Month: September 2023

the ending of neon genesis evangelion is perfect and here’s why

around this time last year, i was writing about the series “goodnight punpun”- a manga a close friend recommended to me that changed my life (and also ruined it.) well, apparently this friend can’t help sending me into episodes, because over the summer they convinced me to finally watch neon genesis evangelion. everything was fine. i was enjoying the show, for a while. i really enjoyed the graphics and i was very happy there wasn’t too many episodes, as it’s really hard for me to commit to a long-running show. everything was great, then i got to the final two episodes. i don’t think i’ve ever had such a strong emotional reaction to something like i did to the ending of neon genesis. i was hyperventilating, sobbing my ass off, on the floor WRITHING. my eyes were bloodshot. the ending of the show touched me in such a life-changing way (no, like, literally- my philosophy on life changed after i watched this show). so it’s no surprise that when i saw people absolutely hated the way the show ended, i had some thoughts. well, here are those thoughts. enjoy.

a quick explanation of the plot for context

so, the plot of evangelion can be hard to understand. i caught on pretty quickly, but i was also actually watching the show, not just reading a blog online. i’m going to try my best and explain the premise of the first part of the show. so, the show starts in 2015- 15 years after the “second impact.” the second impact was a global disaster that led to the death of half of the earth’s population. it was believed that the second impact was the result of a meteorite landing that changed the earth’s axis, but this was later proved to be false. the actual cause of the second impact was contact and experimentation with what would later be the first of the angels, adam. the angels are beings that are destroyed over the course of the series- they are adam’s offspring. these experiments were done by two organizations: SEELE and Gehirn. in 2010, Gehrin changed into a paramilitary organization called NERV. it is located in tokyo-3, which is a militarized civilian city. NERV’s mission is to destroy all angels predicted by SEELE, but the higher ups of NERV have a different mission. commander gendo ikari- the main character’s father- is the head of the human instrumentality project. the human instrumentality project is an effort to unite all human minds into one entity, effectively ending all human problems and loneliness. associated with NERV is the Marduk Institute. the Marduk Institute has the responsibility of finding pilots for their giant mecha machines: the evas. the most capable of piloting the evas are children born after the second impact: 14 year olds. the evas are used to destroy all angels. 

a quick retelling of the story for well… for context

okay yeah i know: lots of lore, but it’s essential. so basically the story of neon genesis evangelion follows 14 year old shinji ikari who is summoned to tokyo-3 by his father, gendo ikari. the year is 2015, and tokyo-3 is being attacked by the third angel. shinji doesn’t know much about his father– just that he works for something very important. shinji later finds out that he’s been summoned by his father to pilot the eva unit 01. he reluctantly agrees and lives with captain misato katsuragi in tokyo-3. shinji and fellow pilot rei ayanami defeat the third angel and are the two main pilots until they are later joined by asuka soryu, the eva unit 02 pilot. later in the show, there is a fourth pilot, but these three are the main characters. for the majority of the series, these three (and then four) go off to defeat each angel, getting increasingly more injured as the days go on. while this is happening, the true intentions of NERV become more apparent. also happening includes the deterioration of each character’s psyche, self esteem, physical body, etc. relationships grow tense and fall apart. visuals and story go haywire and almost unexplainable, and it all leads up to the final two episodes. those last two episodes are pure peak film, and i believe they end the series perfectly, despite popular opinion.

the end: instrumentality is completed

shinji kills the final angel and the instrumentality project is set into motion by his father. SEELE wants instrumentality to happen because of the spiritual belief that life is not fit to live in its current state; ikari wants instrumentality to happen to carry out the plans of his late wife– shinji’s mother. gendo has a desire to see her again and allow humanity a better future whereas SEELE desires a permanent reset. as the instrumentality project is set into motion, the show begins to look wildly different. each main character in the series begins to confront themselves in what can be described as an animated schizophrenic manner. shinji travels deep inside of himself and confronts the parts of him that he ignored throughout the show. he faces the reality of becoming his father, and he faces the comforting thought of being able to change his reality by accepting himself and redefining his worth. instrumentality is working, and dark is explored before light is found. as shinji slips deeper and deeper into his own mind, he realizes that his self worth has not only altered himself, but his friends and partners. visually, everything is stripped from us except for the image of shinji (and other characters and they too are depicted going through instrumentality). he begins to imagine him and his friends as normal teenagers in high school, and he begins to realize that this is only an alternate reality: an impossible possibility. shinji finds self-freedom, and he is able to realize his own self worth. there are two main endings to this series (i have not seen the others), and this one can only be described as the most hopeful and positive ending possible. shinji has a breakthrough and realizes his worth; everything is brought back and shinji stands surrounded by characters in the show. he has changed his path and is congratulated by all characters in the show. here is the final moment in a transcript.

