#but the channel’s growing and i’m both excited and feeling the need to gatekeep actually lol | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

beybladeimagines · 4 years

Note

Have you got any headcanons for what the blade breakers would be doing in their early 20s? Like what sorts of jobs each of them would have? Would they still be a part of the Beyblade scene or would they have moved on?

TYSON: At first, I imagined that Tyson would still cling to blading, but after the whole BEGA incident, I see his perspective changing completely. In G-Rev, we start the season off with Tyson having a HUGE ego that begs to be addressed. After he loses his friends, he embarks on a journey of self reflection and strives to improve himself as a person and as a blader. However, later on, when BEGA enters the picture, he sees just how far certain individuals are willing to go to be the best, to win, and to become icons. Specifically, we see how Kai was (once again) willing to throw everything away, just so he could have one more shot at defeating Tyson and being the best. Tyson has always known of fame and of being on top. He has also always loved the attention that was given to him. But upon seeing just how much the desire for supremacy destroyed Kai, it really frightened Tyson. I’d argue that a part of him felt like he created a monster. Tyson acknowledges his skill and ability to learn quickly, but after seeing how chaotic things got, he didn’t really want to continue being seen as somewhat of a gatekeeper.

I think Tyson would still blade, but he’d only make honorary appearances at tournaments and would even take on a few students to train. I don’t expect him to fully part ways with the blading scene, but I see him easing away to make room for the next generation. He really does want to be a mentor. He wants everyone to get the same exciting experience he had and to make the same kind of friends he did. Tyson still clings to the good memories that blading brought him, but he knows better than to immerse himself so deeply after some of the scary shit he saw.

MAX: I can see Max fading out of the blading scene as well; however, his reasons are a bit different. Thanks to his mother and father, he’s always been surrounded by blading. However, after doing some maturing and adopting some perspective, Max became slightly disenchanted by the sport. After being on his mother’s team, he kind of realized the amount of emotional manipulation that came with the turf. So many of his teammates felt that they needed to be perfect in some regard to win his mother’s approval (a sentiment he deeply shares). But... it’s just a hobby. How did something so fun turn into something that defined his self-worth? Max will always love blading and will miss the memories he made, but he thinks it’s time to move on to something that he’ll find more comfort in.

In terms of jobs, I can see Max becoming an influencer. You’re probably thinking I’m crazy, but hear me out. Max is rather adorable and he’s always had a large female following. In addition, he’s extremely charismatic and engaging. He’s ALWAYS traveling, so he ends up taking the best pictures too. I imagine his following grew on accident. What started off as a simple follow because he was someone’s favorite Bladebreaker turned into, “wow he makes great posts and he’s fun to watch.” As Max moves further away from blading, he gets more interested making funny videos, streaming, and even playing games. People like the good, honest vibes that he gives off, thus the growing following.

RAY: At one point, like the others, Ray also wanted to hold the title of World Champion. However, after BEGA, Ray began to realize that he had way more fun when he was going against (and blading with) people he already had a connection with. In other words, Ray was starting to really value his intimate connections all over again and wanted to slowly part ways with the theatrics that came with his blading career. Don’t get me wrong, Ray enjoys excitement, but it seems like those around him were taking the sport way more seriously than him. He didn’t want that mentality to pollute his original chill stance. Ray doesn’t really blade anymore. I imagine he’s the most far removed from it out of all of his former teammates.

For Ray, I imagine he didn’t like to stand still. I can see him hopping around from different occupations, because he wants to find something that feels right for him. Ray doesn’t like to feel confined or restricted. He doesn’t like to do certain tasks over and over again. Although he enjoys cooking, he didn’t like cooking under certain chefs, because their requests didn’t match his own knowledge of what actually tasted good. However, over time, I can see Ray also developing a mass following online for his own culinary creations. I imagine Max helps him with the lightening. He went from sharing what he was having for dinner to millions of followers who beg him for recipes in the comments section. This has caused Ray to create his own cooking channel, and he is often invited to host pop-up restaurants where he can make what he wants without someone telling him what to do.

