Each time you speak to someone, you don't know for sure if they will go on or if those will be the last words they hear.

Choose your words wisely.

I have a problem with people who talk about me more than they talk to me.

Published 2021-04-09

Quora Question: What are some reasons to choose a pescatarian diet instead of vegetarian diet?

(also posted on naturenimbus.blogspot.ca sister site)

Interesting question... I have mixed feelings on answering this at all, but mind as well share these thoughts here for anyone considering looking for wards to reduce their carbon footprint.

https://www.quora.com/What-are-some-reasons-to-choose-a-pescatarian-diet-instead-of-vegetarian-diet

When it comes to reducing deaths, obviously pescatarianism does not win.

There probably aren’t many objective reasons outside individual health problems. However, more subjectively in some cases there might be some on a practical, “better than nothing” level. One part of changing a diet is the commitment factor. A lot of people decide to go vegetarian but then change their mind after a little while.

For meat-eaters who are looking to reduce their carbon footprint but won’t end up end up remaining committed to vegetarianism for whatever reason, pesc might be something to consider to still help reduce a person's carbon footprint overall, as some meats are worse than others for carbon emissions (especially cattle).

Also, depending on where you live seafood might be harder less accessible or more pricey, which could end up pushing a pescetarian eat vegetarian more days than not anyway.

Then there's having an understandable name that comes with rules. There are people who for whatever reasons cut out only beef or only red meat, or choose to only eat meat once a week. That might not be a bad idea, but one challenge with a restricted diet without a name is that it gets easily lumped into "flexible". This can be confusing to other people, or even make it easier to mentally rationalize having meat more than planned, such as under pressure to "just skip next week's portion to make up for it", even though next week's portion might not end up getting skipped.

Again, the commitment factor can make it better than nothing, if the alternative is "nothing".

For anyone who does eat seafood, I would highly recommend the guides on the Official Site of the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Sustainable Seafood Program, and Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Sustainable Seafood app. When it comes to seafood some options are also more sustainable than others, when it comes to wildlife, on an ecosystem-level, and also socially for human communities.

We live in a world where people will like you online but not love you in real life.

The value that pops up in the bottom corner of a post is literally just counting conventionality.

It's sad and scary seeing so many young people feel so attached to social media. How much weight is on it for them, how this is a world where that’s what makes people feel affirmed now, by likes instead of love because it’s so hard to break through walls for real love.

What’s the deal with people who talk about you more than they do to you? If you don’t ever care to engage with me on even a basic level normally why do you care to know what’s going on in my life?

When I’m sick or sleep in, my dog and cat come to my room and check up on me. My dog is always the first person to come to see if I’m ok; I hear her nails tapping along the floor as she trots through the hallway up to my door, then she stops in front. She just stays and listens to see if I’minsids, and if I stir or make any noise at all she barks for me to open up the door. Then she comes in, walks around my room, and jumps up at my bed to tell me good morning and have a pet. If her favourite seat isn’t full of clothes I didn’t put away she might stay there for a bit longer too.

Half an hour later the cat will probably come. She may meow at the door, but most likely just wander in because I left the door open I’m case Luna (my dog) wants to come back. Scratchig, biting, and knocking over glasses of water are typical of Virtute (our cat), but it’s like she can tell when I’m really sad and is much more gentle with me. If I’m that sad chances are I’m lying in fetal position, and she’ll come up in my bed and nestle herself between the bends in my legs.

They’re the sweetest.

*sadwarning. maybe don’t read this if you’re grieving the loss of someone who’s still alive.

I saw you in a dream again.
This time, we said that we still are friends.

We hugged eachother like we used to,
But when awake it’s my nightmare running into you.

The light gets brighter When I close my eyes

(Positive attitude:)

When it’s too dark out here and
I just can’t see,
The light gets brighter
When I close my eyes.

The Sea Garden Has Grown

Challenges are opportunities to respond right.

Even when a good plan of action fails, fall back on a plan of a good attitude.

Plan of action: Failed. Failed. Failed.

Plan of attitude: Allow the flowers to come from your ears and a better world through your eyes, and the glow of light in the darkness. Be water. Flowing naturally, around anything.

And at least it’s a good hair day too.

Where I live many people are often apologizing for their English. My response: "Well it's still way better than my Punjabi" or which ever is their native language. I only know English and a bit of French. It's amazing when people learn other languages.

I like science because it still works when I'm depressed.
~~
It's very difficult for me to explain to exceptionally perceptive people why I'm pursuing enviro tech. They don't typically settle for "because I love nature and we need to take care of it." As true as that is, there are other ways to help the environment that seem more fitting other than becoming a technician.
     By strong preference I am more of an artistic person, but when I'm most depressed it just feels impossible to truly get into it. Whether its music, or writing, or visual art, when I force it seeing the results makes me feel worse because it feels like I should be doing better. It's like negative reaffirmation of "yes, you are at a low and suck right now, indeed." And it makes me feel more afraid that I won't be able to get out of it this time.

(My Own) Quora Question: What does emotional depth mean to you?

In my mind it involves being ready to be honest with ourselves about how we feel about things, even if emotions are mixed or subtle, or perhaps our feelings seem at first contradictory or not what we’d expect of ourselves.