Shinji:         The real world might not always be bad.
                But, I hate myself.

Makoto:         It's your mind that conceives that the reality is bad
                and hateful.

Shigeru:        The mind which confuses Reality with the Truth.

Maya:           The angle of view, the position. If these are slightly
                 different, what is inside your mind will change a lot.

Ryouji:         There are as many truths as there are people.

Kensuke:        But there's only one truth that you have,
                which is formed from your narrow view of the world,
                It is revised information to protect yourself,
                the twisted truth.

Touji:          Oh, yes. the view of the world that one can
                have is quite small.

Hikari:         Yes, you measure things only by your own small
                measure.

Asuka:          One sees things with the truth, given by others.

Misato:         Happy on a sunny day.

Rei:            Gloomy on a rainy day.

Asuka:          If you're taught that, you always think so.

Ritsuko:        But, you can enjoy rainy days.

Fuyutsuki:      Through different ways of conceiving, the truth
                will change into very different things; it's a weak thing.

Ryouji:         The truth within a person is such a cheap thing that
                people wish to know deeper truths.

Gendou:         It's only that you're not used to being liked by people.

Misato:         So, you don't have to look to others' faces.

Shinji:         But, don't you hate me?

Asuka:          You idiot! It's only you who is always trying to believe
                  that.

Shinji:         Yet, I hate myself.

Rei:            Those who hate themselves cannot love or trust others.

Shinji:         I am wicked, cowardly, weak and ..

Misato:         If you know yourself, you can be kind to others.

Shinji:         I hate myself.
                But, I might be able to love myself.
                I might be allowed to stay here.
                Yes. I am nothing but I.
                I am I. I wish to be I.
                I want to stay here!
                I can stay here!

People:         Congratulations!

Shinji:         Thank you!

                        Thank you, my father.
                        Good  bye, my mother.
                        And to the all the children,
                        Congratulations!

End

these words completely destroyed me– but in such a great way. i too felt like i found a new worth in myself, and have been carrying that idea ever since. it’s truly like philosophy to me, and the final two episodes of this show completely changed my life and reality. everything about it is perfect.

final thoughts: the end of evangelion ruins every good thing about the ending of neon genesis

so, small fact, a lot of people really didn’t like the ending of neon genesis evangelion. they weren’t happy with the metaphorical and different approach it took– they would have much rather seen the true action-based ending. i am not one of these people, but oh well. in response to the backlash from the ending, hideaki anno basically said oh, you want a different ending? and gave us the disaster (but really great) that is the end of evangelion. to sum it up without explaining every detail, the end of evangelion is the ending in which shinji is not able to grow and expand himself. it is the ending in which instrumentality begins and he is unable to accept growth. everyone is shrouded in a disgusting and appalling light, much like shinji himself. nothing is positive about this ending, and instead of all characters being redeemed, they just get worse. one notable scene from this movie includes shinji choking asuka after she simply tells him the truth about himself. later, in the very final scene of the movie, he chooses to choke asuka once more. they are two washed up beings from the sea of humanity– the only two people– and he chooses to choke her once more. he does not grow. he becomes disgusting.

end: reality is not linear

while i like to tell myself the original ending of neon genesis is canon, i have to remind myself that there are infinite possibilities and endings in the evangelion universe. there are even some more recent movies that i have never seen with COMPLETELY different endings. it’s like a grab bag of endings, and you can pick which one you like the most and attempt to rid your mind of the other endings. hideaki anno described the series as a jigsaw puzzle with no reference photo: everything fits in the end, but every person who completes the puzzle will have a different finished piece. no two completed puzzles will be the same, just like no two perspectives and ideas of evangelion will be the same. there are infinite ways to analyze this series, and the implications are beautiful. it is truly a perfect and devastating series, and while i do love the end of evangelion, nothing compares to the final two episodes of neon genesis evangelion. absolutely nothing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hf1DkBQRQj4

thank you to my father, goodbye to my mother, and to all the children, congratulations!