KAI: The last battle with Tyson was all that Kai truly cared for. He got what he asked for, even if it didn’t turn out the way that he wanted. He realized just how much time and energy he sacrificed for that moment. Although the encounter was bittersweet, it essentially drained him of much of his passion. He could continue training and obsessing over countless victories or... He could just move on. I think he realized that those around him were silently begging him to let go. Yes, he had built up such a reputation and so much skill, but it was destroying him both mentally and emotionally (and arguably almost physically). I think Kai would slowly part ways with blading for the sake of not harming his own ego, but it would be the hardest thing he’s ever done. He still trains and practices every day, but makes sure that no one knows or sees him. There isn’t anyone he wants to go against. He’s often reliving that final day with Tyson and searching for some kind of rest.

In regards to his occupation, Kai would eventually settle for the family business. The only reason he is so willing to accept it, is because he desperately needs a distraction. He doesn’t mind the paper work, the meetings, the phone calls, etc. He actually likes being busy and kind of enjoys how much respect and obedience his own employees give him. They often turn to him for guidance and assistance, and I think he really appreciates being needed and openly seen as superior. Kai knows it’s not healthy to put every ounce of himself into his work, but he believes it’s helping him cope with the mistakes he’s made in the past. However, just like before, Kai continues to stay in the shadows. He doesn’t really enjoy the media attention and often spends his time in solitude. He’s accepted such a dramatic change in lifestyles, but it hasn’t completely changed him in a negative light. If anything, it’s affirming that he still has a chance to be a somebody.

#beyblade #beyblade imagine #tyson granger #max mizuhara #max tate #ray kon #kai hiwatari #Anonymous

55 notes · View notes

sappy-witch · 4 years

Note

Is magick for everyone? Can anyone do it & will it work for everyone? Or should you have certain traits? Idk what I want to achieve through it but I'm just really interested in witchcraft & I love nature and wish to build a better connection with it, is this enough?

Hello darling 🥰

That’s a really good question. People will often assume that you can only be a witch if it’s in your family bloodline, but although this may help you on your journey, it certainly isn’t the only way!

Witchcraft is initially about understanding yourself and your energy in order to use it to your advantage, so in short; yes! Everyone has the potential to become a practicing witch. And if the term is a little daunting to some, then here’s a little secret: a practitioner who only grows magickally correspondent herbs in their garden (such as basil and rosemary etc) and a practitioner who specialises in curses and hexes... They’re both practicing witchcraft! It’s not as scary of a term as some have made it out to be. Moreover, it’s not some cult you need to sacrifice your soul or whatever to get in... It’s essentially channelling your energy through meditation, positivity, and connecting with your elements. Gatekeepers who tell you otherwise don’t know what they’re talking about!

(That being said, please note that some witches will incorporate traditions or rituals used in closed religions into their craft; this is NOT OKAY unless you are part of said closed religion. Other crafts, such as Hoodoo, are restrictive. Basically, if you hear about a practice you’re unfamiliar with the history or meaning of, do some quick research to make sure you’re not culturally appropriating someone’s traditions! This goes for every practicing witch of course)

Witches who haven’t been born into their craft will have initially been drawn to it for many different reasons. Someone may have noticed vivid, recurring themes in their dreams and so they set out to understand the hidden meanings of the symbols or colours etc. Someone else may have simply always felt a deep connection with a certain element or with nature as a whole. Another popular one is when people keep noticing certain numerical patterns (ex 1:11 on a clock - beginnings). 🍀🤞🏼

There are so many different things that may attract you to witchcraft; what’s significant is that these ‘simple’ signs have attracted You and not necessarily someone else who may have experienced the same signs. That’s the most important thing; that you’ve reached this point, not necessarily what has brought you here if that makes sense. 🧹✨

I guess a good way to further answer your question would be to share a little personal detail about my journey. (I hope it actually helps because I hate talking about it 😅)

I was not born into my craft. I have struggled with chronic suicidality and depression for as long as I can remember, and nothing seemed to make me think past my hopelessness and lack of self-worth. Then one day I had a really weird revelation, just a super emotional moment like I’d never experienced, and for the first time in my life I started thinking ‘Why can’t I just live for myself? Why can’t I stop living for other people and start thinking about what would make me feel complete?’

