The Gnome falls in love with the Princess, from The Brown Fairy Book by Henry Justice Ford (1904)
gentle reminder you can rise up from everything. you can recreate yourself. nothing is permanent. you are not stuck. you have choices. you can think new thoughts. you can learn something new. you can create new habits. all that matters is that you decide today and never look back.
A little update on what I've been focusing on 💗
As I mentioned before I'm putting 70% of my effort into my studies at the moment and so far I'm having so much fun
It's become an addictive hobby if I'm being honest ,I've gotten a genuine thirst for knowledge and to be a master at whatever I do!
It's been a long road but I'm surely making my way back to the top ranks and it's internally fulfilling.
Here are some things I've contemplated over the time
☁️Exercise is essential☁️
Moving my body always seems to increase my brain power. After things like Yoga and pilates I'm so receptive to new information plus the added feeling of bodily bliss.
☁️The world waits for no one☁️
The world isn't going to stop for a few minutes for you to decide to do a workout. The world isn't going to stop for you to procrastinate of your work. The world isn't going to stop for you to get yourself together.
Things keep moving every second, contemplating over nothing or whether to do something you need to do or not to do it, is an utter waste of time sometimes. You are literally abusing yourself by being your own blockage to an array of possibilities.
Don't be the one at 50, crying, wishing you would've worked out more or could've studied harder in your youth.
☁️Journalling☁️
One of the best additions to my life, it helps me keep track of everything and document and organise my thoughts.
I highly recommend starting, because sometimes your brain over complicates things and the best solution would be to write it down and solve it logically on paper.
☁️Avoid the unhappy and unorganized☁️
It might sound a bit mean and by all means help these people if you can but be very careful, don't be dragged into their habits. Don't be dragged into their mindsets. Be wary as misery loves company. It's like an infection of sorts which recruits those who want to help at certain times.
Keep your standards when around people who sadly suffer with issues like these.
☁️Preparation is your best friend☁️
In academics, one of the best things you can always do is study the whole book you are given briefly. Knowing what's ahead is extremely helpful and is a big advantage in many situations.
☁️Don't be afraid to say the old version of you died☁️
You are like water, forever changing and I see some people holding onto their false identities and becoming like a rock in a flowing river.
I believe it's healthy to shed your skin once in a while.
I have changed so much, during the years and I have come to terms with throwing away my old template and creating a new one to suit my present self.
☁️Develope hobbies☁️
Not for other people but just for you in general, I wear my skills and knowledge like accolades on my body.
Being a multi faceted being adds so much more zest to yourself and your life.
Over the years I have picked up things like :
Pottery (I make little pots in whatever style I want to store my jewellery)
Art (I'm well educated in pastels, painting, drawing, you name it!)
Music (Sadly this used to be my best skill but I lost a lot of experience during the years, I used to be able to play 5-7 instruments and it would always be a fun surprise at events, I always used to go play piano at my aunt's house with her daughter who was an expert at it)
Literature ( One of my favourites. Reading, learning, analysing and immersing yourself into the hand written creation of another. You learn so much from viewing things from the lense of another)
Those are just a few that you can easily start with!
☁️Pick up a community sport☁️
Lots of networking happens at sports events and being part of them would be very beneficial to you.
Save up for high quality equipment and try a sport.
Horse riding and Tennis are my favourite!
I love my horse and the sport in general is full of wonderful competitive people.
Tennis is so fierce but beautiful as well.
Tennis is a game of love and many great friendships can be formed on a court.
Get yourself a good quality and firm gripped racket and give it a try.
☁️Get in touch with your spiritual side (if you're into that stuff)☁️
I feel the most grounded and balanced when I practice my spirituality.
It's a little addition that makes life so much brighter for me.
I saw an article called “Make Peace With Your Unlived Life” and it really made me stop and think. So much of our lives is mourning for what we didn’t become. It’s a waste. We didn’t waste any opportunities. What came and went was not meant for us.
Hi! I have a hard time owning my feminine energy, especially within romantic relationships with men, because I’m not having children. So if I’m not going to be the one carrying and raising children, then it’s hard for me to see the equality between the 2 if I still want a soft life. Does that make sense? Can you shed some light on that?
Hi love! Personally, I don't see any validity in this take as it sounds inundated in the patriarchy and patriarchal language. The equity of men and women in a relationship has to do with their individual capabilities to emotionally support themselves and their partner through different life situations/stages and communicate with each other effectively to ensure both partners' needs are being met, boundaries are respected, and preferences are attended to out of delight, not nagging or manipulation, all while learning to work together as a team to ensure your individual life needs are being met (bills/finances, jobs and career outlook, family planning and relationships, lifestyle habits, socializing needs, etc.).
What works for every couple is different. If both parties are happy with an arrangement and it does not place one party in a position of power over the other (like financial abuse or emotional blackmail), you are in a mutually-beneficial, therefore, equitable, relationship.
I don't know exactly what you mean by "soft life," as they're many interpretations of that phrase nowadays, but a mutually-beneficial relationship is an equitable relationship. Women are not defined by their wombs or homemaking capabilities. If you choose to take on these roles enthusiastically and in a way that doesn't leave you physically, emotionally, or financially vulnerable to be controlled by your partner, more power to you.
I believe that embracing your feminine energy in romantic relationships involves implementing the following practices:
Allowing yourself to embrace the fun, creative sides of yourself and share them with others. Get dressed up in your full glam for your date nights, wear the seductive perfume and lingerie at night, make the ravishing homecooked, candlelit dinner, etc. if you desire to create beautiful shared experiences. All because YOU want to do these things, and it genuinely makes you feel good to express this creative side of yourself.
