That moment when you’re walking in the winter wood on a snowy night and it’s so quiet that you can hear the bell-like sound of each crystalline flake colliding with what’s already pooled on the ground like silver gems in a dragon’s hoard, and after a while, when your feet grow weary from pressing onwards in the deep, drifting piles of snow, you sit down to take a rest on an icy throne and finally feel at home.

My uncle tried bubble tea today

He said 10/10 would recommend to the mango

That moment when you’re standing on the a vast lake, there’s ice beneath your feet but you can see it cracking and falling apart in the distance, and the heavy drifts of snow pooled on its surface make the lake look like a frozen version of Mars, and the sky is a beautiful sunset that could make even the gods pause to wonder, and you can finally just

breathe.

Ya know, sometimes Markiplier has a pretty similar humor sense to Captain Jack Sparrow and it really makes me want to see Mark and Johnny Depp in the same room.

So there’s this yoga position which is a major workout in and of itself despite being an insanely simple position to do.

And I was just teaching it to goblinmom because she has horrible, constant migraines that don’t let her exercise normally (movement=pain) so I had found this for her hoping it might help.

Then, once I got her situated into the right form, she’s like:

Mom: “wow this really does affect everything in the body doesn’t it?”

Me, taking a sip of tea and walking away: “yep now hold it for 3 to 5 minutes”

The look of absolute betrayal and devastation on her face was priceless

chaoscommissioner:

my new favorite character trope: uno reverse trap

allow me to elaborate on how this trope goes down because I’ve only seen it twice but it’s genius and absolutely hysterical:

1) a woman gets reincarnated into a man’s body

2) said “man” is still a woman on the inside but instead of the character being portrayed as a “flawless MC/FL” that solves every problem thrown at them with ease or being portrayed as someone who was mistreated and lived a hard life, they’re quite literally just a normal person (like…genuinely realistic) for once

3) but the MC is still enjoying themselves because “wow all my friends in this lifetime are insanely hot wtf” but she’s chill with that and just vibes like anyone would with their pals as they go on adventures and do whatever

4) …but the catch is that all their guy friends, which had zero attraction to them before the woman reincarnated into his body, are starting to pick up on the slightly more feminine nature/quirks of the new personality

5) so they think “oh, maybe MC is just experimenting with finding themselves?” and try to make excuses but they are becoming more and more attracted to them

6) and instead of their being some “dramatic reveal” or them finding out MC is actually a woman on the inside, MC starts messing with them and playing it up more because their reactions are hilarious

And that’s literally the majority of the story: tomboy MC finds it hysterical on how easily she can trick other men into questioning their sexualities and promptly begins playing matchmaker/shipper with her entourage of reverse harem.

goblinmom, who is currently hardcore craving sweets: Oh! I know what we can use the jar of frosting for! Those crepes you make!!! We can mix the frosting with some berries for them!

me: The same crepes you usually say are too rich and sweet?

mom: It’s not like we have to put sugar in the crepes!

me, glancing between her and the frosting on the table: Did you just forget what frosting is?

mom, laughing: Two different food groups?

So my mom loves to watch apocalypse movies and believes (understandably so) that America is going to probably crash within the next decade, most likely to internal conflict.

And that got me thinking, if America were to fall, like actually fall and not rebuild again (maybe break apart into smaller countries but still), what would it be like?

Obviously during the breaking and falling there’s going to be tons of dangerous conflict and bloodshed and it’s going to be horrible. But after that’s over, is it still going to be as bad as the movies make it out to be? Are people going to be skulking through shadowy corners, eating rats in abandoned, crumbling cities to survive? Or building totalitarian city-states and destroying any and all outsiders who approach?

Honestly, some people might try to go that route, but they’ll probably be shunned and separated from the main crowd pretty quickly. I think the vast majority of people would say “fuck that” and just get on with their lives, just as we always have throughout history.

Here’s what I think (and hope) the aftermath will probably head towards given the direction our younger generations’ mentalities and mindsets:

When everything crashes around us, I think humans will pick up and move on. Because humans have a few strong points that we, sadly, don’t use very often in the current day, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t still there at our core.

We are naturally empathetic, capable of understanding the emotions of those around us and are apt to strong feelings of protectiveness and duty as a result. We are extremely innovative and adaptable, able to live and thrive in any environment with a little time and effort. And we are social, pack animals who needs bonds for comfort, often taking in other creatures and plants into our homes that originally had nothing to do with us simply because we want them to live better than they could without us.