 

Unveiling the Enigma: The American Folklore of Skinwalkers

Nestled within the rich stories of American folklore lies a chilling tale that has captivated the imaginations of many for generations: Skinwalkers. With its origins deeply rooted in the beliefs and traditions of indigenous peoples, the legend of the Skinwalker continues to intrigue and terrify those who dare to delve into its shadowy depths. In this blog, we will embark on a journey through the mystique of Skinwalkers, exploring their origins, characteristics, and the enduring fascination that surrounds them.
To understand the lore of Skinwalkers, one must first acknowledge its origins in Native American cultures, particularly within the Navajo and Pueblo communities of the American Southwest. Known by different names in various tribal traditions, these malevolent shape-shifters are believed to be powerful witches or shamans who have strayed down a dark and forbidden path. In many indigenous cultures, the act of shape-shifting is considered taboo, as it involves tapping into dark magic and sacrificing one’s humanity for supernatural abilities.
The most distinctive feature of Skinwalkers is their ability to transform into animals at will. While they can assume the forms of various creatures, common choices include coyotes, wolves, and owls. This shape-shifting ability grants them a terrifying advantage, allowing them to blend seamlessly with their surroundings and stalk their prey with uncanny stealth. Moreover, Skinwalkers are believed to possess other supernatural powers, such as mind control, telepathy, and the ability to curse or harm others from a distance.
Encounters with Skinwalkers are rare, and those who claim to have crossed paths with these malevolent beings often recount chilling tales of their experiences. Some describe witnessing an animal that should not be present, exhibiting unnaturally intelligent and predatory behavior. Others speak of eerie encounters with humans who display unnatural agility and a malevolent aura. One common thread in these stories is the feeling of dread and unease that washes over those who encounter Skinwalkers. Native American cultures emphasize that even acknowledging the presence of a Skinwalker can invite their malevolence, making it essential to avoid engaging with or even discussing them whenever possible.
Given the sinister reputation of Skinwalkers, indigenous communities have developed rituals and safeguards to protect themselves from these malevolent entities. Many Navajo and Pueblo traditions include rituals involving the use of sacred herbs, blessings, and protective charms. These practices are meant to deter Skinwalkers and safeguard individuals and communities from their dark influence.
Despite their terrifying reputation, Skinwalkers have captured the imaginations of many beyond indigenous communities. They have become a fixture in modern paranormal and horror lore, featuring prominently in literature, films, and television series. The enigmatic nature of these shape-shifters, their connection to ancient Native American cultures, and the fear they evoke all contribute to their enduring fascination.
The American folklore of Skinwalkers is a haunting and mysterious tale deeply rooted in the traditions and beliefs of indigenous peoples. While they may be the stuff of nightmares, Skinwalkers continue to intrigue and terrify those who delve into their lore. Whether encountered in stories or whispered about in hushed tones, these malevolent shape-shifters remind us of the enduring power of folklore to captivate our imaginations and awaken our deepest fears.

Want to crack a Cold Case?

         Hello lovelies, for this post I’m doing something different.                                     I’m going to try to convince you to play this IOS, and Android game I became addicted to.                                                                                                                                         To start off, I didn’t find this game out myself, a best friend of mine from my former school put me on this game during the Summer.  I was hesitant at first because it looked like one of those games that could hack my phone (which it didn’t so don’t say no yet) and the description was creepy.    Also, she texted me about the game out of the blue (meaning she hadn’t texted me in 3 days) while I was about to go to bed.  She said:  Hey!  I need you to play Elmwood Trail right now.   It’s about you solving a case and it’s crazy. So that right there is what caught my attention, but when I looked it up and read the summary I texted back: I don’t know this is looking too realistic.    Which to me now is a great thing, and I know I’m writing statements that contradict my statement but trust me after downloading this game all of my doubts went down the drain and I became obsessed.  

