it, for how ugly it feels to you. We are our shadow selves, that is our anger, our envy, our negative emotions we hide. It is just a feeling, do not be threatened by your own darkness.

Forget-me-nots: it does not matter how short someone has been in our lives, for they’ve taught our soul lessons, and given us love. The memories created are filled with happiness and mutual love, of any kind. It’s what happened on the way, what you’ve sowed among the way, that matters

🖤🖤🖤🖤

#tarot #new moon 2021 #oracle #witchblr #my oracle #my tarot

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timeforelfnonsense · 3 years

Text

Between Heaven & Hell

Astarion x Dafni

Rating: M (no spice but its mentioned)

Ao3

Inaleth Sweet is a D&D oc belonging to one of my dear friends @ladyofthelatke from one of our old games. We were talking about Dafni liking romance novels and realized she'd be a fan of Inaleth. A fun little easter egg! The name of Dafni's book was also brainstormed by our D&D party! I don't know that I love the ending but meh!

Sunshine & Starlight: My on going bg3 series

Downtime for Dafni had become rare and fleeting in the past few days. Not that she mined being busy! She’d never been much good at sitting still. Her mind moved from thought to thought as quick as a hummingbird’s wing. A life of adventure rather agreed with her breezy disposition, that was a silver lining among the mess at least. But she found herself road-weary and overextended. Perhaps it was the tadpole or the fact she’d been in more battles in two days than she had in the last year. She couldn’t be sure. Either way, a little idle time would be good for her.

She was lounging on her belly in a grassy patch on the river bank, idly flipping through the dog-eared pages of a novel bound in soft pink leather, Between Heaven and Hell scrawled across the cover in faded gold lettering. It was a rather risqué account of an amours elf torn between the affection of her aasimar and a tiefling suiters. The first in a series penned by one Inaleth Sweet of Waterdeep - A fellow eladrin and personal favorite author of Dafni’s. She’d read it dozens of times but it never failed to enchant and intrigue her.

She’d always enjoyed reading. It was the only time she could bring herself to be (mostly) still. She could lose herself in the colorful whimsy of her imagination. She’d always been a romantic. Her headful of silly daydreams of love and adventure from a tender age. She had spent days on end in her village imagining what the world might be like beyond the shelter of Peleira and the familiar forests and shores of Faerie-Gwynneth. Books provided her wanderlust an outlet in the years before she crossed into the Material.

A pale hand snatched the book from her hands pulling her back to reality. Astarion glanced down at her with a mischievous grin, raising a singular angled brow. She clumsily fumbled to her knees attempting to reclaim it from him but Astarion simply raised the novel out of her reach.

He looked almost ethereal, shrouded in the soft, peachy glow of sunset as he flipped through his stolen prize. His loose undershirt was unbuttoned almost to his navel showing off his lanky feline-esque physique. It was completely unfair for him to be that gorgeous! Somehow he managed to mix boyish charm with noble dignity. She imagined Astarion was very much the kind of man humans pictured when they talked about the peerless beauty and grace of the elves.

“My, my, Daffodil, I never pegged you as a consumer of salacious novels. Aren’t you just full of surprises?” He said through a chuckle as he began to thumb through the pages, “You fold the corners of your books? And I thought I was despicable!”

He might have been from the Material Plane but he had that spark of mirth common to those hailing from her homeland. It was a welcome change of pace. She’d found he could be quite charming (when he wasn’t being surly or aloof). He’d taken to treating her with teasing endearment as of late. He would refer to her by little diminutives such as darling or dear. That was when he wasn’t calling her by that twee pet name, Daffodil. She knew that the majority of his doting was little more than suave twaddle but she couldn’t help but be won over by him.

There were things about himself he’d clearly chosen not to disclose. She was never one for secrets but she could hardly begrudge others for having them. Astarion’s omissions were likely connected to whatever had made him so prickly in the first place. She was curious of course but she wasn’t going to press him for anything he was unwilling to give. Dafni understood relationships much the same way she did gardens. Both required patience and dedication in order for something beautiful to flourish. She earnestly hoped a genuine friendship could blossom between them but that meant allowing him to open up to her in his own time no matter how badly she wanted to bombard him with a-million-and-one questions.

“What have I done to deserve this roguery?”

“Roguery?” Astarion snickered.

“Roguery.” She repeated. “Now find your own way to pass the time and give me mine back!”

Her brows stitched, her lower lip forming that perfect little pout of hers. She was trying very hard to appear cross but her eyes gave her away. They were sparkling with impish delight as she made another valiant effort at retrieving the silly thing. Despite her tilt towards clemency, Dafni was a bit of a puck.

“This is my way of passing the time. I can only wander among the trees so many times before the novelty wears off. Besides, making you blush is far more entertaining.”

Dafni snorted a blite smile forming at the corners of her plump lips, “You are incorrigible, you know that right?”

“So I’ve been told.”

“Well, I suppose if you are that bord I could read to you?” She yanked the book from his hands, clutching it to her chest smug and victorious. Reaching out with her free hand to tap a finger on the tip of his nose. “But, I’m skipping all the dirty bits!”

“Spoilsport.”

“It’s that or walking around the woods for the hundredth time.”

“You do raise an excellent point.” He sighed carefully arranging himself on the grass beside her, “Very well, I’ll agree to your stipulations.”

“Just be glad I’m not going to make you read for one of the characters! And because I’m just so sweet I’ll even start from the beginning for you.”

He listened intently as Dafni delivered the tale as if she were performing a one-woman play. Her face was adorably expressive as she changed her voice with each new character. Messy curls bouncing with every animated gesture. Occasionally she’d trail off feigning horror at the ‘dirty bits’ as she called them.

What would lewd words have sounded like in her lilt voice? Part of him wanted to find out right then. That wasn’t the first time such musings had crossed his mind. Dafni had made a few appearances in his private thoughts since their meeting. She had a coy, maidenly allure that conjured up all kinds of tempting images. These were nothing more than flights of fancy but fun nonetheless. Just another benefit of keeping her around.

He found himself lingering around her almost on instinct. The joy that followed her was tangible and warm as the sun on his skin. When she was near his mind felt quieted and the fear that gnawed at him would soften just a tad. He had grown to genuinely enjoy her company. He’d expected her to be dull and overly pious. Instead, he found she was rather amusing, coquettish even. She was witty and observant, always having a playful quip at the ready. The sort of whimsical woman whose effortless charm drew people in. She would have made an excellent vampire if not for her ridiculous soft heart.

Her compulsive need to care for every living thing with a sob story was somewhat vexing but he could hold his nose and deal with it most days. He’d make a comment here and there but really that was for her own good. She was painfully naïve, always seeing the best in people. It was clear to him Dafni’s life had been gentle. Free of hardships that might have taught her to approach others with such little skepticism.

A part of him was grateful for her lack of suspension. He knew gaining the trust of at least one of the members of the party would be crucial if he intended to enjoy the benefits of traveling with a group long term. Her friendship and propensity for peace making provided him with no small measure of safety. Still, that safety was at risk if she continued to offer herself up on a silver platter to every soul with even the smallest tale of woe she came across.

He glanced over at her, a found (begrudging, but found nonetheless), smile on his lips. The last rays of the setting sun casting its light on her lovely cherubic profile. While his motivations for befriending her had been far from altruistic having her near made his life provable better. When they’d first met he’d assumed her kindness would come at a price but she had surprised him, wanting nothing but his company in exchange. Without thinking he reached out cupping her cheek in his hand. The freckles, sage skin was unbearably soft and warm against his cool palm. Her heartbeat quickened bringing his attention to the tantalizing, wildflower sent of her blood. She leaned in close her eyes fluttering closed-

“We should head back to the others, it’s getting dark.” Astarion muttered, pulling back from her.

“I- Ha, of course. It’s late…” Her lower lip was caught in her teeth, her eyes darting ever so quickly from his mouth back to his eyes.

As tempting as she might be he was already in too deep with her. If he kissed her, he’d only want more. Any change to the current dynamic could disrupt the fragile safety he’d acquired. He couldn’t put himself at risk for the temporary happiness she might have brought. Perhaps when things were more settled. When he knew he could afford the risk, he would know the taste of her lips. For now though, he would have to resist.

#elf writes #astarion #bg3 early access #dafni of gwynneth #bg3 oc

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danganronpasurvivoraskblog · 4 years

Text

The Case of the Missing Makangos.

Chapman: So, you’ll be packed and ready to head out soon?

Yes. We should be able to leave at 7am tomorrow.

Chapman: It will be a long flight, Your Majesty. Remember, it will likely take a day and a half at least.

I will be fine...What about you Kazuichi?

It’s all good Miss Sonia, I got stomach pills to last me a while.

Chapman: Stomach Pills?