The next step would be looking “deeper” or reflecting on those feelings to try to identify the cause behind what we feel, how those feelings interact, and how they motivate an/or affect our actions. Then, it can help a person channel or face them with integrity to what is most important to us. It can also lead to leaning from it for the future to better understand both ourselves and others.

~~

Just a note, although after some time spent thinking I started to formulate my own answer, my favourite answer to this question is Rachel Green's, which can be found on the question's page at https://www.quora.com/What-does-emotional-depth-mean-to-you

I wish I could just text or call my dog throughout the day.

Back when our landline voicemail messages were broadcasted from the phone base, we'd call and leave voice messages so our dog would hear us talking to her. We'd tel her she's a good girl and we'll be home soon.

Common scents

You know what other gasses people aren't allergic to but bother them? Pepper.

For people with scent sensitivity, certain scents make their eyes sting or burn, and give them headaches t the point that they cant focus, and make it feel like they can't breathe.

Who cares whether or not its technical classification is an allergy or not when it is causing people pain?

Why would people make up feeling pain by something that smells nice? Nobody wants to be allergic to things, and nobody wants to have scent sensitivity.

Please also keep in mind that such strong concentrations of these scents do not occur naturally. When that is understood, I don't think the fact that some people are very sensitive to it should come as surprise.

If you're looking for scents, please go as light as you can.

When I have tests coming up one of the things I like to do to prepare is draw a picture or write a poem. After completing it it's like no matter what it's going to ultimately be okay, "you are a worthy human."

People don't just judge books by their covers, they judge the person reading the book based on what the cover of the book looks like.

People don’t just judge books by their covers, they judge the person reading the book based on what the cover of the book they are reading looks like.

Published 2021-04-09

"Is this how it works, how people find ‘the one’? They just make a best friend they want to do everything with forever and tell them that?"

Published 2021-04-09

Perks of looking like a kid: on the GO bus people are les inclined to want to sit with you because they don’t want to scare you.

Published 2021-04-09

Origami Cafe Party - Nov 11, 2018

published 2019-10-25 (throwback to Nov 11, 2018)

Everyone made the night so beautiful

My big regret is not taking a big group photo. Sigh. I guess we just have to do another one with all the same people.

Oh that light
We won't let it go out
Even when it's going down

I watched an airplane disappear into the thick gloom. It was headed towards us, and looked like it’s sights ascended to being swallowed up by Toronto’s skyglow.
#stories

“Please say hello to the ocean for me.”

“Please say hello to the ocean for me.”
This is something now ask all my friends when they go away. Often they’ll ask what I want. I would like them to do this more than anything they could bring back.

Perhaps I could be a seahorse

Perhaps if I were an animal I could be a seahorse. I used to say bat because I’m “batty” and because they’re a confusing but cute and functional mix of kinda bird kinda puppy, and they are very good listeners. I think seahorse is the alter ego to bat. While the bat is the side that works fast and knows how to hustle to get stuff done people wouldn’t expect of little mammals, seahorse is the side that moves very slowly (learns very slowly), is sensitive, deliberate, inhabits the deep, and has to hang on or it might get carried away. It also looks like another animal it isn’t. I adore horses but am simply nowhere near big and physically strong enough anymore to claim that, so let’s go with seahorse.
Also the males give birth, and man INFJs are surprising.

Some people will take a simple situation and make it complicated. Others will take a complicated situation and make it simple.

“True” and “untrue”

It makes me concerned when people feel the need to classify everyone into the category of true friend or fake friend. I hate it when people have called my friends untrue because they don't chase me or they cancel often. Ok I'll call that flakey, not untrue. I don't think it's that black and white.

although good parents aren’t always right

When we grow up we realize that good parents aren’t always right,
But that they do want what’s best for us.
Would you rather trust someone’s mind or their heart?
Of course we want both, but if you had to pick one over the other, which would it be?
Listen to what they have to think, then think about it yourself. That is the way around he problem. It doesn’t mean you inherently will or inherently will not come to the same conclusion, but good parents are worth hearing out, and considering seriously, because it’s coming from the person you can rely on to want the best for you.

Moods October 22, 2018

We need to make this a meme with a picture of Marlin Talking to little Crush son from Finding Nemo saying, "You’re really cute but I don’t understand what you’re saying!"
~~
Sometimes I think people confuse “I’m doing my best” and “I’m not going to listen to any advice.”
If doing your best as is isn’t working then maybe changing the approach to listening to advice will help.
~~
This morning I got distracted by anger and can’t find a funny thought about something to say to people if they say something to me. But I don’t remember what either of those things are.
~~
"Remember when you said you want to live like an island person?"

Everything in Syracuse matches

Everything in Syracuse matches. Even the new buildings. Even the graffiti, the boldest one made it blue.
Everything here is brown and beige and red, with a touch of green and the even smaller touch of blue.
Even all the ads seem to match; they’re for Coors light.
Except this lawyer ad. They’re lawyers though.
The matchy-matchy city. We saw it peaking out between mountains covered in autumn trees.
They’ll even match their forest in a few weeks from now, in deep autumn, when the only leaves left are red and brown.
I have never seen burgundy and grey-beige graffiti before.

^memory with mom on our trip to New York 2018

I don’t feel able to let my thoughts and feelings flow through

Holding so fast to “just don’t let things get to you”

Brain zaps feel like little earthquakes in my head.