So now let me tell you about the interactive game, The Elmwood Trail

                                                   

      

Elmwood trail has the best elements (to me) for a good interactive game.  

For all of those who love interactive games, this is for you. 

For all of those who love mystery, horror, and suspense games, this is for you. 

For all of those who ever wanted to go through someone’s phone like an FBI agent (I do not mean going through real-life people’s phone without consent) and find unexpected secrets, this is for you. 

For all of those who ever wanted to be a cop or FBI agent and crack a cold case, this game is FOR YOU. 

Also, one interesting thing is, you can call actual numbers and text people that will respond, but I’m pretty sure it’s set up like a call operator so it’s not dangerous.   

Here’s what the actual game is about: 

                                   

It’s been 3 weeks since 18-year-old girl Zoey Leornard has been missing.   After finding little evidence the detectives on the case have closed the case and declared it a runaway situation.                                                                                         Everyone decides that they tried their best and she can’t be found, well everyone except YOU. 

You are playing as detective Adam Lane, someone who feels like Riverstone Town is miserable.  People keep going “missing” and everyone else is giving up on them.  Yep! You too were about to give up on Zoey’s case until a unanimous message text you, forcing you to take on Zoey’s case.    You’re hesitant, you know you can’t right now because the messages from your own phone indicate that you have too much drama going on in your life.                                                          This is what you explain to the unknown messenger, but they don’t care.  What the messenger does care about is finding out what happened to Zoey so to make that happen they give an offer they know you wouldn’t refuse. 

After all of the introductions you do some research on Zoey, but you can’t get far without any specific evidence.  So, when you’re about to tell the unknown messenger that you give up, they decide to send you a “gift.”  Shockingly, it’s Zoey’s phone.   You know it’s crazy that some unknown person knows your address and has a missing girl’s phone, but you can’t question it when you’re in too deep.  The only thing you can question is everyone that knows Zoey’s lies, truths, and what could be her secrets.   

                                                 

There are necessary puzzles in this game that build the spooky atmosphere.  I’m a fan of puzzles and I loved these because they weren’t too hard.   You get to read everything on Zoey’s phone and Adam’s phone.  Reading is a ton of fun because like a real teenager’s phone there are so many contacts, and you can text all of them.  Some people you can call and ask them questions when the time is right.   Zoey and her friends have their own Instagram which is set up like actual Instagram which makes it feel so realistic.  The people themselves look drawn but it doesn’t take away from the spooky feeling.  It actually makes me feel better knowing the people aren’t real.  The background music gives you chills in a good way.  It actually provides that feeling like you’re a detective on a TV show.  The dialogue of the suspects and the way they text and speak are so emotional.   They don’t sound like robots rehearsing a speech, they read in an actual modern teenage manner.  Their reactions are our everyday reactions.                                                                   

To me the storyline is engaging; you won’t be confused of who’s speaking or who they’re talking about.  A good part is for some scenes you get to be in the narration from Zoey’s point of view.   Her view is supposed to explain to you her thoughts outside of the text messages between her friends and also let you in on the secrets she has.  But then some twists make you wonder if you can even trust Zoey yourself.  Is she telling the truth of what actually happened?    Did she actually run away?   You don’t know.   There are so many questions that will leave you on a cliff that I ended up playing this one sitting.  Especially when you’re trying to figure out what’s with Adam’s life drama?                                         Then your main question would be:  How do you know you didn’t take Zoey? 

For the technical aspects of the game, the graphics are clear and pretty.  The way you can transfer between Adam’s and Zoey’s phone is not complicated.    All of the messages are responded to quickly (when they’re supposed to).     Most importantly, There’s NO WAIT.   You don’t have to wait for time to be added back or wait 3 hours to play the next part.  You can read this game like a good book where no one can stop you (which I did.)                                                           Overall, I love this game.  They’re still updating though and if you follow the creators on Instagram they post when it’s updated.                                                      Thanks for reading this, Good Day to You. 