Kazuichi has very bad motion sickness. Riding any sort of vehicle is bad for him.

Chapman: I see...

Oh, that reminds me. Lady Chapman, it has been a while since I heard of the Case of the Missing Makangos. Has that been solved yet?

Chapman: Now that you mention it, no. It’s been open since far before the tragedy. We don’t even know if the perpetrator died in the civil war or the tragedy.

I see...It would be best if we could get that case sorted out quickly enough. That may make the situation better for me.

Chapman: Indeed...do you know any skilled detectives?

Hm...well, the Foundation Head is an extremely skilled one, but no doubt she’d be busy...

Oh, but yes, I do have an idea!

Th-Thank you so much for helping me locate this Sh-Sh-Shuichi...I thought I’d never see it again!

Oh, it was nothing. Consider this thanks for taking such good care of us.

You helped me find my missing guitar pick too! You’re a lifesaver.

It’s important to you. I can see why you’d want to look for it.

I-I guess you also helped me find my fan when I lost it that one time too. You’re really good, you know? Like a real pro!

Ah, no, I don’t have the credentials to call myself a pro...much less a detective...

Ah! There you are Shuichi!

Ah! P-Princess Nevermind!

*He bows.

Come now, you know there is no need for that. You may address me as Sonia, like everyone else.

O-Ok...it’s an honor...

What’s up Sonia? Did you need Shuichi to help you with something.

I’m more than willing to help out, with whatever you may need.

This is a matter of much seriousness. I would like your undivided attention!

You’re going to be QUEEN!?!?

Yes. I shall be returning home to my own country, to become it’s queen.

That’s awesome news!

Y-Yes! C-Congratulations Sonia...!

Indeed. And all of you are invited to join.

I imagine many shall be busy with other matters, and will be unable to attend, but I shall ask regardless.

Well, if I can get a free holiday, then I guess I don’t mind.

Of course, you are coming as my esteemed guest Shuichi!

I am WHAT!?

Listen carefully. I shall tell you about the most famous unsolved case in Novoselic history. It is known as "The Case of the Missing Makangos.”

...I’m sorry, the case of the missing what?

A creature native to Novoselic that multiplies when frightened. Are you not familiar with it?

Oh, so it’s an animal...

The first incident in this case occurred when a prominent noble lost their prized Makango.

L-Losing a pet that you adore is...r-really hard...

I agree with that...

Indeed. And his troubles did not end with his missing Makango. In Novoselic, couples must show their Makangos to one another in order to be wed. For this noble, he had a betrothed whom he intended to marry, but...

Things didn’t work out?

Yes. In time, other women began to pursue him for his wealth, causing no end of drama. Soon after, other nobles and socialites began to report their Makangos missing as well. The entire country went mad as betrothed lovers watched their courtships be torn apart.

That's terrible... I suppose you haven't found that Makango yet?

No... Most likely, the poor Makangos have been sold on the black market or enslaved...

...E-Enslaved?

Whether the culprit sought to own rare Makangos or cause discord between lovers, I cannot say. Given the number of incidents, the investigation thus far has not produced any solid leads...

Hey...he’s just a kid Sonia...isn’t this a bit much for him?

Really? I don’t think this “kid” thinks so?

Huh?

*Mumbling* The scale of this case is huge. There could be copycat criminals at work...

He’s already brainstorming!?

Ah!? Um...s-sorry, bad habit...

Th-That’s one intense habit...

The Makango disappearances ended as quickly as they began, yet the case remains unsolved.

It must have been a difficult case... Hard on everyone involved.

So you DO understand the hardship this case has inflicted upon my people! I thank you with all my heart for listening to my sudden tale of woe.

Truly, you are sweeter than any millennial confection. I was right to trust you. As the soon-to-be-queen of Novoselic, I request that you solve this case and lift my people's anguish!

Ah...I'm not sure if I can produce results, but...

I've come THIS far, and you went out of your way to invite me personally...So, if you're alright with this case in my hands...

You have my gratitude. In return, I hereby grant you an open invitation to the Novoselic Kingdom!

(What have I gotten myself into?)

#danganronpa survivor #danganronpa #danganronpa 2 #dr2 #danganronpa v3 #drv3 #sonia nevermind #ibuki mioda #mikan tsumiki #hiyoko saionji #kazuichi soda #shuichi saihara #novoselic revolution arc

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beneaththetangles · 5 years

Text

Guest Post: Mononoke and a Chance Ungiven

Today’s post is a guest piece from Tyler Burnette, a great supporter of Beneath the Tangles and admin on our Discord server. We’re proud to present this sensitive and spirit-filled take on a topic that has become a battle now more than it has in many years—the unborn child.

-----

Can you recall moments for in which you have wanted a second chance at something? You may have made an easily correctable mistake or perhaps a more significant moral one because your priorities were out of alignment. Everyone has regrets, and God is always willing and able to forgive us of them because of his immense love for us. He does not have a limit on the number of mistakes he can forgive. We are called to be like God, and while we do not have to acquiesce to all demands or become gullible to repeated offenders, we must offer forgiveness and chances at redemption as God has done for us.

However, what about those who are given no chance at all? Have you ever been in a situation where no matter how hard you worked, no one would grant you an opportunity? Perhaps you developed a desire to become a singer as you grew up, but you simply weren’t gifted with the natural talent of a singing voice. Maybe you were discriminated against in a career because of your appearance, associations, or ideology, and were rejected. Thankfully, most of us still have opportunities in life to pursue what is good in the world and to use our talents to benefit others. Unfortunately, there is one group group of people for whom there is no chance given for them ever in life, and their stories are the most tragic of all.

Mononoke is an anime about a medicine man doubling as an exorcist who travels through medieval Japan, offering his goods for sale and resolving mysterious hauntings by finding out the shape, truth, and reason for the them. It is highly stylized and heavily steeped in Japanese mythology and artwork. A majority of its imagery and style appear to come straight out of the Ashikaga period of artwork. Alas, I am not as well versed in medieval Japanese culture or iconography as the show’s creators, so many of the references and choice of language are lost on me. It has visually pleasing colors and line work, and the characters are well colored and animated. On the flip side, the story, especially for the first two episodes, is anything from pretty.

The first episode begins with a the Medicine Man making his way to an inn soon followed by a woman who is very far along in her pregnancy and clearly in a great deal of distress. The innkeeper, in a scenario not dissimilar to the virgin Mary’s predicament in Bethlehem, is initially turned away due to them having no open rooms in the inn by the front desk clerk. She claims she is being chased down, and she will die if they do not give her shelter. She is even willing sleep on the floor of the inn so long as she does not have to stay outside during the night. The proprietress condescends to her but proposes an idea that she stay in one of their unused storage rooms. Along the way, we notice oddly shaped Japanese baby nesting dolls randomly position throughout the staircase and hallways as well as spirit ward stickers placed upon the walls that the proprietress does not recognize.

Things quickly turn spooky for the young pregnant woman when she arrives in the room and begins to hear voices of children that the desk worker and proprietress cannot hear. During the night, a henchman breaks into the young lady’s room and tells her he has been sent by her lord to kill her baby as it was the result of an affair with master and that he would not be pleased to learn of the child. In medieval Japanese society, as with medieval western society, an illegitimate child could result in inheritance disputes as well as cause shame upon the father and his family. The pregnant woman pleads with the henchman to spare her life as she greatly desires to have the child and care for it. The henchman disregards her plea, but just before he is able to impale her with his sword, he is grasped by an unknown force, hauled into the air, constrained by ribbons of cloth, strangled to death, and dumped back onto the floor. When the proprietress, clerk, and the medicine man come to see what the noise is, they experience the haunting first hand, and the spirits lock them into the room. The medicine man interrogates the proprietress, and we find out that the inn used to be a brothel, and this room they are in is actually the room in which abortions were performed when her girls became pregnant. The room is being haunted by Zashiki Warashi, childlike yokai who are the spiritual remnants of the aborted children. The young woman flees the room in fear, and upon entering another room, she receives a vision of her past showing her and her master beneath the covers. He tells her that he loves her, but she protests claiming she is just a servant. The lord asks her to marry him. Trusting him, she tells her that she is pregnant with his child. This shatters her dream and her vision changes into the man sent to kill her saying, “You don’t care as long as he’s rich right?” This emotionally breaks the young woman, and she collapses crying onto a table.

Every person’s story is unique and specific to them. While I cannot presume to understand or perfectly relate to women who struggle with deciding between birthing a child or having an abortion, many commonalities exist in some circumstances. Like the young woman in Mononoke, there can likely be much shame and regret that plays into decisions to abort a child. The emotional pressures placed on a woman are immense. The father may not be present, and the child may have been conceived in rape or incest, and telling her family could result in significant reprisal or rejection. It certainly takes a village to raise a child, and without that emotional and physical support, abortion becomes an increasingly viable option. We as a society—but also as individuals—must support struggling expectant mothers in any ways we can, even if it means sacrificing some of ourselves so they don’t have to sacrifice their own.