“I don’t mean to try to justify my mistakes, but there is nothing left but for me to be honest now.”

Now introducing the tag: prompts

(Will be adding to some old posts soon too)

Sometimes I wish I was built a little less warrior, and a little more artist

I wish I was built a little less warrior, and a little more artist.

I’d like to be fighting less and creating more.

In fact, I’d like the whole world to be that way.

But I just can’t keep my hands to myself, and I always go back to the fight.

(Title edited Dec 28, 2019)

Proof of Change - December 2018, buried in October

Many people I know are very embarrassed and ashamed about the kind of person they were in the past. Maybe at a time they were going through something nobody knew about, or maybe they were just ignorant, or immature, or didn't know any better.

Out of the people I know who have told me how ashamed they were of who they were at another points in time when I knew them, I can confirm that in my eyes none of them nearly were as bad as they think they were.

We were all young and dumb at one point.

But what if you think you were the absolute worst, and nothing could or nobody would convince you otherwise?

Maybe you were the worst.

If you really were the worst, be living proof that even the worst can change.

As long as peoples' bad memories of you are no longer reflective of who you are now, I believe you have the potential to make up for it with good in the world. You might not run into them again, but as you keep living differently, treating all those around you now well, I believe you can be redeemed. Because the people you know now have bad memories of other peoples they won't see again, so you can make up for theirs, and somebody else can make up for yours.

You are a perfect stranger to so many people, and they are strangers to you. Everybody has made mistakes others know about, and others don't know about.

But if you do run into them, those people who would remember you badly, maybe in a short moment they will be able to learn that even the worst can change, which is a powerful lesson. And if they refuse to see that, if they refuse to forgive, then the problem no longer lies with you but with them, for they too have made mistakes.

I write all this because I have felt what it's like to want to forget the kind of person I Was, and to forget people who hurt me. Sometimes I am so ashamed of the kind of person I was, of my faults, and embarrassed of their outcomes, and seek redemption. Yet when I run into old friends they usually treat me so much more kindly than I feel I deserve, and I really appreciate that.

But I also am a person people might want forgiveness from. I was bullied, quite harshly by some. It did its damage, and I have a lot I could be very resentful about.

To this day, I hate the colour green. If you bullied me, you might understand why. I'm not going to lie to you and say it didn't do its damage.

But I'd want you to know that I forgive you for it. You are free to forgive yourself as long as you put those actions in the past and leave them there, an don't let them come back and touch anyone else.

Because we all need forgiveness, and to change.

“Socially, you just wear a windbreaker and I wear a hoodie. You seem cold on the outside and I let things get to me.”

"Maybe he's man-strating."

I avoid talking to strangers in lineups because I get too attached to them.

Story writing = productive overthinking

Sad love songs

When people who used to be in relationships say "love hurts" it doesn't really make sense to take it too seriously. Of course life has taught them that, until you find the one then everything you've known must have ended with some sort of heartbreak.

Dreams of being a tidepool

An ocean wave that dreams of being a tidepool.

"Cold and crashing and breaking, when I'd rather give warm kisses on ankles and be calm and colourful." she says.
"Instead I take down ships and rise in storms,
Everything is up and down, with dangerous highs and endless lows."

People leave things with me they hope to never see again,
And release messages in bottles full of everything they wish they told someone else.

People say they love the depths but it terrifies them,
And how can you blame them?

Live a story you'll want to tell by adopting a character you'd want to be.

The only meme ideas I can remember

"Hi, I'd like to introduce you to the human race" (then you can take your pic from something obscure, normal, and/or appalling, or you can take the sweet rout like helping a duckling cross the road or something)

ASMR videos of shaving.

You're lying in bed and suddenly remember that you're unable to remember something you don't remember.

Too much and not enough

How is it that people habitually make other people feel that they are simultaneously too much, and not enough?

Well, if that is you then there is something you should know: People say the same of the sun.

People say the sun is too much, others say there is not enough, yet with all it's "too much" and "not enough" it is a perfect distance from the only planet we know of that is able to support life.

No matter how people complain about it, it is just right. 

Out of this world

Who hasn't wanted to be a diver or an astronaut during at least one moment of their lives?
We desire something out for this world, we desire depth, only to find entire worlds right before us.

Introducing 'Cranberry Works'

So. I'm probably more excited than I should be about this.

If you have explored the navbar recently, you might have noticed a couple changes in referencing a slew of projects...

Meet the newest project, Cranberry Works.

For bitter and sweet.

This is the name of my new online art shop being kickstarted via the online market and print shop, Society6. Products are printed on-demand to avoid waste, and artists of all skill levels from around the world can publish their pieces and put together collections.

One of the primary features of the shop will be the Ocean Minded Water(colour) series, while other styles of art such as impressionism, and some cameo appearances from lines from lunar-winds.

  

First Pic: The name 'Ocean Minded' is meant to describe daily mindfulness of how our activities affect life in the water -and by extension, life on land- and being open to making changes in harmony with that. Parallel post at naturenimbus.blogpost.ca under the same date.

Right now I have a few projects on the go already, but do accept custom orders and commissions for personal use and events. If you are looking for more info please visit the page in the navbar or email cranberrycreative.works@gmail.com.

*Squeeeee*

Recent Adventures - Watkins Glen and Algonquin Park

Posted Aug 20, 2018, postdated to Aug 19; see both on lunar-winds and naturenimbus .blogspot.