Holding a Candle to the Brilliance of Trev Cimenski

So, I’ve struggled with finding a topic to write about this week. I had a ton of ideas, but this one stuck out the most. 
In this post, I’ll be talking about my all-time favorite
young adult American poet, Trev Cimenski.

Trev Cimenski.
Instagram: @Of_A_Hound

I First discovered Trev Cimenski about a year or two ago, on Instagram. I heard this soft yet intimidating voice, and the words just spoke to me. At the time I didn’t really follow random people on Instagram, so I passed his account without much thought. But a few days later I came across the same person reading another wonderfully written poem. And I was intrigued. So, I went through his posts, and became obsessed over his work. 
And then when I heard that he had a book released, and another one on the way, I immediately bought the first copy. I read it twice in once night. It was really amazing. 

Orangutan Teeth Published Aug 25th, 2022

Trev Cimenski’s book ‘Orangutan Teeth’ was published August 25th, 2022. A relatively recent publication. This book has many amazing poems. I’ve certainly dog eared at least half of them.

There are so many things in this book that I would recommend. I don’t remember the name of it verbatim, but my favorite poem from this book has to be the Years poem. (I think that’s the name) 
It talks about how Years are wasted on calendars, and young people wish they were old and old people wish they were young, and how it’s all just a useless cycle of envy.

I Think that the name of the book is hilariously intriguing, ‘Orangutan Teeth.’ It would only make sense if you got to the poem about Olives Teeth, which (I think) is the first poem in the book.  And another interesting fact about this book is that all the illustrations are by Trev Cimenski himself. Which I very much admire.

 

Somewhat Small Published July 23rd 2023
Somewhat Small Published July 23rd, 2023

Somewhat Small is another poetry book written by Trev Cimenski, it was released in this past July. I’m actually lucky enough to own a signed copy of this book. I was so excited when it came in the mail. 
This book is filled to the brim with dozens of poems, and I have to say that my favorite is ‘The World’s Greatest Piano Player’.  It’s really amazing, and it talks about childhood wishes, and realizations as an adult. 
Unfortunately, there aren’t as many illustrations in this book as the previous one. I’m not sure as to the reason, but I do miss the little squiggly fellas. 
I debated for such a long time on
whether or not I wanted to highlight
or dog ear pages, because on one hand some things in the book were really inspiring, but on the other hand I didn’t want to harm this book in any way.  I eventually decided on leaving it as it is, and maybe dog earing a page or two.


So, I’ve Talked about the books he’s released, but what makes them so brilliant?
And the answer to that, is how insanely deep these somewhat simple poems are. Trev Cimenski, writes poetry about the smallest of things, 
Teeth, Houses, Pianos, Nephews and Nieces. And makes them into this philosophical concept, that really makes you reflect. And something even more impressive is when he talks about serious things. Like death, age, years, love.



What I’m trying to say is that, in my opinion, I think that his work is brilliant. And I love re-reading his work over and over again. For the past year or so he’s been a huge inspiration for me. 
I think that’s why I’ll always love small town poets more than world renowned poets. I know it’s silly, but it seems more personal when its someone who isn’t as widely known.

And if anyone ever wants to borrow one of his books from me, feel free to ask. 
I would love to share his work with other people.

* I apologize for how rushed and short this post is, other than the two books. And his media accounts, I could hardly find any information about him. 
So, I just wrote what I knew about Him. *

Worst Night Of My Life (Unfinished)

This is a snippet of a much longer story that's not entirely fleshed out. Cheers!

I stumbled blindly through the yard, the open door swinging behind me, and everything was too loud.

“Nicky!” Sarah Ann called, joy ringing through her voice like a bell calling for its dog. “Where you going, Nicky?”

Punch dribbles from my hair, my shirt clings to my skin, and every breath I take feels like I’m gonna die.

“Is that even your name? Nicky?” She yells. “Because what I heard—”

“I don’t care what you heard!” Even I could hear the tremor in my voice, the way every piece of me rattled as I scrambled my way into the woods with my hands quivering and my chest filled with wasps. “Just leave me alone!”