Do I think that some humans will still go the stereotypical “I believe everyone is evil and a threat” route and attempt to steal from and assault everyone in sight? Probably. Some humans are dumb like that.

But honestly, for the most part, I think most humans will band together in new territories, work together to not just survive but to rebuild better than before, and move forward.

This viewpoint, focusing on community, compassion, living naturally, and utilizing all the amazing sciences available for better purposes, is called Solarpunk! It centers around the practices of equality, innovation, environmental activism, and wonder at the world around us!

Something else I like about it, is that instead of some other mentalities that try to say “all science is bad because it’s used for bad things”, Solarpunk instead says “okay, this specific branch of science is currently used for a bad thing, so instead of shaming this piece of human advancement, how do we put it to a better use that doesn’t harm us or the environment?” Solarpunk focuses on FIXING problems, not just complaining about them, and doesn’t shy away from science despite being rooted in natural practices!

Despite the kind of information and stories the media likes to shine its spotlights on, and what many societies attempt to push us to believe, humans aren’t necessarily a bad or evil species. I think we’ve just been trapped in a system that feeds on negativity for too long.

It’s time for us to transcend above this guys, we’re better than this! So I encourage you to choose compassion over greed, love over loathing, and trying again over giving up!

I never noticed this the other times I watched Tim Burton’s version of Alice in Wonderland, but during the scene when the Hatter is about to be executed, there’s a pit in front of the stage where his head is obviously supposed to drop into. So I was like, “Hmm…so do the heads just…pile up down there and rot?”

And then it hit me.

The pit connects to the moat, where all the other victims’ heads are displayed.

Always remember: the main three enemies of dealing with depression are Stillness, Darkness, and Stagnation!

For stillness, try to keep active. On days where you’re struggling and have low-energy, try sitting on the exercise ball or doing some stretches in bed. Even just rolling around or kicking your legs can help!

For darkness, get ample sunshine by sitting near a window or going outside, even if it’s just to lie down in the grass! Even just turning a light on so you aren’t sitting in the dark can have a positive effect. This is necessary because without adequate light, your brain will continue to release hormones telling you to sleep, which saps your energy and increases depression. Getting more light will naturally increase the amount of energy you have!

And for stagnation, make sure to get fresh air and try to switch up your routine! Doing the same things over and over again can cause your brain to become complacent and bored. This can also increase depression, as well as anxiety and many other disorders. Breathing stale air all the time triggers a similar effect. So even if it’s something as small as walking a slightly different route than usual or showering at a different time than you typically would, throwing a curve ball at your sense of normalcy from time to time is incredibly efficient in handling the symptoms of depression. My favorite way to do this is learn a new daily word and what it means, or try to name one object/place/name/etc per letter. It gets your brain moving and keeps you on your toes, in a sense!

That moment when a strong burst of warm, gentle, spring wind blows right into your face and brings the scent of every blooming flower in your neighborhood with it, followed by the twinkling sound of every wind chime in the vicinity singing their pleasant melodies and filling your heart with glee <3

Mother Nature really be like “and bless this town in particular” today

One of the most consistently stressful things, in my opinion, is to live with people who expect nothing but the worst in the world, the future, and other people…and then try to use logic and science to constantly force those thoughts down your throat too.

Yes, maybe the world is going to hell and everything is falling apart. But I’m still alive. You are still alive. And there’s all this amazing technology out there that is changing the world for the better each and every day. There are individuals making ripples whose effects will cause waves. There’s stories, both fiction and nonfiction alike, full of hope and wonder and love for the world around us and the adventure that is life.

I have no reason to let you choke me with nonsensical pessimism and negativity no matter how “logical” you assume it to be.

So if you only want to see the bad in everything, so be it. But I am going to choose to believe in the good, to chase the good, that I know is in this world, in this future, and in other people.

Wear cinderblocks on your feet and sink if you’re so eager to drown, but holding onto my ankles will only make me swim harder, even if it makes me more tired in the long run.

Because in the end? I’ll be stronger for it.

I’ve heard this several times, but people make friends easier while going to school because they’re often forced to interact with new people on a daily basis. This increases their social skills, their perception and understanding of themselves and their individual interests, and their ability to adapt to new and unexpected situations. So what if there was a cafe where they have you fill out a short five to ten questions on a survey upon entering, then place you at a table with one to three strangers to help you make friends? There could be other stuff adhering to the theme too like conversation prompt cards on the table or improv games underneath it so you can get to know your tablemates!