At a point early in the episode, the inn owner voices skepticism at the woman’s capacity as a single mother, commenting that having the baby won’t bring her any money. The financial burden is more significant today than ever before. A study from CNN indicates it costs around $13,000 per year to raise a child. For women considering abortion, this is a significant issue. Support from the government, work, and family may not add up to enough money to meet the costs of living for two people, and the woman might not be able to see a way through. Self-value and self-doubt in one’s own strength and capability, I suspect, is also important in decisions like this. The significance of the decision and the lack of visibly immediate alternatives puts a woman in an unpleasant vice, squeezed by societal expectations and economic hardship. Most often, people listen to the ones who have the most influence or control over them, and woe to those who have nowhere else to go than a person like the proprietress who values money over human life.

In another scene from Mononoke, we then see a vision of the proprietress in her youth as a beautiful lady, but one with minimal compassion for the circumstances of her girls. She informs the Medicine Man of the nature of their abortion room and that the walls with the diamond patterns are effectively a mortuary for the aborted children. She relates the abortions she performed to an act of kindness, a rationalization to ease the anxiety of ending a life. While she tries to frame in this way, in reality it’s simply an excuse to perpetuate her brothel’s business saying that the children are worthless to her and she won’t let them eat as the girls were sold to her to pay a debt. The imagery at this point is rather gruesome, even if only displayed in metaphor, and I would blame no one for not wanting to continue watch. The proprietress begins pulling on a red cord with bloody hands, and a pool of water at her feet turns to red as some of the dolls are shown floating in the pool. My spine shivered a bit next when the owner shreds the cloth she was pulling on as a baby screams, and we then see drops of blood sprinkled over one of the dolls as the red cloth is laid over the doll’s face. The owner makes her way over to the table the young woman is on and makes the pantomime of stabbing the young woman as she screams, “Stop killing babies!” as the room cuts to normal again with the group sitting in the room.

This does not last long as the Zashiki Warashi manifest as a mass of red ribbons which burst from the walls and form a sentient orb. The Medicine Man tries to find the way to vanquish the spirits, but to his surprise, the young girl realizes that they just wanted to be born into the world. All along they just wanted to be given an opportunity at life and with single a word, she accepts them to be birthed spiritually through her with her child. She rips off the spirit ward that had been placed on her stomach, and blood begins to splatter beneath her. The scene cuts away, showing her as the mother of one child but spiritually the mother of the others who had been aborted. A child in the form of a yokai shows appreciation for her love and affection. She admits she cannot physically raise them all, but with her gesture, the spirits are at peace and allow themselves to be dispelled or released by the Medicine Man. It is unclear what future the woman has with her child, but thanks to her compassion, we can presume that she can live her life without the regret or sorrow potentially experienced by the many other women of the proprietress, her child having been given the chance that so many others were denied.

Having a child is a costly decision in life and should absolutely not be endeavored into lightly. Sadly, many women may not have that opportunity or foreknowledge and consider ending the pregnancy through abortion. It is tragic, as contrary to some people’s perceptions, there are absolutely resources available for any woman struggling with costs of raising a child. If one’s family is unwilling to assist with raising a child, local churches and church members, even of a parish one may not attend or share faith with, may be assist in some way if they know about the circumstances. Additionally, adoption is a wonderful option to consider, and there are numerous resources available for it online and in the real world such as the National Council for Adoption, American Adoptions, Lifetime Adoptions, the Department of Health and Human Services, and many other organizations. Adoption and foster care may not be the ideal circumstances for a child in many situations, but abortion is always the worst option from the baby’s perspective. One might recommend an abortion to a woman whose father may not present by the time of birth, is severely impoverished, and may not have family support. However, as an adopted child, myself, from one of these circumstances, I absolutely advocate for adoption and believe abortion is the worst choice for both the mother and the child. It can appear as the easiest solution immediately, but in the long term there can be no joy in the quickest decision that must be wrestled with for the rest of one’s life.

As birth rates decline in our country and babies are seen as more of a burden than a blessing, as less of a baby and more as a bundle of cells, as less of a tot and more of a tumor, the prospects can be very grim, as demonstrated in the first arc of Mononoke. Stigmatizing women who have had or consider abortions is the wrong way to proceed. We must sympathize with them, and we must wholeheartedly and compassionately point them to a God who offers forgiveness and love in all things. If we wish to see abortions or the cited reasons for them eliminated in our world, we need to endure hardships and sacrifice on the behalf of the struggling young mothers to give them a chance so they might in turn bestow a chance at life upon their child.

—

Mononoke can be stream on Tubi.

Tyler Burnette has been anime fan since his youth in the late 90s where he developed an affinity for science fiction shows like Cowboy Bebop, Gundam Wing, and Crest of the Stars shown on platforms such as Toonami, Adult Swim, and Anime Unleashed. Presently his favorite anime is Trinity Blood as it ties in his interests in politics, anime, and theology. He grew up in a non-denominational church which he still attends regularly and graduated from King College with a degree in Political Science and History with an interest in economics and is an avid strategy gamer.

#Anime #Christianity #Mononoke #Abortion #Adoption #Pro Life #Articles #Guest Post #Author: Tyler Burnette

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erikabancale21-blog · 5 years

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HOW TO COPE WITH STRESS AS A CUSTOMS STUDENT

Stress starts after you graduate in Senior High School, you don’t know what to do, what to expect, what course you want to take. Most of us are having more trouble in what course should we take because we might get wrong about it. Our parents as well are just so paranoid on what’s better for us. There’s only one time to make time to think and make a decision for yourself.

when you achieved so much back in your senior high school days and you know that life is completely different when you go to college. That is very stressful and hard to deal with. Not to mention that you will probably let go of your friends and go to the next chapter without them.

You’ll miss them and that’s stressful on your part. Wishing that maybe someone could take you back to that time but that’s not gonna happen. The thing is you have to made up your mind about things and have a final decision.

As for myself, I chose BSCA or Bachelor of Science in Customs Administration. I didn’t plan anything but I’ve always heard that in this course it is really an easy money as soon as you graduate and got a job. Who would have thought that it could be hard as rock. Thinking about it is so easy than being in an actual classroom with a blackboard that is full of computations about what not and what so. Stress already? hope that I know how to compute those things because I’m really having a hard time but let’s begin our agenda.

MY WAYS ON HOW TO COPE WITH MY OWN STRESS AS A CUSTOMS STUDENT......

1. SLEEP

have some time to sleep, It requires minimum effort and you get to escape the stress and woes of reality. Sometimes I wish we are smartphones, where we just need to plug ourselves in to recharge but not have to power down to do so. Sadly we are not smartphones so we need to sleep in order to recharge. For me, Sleeping is a very effective way to cope my own stress and hope it helps you too. No matter how busy your schedule is, you need to sleep or take a nap so that your body can still survive the stress in a daily basis. I hope you won’t dream about computations because it is very stressful as well haha. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-reasons-why-good-sleep-is-important

2. Meditate

You don’t need a Yoga instructor or whatsoever to help you meditate. You can meditate all by yourself. There are so many simple things you can do to have a perfect meditation and it’s all up to you. Being comfortable is the key to have a good meditation. Doing what your body wants is a meditation. You can have a stretching or what you want to do. You can also visit websites on how to meditate like https://alifeofproductivity.com/meditation-guide/.

3. Create A Diary/Journal

I, personally have a diary in where I store my secrets and talk about what just happened in a day. It helps me to track my changes if I actually have a change about my attitude and lifestyle. I usually wrote their about how bad my day was and what kind of solution i did enable to escape with it. The next day I read it, I will just laugh and know that i was able to last a stressful day. This is just an option if you like writing and if you like being so drama about yourself.

4. Music

Music is my life. i must say. it always helps me with my stress as a Customs Student. I just want to listen to music while answering the computations because it somehow made me think about a lot of things. What I like about music is if it has a great melody with strong lyrics. Before exams I always put my headset on as if I was just the only person in the classroom and everyone just completely disappear including the classroom if possible. kidding aside. Life is easy with music and i recommend this type of music during your stressful days. it might help if you have the same vibes as me. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/five_ways_music_can_make_you_healthier

Your stressful mind will be gone and all that’s left is a good music while you are doing a head bang. Rock n Roll.