It was very out of character and it had me thinking for a very long time. I don’t think I can pinpoint exactly what brought me to the conclusion that I should start exploring my spirituatlity, and through witchcraft no less, but that’s exactly what happened. I started some confused googling as a baby witch and started learning about the magickal correspondences of herbs, spices, and colours. I’ve always loved making my own candles and baking, so I started incorporating this new knowledge into the activities that brought me comfort. I would make myself blue candles scented with lavender and rose oils and light them when I was feeling especially down and self-deprecating... I would activate my cinnamon and sugar while I baked my apple pies for a quick positive energy boost... And that’s how my journey as a witch started. Now I couldn’t be happier that I had that random revelation. 🕯✨

In other words, my desperation for some positive change in my life was enough for me to find my craft, and your heartfelt motivation to connect with nature on a deeper level definitely is too.

Sorry this was such a long response, but I really hope this gives you the answer you need to hear. I’m very excited for you to start your journey (when and if you decide to at all!) and wish you all the best whatever path you choose. If you have any questions at all, my ask box and dms are always open, and I’ll answer to the best of my ability. 🥰🌷

With love, from a Sappy Witch 🔮💕

Blessed be. 🕊✨

If you enjoy my content, please consider donating to my energies~ 🌞✨

I also offer Tarot Readings Here~ 🔮✨

2 notes · View notes

theramblingonesie · 5 years

Text

Facing Our Making Part 4: Makeup and Performance

Misty Copeland as “Firebird”

Welcome to the grand finale of the makeup blog series! It’s been a great experience writing about all of this because it’s given me an incredible opportunity to really dig into myself to discover my own biases, blind spots, preferences, and ways I can learn and grow. I dunno about you, but I rather enjoy that shit. I hope that maybe you learned something, too, or at least had a chance to tease out and reflect on how the subject has affected you in your own life.

Getting into social customs and how we each feel about them is an interesting sport. For me, I liken it to when you get your blood pressure measured at the doctor’s office.

You put the arm cuff on,

“Okay, here’s this social topic”

and they put the stethoscope on you to hear your pulse,

“Hello, world. Here’s what I think…”

and then they start pumping and tightening the cuff.

“This is wrong! Here are some arbitrary rules! Less of those people! Restrict! Cancel! Humiliate! Isolate! Deprive! No! Wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong!”

They go until they can’t tighten anymore, and pause.

“Yes, I’ve arrived. This is the TRUTH.”

And then release.

“Actually, fuck it, let people live their lives”

Whooooooosh!

Leaving you with the sound and feel of your own beating heart, the pulsing of the blood as it rushes back in.

“Hello, life.”

(Sorry, I think the sexy blood pressure pout is goddamn hilarious. )

We can do a review of previous blogs in this series, but ultimately what I hope you’ll walk away with is this:

Let’s stop arbitrarily restricting people, whether directly or through complicity, and let them live their best lives.

Yes, we need to examine social and structural cancers. But no, a boy with a purse and an 80 year old woman in sequins snake-print pants are most certainly not that.

I want to write about makeup and ageism. I want to write about makeup and classism. I want to write about makeup and racism. I want to talk about makeup lineage in families and cultures. I want to write about intimacy and faces, and a million other topics that makeup touches, holds and carries. But I am not a makeup artist or enthusiast, nor any kind of image specialist (fun fact: I’ve never been to Sephora), and I must move on to other things. At most, I am a shapeshifter who delights in the moods and adventures that dabbling in makeup and fashion can provide to the human experience. Who knows, maybe I’ll tackle another piece randomly in the future. But regardless, I strongly encourage anyone who feels called to pick this up and run with it. Nothing I’m writing is original-- it’s just a collection of thoughts and opinions gained from experience and conversations had over the course of my life. I want these conversations to be had. They’re already being had, and we need to add voices to it. So please-- let’s hear yours <3

Here’s an oversimplified review of the rest of the blog series:

Beauty standards are impossibly harsh and cause a lot of unnecessary pain. Let womxn decide what they want to do with their own damn bodies and stay out of it. Unless they hire you for a consultation. Wearing makeup is awesome, and so is not wearing makeup. Your gender presentation and basically any presentation of your body and behavior do not determine who you are and aren’t attracted to sexually. And fuck gatekeeper behavior. If someone tells you that you aren’t the gender or sexual orientation you know yourself to be, then that’s a reflection of some internal shit they’re fighting with, boo-boo. Not you. But I know that doesn’t make it hurt less, and I love you. How toxic masculinity ruins the day in relationship to makeup or not makeup needs to die, and YES women and cis-women** also support and host this behavior (internalized misogyny).

How you choose to adorn yourself does not make your human experience any more or less “real”. Qualification for living a real life in a real body: having a pulse. Just because it is not your experience does not make someone else’s experience a myth. Womxn who wear makeup are not whores unless they are, in fact, professional whores. Professional whores keep the world turning, and bless em for it. The problem isn’t sex work. It’s violence against sex workers. Consider your complicity.

If you want sexual attention because you enjoy sex, then that’s your business and FUCK YEAH GIT IT!!!

Christianity was largely instrumental in informing men that they are not allowed to wear makeup, lest they lose their “manhood”. I have so much to say about that, but I’ll leave it to a recent quote I heard from poet Regie Gibson: “We must learn to fear churches that fear drums.” That will resonate deeply with some and confuse others. Think about it.

The art of drag is centuries old. Makeup has been used by all genders and sexes for decades as a form of protest, revolution, equality, and visibility.

Whatever body you are in, whatever gender you are, you deserve to wear makeup if that is part of your desired expression. It is up to the rest of us around you to do the work to create a world that accepts and allows you to safely do so. Your level of perceived attractiveness does not determine the size and capability of your brain. What does need to be examined is how we sexually and emotionally abuse “attractive” girls and women, both in person and through media, in a way that forces them to believe that they cannot achieve a full life without using sex as currency, or that none of their accomplishments or thoughts matter because their only purpose is being a sexual accessory. As we’ve seen time and again, sexually “attractive” women are punished for straying beyond the purpose of being unintelligent sex objects. Or, there’s a lot of “woke” folks out there who are all “yay! Hot women are also smart, give them opportunities!” and will ONLY respect and listen to women they deem worthy of sleeping with. I will also challenge society by saying that it is sexual abuse to strip a person of their sexuality simply because they don’t fit what you’ve been conditioned to believe are your “standards”. No, one is not required to be sexually active with anybody. But denying another human’s right to love and affection due to superficial beliefs IS abuse, in my opinion. Forcing a person who does not fall into conventional beauty standards to intellectually perform beyond their abilities is abuse, and based in the illness of consumer culture.

What is your purpose?

WHAT is YOUR purpose?

What is your PURPOSE…

THING?

Are you picking up what I’m putting down?

A person’s decision to wear makeup, not wear makeup, or augment their body is their business, because those are decisions they make for their own personal survival. Do not blame them for wanting to survive. Consider the bombardment of messages we hear daily about “worth”. What our bodies look like determine too much to be listed here, but for many, it’s the difference between life and death, even if that’s not an immediately conscious motivation.

Marinate in that.

So let’s get down to the series conclusion. This is an exciting, though brief, one for me:

Performance and Makeup

When my friend Aepril (from blog #1) messaged me about her dilemma of being asked to show her “real” face, we both connected over the uniqueness of the application of makeup as performers. For a performer, makeup goes beyond wearing a nice face out in the world while we conduct our business. Makeup becomes a ritual act, and a space of channeling energy required to suspend disbelief and transport an audience to other times, realms and worlds.

Makeup for performers is also practical: don’t get drowned out by bright stage lights, and accentuate features so that the audience can follow your expressions while you’re telling a story.