Cute Conversation with the Letter C

Cranberry Creative... and if I need to specify country Cranberry Creative Canada! C is my favourite letter. Cat was my first word. (Conscientiousness is important)

Sibling: *offers cheetos*

Me: Thanks These are crunchy. And cool.

S: : Stop...

M: I can't

*we can't stop cackling*

M: those Cheetos...

S: Stop

M: I'm writing down our conversation

*joking and laughing about the cat, M imitated hum of cell phone every time S gets a text*

S: Did you drink tonight?

*laughing*

M: The cackles

S: Did you drink tonight? Was is champagne?

M: Or corona?

S: Or Corona... or Cabernet??

M: You have caved.

(later)

M: I SEE you have caved

S: I'm gonna cry

(later) 

M: *Does this weird clapping rhythm*

S: You're clapping

(later in a mother convo, S suddenly stops)

S: I'm gonna commit. This is a crisis.

(after) 

M: You can now view this conversation on the computer

S: You look very content.

M: It is SEriously personal content. (as in contents)

S: I'm glad you care

M: Thank you for continuing this. It has been very comical

S: It has been a car crash

*giggling/cackling*

S: I am cackling and crying

(M fiddles with the pattern on a glass)

S: what are you doing with the cup?

(both laugh)

I hate myself

M: No, you're the coolest

S: *rolls up Cheetos bag*

M: Hear that crackle

S: *sighs and starts leaving*

M: Good night

S: Good night

*returns*

I have to go care for my teeth... I don't want to get cavities.... sorry this is so cheesy

Why do so many INFJs call ourselves "storm"? It's like we never fully left our cringey middle school phase that way.

Pitching a Tent With the MBTI Cognitive Functions | The Privilege of Second-function Fs

28/07/2018

Segments from the Cognitive functions pitching a tend:

N-dom: What's our technique, our method? Ok, I'll stand here, you stand there...
--
S-dom: Let's just take it one step at a time. We can't move forward yet because we need to make sure the tent is pitched in the right direction.
--
T-dom: No that's... that's not what I said to do. Like th-- ok don't move. I'll do it.
--
F-dom: (thinks) "I can't do anything right".
--
F-dom: *wanders off and looks at a tree*
--
*N-dom and t-dom arguing*
--
S-dom: "Where's F-dom?"

-----------
2nd-function Fs kind of have it made in a social sense. They're usually seen as "nice people" in general, and typically do get along well with most people pretty naturally. People are like, "aw yeah, her? She's such a sweet person" even if we're not necessarily actually sweet all the time.

*Commits heinously passive-aggressive crime against friend from the straw that broke the camel's back*
*Says Sorry*
"Oh yeah her? She's so nice. Such a sweet person."


Top function Fs are also usually seen as nice people too, but they are so much about being EXPRESSSSIVE. They are the most likely to have a complex about their name, and even if they feel dead inside, they must decidedly express to everyone how dead they are inside,because you must EXPRESsS your TRUE AuThEnTic SeLf.

Exprsssssss yerself.


Third function Fs. Oh boy. When they get there are get all vulnerable and trying even if they feel awkward it's so pitiful people are just like "Oh sh*t. Are you okay? Can you please go back to being mean? Please man, really it's okay..." They're like little vulnerable kittens that were jus

Then poor 4th function Fs. They are always such a T-pillar, when they are forced to resort to that 4th function F they just don't know what to do with all those feelings that have been so deep down and everyone else is just pulling their eyelids down from their cheeks, like "what's the matter with you??"
------
Sorry about the poor formatting of this, and I hope nobody was offended by it. It is intentionally exaggerated and meant just for fun and giggles :)

Caught in the rain

Getting caught in rain means having the privilege of being the first to be touched by so many new raindrops

Every day since you've been gone, I wake up and wonder if all this and everything that has happened since is just a nightmare waiting to end.

Each morning I wait to wake up,

Between denial and bearing up,

And then I have to choose if today it's denial,

Or bearing up.

"I forgot that I left my track pants upstairs."

"So you lost track of them?"

Instead of teaching people that their depth and their value lie in an illness or weakness, let's empower people to be and identify as more than that.

A funny thing we do in my culture: we call good jokes "bad" and pretend to not like puns and that people who say puns will be punished socially.

Feeling fully accepted sounds like a drug I've never experienced and don't want to try, because from the looks of it it's highly addictive.

It just hit me today that "cherry picking" is called that because you're picking a choosing ones that are good, finding ones without worm holes in them.

It also just hit me today that "wormhole" applies both to space and fruits.

Now telekinesis would be really convenient for picking berries off the top of the tree.

Berry Priviledged

Our family has two amooda berry trees. They're more commonly known as mulberries in English, but I grew up calling them amooda berries.

     This weekend is predicted to be one of the hottest on record, and this morning I found my grandma picking berries, reaching over the deck and pulling branches from the very tall tree to pick the amooda berries. She marveled at the overabundance of berries we have.

     She is completely right; far too many of them go to waste every year. Most of them are too high to reach and the branches at the top too thin to support a climber, and they fall to the ground and ferment on the lawn because we can't keep up with cleaning them all up most years either.

     Honestly, other times they go to waste because we don't make the time to pick them every day so even some on the lower branches will sometimes go uneaten.