Embrace your emotional side and the ability to be vulnerable about your feelings. Once someone passes your vetting process to the point of partnership status, learn to let go and express your emotions with this person. Nothing is more satisfying to the soul than feeling safe enough to be your authentic, vulnerable self, especially after a long day of performing with a hard exterior or other experiences that make everyday life frustrating (annoying coworker, demanding work project on deadline, traffic, the grocery store being out of an item you needed, etc.). Invite deep conversations, the right to cry, laugh, express authentic joy and excitement about things you fear others might find silly or mundane, and share your fears without worrying about being judged.
Learn how to get out of your own head and get your sexual needs met. You do not owe any man any sexual acts or a performance. Sex and surrounding intimate acts should be mutually pleasurable and gratifying. Speak up for what you want. Allow the attention to be solely focused on you at times. Don't worry about how you're perceived in bed for enjoying yourself. Any man should know he's lucky to be there.
Enjoy your interests freely (and frequently) without apologizing. Don't allow someone to put you down for loving certain activities, hobbies, entertainment, etc., especially more feminine ones (such as reality TV or caring about certain music/home decor/food preferences, etc.). They're not silly because the patriarchy doesn't give them the gold star of approval. All interests that don't harm others and bring you joy are valid.
Celebrate your uniquely feminine traits, routines, and habits unapologetically. PMS, menstrual routines and energy level fluctuations, greater needs for sleep in general, strict skincare routines, nightly rituals, hair removal and nail routines, need to turn down the AC, introduce certain sex toys into the bedroom, drink less alcohol, eat differently, workout differently, the time needed to gossip with your friends and go out to chat with your women friends weekly, etc. Remember that your preferences or needs are not lesser than because of your biology. In the context of a cishet relationship, this often means learning how to not feel inferior for being biologically female as well as some socialized traits like our engrained bias to maintain broader social networks, take more pleasure in putting effort into our appearances, etc. (generalizing here, I know, don't worry).
Know this was a long reply, but I think it's super important information to keep in mind. Signed, a fellow child-free-by-choice woman who doesn't want to deal with the stress of anyone else's B.S. either (especially a romantic partner, what a mood-killer).
Hope this helps xx
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
1. BE IMPECCABLE WITH YOUR WORD: Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.
2. DON’T TAKE ANYTHING PERSONALLY: Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.
3. DON’T MAKE ASSUMPTIONS: Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness, and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.
4. ALWAYS DO YOUR BEST: Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse, and regret.
saw this today
UP your water intake! no more bloating here.
7-10k steps a day. move. your. body — walk, chores, park farther. don’t take shortcuts, do it all!
probiotics, protein, fiber.
prioritize whole foods.
educate yourself for an hour a day. NO EXCUSES. listen to podcasts/youtube videos/audiobooks. read an article or book. learn how to cook better or take care of your skin type. just learn something! don’t let your brain be wasted away. it CRAVES growth.
HAVE ADMIN DAYS. make your to do lists, set 3 priority tasks and set 15-20 minutes of uninterrupted time to tackle them. boom.
stop aimlessly shopping. you have everything to need to live. save up! your future self will thank you.
Your home is an extension of your energy field. That’s why habits such as cleaning your home, getting rid of unnecessary clutter, opening all the windows and keeping your environment positive can have an impact on our mind, body and spirit. Take care of your safe space.
How To Improve Your Social Skills 💬🥂📱✨
Pay close attention when others are speaking. Show that you're engaged in what they are saying, maintain eye contact, and providing verbal cues like "I see" or "interesting." Ask questions.
Good eye contact shows interest in the conversation. But avoid staring excessively in a frozen state, as it can make others uncomfortable.
A warm smile and open body language can make others feel more comfortable around you.
Work on your conversational skills, including starting and ending conversations, asking open ended questions, and finding common topics of interest.
Try to understand and empathize with the feelings and perspectives of others. This helps create trust.
Small talk is essential for building rapport. Practice starting conversations with light, non controversial topics and gradually steer them toward more meaningful subjects.
Confidence is key to effective social interaction. Work on building your self esteem and self confidence through self affirmations and positive self talk.
If you experience social anxiety, try deep breathing exercises or, visualization. Try to focus your attention on something. I used to have a lot of social anxiety so I would hold a drink in my hand to keep me centered and focused.
Familiarize yourself with cultural and social norms to ensure you're behaving appropriately in different situations so you don't look out of place or rude.
Social skills are like any other skills; they improve with practice. Start with friends or in less intimidating social settings to build your confidence.
Pay attention to nonverbal cues such as body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice. These signals often convey more than words.
Avoid dominating conversations. Give others the chance to speak and actively listen when it's their turn.
Show respect for others by using polite language, saying "please" and "thank you," and being considerate of their feelings and opinions.
Having a broad range of interests and knowledge can give you more to talk about and connect with others over. Learn, learn, learn.
Ask friends for feedback on your social skills. They can help pin point areas you can improve upon.
Join clubs, groups, or activities that relate to your interests. This helps you meet new people and practice social skills in a comfortable setting.
Observe individuals with strong social skills and learn from their interactions. Note how they engage with others and start to incorporate some of their techniques.
you're smart enough to know the difference between resting and rotting. you'll be happier when you choose to spend your time off restoring your energy and preparing for the next busy day instead of oversleeping and mindlessly consuming content.