5. Read A Good Book

I am a fan of books especially Science Fictions. I have a book about customs but it doesn’t help my stress. It only gives more stress to my head because of the theories that I need to memorize without understanding what it actually mean. I know that it will help me with my professional career but at times when I’m alone, I only want to spend some time for myself away from different kind of things that can make me stress. There is always a time for everything. It may be a form of procrastination. A terrible habit we all do, I mean most of us. I don’t know it’s just something I can’t discipline myself out of BUT if there is a good book, it completely drives me crazy that procrastination is not my thing anymore. STRESS = GOOD BOOK

6. Talk with people you LIKE/LOVE

Conversations are the most important but also delicate way we communicate with each other. What we say and how we say it affects a lot of what we intend to mean. In order for me to cope with stress, I always talk to people about it and I love it when they listen and gave advice to me. It makes me feel that I am not alone and sometimes words are not better left unsaid because it might make you crazy. Having a good talk with other Customs Student about things that are outside of Customs Administration is what makes me happy. I mean we are all human. We all have our hard times and we need some good times. I want to talk about Customs if we are in a classroom and in a middle of a test but when it’s outside the classroom then i don’t want to talk about Customs anymore. Learn to manage those conversations.

7. Take cool pictures

Sometimes, taking cool pictures about nature makes me calm and stress free. It reminds me how beautiful the world is. Some point, it made me realize that I should really study hard to reach my dreams and change the world. Even if being a Customs Administration Student is really hard but all the worries will be gone in just a photography. All of us want to change the world and make it a better place but change starts within ourselves. So I always have to time to study and at the same time have time to have a fun and wonderful life. Live in the moment because you would never know what will happen in the next day. capture every moment. Study hard. Live Life to the Fullest.

8. Laugh and Smile

I like to laugh and I like to smile. I mean, who doesn’t right? Well, I know some people don’t like how their smile looks. That’s probably why people cover their mouth when they laugh, huh? Our neutral face makes us looks like we are depressed/stress or sometimes angry. I always smile despite of the hardships of being a Customs student. Seeing the computations and theories that I know I may never understand. I just laugh and wait until my classmate gives me an answer hahaha. kidding aside. I just laugh because I know that even if it’s that hard I can always answer because I trust myself and I know what I’m capable of. Smiling and Laughing help me to boost my confidence as a Customs Student. have time to smile. laugh. it’s priceless. trust me.

You can cry when you laugh as well. That’s what always happened to me. I cry when I’m laughing or when I’m laughing I can cry. Tears of Joy they say. I am laughing because I have confidence in myself about answering the computations but I cried because It is that hard. is it still TEARS OF JOY?

9.TRAVEL

I always like going to different places in order to escape from reality and stress. Even if it is not that far, I always like to travel. No matter where it is. Travelling is an effective way to cope with stress and as a Customs Student, going to different places here in cebu makes me somehow a traveler and at the same time a person who doesn��t care about anything. TRAVEL = ESCAPE FROM STRESS. Well being a student of Customs Administration is like travelling around the world because all you talk about is Exports/Imports. There are a lot of customs laws and for me it is a guide in travelling around the world. It is an advantage for me as a customs student to be able to know the places and ports here in Philippines.

10. Get Organized

If you want to be out of stress as a Customs Student then you must be very organized with things. You need to put things into their right places just like solving the computations of Customs then you must know what are the answers and where to put them because you might get wrong. If you are not organized then you can feel stress because you will be very confused about things and where to put those. Sometimes being organized is the best way to live life simple and easy. If you don’t wanna get bothered (stress) about something. Learn to organize your things properly and in order.

THOSE ARE MY WAYS ON HOW TO COPE WITH STRESS AS A CUSTOMS STUDENT. I hope that you can relate to me and give a comment because I might answer and give you some tips. Don’t worry I’m not a stressful person hahaha. There are a lot of ways to cope with stress. What’s yours? If you also have some idea then comment and suggest about something that you want me to talk about. Always remember that LIVE LIFE THE FULLEST and DON’T LET STRESS EAT YOU. THANK YOU FOR READING. KEEP SAFE.

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k-e-monroe · 6 years

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I JUST LIKE LISTENING TO YOU TALK

Prompt Requested By Uri Kane (SoulCry)

“It is said, when one person saves the life of another, that person becomes responsible for the life that has been saved. It is also said that a deep and strong bond is often formed between those involved in such near-death experiences and more often than not said bond is both life-changing and lasting.” --Excerpt From A Reply Written By Kimber To Uri

Location: Honolulu, Hawaii

There is much to be said for the light in which a child shines, pure and radiant, and as natural as the sun tacked to a clear blue sky. It’s both invigorating and refreshing to be around a child, especially one full with an ardor for life. It’s a shame how the world can be so callous and cruel thus forcing the harsh realities of life upon those chaste and innocent. The corruption, whether slow or swift, a vile and wretched offense. No doubt, it’s an atrocity when one thinks on it. For Kimber, due to the circumstances of her birth and subsequent abandonment by her mother, having been thrown into the foster care system right from the start surely made for a rough and tough beginning in which she was forced to grow up fast. Even after being adopted by her parents, a couple no less than loving and righteous, the damage had been done and there was no turning back for her.

The maturity acquired at such an early age didn’t hinder her as much as the fears and insecurities she garnered so early on, and even with this having an impact on her overall childhood, she honestly couldn’t complain about her life in the slightest. Kimber had it better than most. Despite the impediments and lack of relatability to others her age whilst growing up, she managed to adjust and fit in well enough, but always felt like an outcast simply skirting the edge. It wasn’t until she got older and started babysitting for her neighbors that she realized she had a special affinity for children in general and the older she got, the stronger the affinity. The energy and purity in which they radiate fed into the little bit of virtue she has managed to hold onto all her life--no matter hardship or tragedy. It also tapped into a side of her she was surprised to discover existed, the side gifted by God or whatever other higher power simply for being born a woman--her maternal instinct.

Truth? Kimber was just 21 when she realized one day she would love to be a mother, but with that self-awareness came a great deal of fear and trepidation. How could she be a mother when her own biological mother was so quick to abandon her at birth? In her mind, for a woman to do that, she surely had to be damaged right down to her core. What if she passed that onto Kimber? With all the other factors working against, one’s revolving around her origin and WHAT she is exactly, Kimber resolved herself to the opinion and thought that it would be for the best she not ever have children of her own. Needless to say, this decision settled heavy upon her heart providing a constant pang and fear of a life unfulfilled. By the time she received her doctorate and started working at Horizon’s clinic and freelancing as a Psychologist, she had done well to bury these feelings deep and move on with her life with her career as her primary focus.

It’s odd just how things can change for a person. How one thing can lead to another then another and another. It’s like a domino effect. Unfortunate circumstance would lead her to this very point in time in her life--on a private beach in Honolulu in the presence of a little girl named Aniya Kane. It’s in the presence of this child in particular that her heartstrings are plucked and the remnants of her buried maternal feelings and inclinations resurface. Who knew? Upon arrival Kimber was quick to settle in and take in the island city, basking in all it had to offer. Life, it was improving for her during this much-needed vacation. However, after nearly a week spent Honolulu, things would certainly take a dramatic turn when a fun and relaxing day at the beach would give way to a near tragedy. As Kimber waded in the warm, frothy ocean, she caught sight of a little girl having been swept up by the current flailing to keep her head above the surface. Quick to act, Kimber swam to help the child, but by the time she reached her, the ocean had swallowed her whole.

Kimber managed to get her out of the water and with instinct taking over, once on the beach gave the little girl CPR thus saving her life. After her father Uri arrived, though the girl was then safe, sound and most importantly breathing, Kimber couldn’t bear to leave her side--at least not until a pediatrician checked her out, specifically for any remaining water left in her lungs. All Kimber could think of was her welfare and the possibility of Secondary Drowning. Who knew it would lead to something so much more? Who knew it would be the one thing she needed in her life at this point in time? WHO KNEW? As Kimber walks along the sandy beach, the sun setting off in the horizon with glowing rays breaking across the cyan surface of the ocean and white-capped waves, she fondly watches as Aniya skips ahead, searching eagerly for seashells for Kimber to take back on her return to New York. An inevitable outcome and end to this unexpected and eventful trip, and certainly one she isn’t quite ready to accept.

“KIMBER! KIMBER!” The five-year-old Aniya calls out whilst bouncing on the balls of her bare feet. “LOOK AT WHAT I FOUND!!!” From a small distance, Kimber can see that in her tiny, frail hand she is holding up a large starfish and the smile curling along her pout widens as she picks up her pace, heading straight for her little friend.

“I think we should call him… PATRICK!” Kimber states with confidence.

“PATRICK!” Aniya exclaims, face beaming as her attention turns back to the starfish and she promptly addresses it. “YOU are PATRICK.”