One of my favorite parts of performing is, honestly, the pre-show ritual. I love the act of transformation. I go from my blank little pasty potato face and limp baby hair to creatures and characters from my dreams. I can be:

Super femme

Super butch

Superhero

Child

Old man/woman

Dragon

Cat

Spy

Femme fatale

Ballerina

Goddess

Bird

Elemental

Victorian socialite

Bum

Cartoon character

Someone’s dad

Heartthrob

Potted plant

And the list goes on…

Important note: I recognize that my age, whiteness, and stature grant me certain privileges of transformation that not all are afforded. I think this is important to acknowledge, as well as participate in conversations around greater equity in the entertainment industry. Except in cases such as blackface or cultural appropriation, it’s important to challenge type casting and beliefs around the limitations of who can play certain roles.

Makeup allows me to embody the energy I want to convey. If I can look like it, I can believe it. Sit backstage and watch performers after they’ve put on their makeup and costumes. Often, it’s as if their “normal” personality has left the building, and they begin taking on traits and mannerisms of the character they’re playing. It’s a wild experimentation in the realm of the human psyche- peering into our layers and depths of possibilities and dormant desires and aspects of ourselves. Some performers will reference a character they play and say, “yeah, that’s not who I am. But understanding that character gave me greater compassion for people like that”, while others will tell you that their character is a portrayal of their truest selves.

Because of the perceived separation from reality (though art imitates life), the stage is often the safest place for artists to fully show themselves. There is always the option to retreat afterwards and say “oh no, that wasn’t me. It was all pretend.” Or conversely, moments on stage can empower the artist to be supported in their moment of authenticity, because the audience understands that their role is to respectfully hold space and witness. I find that audiences are far better at allowing for differences when the context of being confronted by them is in an environment separate from their daily lives.

Plainly said-- everyone loves a loose cannon or bold personna on stage or in the movies. They feel far more threatened by it in the workplace or in their beds.

I’m neither advocating for, nor dismissing acceptance of all personality types. But I also sometimes find myself in a producer/manager stress space of saying, “yes, I get that this is wicked cute on stage or in the movies, BUT THIS IS REAL LIFE AND COULD YOU PLEASE ANSWER YOUR EMAILS AND NOT STORE THE KNIVES WITH THE HAIR BRUSHES, THANKS.”

The stage is a place where your desire to give everyone the finger and store the knives with the hair brushes is totally okay. And I think it’s great to have that outlet.

Pro tip: it’s smart to carry bandaids on a film set or backstage at a show.

Makeup gives us the courage to let those pieces out. Sam, looking like Sam, won’t do a lot of stuff. Sam looking like a person, animal or entity she admires (or loathes), will do almost anything. Yes, you can have a field day digging into that psychology, but the fact remains nonetheless.

A couple weeks back, beloved Boston burlesque Monster Queen and icon, Devilicia, recommended that I watch “Susanne Bartsch: On Top”, a documentary on Netflix. If you don’t know who this is (I didn’t), here’s an excerpt from her biography on her site:

Susanne Bartsch is New York City’s patron saint of transformation and inclusion. The parties she’s thrown for three decades—from Paris to Tokyo—have provided a venue for countless creative souls and “creatures” to express themselves, come together and forget the hum-drum of the everyday. As Michael Schulman wrote in his 2013 New York Times profile, Susanne’s “empire” continues to flourish “particularly among scene seekers too green to know her history. Wherever Ms. Bartsch goes, the demimonde seems to follow, as if summoned by the bat of her curlicued fake eyelashes.” Fashion mogul John Badum once referred to Susanne as “Mother Teresa in a glitter G-string.”

I can’t recommend this film highly enough. One of the most important parts was when Susanne tells the interviewers that she never had any artistic talent for painting or any other such creative mediums. She instead decided to use her body as her canvas for expression, exploring what makeup, color, texture, and so on could create, and that relation to the world around her. She refers back to the restriction of her upbringing, and how that influences her openness and dedication to personal expression. Susanne influenced countless careers and communities, especially for LGBTQA+ folx and those who consider themselves to be “outsiders”. When people who attend Susanne’s legendary parties were interviewed, many of them speak of these communities as life saving. It was a place where they could just be themselves, and finally be around others who either understood them, or allowed them to be exactly who they are. All of this through the power and creativity of makeup and fashion.