     I love these trees for so many reasons; not only are they beautiful with perfect translucence that creates a mosaic look on sunny days, and not only they produce sweet fruit for us, but they also attract lots of birds including some of my favourites, cedar waxwings. Cedar waxwings love eating fermented berries that remain clinging to the branches, and they engage in little sharing rituals with their flocks and mates, passing berries back ad forth until someone eats it. Their high pitch seeeeeee whistle is one sound that almost always makes me smile, and one I am proud to have recently learned to imitate.

     Some of the taller tree also used to be great for climbing. We would also get way more berries before, though unfortunately all the thick lower branches got chopped off it's much harder to safely pick berries while clinging to the trunk. Perhaps when I recover from my injury I will try again anyway, at least for the view.

     Grandma and I kept picking, or as she noted gently touching berries so that the ripest fall off into the container. She lamented that none of the people we invite over to pick berries ever come to do so. We still share the berries, but we think it would be nice for people to experience picking and tasting them fresh off the tree.

     We never use pesticides, so usually we just go with a quick rinse or even just a bug-check in the moment before popping them in our mouths. The skin on them is extremely thin, and easy to accidentally squish even while picking them so we can't wash them too aggressively or risk mushing them to a pulp.

      I suggested that a lot of people feel they don't have enough time for it. She pointed out that she doesn't really have time for it either, but she makes time. She said her friend also invites peopel to come pick cherries but they never do; she says they want her to pick them for them, and eat it for them too. 

      Grandma had to go inside to work on some alterations for clients, so I continued picking berres below deck where the branches are lowest.

      As I was picking mulberries, tapping them gently with my now grubby, purple-stained fingertips, I would pop squished ones into my mouth. They are so sweet, like little bundles of sugar water, though the black ones have more flavour only at the cost of purple fingernails. (Life hack: use potato skin peelings to gently scrub the bottoms of fingernails). 

      While picking, I imagined how long ago and what someone did to plant the tree. How long it took to grow. I didn't plant this tree, but here I am enjoying its fruits.

      Yes, I had to pick the berries, and yes it is extremely hotday and it is hard work, but I have been given this wonderful opportunity to pick and enjoy them.

      That is what privilege is. 

      I am half European, half southeast Asian, and born in Canada. I have experienced many privileges, and many challenges

      From this perspective, I had a newfound appreciation for my older family members' attitudes; always sharing berries, always inviting people to come and experience picking and eating them fresh.

     I thought of when I was a young kid how lucky I was for my mom to be so involved with my school, and how she would take every opportunity to give something; encouragement, a little treat, an opportunity to do something fun to other kids as well.

      And my Grandma. Just as she always invites people to come pick, and how they both offer baskets of berries for free and tell people who walk by our yard to please don't feel shy to pick from the branches that are hanging over and eat them, we would love to share.

     My mum once considered putting up a sign even welcoming them into our yard to pick a few if they would like, though decided against it for a few reasons, but the deciding factor was the risk that someone may accidentally let our dog out.

     They will plant vineyards and eat their fruitage. It reminded me of the scripture.

     I am extremely privileged to have not only what resources are available to me, but so many family members who from childhood showed by their example how to live with good values. In fact, all of my family members. None of us are perfect, but we have all taught something.

     They will not build for others to inhabit, nor will they plant for others to eat, for the work of their hands my chosen ones will enjoy the the full.

    Everyone will have fair chance to have satisfying work. To plant trees and eat their fruits, and we can all share our fruits together and make a fruit salad.

     I am looking forward to that time.

     In the meantime, I did realize that someone else taller than me would be much more qualified for the job, but I did my best and soon enough I had white and magenta and black mulberries were filling up in my big bowl. Still, thee were so many unpicked, so I figured I'd go get a chair.

      Well would you look at that, someone else already left a chair. All I had to do was free it from entanglement beneath a chopped branch and move it over. Another privilege. 

     It is a privilege to have this tree and to do this work picking amooda berries, and to both enjoy and share its fruits with the birds and anyone who will take it.

June 28th "Look at the moooon!"

Everyone got home and told me to look at the moooon.

It was very low to the horizon, and we couldn't see it from our home so I went out to look for it in the places it usually is.

My mom was going to drive me to the moon, but I walked to the moon instead.

"There is a method to my madness"

That was my social media bio for a really long, dark time. Bad memories, but with good friends. I distinctly remember that being me and Squash's line.

It kind of sums a few things we want to tell people over social media; that there is a reason why people are the way they are, and that there is a little more to us than our idiosyncrasies our people have to put up with in day to day life.

Moved by the moon, moved by the sun

Air and water move in harmony, both ruled by the moon.

A duality. Wind and waves make the duet.

The wind and the waves move in harmony, ruled by the moon, moved by the sun.

bones that have always worked so much have little left for adventure

Telekinesis would be so helpful right now to bake cookies for people without contaminating them with my flu disgustingness.

Really good friends don't only say things that will help you feel better, but also things that will help you be better.

I am so happy to have the friends I do.

Tough Love

It feels like so many people are all about trying to show tough love nowadays, but I think they're trying too hard for the "tough", and leaving out the "love."