ωɵʀɗʂ ϙʄ ωɪʂɗϙɱ

cyber

space

fuck the human race

Aight so I’m sitting in the living room at my uncle’s (still housesitting the farm in the woods in the middle of nowhere) and all the crows went flipping bananasand starting raising hell. So I look outside and a whole ass murder of at least 30 some crows flocked to the line of massive evergreens (taller than you’ve probably ever realized evergreens could grow) that separates our property from the plains.

I don’t know what spooked them but now they’re all just sitting there.

Staring.

Sometimes it can be difficult to know exactly where your headspace is at when you’ve been dealing with mental health issues for a long time. Eventually, you begin to become numb to a lot of the symptoms and it ends up harder and harder to know if you’re actually having a good day or not, or even to just pinpoint what’s actually doing the damage to you in the first place.

When I’ve struggled with this in the past, the first thing I check is what direction my daydreams are heading in.

And I know, that probably sounds a bit strange. But seriously, your daydreams (or more specifically, what you daydream about) can tell you a lot about your subconscious state!

If you tend to dream about far-off things like dragons and castles or storylines way removed from reality, you’re probably untethered because something in your everyday life is stressing you out. It’s most likely either a habit or a repetitive event that you feel trapped by and crave escape from. In this case, it’s good to figure out what that thing is so you can better manage it or, in some cases, weed it out entirely.

If you tend to have in-depth dreams about a perfect future where all the things you wish for are a reality, you’re probably anxious about what your real future will hold for you. Something about the direction you’re currently heading in is making you worried, for whatever reason, and it might benefit you to stop and observe your current life to find out what exactly is making you so nervous. Once you find it, a good exercise would be to think of what the absolute worst-case scenario might be, then brainstorm the absolute best-case scenario in turn. By finding these two unrealistic polar ends of “best” versus “worst” outcomes, it’ll be easier for you to become centered on a more realistic playthrough of what’s most likely to actually occur, therefore lessening some of that anxiety.

If you tend to romanticize a place, person, or time in your life that has already passed, there’s probably something about that thing that you are craving in your current life. It might do you some good to think about what exactly you miss about it and in what ways that something is absent from your present. Then you’ll know what categories of your life probably need more attention paid to them so you feel more comfortable.

Daydreams and a drifting conscious aren’t always bad things. They can aid you in being more creative, thinking outside the box, and other forms of problem-solving. However when you find yourself in that dreaming state more often than not, it could be beneficial to understand where those dreams are coming from since daydreaming is, in essence, a coping mechanism that distances you from what is currently harming or negatively affecting your current life.

I hope this helps!

Even if it’s difficult to uphold at first, the best habit I’ve ever gotten myself into is that while I’m lying in bed at night about to fall asleep, I’ll think of at least one thing that’ll happen the next day, no matter how seemingly small, that I can be excited about.

Even if it’s just “I wonder what’ll happen in the next episode of the show I’m watching??” or “It’s supposed to be a few degrees warmer tomorrow!”

Findsomething that makes you want to get up the next day. Hype yourself up about it the night before, and you’ll be shocked at just how much easier it is to leave your bed the next morning and face the day.

Quali-tea! 『Part 01』

To begin, a lot of people enjoy drinking tea, but have no clue how to bring out the best qualities of each kind. Most just assume they need to “dump boiling water over the leaves and wait for a couple minutes”.

But that’s…not going to give you a very good tea.

So today, I’m going to teach you the basics of tea brewing 101!

I’ll probably make more posts in this series at a later date too.

✧•✧✧•✧✧•✧✧•✧✧•✧✧•✧✧•✧

The first step is to get your hands on some fresh tea leaves. But the question is what kind is right for you?

There are a lot of kinds to choose from, with six groups that tea leaves are generally separated into and many branches extending from each group.

The six main types are white, green, yellow, blue (also called oolong), black, and dark tea. Aside from that, there are also herbal infusions (or tisanes) made from fruit, flowers, or other herbs, but that don’t have any actual tea leaves in them.

But we’ll save infusions for another time, because right now is all about actual tea!

Now, you might already feel overwhelmed by the amount of choices, but fear not! It’s really not as complicated as it originally appears to be.

There are several key components into what makes each group special, be it their flavor profile, what nutrients they give, their oxidation levels, and even their common fragrances. Some basic information about each of the six groups are listed below!