Chuckling softly, Kimber slips her arm around Aniya’s shoulders affectionately pulling her close as they make their way further down the beach, toward her home and back to her father Uri. Along the way, Aniya makes up stories and grand tales of Patrick’s adventures at the bottom of the ocean and just how he found his way to the beach. Amusing and adorable, Kimber could listen to the child speak for hours on end, no matter how over the top her stories and fantastical her loosely woven tales. It’s certainly better than a day spent with patients hearing their woes or sitting in a lecture on the new advancements in Psychological research. It’s odd though, especially when around Uri and Aniya both. From what little Uri has told Kimber about his daughter, more often than not, she is quiet and timid, embodied by her shy nature--a far cry from how she can be at times when with Kimber. It’s NOT difficult to believe though in the contra, Kimber is well versed in such and it comes as NO surprise that Aniya has connected with her as much as Kimber has herself to the little the girl. Their recent experience demands it.

“Kiiiiiimber! Kiiiimber!” Aniya calls out whilst tugging at Kimber’s linen sundress. Kimber, honestly caught up in the melody of Aniya’s voice and exuberance of her mood, didn’t quite catch the last thing she said oddly enough.

“Yes Aniya?” She asks in a soft tone of voice.

“Tell me a story about Patrick!” The child demands.

Laughing she shakes her head. “Right now, I want to HEAR your stories, luv. They’re far better than mine.”

“WHYYYYY?” Aniya asks in an exaggerated manner.

“I just like listening to you talk.” Kimber freely admits and with sincerity. “YOU, lil’ one, tell the BEST stories.”

“OOOOKAAAAY!” Aniya says, manner and tone once more exaggerated. “But you gotta tell me a bedtime story tonight!”

Eyeing her with affectionate delight, Kimber nods. “Fair enough. You get one bedtime story. Well, maybe two, but we will have to see.” Reaching over, she playfully pinches Aniya’s button nose. The child squeaks and hands Kimber the starfish before hopping from her side in a mad dash toward her island home as it comes into view.

Upon approach both Aniya and Kimber catch sight of a seemingly annoyed, possibly frustrated Uri standing at the grill on the deck, cooking whatever meat he has planned for their dinner. It’s somewhat comical to Kimber that this brute, brooding and moody the majority of the time, is standing over a grill whilst wearing an apron and holding large tongs. His intense gaze peering down at the meat, just willing it to cook faster so he could be done with it. Whatever the case, he is a sight for sore eyes and not simply because she is famished either. The bond she has formed with Aniya, in some ways bonded Kimber and Uri. She did save his daughter’s life and there is much to be said for that fact. Once near the deck and Uri sees them from his peripheral, Aniya picks up her pace and runs to greet her father, flinging herself against his bulky legs.

“DADDY DADDY! We found a starfish and named it Patrick and I told Kimber stories and she is gonna tell me a bedtime story…and..” An excited Aniya can’t help ramble about their afternoon and all their adventures big and small. “I just like listening to you talk.” Kimber thinks silently to herself the words only spoken moments prior. Once more, she finds herself laughing and as she climbs the stairs of the deck, she catches a glance from Uri. The tortured soul within just melts away to one much more elated and hopeful in nature when in the presence of his daughter. She is undoubtedly the light of his life and it’s one of the most precious things Kimber has witnessed. She can relate in some ways, being with Aniya has given her reason to re-evaluate certain things in her life, and truth be told, Kimber can’t recall a time she felt so content. For a child to inspire such sentiment, a child not her own that she has only known for a short time, it’s miraculous. As Kimber and Uri exchange a glance, Kimber walks on over to father and daughter with starfish in hand. She holds it out to the man and smirks.

“Uri, meet the infamous and legendary PATRICK,” Kimber says, introducing the two for the first time whilst offering a nod of her dark crown. “Patrick, meet Uri.” Kimber holds Patrick to her ear, her expression ambiguous as she pretends to hear the starfish speak. All for Aniya’s benefit. “Uri, Patrick says it is a pleasure to meet ya!” The exchange, small and seemingly unimportant, sends Aniya into a fit of joyous giggles and Kimber can’t help follow in suit.

#KimberEliseMonroe #KimberMonroe #BuiltForSin #UrijiahKane #UriKane #SoulCry #AniyaKane

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veryfarawaytoday · 2 years

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an address:

sexuals who desire or covet the gender of another exist.

non sexuals who covert or desire the gender of another exist.

those coveting and desires, can in some cases, be truly known ad fulfilled through healthy exploration and understanding of the mind.

what exists now is not an encouragement to find your true self. it is not maturity, or even self-knowledge. it is indulgence to the highest degree of fantasy worlds. it is the rejection of hurt and pain that are typical to a human experience, and rejection of the growth each of us must undergo to become better to ourselves and others around us.

vices always work this way. the person in them, feels good. seems good. is “good”. and then years, months, days, seconds later, unravels. a person with self control can realize and take to heart the consequences of their acts, and avert their course. remove themselves from the negative influence, and even when exposed to it again, can assert control over the haywire neurons begging them to give in.

transgender, as the modern world knows it, is a vice. It is vanity. it is greed, and selfishness. it is a retreat from mental morality. it is an exception, an out to all the woes and hardships of being held responsible towards your conduct around, towards, and affecting others. it is the I, the ME, the MINE. it is demanding that no limits be set, that the word “no” in and of itself is repulsive.

transgender, the modern: seeks not to help others. it declares, loudly “you do not have to think of other people”.

8 people. 1 person. 20 people. 100s. “you do not have to care”.

humans depend desperately on the support and care of others. when a vice, a fad, a group, pushes you to leave those that care for you: to disregard your peers as unworthy of your time and energy, when a person tells you: “you do not have to worry about others”

you lose connection. you lose what is to be human: to care. to love and be loved, all imperfections as they are. you are telling your soft, fleshy body it is wrong, and that the wild electrical impulses in your brain, so full of grand ideas, ego, and addiction are what are to be listened to instead.

You must, must, must care. You affect the lives of everyone around you, deeply, intertwined, even if you sit there screaming “no one loves me”. Even if you believe you should die, or live in another life, if you think the things happening to you are so un-understandable and painful beyond another’s knowledge, if you feel desperately alone--

do not transition. it will not bring you out of the darkness, no matter how much temporary euphoria you generate from “changes”. it will not fill the gap of love in your soul, it will not heal wounds placed there by others. only time and you: the wonderful, bright, human you who speaks and listens and connects with others can repair what you feel is broken. no medical science, cosmetic adjustments, or hormonal replacements can do that for you. you must be patient. you must listen to your inner self, the one who knows your flaws, and the one who knows your strengths. you must still seek to challenge the status qou of yourself, of the limits you have put yourself behind. you must go into the world, you must connect: you will hurt more ,you will love. you will be loved, and you will hurt others. seek joy in others. seek joy in the sky, the touch of another. seek joy in water on your skin, and the movement of your limbs as you do something you love. seek joy in the tastes of food, in the satisfaction of work done with time and care. joy does not lie at the end of a transitional rainbow, and it never will.

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thewordcollector2 · 6 years

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And Then There Was Rain: 35+ Uplifting Reminders for Those Rainy Days

Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem بسم الله الرّحمن الرّحيم… In the name of Allah (God), the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Assalaamu 'alaikum السّلام عليكم… Peace be with you

Hi, Readers :). There are those times in life when we experience dismal days. These are the days when you feel like the world is coming to an end, and everything just seems to be going downhill. During these moments you feel gutted (down or depressed), and as if a dark cloud is following you everywhere. But fear not! Your days will not always be sunless and cheerless, as sadness never lasts forever. There is hope in the rain, and you just need to hold on, InshaaAllah إن شاء الله (God willing)! :)

Persian / Farsi Idiom: Havaa-toh daaram هواتو دارم / I have your back.

Literal Translation: I have your air / weather.

Today, I wish to bring back some hope, optimism and confidence in YOU. This post is mostly centered around rainy days* (figurative and literal). It is especially for the downhearted, but anyone is welcome to read. Please try some of my reinvigorating treatment. Don't worry, it's totally safe and poison-free. And, guess what? It won't cost you a dime. Happy swallowing! :)

*rainy day

(n.) A time of need or trouble. (The Free Dictionary)

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Important Notice:

Readers, I apologise for the unclickable URLs and hyperlinks in this post. My blog seems to have a glitch right now, so please be patient with me. Thank you for your understanding, and again I am terribly sorry for the inconvenience.

For the while, you guys can copy and paste URLs (web addresses) from the "Sources, Credits and Further Reading" section to the address bar (location bar or URL bar) of your web browser, and then hit / press "Enter" to visit them.

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25+ Inspirationally Refreshful Quotes for Rainy Days

"Don't confuse your path with your destination. Just because it's stormy now doesn't mean that you aren't headed for sunshine."

