healing
How to heal fully and properly.
The Butterfly Effect
I know you have probably heard this a lot, as well as said it a lot, but let me just remind you; 2020 fucking blows. So far, we have had six months of natural disasters, murders and political chaos. We have had to lock our doors for days at a time, too scared to leave and too scared to let in what lays beyond our four walls. We have had to find solace within ourselves and become our own best friend when we weren’t able to see others. We have learnt about the darkness that resides within the same world that brings so much light, and we have actively been consuming knowledge to help reduce the destruction. It has been a shock to the human psyche to say the least. But through this shock to our natural balance of work, play, sleep and freedom, I believe we have gained a better understanding of reality rather than the cotton candy version we once believed life was. And with this understanding, it is quite easy to realise that we actually, cannot, control shit.
By Madeline Stocks6 years ago in Motivation
Perspective
As we all know, life has changed drastically around the world. Things that seemed run of the mill and “normal” are no longer in existence and seem a distant memory of the past; sitting inside a restaurant with friends, traveling internationally, and finding toilet paper for example are all things many of us took for granted and could never imagine having challenges surrounding them. While some restrictions have either been lifted, or aspects have been modified in order to adhere to the new normal, life seems to have somewhat resumed in some parts of the world. Unfortunately for me, currently living in the United States, many restrictions still apply and for good reason. Traveling internationally, and photographing different countries and landscapes is my biggest joy. Having been born in the Canary Islands to Chilean parents, and raised in New York, I am no stranger to traveling around the world. I had been to four different continents by the time I was nine years old, so sitting at home has never quite appealed to me. My mother says I have an adventurous spirit whose sole sustenance is seeing far and distant lands. While I would argue and say that pasta is actually what truly feeds my soul, she is in fact incredibly correct. Not being able to travel internationally feels inherently wrong, not to mention stifling to say the least. I have been very lucky the past couple of years and have been traveling often internationally three to four times a year. Quite the luxury I know, in several different ways; economically, responsibility or lack thereof, and paid leave from work to name a few. I have been lucky enough to see the aurora lights twice, spent a week in a tiny North Atlantic archipelago (Faroe Islands), seen the real-life castle that inspired Disney’s iconic logo (Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany), climbed to the top of a mountain via cable car that oversees six different countries (Hoher Kasten, Switzerland), have walked through ancient Roman ruins from Spain to Turkey, been denied entry to Russia and Malta (COVID-19 border closings), taken a train cross country in Morocco, and seen more Game of Thrones shooting locations than I can count spanning from Ireland to Croatia. However, in recent months that has not been an option, and there is much uncertainty as to when that option will once again become a tangible reality. In the meantime, I’ve resigned myself to going on hikes, reading books, editing the last 5 years of my life in pictures, and even taken up exploring my own backyard for a different perspective. This resonates with all of us on some level: a different point of view, a different angle if you will. Going to a supermarket, receiving mail, going for a drive, getting take out - all these concepts have changed immensely and irrevocably, and were viewed so incredibly differently during this pandemic than they have ever been, and may still be depending on what part of the world you live in. We also became more widely aware of this world, what we do to it (see green gas emissions, pollution, climate change), and how we relate to each other and treat each other (see black lives movement). Some of us are out of work, some of us are working through a global pandemic, and some of us are still trying to figure out what route we want to take with our lives. Regardless, this has been a great time for reflection, perspective, and growth. My time certainly has been; I don’t always have to get on a plane and travel thousands of miles across an ocean to find beauty. Sometimes beauty sits right in my backyard.
By Andrea6 years ago in Motivation
It won't always be easy
We have to remind ourselves of why we are doing what we are doing and not always expect the Universe to show us the way. Since the last time I wrote anything, I would say it has been a little over a year, the more and more “woke” I became, the more and more I started to realize that I was going have to start to remind myself of why I am doing what I am doing instead of always expecting the answers to my question as easily as the Universe makes them at times. Going through trials and tribulations are going to be part of that reminder to yourself, in a sense it’s the way the Universe is going to see if you really are trusting and believing in the process of where your journey is headed and where you are truly meant to be.