Makeup serves infinite purposes-- safety, transformation, personal exploration, etc. But one thing I love about this craft is its ability to amplify visibility as a sort of flag for finding your people. Often when I’m in a new city, I find myself dressing in a way that will signal to others who might share similar lifestyles that I’m out and available for connection. When I’m at my incognito cafe job and a womxn with black stiletto nails comes up to the register, I’ll give her a certain acknowledging smile and say “I love your nails”, which really means “I see you, friend.” The same way a lonely gay man will show up to one of Susanne’s events with mirror glitter on his eyelids and a tutu made of eyeballs thinking, “hello, do you see me? I’d love to be a part of this family”, so many of us will walk around the world looking for signs of matching lipstick, hairstyle, eyeliner, and tattoos in hopes that we will find other aliens who might accept and understand us.

Photo by Cheryl Gorski

Some people find community through the act of not wearing makeup. Yes, I use the word “act” intentionally, because in today’s society, I believe it is a conscious decision to not wear makeup, just as much as it’s a conscious decision to apply makeup. But from personal experience, the people I most often attract when I’m not wearing makeup are not usually “my people”. I give off a very different impression when I wear muted tones, a floppy messy pixie cut, and display my thin, pale, generically-European facial features. When I outwardly express myself through makeup and fashion, it’s like throwing a direct line to the crowds and conversations I want to be having. It’s not a flawless system, of course. Sometimes the same people who love and adore me while I’m dolled up have absolutely no use for me in muggle form, not always realizing that I’m the same person. Sometimes that makes me laugh, sometimes it makes me cry. Depends on the day.

I stand by the belief that your decision to wear or not wear makeup is revolutionary. It is a decision made that acts as agency in how you want your life to be played out. That’s powerful, whether for better or for worse. So many people say “ehhh wearing makeup is conforming” or vice versa. But I’d like to present the challenge that what we do to our own bodies is not the conformity, but rather the conformity lies in the pressure we put on others to think, feel, and present as we do, or in a way that’s convenient and pleasurable to us.

If you did the exercise from the first blog in this series and kept your list of all the reasons why you do and don’t wear makeup, go ahead and look at it now. Reflect on each of those responses, and remember that it’s your fucking life. Our bodies dictate almost all of the experiences we will have in the world. It is your right to try and have as much say in that as possible.

Thank you so much for reading, and best of luck on your journeys of exploration, expression, and finding a home with your people, whoever they may be.

** “women and cis-women” is a term my friend Alexis recently said to me, and I’m playing around with it.

#makeup #bodypolitics

0 notes

sarahburness · 5 years

Text

Create More, Consume Less: A Surefire Way to Feel More Excited About Life

“Creating means living.” ~Dejan Stojanovic

We live in a consumer culture. We love to eat, drink, and be merry—while binge watching whatever’s trending on Netflix and getting a dopamine hit for every item added to our cart on Amazon Prime.

We love to take it all in—information, entertainment, status updates, news reports, substances, and an endless array of stuff. There’s never a shortage of things we can consume, often to keep our minds distracted and our feelings silenced.

Now don’t get me wrong. I love a good meal, a Jim Beam or two, and an afternoon spent zoned out on my couch, Penn Badgley haunting me hour by hour as his stalking escalates from creepy to criminal.

And I’m all for staying educated and updated, on issues both important and inane. I’ve spent hours obsessively researching all things health-related, and I’m embarrassed to admit that my search history reveals more than a healthy number of celebrity websites, if such a number exists.

I also understand the instinct to shut down for a while. Our minds can get intolerably loud, and sometimes, external demands can be overwhelming. A little disengagement can be a good thing in a world that often requires us to be on.

But there needs to be some kind of balance. If we spend our whole lives ingesting information and scarfing down an assortment of stuff meant to soothe us, we’ll never have the time or space to connect with ourselves and create the things we want to create.

I’m not talking just about artistic expression, though I personally feel more alive when I’m bringing some type of creative vision to life. I’m talking about filling the void inside with our own curiosity, passion, and awe instead of constantly stuffing it with external pleasures.

It may not seem like it in the moment when our shows, social media, or shopping carts beckon, but often the greatest pleasure stems from actively working toward a life that excites us.