Only a select few are able to see the true beauty that lies behind what just might seem like a rainy day or a grey sky. ~Jessica M. Laar

Raise your words, not voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder. ~Rumi

Fall seven times, stand up eight. ~Japanese proverb*

*Japanese Idiom - Wiktionary

七転び八��き (hiragana ななころびやおき, rōmaji nana korobi ya oki)

Meaning:

the ups and downs of life (lit. seven falls, eight get-ups)

Note:

"This proverb implies that you have a lot of ups and downs throughout your life, but you will be fine at the end. It encourages you to tackle your problems again and again until you overcome it, even when you cannot see the light. This is often used when you want to encourage somebody facing difficult problems." (Japanese Words of Wisdom)

Let a smile be your umbrella on a rainy day. ~Perry Como

If you have the power to make someone happy, do it. The world needs more of that. ~Anonymous

Do right. Do your best. Treat others as you want to be treated. ~Lou Holtz

"Thank Allah* for what you have. Trust Allah for what you need."

*"Allah الله is the Arabic word for God in Abrahamic religions. In the English language, the word generally refers to God in Islam. The word is thought to be derived by contraction from al-ilāh, which means 'the god', and is related to El and Elah, the Hebrew and Aramaic words for God.

The word Allah has been used by Arabic people of different religions since pre-Islamic times. More specifically, it has been used as a term for God by Muslims [both Arab and non-Arab] and Arab Christians." (Wikipedia)

Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other. ~Abraham Lincoln

Everyone wants happiness; no one wants pain. But you can't have a rainbow without a little rain. ~Zion Lee

Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud. ~Maya Angelou

If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. ~Maya Angelou

HasbunAllaahu wa ni'mal Wakeel حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ.

"Allāh is sufficient for us and He is the Best Guardian."

(Qur'ān, Sūrat Āl 'Imrān)

Whatever you do may seem insignificant to you, but it is most important that you do it. ~Mohandas Gandhi

When you feel like giving up and quitting, remember why you started in the first place. ~Unknown

Without rain nothing grows, learn to embrace the storms of your life. ~Expanded Consciousness

The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain. ~Dolly Parton

Learn Something New: Island Talk

Caribbean Idiom: Guava Season

Guava

Meaning:

"The term 'guava season' is used to describe a period of difficulty, of economic woe and hardship, when there is nothing to eat but wild fruit like guava… when it used to be wild."

(Guava Superfruit | The Trinidad Guardian Newspaper)

When it rains look for rainbows, when it's dark look for stars. ~Oscar Wilde

Predicting rain doesn't count. Building arks does. ~Warren Buffett

Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet. ~Roger Miller

A true friend is like an umbrella that opens her heart to protect you on those rainy days. ~Debasish Mridha

"Good friends will come out, even on rainy days, if we need shelter."

"Sometimes life just calls for an umbrella."

No matter how much it rains, there is a place in you that never stops shining. ~Princess Sassy Pants & Co.

Positive thinking will let you do everything better than negative thinking will. ~Zig Ziglar

"Life is like a rainbow. You need both the sun and the rain to make its colors appear."

"God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way."

Ya Allah يا الله (O God), please enlighten the darkness of my heart. Aameen آمين

A gentle word, like summer rain, may soothe some heart and banish pain. What joy or sadness often springs, from just the simple little things! ~Willa Hoey

"In our lives there is bound to come some pain, surely as there are storms and falling rain; just believe that the One who holds the storms will bring the sun."

"And O my people! Ask forgiveness of your Lord, and turn to Him (in repentance): He will send you the skies pouring abundant rain, and add strength to your strength: so turn ye not back in sin!"

The Qur'aan 11:52

When someone is mean, don't listen. When someone is rude, walk away. When someone tries to put you down, stand firm. Don't let someone's bad behaviour destroy your inner peace. ~Author Unknown

Don't let insignificant / trivial / little things break (destroy) your happiness.

Arabic Transliteration 1: Laa taj'al al-ashyaa'a at-taafihata tudammiru sa'aadataka لَا تَجْعَل الْأَشْيَاءَ التَّافِهَةَ تُدَمِّر سَعَادَتَكَ.

Arabic Transliteration 2: Laa tada' al-ashyaa' at-taafihah tudammir sa'aadatak لاتدع الأشياء التافهة تدمر سعادتك.

Have patience with all things but first with yourself. Never confuse your mistakes with your value as a human being. You are a perfectly valuable, creative, worthwhile person simply because you exist. And no amount of triumphs or tribulations can ever change that. Unconditional self-acceptance is the core of a peaceful mind. ~Francis de Sales*

*Saint Francis of Sales, also called Francis de Sales, French Saint François de Sales

"Let the rain wash away all the pain from yesterday."

Be strong because things will get better. It might be stormy now but it can't rain forever. ~Hailee

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass... It's about learning to run in the rain."

After a storm comes a calm. ~Matthew Henry

Never cut a tree down in the wintertime. Never make a negative decision in the low time. Never make your most important decisions when you are in your worst moods. Wait. Be patient. The storm will pass. The spring will come. ~Robert H. Schuller

If you want to see the sunshine, you have to weather the storm. ~Frank Lane

Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections, but instantly set about remedying them—every day begin the task anew. ~Francis de Sales

"For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease. Indeed, with hardship [will be] ease."

(Al Qur'aan, 94: 5-6)

An Inspiring Pick-Me-Up Poem for People Who Feel Like Giving Up

Don't Quit by John Greenleaf Whittier

When things go wrong as they sometimes will,

When the road you're trudging (walking) seems all uphill,

When the funds are low and the debts are high

And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,

When care is pressing you down a bit,

Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is strange with its twists and turns

As every one of us sometimes learns

And many a failure comes about

When he might have won had he stuck it out;

Don't give up though the pace seems slow—

You may succeed with another blow.

There is no success without hardship. - Sophocles

Success is failure turned inside out—

The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,

And you never can tell just how close you are,

It may be near when it seems so far;

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit—

It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

This poem is in the public domain.

“Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing.” ― Oscar Wilde

Rainy days should be spent at home with a cup of tea and a good book. ~Bill Watterson

12 Lovely Little Words for Rain Addicts

rain

(n.) water falling in drops condensed from vapor in the atmosphere (Merriam-Webster)

rain cloud / raincloud

(n.) a cloud (as a nimbus) bringing rain (Merriam-Webster)

cloudburst

(n.) a sudden, very heavy rain (Webster’s New World College Dictionary)

pluvial

adj.

1. Of or relating to rain; rainy.

2. Marked or formed by abundant rainfall: pluvial periods; a pluvial lake.

An extended period of abundant rainfall, especially such a period of the Pleistocene Epoch. (American Heritage Dictionary)

Pluviophile - Wiktionary

English

Etymology

From Latin pluvia +‎ -phile.

Noun

pluviophile (plural pluviophiles)

1. (biology) Any organism that thrives in conditions of heavy rainfall

2. One who loves rain, a rain-lover

Pluviophile: (n.) a lover of rain; someone who finds joy and peace of mind during rainy days.

ombrophile (ombrophil)

(n.) a plant which survives well or flourishes in rainy conditions (Collins English Dictionary)

ombrophilous (ombrophilic)

(adj.) of a plant: capable of withstanding or thriving in the presence of much rain (Merriam-Webster)

bibliophile

(n.) a person who loves or collects books (Cambridge English Dictionary)

mizzle

(n.) light rain; drizzle. (Oxford Dictionaries)

pitter-patter

(n.) the sound of a rapid succession of light beats or taps, as of rain, footsteps, etc. (Dictionary.com)

petrichor

[pe-trahy-kawr, ‐ker]

(n.) a distinctive scent, usually described as earthy, pleasant, or sweet, produced by rainfall on very dry ground. (Dictionary.com)

rainstorm

(n.) A storm with heavy rain. (Oxford Dictionaries)

Did you know?

The word “pitter-patter” is an example of an onomatopoeia. The following is the definition of “onomatopoeia”: “Onomatopoeia is when a word’s pronunciation imitates its sound. When you say an onomatopoeic word, the utterance itself is reminiscent of the sound to which the word refers.”