✧•✧✧•✧✧•✧✧•✧✧•✧✧•✧✧•✧

White Tea
Most kinds of white tea are made by simply harvesting the leaves and withering them without the use of heat. It has tons of antioxidants, similar to the fresh leaves before the tea making process.

They usually have a sweeter, fruity, or floral scent, making them a great choice if you are hosting a tea party or enjoying a spa day. For taste, white teas are normally more subtle and sweet.

My personal favorite out of the various white teas is called White Peony, which has a mild, floral taste to it and is a relatively delicate tea, perfect for a cool spring day!

• • • • •

Green Tea
Green tea is one of the first things that come to mind for many when they think of tea. It’s no wonder too, since it’s one of the most popular types in the world! To make green tea, the leaves are harvested and allowed to wither for a shorter period of time before they are heated. The heat aspect prevents any oxidation from occurring. Then the leaves are rolled and pressed out to deepen their flavor.

Green tea, when brewed correctly is aromatic and has a deep, yet smooth taste ranging from smoky to grassy depending on what rolling and pressing method was used. However, it should never be bitter or astringent. Green teas pair well with sweeter and cold foods.

My favorite kind of tea from this category is Dragonwell. It has a pleasantly welcoming, almost grassy scent that I find deeply soothing during thunderstorms and late summer evenings.

• • • • •

Yellow Tea
There’s really only one key difference between the process of making green tea versus yellow tea, and that’s that yellow tea undergoes something called wrapping. This causes non-enzymatic oxidation and give the tea a yellow or golden color! However, this tea is rare and typically difficult to find. As such, it is more expensive to get high-quality tea leaves.

Although yellow tea isn’t very well known, it has a beautiful, mellow scent with herbaceous or floral undertones. The taste is usually sweeter and more floral.

Due to its exclusivity, I have yet to get my hands on and personally try yellow tea (it’s definitely on my bucket list, though!)

• • • • •

Blue Tea
Blue or oolong teas have more oxidation than green teas, but less than black teas. This also makes oolong have a color in between that of the other two kinds of tea since oxidation plays a huge role in how dark the tea appears to be. To make blue tea, the leaves are lightly bruised before being heated. This way, more oxidation is formed in the tea leaves.

Oolong teas are normally more of a rich floral or vegetal flavor with a buttery texture and a lighter body. The aroma is often sweet, if not a bit fruity. It’s a great tea to have in the summer on a hot day!

I prefer a balled oolong, since it’s a solid medium within the scale of oxidation that blue teas can come in. My favorite way to drink oolong is with milk and brown sugar!

• • • • •

Black Tea
Black tea is the current most popular kind in the world. This is the other type most people will think of when tea is mentioned. It is harvested and withered for a long period of time before being dried. However, it isn’t heated since that would halt the oxidation process. Black tea is also usually cut or rolled to help with the method of fully oxidizing the tea.

Fully oxidized tea is less bitter and more sweet. Its flavor profile changes drastically depending on what specific process is used, as the means of making black tea is often unique to each region it originates from. It can range from smoky to citrusy to nutty and even earthy!

My preferred black tea, hands down, has to be assam black. It has a deep, malty flavor with a delicious, pumpkin-like scent. It’s also an excellent tea for beginners to try their hand at brewing!

• • • • •

Dark Tea
Last but not least, is dark tea! Contrary to the names, dark tea is a lot closer to green tea than it is to black tea. This has to do with the process of how it’s made. After going through the green tea process, dark tea is then aged and fermented.

Dark tea has an earthy scent, but its taste is distinctly sweet and floral. It comes from the Hunan Province of China.

There seems to be some discourse over whether Pu-erh tea is truly a type of dark tea or not. According to what I’ve researched in the past, some people say it is, because it’s made using the green tea process and undergoes fermentation through aging (same as any dark tea), but others disagree, stating that it comes from Yunnan instead of Hunan and that it is fermented for far longer than other kinds of dark tea. Personally, I’m in the camp that Pu-erh, due to the process of creating the tea, is indeed a dark tea, but that’s just my opinion.

That moment when you’ve spent a long day working outside and preparing the grounds for the warmer days of spring, dreaming of kinder evenings and fragrant flowers, while the wind howls and tears across the clouded sky, sending chills along your skin as you stoop low to clear away the sticks and winter brush.

This year.

This year all your dreams will come true.