What are some things we can create?

1. A mission statement

Many of us go through our days without a sense of purpose. We have no idea what we value or what we stand for. We have no idea what we’re really doing with our lives, or why.

Nothing feels exciting when nothing is fueled by passion or intention.

In order to feel alive, we need to be connected to what matters to us most individually. I’m not talking about a specific career direction, though that could be a part of it. I’m talking about creating a blueprint for how you want to show up in the world so you can be the person you want to be and make decisions that feel right for you.

For example, my current mission statement is:

To live with wonder, courage, compassion, and integrity, prioritizing family, freedom, adventure, and creative expression.

Knowing what I value, I’m better able to decide which opportunities to pursue and accept and which ones to politely decline.

This doesn’t have to be set in stone. Mission statements change over time as we grow and evolve. So write, revisit, and revise, as often you deem necessary.

2. Art

This is the low-hanging fruit for this list. Yes, art is something you can create! Big shocker! But it clearly has a place here nonetheless.

Especially if you’re tempted to consume to avoid your feelings, why not channel them into a creative project instead? Creativity is not only calming and healing, it’s a journey back to the simplistic joy of childhood—when you had countless Lego castles, doodle-filled pages, and chalk street art masterpieces to show for your time. And the possibilities are endless.

You could color, sketch, paint, sculpt, sew, crochet, knit, make jewelry, build something, or write a poem, short story, or song. You could art journal, scrapbook, create a magazine collage, try origami, or make something with unconventional materials (duct tape, wine corks, doll parts from your childhood).

If you tune into your feelings and curiosity, you’ll find endless inspiration, and if you look around, you’ll find endless materials to use and recycle.

It’s worth noting that quite frequently, consumption fuels creation. I can’t tell you how many scripts I read and films I watched when preparing to write my first screenplay. Every movie helped me learn and sparked ideas for my own story and its execution.

Though it’s also wonderful to enjoy art for the sake of it, there’s something thrilling about consuming with a purpose. Not just to be entertained but also to be inspired—so you can create something personally meaningful to you that will hopefully move and inspire other people to live and a love a little louder.

Little feels more exciting than chiseling a piece of your heart into something beautiful that will endure, while simultaneously motivating other people wake up and live more fully.

3. A medium for self-expression

We live in an exciting time for self-expression. No longer do gatekeepers get to decide whose words deserve a platform. Anyone can start a blog, vlog, or podcast to share their thoughts and views with the world.

The beautiful thing is, it’s not too hard to get started. You don’t need a fancy site or special equipment to get going—though those things are nice to have, and they’re things you could always acquire in time, if you like the medium you choose and decide to see how far you can take it.

With a little googling you can easily find a way to get set up today, for free, so you can move out from the shadows and share what’s in your heart and on your mind.

Not only will you give yourself an opportunity to express your feelings and feel truly seen, you’ll likely also help other people through your honesty and vulnerability. Yes, you.

If you think your voice doesn’t matter, consider this: a blog can reach only one person, and yet be the one thing that saved or changed that person’s life. You never know who you’ll help or inspire by finding the courage to speak up.

4. Memories

At the end of it all, when we look back on our lives, we won’t take a mental inventory of the dollars we earned, followers we gained, or items we checked off our to-do list. What we’ll see is a mélange of moments—times when we loved, connected, got outside our comfort zone, and engaged with world with wonder and enthusiasm.

These moments generally don’t just fall into our laps. We have to actively create them. And sometimes that means stepping outside the realm of our routine and actually doing the type of things we daydream about.

There’s a scene in the movie Stepmom (spoiler alert!) where Susan Sarandon’s character, Jackie, knows her cancer is getting worse and her time with her family is limited. So she does something out of character and beautifully touching: She wakes her daughter Anna in the middle of the night and takes her horseback riding, in the snow.

Anna says she’ll never forget this moment, and how could she? She’s nestled close to her dying mother, on a horse, in nature—when the night’s at its most peaceful and she’s usually asleep and unable to see it. Together they feel completely present and alive in this magical moment of connection and awe.