(101 Onomatopoeia Examples | Ereading Worksheets)

Fikar mat karo, sab theek ho jayega فکر مت کرو، سب ٹھیک ہو جائے گا = "Don't worry, everything will be okay / fine" in Urdu

"Rain" in 23 Languages

Afrikaans: reën

Arabic: maṭar مَطَر

Estonian: vihm

Finnish: sade

French: pluie

Greek: vrochí βροχή

Hausa: ruwa, ruwan sama

Hawaiian: ka ua (pronounced 'kah-oo-ah')

Hindi-Urdu: baarish बारिश بارش

Italian: pioggia

Japanese: ame 雨あめ

Latin: pluvia

Malay: hujan (the 'h' is silent)

Mandarin: yǔ 雨

Persian / Farsi: bârân باران‎‎

Portuguese: chuva

Spanish: lluvia

Swahili: mvua

Tagalog / Filipino: ulan

Thai: fǒn ฝน

Turkish: rahmet

Welsh: glaw

Yoruba: ojo

How to Say "Enjoy the rain" in Arabic, Indonesian, Malaysian and Spanish

Arabic: Istamti' bil-maTar اِسْتَمْتِعْ بِالْمَطَرِ

Indonesian (bahasa Indonesia): Selamat menikmati hujan

Malaysian (bahasa Malaysia): Selamat berhujan / Selamat berhujan-hujan / Selamat berhujan-hujanan*

*rough translations

Spanish: Disfruta de la lluvia

It's Raining Wisdom: 7 Fantabulous International Proverbs

Prepare the umbrella before it rains / Sediakan payung sebelum hujan. ~Malay Proverb

Meanings:

- "Prevention is better than cure." (steemKR)

- "Always be cautious when you can sense danger." (steemKR)

- "Thatch your roof before the rain begins." (Peribahasa Melayu dan Inggeris)

- "Dig the well before you are thirsty." ( Peribahasa Melayu dan Inggeris)

The sign (i.e. precursor) of rain is clouds / Dalili ya mvua ni mawingu. ~Swahili proverb

Meaning:

"Pay attention to indications for something which is going to happen." (www.kiswahili.net)

How beautiful it is to see the rain and not get wet / How nice to see the rain and not get wet / Qué bonito es ver la lluvia y no mojarse. ~Spanish Proverb

Meanings:

- "Don't criticize others for the way they do something unless you've done it yourself." (BuzzFeed)

- "Criticism is easy, art is difficult." (Culture Trip)

All clouds bring not rain. ~English Saying

Meaning:

"We can rephrase this: 'Not every cloud brings rain.' And that's true. Sometimes there are many clouds in the sky, but it doesn't rain. Don't judge things by appearances." (EnglishClub)

Kay koule twompe soley soley men li pa twompe lapil / Kay koule twompe soley men li pa twompe lapli / Kay koule tronpe soley men li pa tronpe lapli / A leaky house can fool the sun, but it can't fool the rain / A leaking roof may fool sunny weather, but cannot fool the rain. ~Haitian proverb

Meaning:

"When things are going well, it is easy for us to appear solid, intact, grounded, strong, etc., but it is during and after a crisis, loss, failure, or other misfortune that we discover the power of our resilience i.e. our courage, fortitude and stamina." (Quozio)

There is no bad weather, there are only bad clothes / There's no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothes / Det finns inget dåligt väder, bara dåliga kläder. ~Swedish proverb

Meaning:

"Any weather is tolerable as long as you have the right clothing." (Wikiquote)

Rain wets a leopard's skin, but it does not wash out the spots / Rain beats a leopard's skin but does not wash off the spots. ~Ashanti Proverb from Ghana

Meaning:

"In life each person will encounter hardship, which in this proverb is represented by rain. The supposition that rain cannot wash out a leopard's spots alludes to the fact that hardship is temporary and can only strengthen a person in the end. Eventually the rain will stop falling, and all things can be overcome." (DePauw University)

Miscellaneous Section: 3 Special Islamic Prayers

Du'aa* of Prophet Musa, aka Moses (AS)

رَبِّ إِنِّي لِمَا أَنْزَلْتَ إِلَيَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَقِيرٌ

Rabbi innee limaa anzalta ilayya min khairin faqeer.

Translation:

"O my Lord, truly I am in need of whatever good You bestow on me."

(Surat al-Qasas, 28:24)

*prayer, supplication, etc. = du'aa دُعَاء (Arabic)

Du'aa (Supplication) for Distress, Sadness and Anxiety

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَالْحُزْنِ وَالْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ, وَالْبُخْلِ وَالْجُبْنِ وَضَلَعِ الدَّيْنِ, وَغَلَبَةِ الرِّجَالِ

Allaahumma innee a'oodhu bika minal-hammi wal-ḥuzni wal-'ajzi wal-kasali wal-bukhli wal-jubni wa ḍala'id-daini wa ghalabatir-rijaal.

"O Allah [God], I take refuge in You from anxiety and sorrow, weakness and laziness, miserliness and cowardice, the burden of debts and from being overpowered by men."

or...

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَالْحَزَنِ، وَالْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ، وَالْجُبْنِ وَالْبُخْلِ، وَضَلَعِ الدَّيْنِ، وَغَلَبَةِ الرِّجَالِ

Allaahumma innee a'oodhu bika minal-hammi wal-ḥazani wal-'ajzi wal-kasali wal-jubni wal-bukhli wa ḍala'id-daini wa ghalabatir-rijaal.

"O Allah [God]! I seek refuge with You from worry and grief, from incapacity and laziness, from cowardice and miserliness, from being heavily in debt and from being overpowered by [other] men."

Du'aa (prayer) for when it rains

اللَّهُمَّ صَيِّبًا نَافِعًا

Allaahumma ṣayyiban naafi'an.

"O Allah [God], may it be a beneficial rain cloud."

Was this entry interesting? If so, you may also want to read "23 Courage Quotes to Spark Your Inner Spunk", InshaaAllah إن شاء الله. Here ya go:

http://thewordcollector2.tumblr.com/post/168641993628/23-courage-quotes-to-spark-your-inner-spunk

Sources, Credits and Further Reading:

https://visionpdf.com/guide-to-persian-phrases-learn-persian-with-chai-and-convers.html

https://golbou.com/2014/09/09/13-things-persians-say-that-dont-make-sense-in-translation/

https://pixabay.com/

https://svgsilh.com/8bc34a/

https://www.pexels.com/

https://www.maxpixel.net/

https://pixlr.com/

https://www.freeonlinephotoeditor.com/

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https://spark.adobe.com/home/

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https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/rainy_day

http://quoteshunter.com/rainy-day-quotes/

http://www.amyreesanderson.com/blog/just-because-its-stormy-now-doesnt-mean-you-arent-headed-for-sunshine/#.Wz-g9cInZVc

https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/428038-raise-your-words-not-voice-it-is-rain-that-grows

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/here-there-and-everywhere/201201/40-quotes-help-you-get-through-the-day

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E4%B8%83%E8%BB%A2%E3%81%B3%E5%85%AB%E8%B5%B7%E3%81%8D#Japanese

This post includes text from the Wiktionary entry, “七転び八起き - Wiktionary”, available under the Creative Commons Attribution license, CC By-SA 3.0.

The License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcode

About CC BY-SA 3.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allah

This post includes text from the Wikipedia article, "Allah - Wikipedia", available under the Creative Commons Attribution license, CC By-SA 3.0.

The License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcode

About CC BY-SA 3.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

http://www.beliefnet.com/columnists/everydayinspiration/2014/06/10-inspirational-quotes-to-lift-you-up-when-life-is-hard.html

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This post includes text from the Wiktionary entry, “pluviophile - Wiktionary”, available under the Creative Commons Attribution license, CC By-SA 3.0.

The License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcode

About CC BY-SA 3.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=pluviophile

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https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/mizzle

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http://www.dictionary.com/browse/petrichor

https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/rainstorm

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http://amante-de-idiomas.tumblr.com/post/153831423205/dont-worry-fikar-mat-karo-%D9%81%DA%A9%D8%B1-%D9%85%D8%AA-%DA%A9%D8%B1%D9%88-urdu

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https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/rain#Translations

This post includes text from the Wiktionary entry, “rain - Wiktionary”, available under the Creative Commons Attribution license, CC By-SA 3.0.

The License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcode

About CC BY-SA 3.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

https://www.freearabicdictionary.com/dictionary/search/%D9%85%D8%B7%D8%B1

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https://translate.google.tt/?hl=en&tab=wT#en/yo/rain

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https://www.freearabicdictionary.com/dictionary/search/%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%85%D8%AA%D8%B9

https://www.freearabicdictionary.com/dictionary/search/%D9%85%D8%B7%D8%B1

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https://www.quora.com/How-do-you-say-Enjoy-the-rain-in-Arabic-Can-it-be-translated-as-Istamti-bil-maTar-%D8%A7%D9%90%D8%B3%D9%92%D8%AA%D9%8E%D9%85%D9%92%D8%AA%D9%90%D8%B9%D9%92

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/have_fun

https://id.oxforddictionaries.com/translate/indonesian-english/selamat

https://id.oxforddictionaries.com/translate/indonesian-english/menikmati

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http://masteringbahasa.com/indonesian-daily-words

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https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/disfrutar#Spanish

https://cooljugator.com/es/disfrutar

http://www.spanishdict.com/translate/disfrutar%20de

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english-spanish/enjoy

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http://www.gwenstrauss.com/fooling_the_sun_110228.htm

https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Talk:Haitian_proverbs

This post includes text from the Wikiquote page, "Talk:Haitian proverbs - Wikiquote", available under the Creative Commons Attribution license, CC By-SA 3.0.