Quora Question: What does being positive actually mean? How do you lead life with a positive attitude? (Answer Draft)

This is such a good question. There are so many ways to apply this in life it’s hard to summarize. “Looking for the good” can sound ambiguous, but it implies continuing to take note of good that exists even when bad is present, and appreciating it.

A positive attitude can be kept regardless of unexpected circumstances. Not to be confused with insisting that problems do not exist or feeling perfectly happy all the time, it involves being decidedly ready to make the best of a situation, come what may.

Even when a good plan of action fails, fall back on a plan of a good attitude.

A positive attitude motivates a person to take proactive steps. A person with a positive attitude does this with the belief that not only can this produce good results, but that it is inherently worth it to try even if the outcome is not guaranteed. This means instead of focusing on what you cannot do, you focus on what you can do, and you appreciate that the proactive effort is inherently worth it even if the full desired outcome is not guaranteed.

It also includes being brave enough to hope, and not letting fear of disappointment hold you back.
Another way it can be applied is by learning from the past, and using even painful emotions and lessons to overcome future difficulties, perhaps using these insights to help other people whenever possible. Things that burn give you fire.

This can also lead a person to see challenges as opportunities to respond right. A person may apply this as the change to prove to themselves that they are better than the person they once were, or to exemplify a good response, or simply find satisfaction in conquering a difficult situation or evil with good.
~~~
(Lunar-Winds only portion)

I have a mental picture of a tree surrounded by enough water with enough space that even in the middle of a fire the tree remains in tact despite the situation it is in the middle of. I used to tell myself, "your tree is not on fire". 

Happy World Oceans Day

Sea mindful and keep an ocean mind, and have a happy World Oceans Day, all 💙

For all the pieces and more - Dear Best Friends

Dear Best Friends,

Thank you for being there. Thank you for being you. You are important and important to me in so many ways, some I can't even express.

For everything that has been broken and lost, I have found the pieces of scattered throughout each of you.

You are so special, and so loved.

Hugs,

Mel

Please don't treat people as objects that are just there to highlight your own self-image. Expressing yourself is a positive thing, not trying to diminish others, and not using people as props.

In certain moments we as people give in to insecurity; nobody is perfect. But we cannot give up on that. Embracing a tendency to hurt other people for personal gain —even if it's ego-based and not material gain— is to embrace greed.

Answered Prayers

Revisions to the Impossible List

Whether or not you like water is less important than if you're not afraid to Dive Deep.

Whether or not you can run faster is of less importance that being willing the extra mile, to endure.

Whether or not your favourite colour is blue doesn't matter, but do you understand when others are blue?

As a boss, washroom breaks aren't deducted from your breaktimes if you don't take your phone with you.
#ideas

Rinene Ireson

Last night I had a dream that a friend and I took a bus home from a carnival of sorts.

      There were 91 people on the bus. (Somehow mostly sitting). Amoung us were a young spoiled but earnest boy we ran into in the arcade tent, the boy's absentminded and busy father writing emails, a girl from my workplace, and a couple of guys whose eyes were practically glued to their phones who came on the bus at a later stop.

      The young boy was the one who counted all the people on the bus. 

      My friend is very a gregarious and genuine person who speaks her mind. As the guys stuck to their phones felt around for a seat and started sitting down, my friend broke their trace telling one of them "Nice rings!" He had two silver minimalist rings on. 

      As he tried to recall the name of the store he got it from, remembering that "it sounded friendly."

      He recalled the name and apalrently I have been there before because the image of a logo came to mind on a storefront with both English and Chinese writing on it. The bubbly, line art style reminded me of neon lights, and it had a yellow cloud, and a pink strawberry and a cat's smiling face.

     Someone else overheard and chimed in, "yeah I've been there before, it's a good store." Soon enough people on the bus were chuckling and making quiet conversation and the air lightened.

      My friend has got up to continue her comversation, and I made eye contact wit a guy who was sitting on he either side. He was quiet, and had brushed back his Afro hair into a ponytail. He had a backpack, and a grass green sweater on with yellow on the inside and a black-string necklace I couldn't see the pendant for. 

      Him and I noted the conversation immediately and smiles at the conversation that ensued between my friend and the phone guys.

      When the guy said the name of the cloud-strawberry-cat store I naturally looked back at the guy in green and asked if he had been there before, as if we had been talking to eachother this entire time. He didn't miss a beat, and was the kind of kid who was reserved but with a very real friendly way about him once he started talking. The kind of kid who gets what people are saying.

     He opened up and we made small talk, and the subject of difficult names came up somewhere on the bus, and he said maintaining his wide smile up to his eyes,

      "I get tired of having to tell people

my name over and over again."

     "What is your name?" I asked.

     "Rinene Ireson. People are usually like 'Irent what?'"

      (Pronounced "Rye-kneen Ire-sun")

     "Rinene sounds so cool! Do you know its meaning?"

      "Rinene means a bag of garbage you don't want to take out."

      Now this was something I thought I might have needed him to repeat.

      Then he continued, "I was making up words one day," and his face changed to some much more closed and quiet, "and just came up with it."

      I felt confused. "Oh. So you made it yourself?"

     He nodded and looked down and away and once it hit me that he intentionally named himself garbage my mind raced for what to say or do to address what he just said. I figured out something that seemed good to say in a second, but then I woke up.

      It took me a moment to remember, but it was something like "well, I don't think the meaning suits you but the name does have a nice sound," and to say it with a bit of a laugh then ask about what other words he has made up because that sounds really cool or interesting.

      I also decided I would mention jw.org to him. It has definitely helped me when I feel like garbage (though I would definitely omit the "when I feel like garbage" part).

      Later I decided to look up the meaning of Rinene, and only one page has come up so far:

That sounds more like him.

Battle of the Blossoms - May 2018

Which is your favourite?

 

^bonus

Note: This post is shared between naturenimbus.blogspot.ca and lunar-winds.blogspot.ca.
Published May 22, 2018, archived under May 21, 2018

I kinda succulent but am still having a whale of a time

I can't put my finger on what I want to doodle just above this whale. (will update this post when I do)

Published May 22, 2018, archived under May 21, 2018

I don't want my words to provoke the monster within you. I don't want to awaken it, to challenge it to be as viscous as mine was when I wrote that or worse.

Fighting alone

We couldn't do enough to keep you here. We wanted you to stay. We wanted to fight the monster with you but it wouldn't keep away.

The monster is still here, the same beast you once knew. And it still follows us, but now we're fighting without you.

You must survive by us. Avenge you in the fight. But when we meet again I hope you'll that the monster was never right.

Tired and Wired

I'm tired and wired