We can all create these kinds of moments. We can create magic for ourselves, someone else, or both, if we’re willing to prioritize it and put in the effort.

5. Possibilities

I suspect a lot of us feel pretty discontent with our lives. Perhaps Thoreau conveyed it best when he wrote “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.”

Most of merely survive and think of thriving as a luxury unavailable to the majority. I’m not going to lie; it’s easier for some to thrive than others. Some of us are born into more ideal circumstances, and some get more advantages.

But perhaps the problem isn’t just that not everyone gets the same chances, but also that not everyone takes the same chances.

If we settle into a pit of discontentment and do the same things every day, nothing will ever change.

The only way to make our lives any better is find and seize opportunities instead of waiting for them to come to us.

Make the call. Send the email. Sign up for the course. If you can’t afford it, research scholarships or free or cheap alternatives. Do something to create a new possibility for your life, whether it pertains to your work, your hobbies, or your relationships.

Then the next purchase you make might be something you need for this exciting new path, not something you want because you’re miserably unhappy with the status quo of your unfulfilling life.

6. New connections

We live in an increasingly disconnected world. We spend more time holding devices than hands and look into more screens than eyes, as the Dulce Ruby quote suggests. This is such a lonely way to live. But it doesn’t have to be like this. Not if we prioritize forming and maintaining relationships.

Of course this isn’t easy. It can be challenging to pull ourselves away from our usual indulgences, get outside our little bubble of comfort, and get present in the world beyond our own door. But it’s oh so worth it.

One day last year I was a feeling a little down about my limited social circle where I live near LA. I’ve moved a lot, I travel a lot, and I work from home; and I haven’t done a great job prioritizing relationships where I live.

I was scrolling through my Facebook feed on this afternoon, trying to distract myself from the sadness in my heart, when I decided to do something different: I navigated to a group for Highly Sensitive People, that contributor Bryn Bamber had actually recommended in a post about sensitivity, and I introduced myself, asking if there was anyone near LA.

Several people responded, including one who’s become a great friend—someone I can relate to on a deep personal level. Someone who gets me, who I get back. And not only did I make a new soul connection, I also opened myself up to new possibilities: because of her, I began volunteering at a nearby community theater, where I hope to volunteer again in the future.

It can feel awkward to initiate conversation with someone new. Or at least it feels that way for me. But as Frank told Don in The Green Book, “The world is full of lonely people afraid to make the first movie.” Make the first move. You just might change two lives.

—

In the words of Ferris Bueller, life goes by pretty quickly. Friendships evolve or fade, jobs run their course, kids grow up—and before you know it, we’re looking back at our years, either feeling proud of everything we created or wondering how and why we squandered our time.

I don’t know about you, but I want to prioritize the things that truly matter to me and fill my hours with purposeful actions that fill my heart with peace, passion, and excitement.

I want to make beautiful things, share empowering ideas, and collect more moments of awe than there are grains of sand on the beach.

I also want balance.

I want abundant movie marathons, occasional retail therapy sessions, and Sunday morning mimosas.

I want trashy magazines in the tub, an endless rotation of used true crime books, and a full Netflix queue that seems to scream, “I know what you like, Lori, I get you.”

But I want to consume those things intentionally. Not to avoid or escape anything, but just because they’re fun.

I think that’s a reasonable goal for all of us. To be a little more intentional, a lot more engaged, and in the end, far more excited about the lives we’re living.

About Lori Deschene

Lori Deschene is the founder of Tiny Buddha. She’s also the author of Tiny Buddha’s Gratitude Journal and other books and co-founder of Recreate Your Life Story, an online course that helps you let go of the past and redefine yourself. An avid film lover, she recently finished writing her first feature screenplay and would appreciate advice from anyone in the industry to help get this made. You can reach her at email (at) tinybuddha.com.

Web | Twitter | Facebook | Google+ | More Posts

Get in the conversation! Click here to leave a comment on the site.

The post Create More, Consume Less: A Surefire Way to Feel More Excited About Life appeared first on Tiny Buddha.

from Tiny Buddha https://tinybuddha.com/blog/create-more-consume-less-feel-more-excited-about-life/

0 notes