By BuBz6 years ago in Motivation
From Anti-Religion to Advocate for All
When we hear prejudice, hate, or stereotyping, we often think about how these issues have impacted minorities. Majority populations are often stereotyped as well. No matter who is the target, such attitudes can hurt. The person who is hurt the most, however, is the one who hates.
By Lorraine Woiak6 years ago in Motivation
OUT OF SEASON
Tilling the Earth with hopes of reaping a blessing. That was not a thought in my conception. I intruded a struggling garden out of season. Weeds do not ask for permission they grow until checked. What type of future could I be promised if any? Can bare hands move Earth to plant a crop worthy of harvesting? My beginning was shaped in lost hopes and dreams my foundation was beautiful. So how could I come forth with dreams and hope? Life had to be put on pause for me to come into this world. I did not ask for the pain you had to endure just for me to smile.
By William Allen6 years ago in Motivation
Visionary Glow
After creating my vision board based on some traumatic experiences in my life then i decided to use the same images towards a new vision. My vision was to transform the pain of my past into a renewal of self growth. I developed a daily routine of self care. What makes my routine extra special is i used these images from my past and transitioned into a new way of thinking about them.
By Raphael6 years ago in Motivation
The Manchester Bombing: My Story
My name is Maria Winter and on the 22nd of May 2017, I was involved in the Manchester arena attack. I remember how excited I was to be finally seeing my idol, I couldn’t wait. One of my closest friends also wanted to share this experience with me, so we went together. I was the happiest girl in the world! My dad drove us to the arena. The journey was quite long and I remember listening to Ariana’s Dangerous Woman album on repeat to make the journey seem quicker. Once we were dropped off, thousands of people were waiting to get in at the entrance - it was crazy. I already don’t particularly like large crowds, so I felt slightly uncertain (a feeling I didn’t listen to). As we went through security, I remember thinking how minimal this was. I understand they needed to get people in quickly, however their effort needed to be twice as thorough.
By Maria Winter6 years ago in Motivation
Emotional Grave
The sky glows white from the flashing of the lighting. The wind blows back and forth as if dancing to a song. His vision blurry and distorted from the beating sound in his head. The clashing of words so loud he can't hear himself anymore. He stands there staring at the ashes. Staring at what was meant to be his living insides, the parts that showed him life. This shadow that lingered in his soul. A being that he shared everything with,a shadow of his past, present, and future. This shadow that he ripped from his body so that it could not cloud him in darkness. Slayed by his own hands, an enemy yet also an ally. His hate for it grow until he couldn’t handle it any more. The memoirs of it betraying him and helping him flash though his mind, the good the bad and the terrible. He couldn’t stand it, he couldn’t take it any more. So he ripped it out of his chest and forced it to fight. To the death he tells the shadow. Only one can remain, this life can not hold them both. The pain echoing though his bones as he feels the presents of the shadow slowly fade. Not able to live out side his body, screaming to be let back in. He stumbles backwards and the Shadow crawls closer to him staring at him with a blank expression. Screaming with every forward motion, yelling that he need the shadow to live Telling him that with out the shadow he would be nothing but an empty shell just wondering the world, searching. Searching for a meaning to his life then, that he was making a mistake by ripping the shadow out. He glared at the shadow and growls that he could have a better life with out the darkness flowing though him. Without having to listen to the darkness whisper in his ears. Then suddenly a pain like no other pierces his heart and he collapse, and finally he hears what the shadow was saying. Watching the shadow slip from this life, feeling his strength seep away along with it. Reaching out with the last of his strength, he wraps himself around the shadow and welcomes it back. Understanding that even though the light of life there is a shadow that will always be there to challenge you, to make you better.
By James Albert Snitgen6 years ago in Motivation
The Serenity Prayer Energized
When I was a child, I went to Al-anon meetings with my cousin. My uncle was an alcoholic. I learned the Serenity prayer there. "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change. Courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference."
By Zennurgy6 years ago in Motivation
Searching For Love
And this is what happens when one is distraught, destitute, desperate, and... diseased? My name is T (aka Timothy Bartsch). I have lived with HIV for over twenty-two years (tested positive in 1996), and nearly died from AIDS in 2009.
By Southern Time Productions6 years ago in Motivation