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About CC BY-SA 3.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

http://quozio.com/quote/47547bcc#!t=1006

https://blogs.transparent.com/swedish/swedish-proverbs-2/

https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Swedish_proverbs

This post includes text from the Wikiquote page, "Swedish proverbs - Wikiquote", available under the Creative Commons Attribution license, CC By-SA 3.0.

The License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcode

About CC BY-SA 3.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

http://academic.depauw.edu/mkfinney_web/teaching/Com227/culturalPortfolios/GHANA/Values%20and%20Proverbs.html

https://books.google.tt/books?id=NeePAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA352&lpg=PA352&dq=Rain+beats+a+leopard%27s+skin,+but+it+does+not+wash+off+the+spots.&source=bl&ots=gSVeWfi8zn&sig=2WU3Qdjm_G6BohCYRvAywavQ02A&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjDlbeW07fcAhUN2VMKHQGyAz8Q6AEIgQEwCg#v=onepage&q=Rain%20beats%20a%20leopard's%20skin%2C%20but%20it%20does%20not%20wash%20off%20the%20spots.&f=false

https://www.freearabicdictionary.com/dictionary/search/%D8%AF%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%A1

https://blog.islamiconlineuniversity.com/dua-musa-alayhisalam/

http://seekershub.org/ans-blog/2012/09/26/supplication-for-a-spouse/

https://muslimmatters.org/2010/02/10/the-supplication-series-distress-sadness-and-anxiety-2/

http://thebeautyofislam.tumblr.com/post/15660867741

https://sunnah.com/bukhari/80/66

http://duas.com/dua/312/dua-when-it-is-raining

https://slideplayer.es/slide/4621550/

http://www.spanishdict.com/translate/the%20sun

http://www.spanishdict.com/translate/the%20clouds

http://www.spanishdict.com/translate/the%20flowers

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/atardecer#Spanish

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/paseo#Spanish

http://www.spanishdict.com/translate/por%20el%20campo

http://www.spanishdict.com/translate/porque

http://www.spanishdict.com/translation

https://translate.google.tt/?hl=en&tab=wT#es/en/Disfruta%20de%20la%20lluvia%2C%20del%20sol%2C%20de%20las%20nubes%2C%20de%20las%20flores%2C%20de%20los%20atardeceres%20y%20de%20los%20paseos%20por%20el%20campo%2C%20porque%20todo%20est%C3%A1%20ah%C3%AD%20para%20ti

https://www.quora.com/What-does-this-Spanish-sentence-mean-in-English-Disfruta-de-la-lluvia-del-sol-de-las-nubes-de-las-flores-de-los-atardeceres-y-de-los-paseos-por-el-campo-porque-todo-est%C3%A1-ah%C3%AD-para-ti-Also-is-it

Dios te bendiga hoy, mañana y siempre - God bless you today, tomorrow and forever (Spanish)

May you always have walls for the winds, a roof for the rain, tea beside the fire, laughter to cheer you, those you love near you and all your heart might desire. ~Irish Blessing

Okay readers, that's it for today. I hope that my remedy worked well. No need to worry, the treatment only has favourable side effects :). Do enjoy the rest of your summer days, InshaaAllah إن شاء الله. Keep well, Wassalaam 'alaikum والسّلام عليكم (and peace be with you)! :) :-h

Thank you for stopping by,

Sam سام.

"Enjoy the rain, the sun, the clouds, the flowers, the sunsets and the walks in the countryside, because it's all there for you / Disfruta de la lluvia, del sol, de las nubes, de las flores, de los atardeceres y de los paseos por el campo, porque todo está ahí para ti." (Spanish)

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rockingthecradle · 5 years

Text

I got a little stuck this morning….Stuck on the photos section of my computer. I couldn’t take my eyes off of my children. I couldn’t help but think of how lucky they are to have each other, and what a blessed momma I am. I also couldn’t help but feel the sting in my heart when I think of what they have been through.

No matter how much you want divorce, or how “well” it goes, the children get jipped. There is no getting around it. Holidays, birthdays, friends, family vacations – it all changes. Maybe a little for the better, but mostly…not.

I love our family. I even love my ex husband. It is a different love now, but I certainly care and will always have his back. We do the best we can. We are cordial to each other’s new partners, we do holiday stuff as one unit whenever possible, and we purposefully put one foot in front of the other, and always think of how our choices in this new chapter will effect the kids. We aren’t perfect and we have had our meltdowns…but we try our best. We try and we try and we try. That’s what we all do in every area, right? Hopefully, we are simply trying our best. Or as I like to say to my children, our “bestest”

Life is messy for sure. Sometimes it’s, messy I fell face first in the mud kind of mess. (that’s the painful mess) Other times it’s the, I had a huge party and now there are tons of dirty dishes all over and beer bottles to be picked up kind of mess. (that’s the fun mess) We’ve got to roll with it, baby. (quote from Steve Winwood, unintentional)

I am pretty sure that is how the positive attitude works…we’ve got to smile and laugh it off sometimes. Let’s face it, life’s little surprises are sometimes so ridiculous, it’s funny. Maybe that’s just me? Maybe I’m nuts and I am laughing out of insanity?? If you are a good friend, please let me know if I have simply lost it. Although, if I am not hurting anyone, maybe just let it go.

As of this morning, I am hurting over a few things in life. Relationships have ended, a good friend just lost her brother to cancer, another friend is going through a painful divorce, my career has shifted once again because my children’s needs changed and they come first, my stepdad has to endure some painful surgeries this week, my mom’s arthritis is becoming debilitating, and I could go on and on.

I am here though. I am in front of my computer, which I am fortunate to have, with my lukewarm cup of tea. Yes I wish it was still hot, but that’s not the point. I’m here. I’m here for a reason. I am here with an ability to love others deeply and care. I am here to help my friends and family navigate through the hardships and celebrate coming out on the other side. If for one minute I think I am going to lose it because life threw me a curve ball, I can look around and remind myself, I am not the only player in this game. We are all in it, and hopefully in it together.

When I was in high school, I had a tight knit little group of friends. We bonded and were drawn to each other because our family lives were similar. (messy) I am certain we didn’t think about that much at the ages of 14-18. We just liked each other. But birds of a feather flock together, whether on purpose or not.

Definitely a couple important ones missing…and definitely not ages 14 – 18.

We had each other’s backs. Due to our not so healthy homes and our rebellious behavior, we needed it. We were practicing for life’s bigger trials that would punch us in the gut down the road, but we didn’t know it. We were simply a sisterhood and protecting each other was an unspoken thing that just happened naturally. Having a bad day and need to skip a class? I’ll skip with you. Broken heart and need to get out? Come over. We will giggle, watch a movie, and maybe sneak out tonight….no conversation about what is wrong – I’ll just be there for you.

Our problems got bigger, much bigger, but the reaction is the same. Our time is so greatly limited now with jobs and children. Our friend list has grown too. It changes as we need it to. But we all practiced. We got ready for the big game while we were young and everything felt like the end of the world. When a friend at age 16 called and said, “Come over now. He broke up with me and I don’t want to live,” and I ran over as fast as I could to try to convince her he was an idiot and all would be fine, I was in training for the call I would receive when she found out at age 41 she had cancer. If we are fortunate enough to have friends, and a heart, we will repeat this over and over.

The good news is, we will also celebrate over and over. We will run to each other when it hurts, and run again when we cannot contain our joy because we made it through. Wow, do we love those moments! That is truly the good stuff. If you do not have a circle that rejoices when you rejoice, please find a new circle. Be careful of people who only want your company when you are in the dumps. You need friends who are there through it all…good hair days and bad hair days. 😉

This weekend I will be attending a hopefully, raucous girls’ night out. After doing a little writing about life this morning, I am extra thankful for the get together in a couple nights. I can see the guest list in my head, and can think of something each extraordinary woman has been, or is going through. Whoever needs to talk, will share to get it off their chest, and we will pour the wine and listen. We will also laugh, dance and act silly so we can forget about those woes for a night. Some are old friends, others are new. At our ages now, the length of friendship doesn’t matter. What matters is who will throw us the life preserver without a thought, when we are drowning. I know I will..anytime. It is my greatest privilege in life.

*Life preservers*

Cleaning Up The Mess Together I got a little stuck this morning....Stuck on the photos section of my computer. I couldn't take my eyes off of my children.

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