Blood's so cold

But brain's on fire

The sunrise is so red but it feels like I haven't blinked since sunset.

Stomach turns (flips)

Thoughts tumble

And words splay out my fingertips

Recalling every stumble

Eyes wide open

Chest shut tight

Let words flow if you can

Fight, fight all night

Let fewer words flow

Make room for blood will flow again

At least it might

Make room so letters can stop blocking my arteries

In a different kind of heart attack

PDA

The opposite of Public Displays of Affection, or "PDA", that first comes to mind is Private Displays of Affection, which is still the acronym "PDA".

Another opposite that comes to mind is Public Displays of Abhorrence, or Animosity. Still PDA.

The third, and probably most opposite is Private Displays of Abhorrence. Still PDA.

Something I like about freediving is that every second is a choice to keep living. At any moment you could just choose to let it all go, but instead with one breath you choose to continue based on a will to keep living, to eventually breathe again.

In Canada there is a buck on our quarter.

("Buck" as in a male deer, even though we call a dollar a "buck.)

May 15 edit: If you want to know why a dollar is called a buck anyway, apparently a "buck" once meant one high quality deerskin, often used in trades between Europeans and Native North Americans. Lower-quality ones sometimes required multiple to add up to the value of one full buck.

Source: http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2014/03/dollar-called-buck/

Island Chain

And then there was the one called hideaway island. With the red coppery stones and the cave tucked away in a hidden corner where there were many endings and new beginnings, where the Girl in the Wind and the Waterboy became one, the shores they were ice washed up on after fighting the sea monster, and where them and their friends are safe. Off the coast is where they swim through and endlessly explore emerald and deep blue water they can breathe under. This is where they can fly through the water and explore without fear, even though the water is cold and dark. Here the sun always seems to be setting or rising.

Then just a small overpass away is Castaway island. This is the island where I may only bring the ones I trust the most. My animals and imaginary friends live here with me in their own shacks. Home is but a shack, but that is all I need with a surfboard and notebooks. I wade out to swim and get distracted by coral, and often walk back because I realize I have to go pretty far for the water to get deep. The east shore scares me sometimes; shadow beach gets very lonely after sunset as I watch the lights of distant cruisers far away. Sometimes I even watch them from the dock, pretending that someday another boat will dock next to my rowboat, but I know better for this is only the place where I may bring people if I choose to; there is no other way.

These are the incorruptible islands.

Then there is the island of grass. Contrary to what the name suggests, there isn't all grass. There is where the Line cliffs are, the ones I have tiptoed along the edges of, waiting for something to happen and send me plummeting down. But there is seldom a natural wind on this island. The only breeze by the cliffs are the kind that you only feel because you've convinced yourself it's there, because it is only your own breath that creates it. Then there are dust storm areas. This is where parks and corrupted places from the past remain until a storm comes and they are blown to dust and ashes and taken away by the storm, until the next time you revisit them.

Then there is waterfall paradise island. There are treehouses here and lots of waterfalls. It is a jungle with many hidden jewels and rocks to examine and nooks to go swimming. There are even traditionally predatory animals that don't hurt you. It is the best place for a party, and the water is warm. This is the island MC and I would draw as children. There are more exotic, beautiful flowers than you could even imagine. Horses drink by the river in peace with pet cheetahs that relax with elephants at a distance in grassy clearings.

Then there is lighthouse island. Is it never quite as warm as I'd like it to be here, but there are colourful houses and an easy schedule. People are friendly here and read the newspaper here and wear cozy sweaters and go fishing, and help guide sailors in the dark. It is often foggy and the place where my interested in photography bloomed. It is a nice place to visit, though I don't like staying too long. People like to talk.

Then there is the shore of tide pools. This is a happy place filled with love. It is a great place to go diving, or bask in the sun while examining tide pools filled with colourful aquatic wildlife. There are big rocks that are fun to climb and people like to take pictures on. This is a good place to bring someone you love. This is where depth and happiness collide; where you learn profound happiness may be as deep or even deeper than sadness. The weather varies and there is so much to appreciate.

"MBTI is supposed to help you see where people are coming from, not understand them as individuals"

- my INFP friend Lara on MBTI

Love the way she put this

You don't owe everyone an explanation for everything

You don't owe everyone an explanation for everything.
     It goes hand-in-hand with resisting irrational guilt.
     I still struggle with this sometimes, but even just being conscious of this has been life-changing in the way of making it possible to connect with people on a genuine, personal level.

Meditation and Imagination

A side-study doodle that is half distraction, half premeditated, and full inspiration.

It is easy to become absorbed in projects on subjects you feel deeply about, and it always seems like a good sign when important things in life naturally reappear in little pieces and thoughts throughout the day.

Sleep problem: arms

The last few months I've been having a strange problem when trying to fall asleep, where I don't know what to do with my arms. I mean, I had arms before this, yes??

      It feels like my arm or shoulder is always squished or twisted uncomfortably.

A new type of loneliness

This is a new type of loneliness.

This is not an expected part of a journey of learning to feel again; this specific flavour of loneliness is not familiar.
I don't like it.

It's...

Desperate.

     It seems like some types of loneliness make people stronger in a way. It may force them to stand on their own, hold to their own standing for what they believe in without depending on other people. In a way, the loneliness can defeat itself to a degree. (Like building up antibodies, maybe.)

It does not feel like this is doing that. This is just making me not think clearly, or even feel clearly or right or real. It seems this is the type of loneliness that should just be reasoned out of; not pacified, but be put a stop to at its roots.

Conspiracy theory: people change

Conspiracy theory: people can change. The people who say that people don't change are just the ones who feel it is too hard.

'Creative Days'

'Creative Days' doodle art.

Somewhat regretting drawing the jellyfish instead of humpback whales. Oh well. Maybe whales will be featured next.

Posted April 28, 2018

"Twice married, once loved." 

Possible realities of child marriage.

Types of Treehuggers

Happy Earth Day!

Here is a repost originally from to Nature-nimbus.blogspot.ca for May 24, 2016, but with the found original doodles to go with it. Each illustration is consciously exaggerated just for kicks so please don't takes offense to what is written here... hope you have fun reading them :) 

The reality is all of these roles have helped raise awareness on environmental needs -that is how they are so recognizable- and a person can combine the traits of any number of them, but the coolest part of sharing this with friends was seeing everyone feel out where their niche is and perhaps even feeling re-inspired to participate in green activities that they enjoy.

Hope you enjoy reading this, and have a lovely Earth Day 2018!
~~~
Here is a little personal project I did a long ago with a few cue cards.

All these characters were drawn on cue cards I cannot find yet, but that can be another post for another time. (Update: Found them, here they are!)

It was a lot cooler when I was sitting at the kitchen table explaining it in a extemporaneous babble to relatives and my dog a little differently each time, but it and went something like this and I hope you find it amusing :)

The Hippie/Flower Child

The classic treehugger stereotypee right out of the 60s who really got environmental movement started. Clad in tye-dye and hemp, and sitting cross-legged in front of trees preaching their message of love, peace, and unity, they are also known for making some lovely tunes to get people in a mood and mindset of unity.

The Rebellious Radical

Sometimes seen as a close younger cousin of the hippie, The Rebellious Radical is loud and grabs attention, and sometimes that might be the exact push people need. Louder the better; think activists chaining themselves to trees maybe with some funky coloured hair. These people make bold statements pointing to the goal of drawing attention and spreading awareness of big issues that really matter.

The Wild Child/Conservationist

It's that kid that's always climbing trees and running around exploring outside with messy hair. They really are in their element/natural habitat outside, probably making mud pies and isn't afraid of getting dirty or touching creepy crawlies. These are the ones who probably know the common, maybe the scientific, and given personal names of backyard wildlife. These friends of the forest, conservation officers, camp counselors, and more have a contagious sense of wonder they are often eager to share with others.

The Humanitarian

The Humanitarian  recognize that people are part of the ecosystem just like other animals, and sincerely care about the wellbeing of fellow humans. Whether they be doctors, aid workers, or concerned citizens, they see how people around the world are affected by environmental issues and are ready to see how can to help. From pollution putting people's health at risk to climate change displacing entire communities, they recognize sustainability as a must, and clean air and water as basic human rights which they will fight for and seek to see as many people as possible having access to.

Engineer/Technician

These are the ones that really make all these advancements work. A lot of what they do is behind-the-scenes, but they use the power of their minds to make it possible to drive new sustainable technologies forward such as in renewable energy. The research they do also gives treehuggers the world over something to actually work with to show the world that what the heart says is the right thing to do also makes logical sense.

Politician/Consultant

"Work The System" is the name of the game here. These guys in the big leagues kind of have to be disguised in big business suits sometimes and they work undercover. Sometimes they develop "green" products, creative marketing to inspire people to take to them, or policies to help change the world. Among politicians and corporates, the suit-wearing or clip-board-yielding ones advocate for the environment in the big leagues using the system to further their agenda, to help the environment on a big scale.

Thanks for reading, and feel free to share your thoughts on which treehugger stereotypes you and your friends relate to in the comments, as well as any ideas for green activities people of different types might like participating in!

Originally posted by Melody Tadeo to Nature-nimbus.blogspot.ca for May 24, 2016
Edited April 9, 2018... also finally uploaded the photos!