I didn’t want to be here, I didn’t want to be anywhere, I couldn’t breathe right as everything was pounding on my skull like a drum and my chest was bashing itself in like the world was coming to an end and this was my final soliloquy.

I kept everything straight, had all my accounts locked, not even my best friends knew, so what could’ve tipped her off? How did she find out? Did she get into my phone? She got into my phone, and she saw it, that’s what happened. I don’t get to keep a single secret, and I trusted her, I really did trust her, why am I so stupid?

I should’ve realized I would’ve gotten lost when I started running through woods that weren’t mine. This wasn’t my house, this was some stupid dumb party I decided to go to and now I’m stuck here.

By now the wind was starting to get to me, and I knew I couldn’t run much further, so I stopped, the tired burn of my legs and the shake in my hands just another part of the noise.

“Nick?”

He found me. I didn’t turn around.

“I don’t wanna talk right now.” My voice cracks. “So don’t make me talk right now.”

He didn’t say anything. For once.

But I couldn’t, as my head ran a thousand different ideas about how I’m gonna die and how this is gonna kill me. “You’re not gonna fix this, Gray,” I said. “I don’t even know if you can fix this.”

I collapsed against a tree, my laughter hollow and my voice broken. “I know what’s gonna happen. The school finds out, calls my parents, and I’m out of Westerfield by next Tuesday. Or they’ll just call me—”

I stopped myself.

He didn’t follow up on that. I guess he knew he couldn’t. Instead he mutters, “I was worried you were gonna come out here and do something stupid when I saw you running.”

“With what?”

“I dunno..” He kicked up dirt.

“Well, I wasn’t, so.” I shrugged. I said it just to get him to leave, but he didn’t. I didn’t know why I wouldn’t just tell him to leave; it was like I couldn’t. Maybe I knew I would be alone if I did.




Growth.

So, whenever I’m stuck in a place where I have no idea what I am going to write about I find myself going back to things that I enjoy, or at least pieces of media that I enjoy. Lately I have been doing a lot of schoolwork, so I really haven’t had the time to watch, let alone take in movies or tv shows. But this week was an exception, a new show came out that I need to talk about, and if you’ve read the title then you can see, it is Fionna and Cake. 

 

For those who do not know Fionna and Cake is a limited time spin off series that is airing on FX, it is a spin off, or some might even say a sequel, of one of Cartoon Network’s most notoriously popular and successful shows, Adventure Time. I remember watching adventure time a lot as a kid, however since it was in cable format as well as the fact my brain hasn’t developed enough to even be able to appreciate the true beauty and intricacy that this show has to offer. It was only when I was about 12 was when I began to really watch, start from the beginning, understand what the story was truly about. The fun part about a small time in this show is that it wasn’t really about anything. For the first two out of ten seasons there really wasn’t an underlying storyline that the show adhered to, it was more of just a lighthearted piece of media that both kids and young adults could enjoy. It provided an enriching setting and set up characteristics of the story as well as specific characters that stood out more than any other cartoon network show.

 

Throughout this post I’ve tried to make an effort to not include spoilers and keep the actual storyline very vague but the topic that I am about to touch on does include slight spoilers, so just keep that in mind. One final thing that I want to bring to light is the character development throughout all ten seasons of the show as well as the two spins off shows. The pictures I am about to show reflect not just the physical changes that you see throughout the show but the emotional as well.

Image result for finn and ice king✨️monkey see, monkey do✨️ — I keep seeing people talking about how its sad...

 

 

 

In conclusion I think that both of these pictures encapsulate what the main underlying theme in this universe of shows are, change. Change, whether it is negative or positive, is going to be a prevalent part of all of our lives. And I think bringing it to light in the eyes of children is one of the most important things that this show can offer.



Embracing Peace through Tree Naps

Step 1: take off your shoes

Step 2: feel the grass, simultaneously sharp and soft, weave a blanket with the soil underneath your feet.

Step 3: lift your hand, let the moss shift soundly into your palm, and hold the branch tightly.

Step 4: grab with your second hand and lift your leg and hoist yourself up like pirate hanging valiantly from mast.

Step 5: Climb.

 

There is a tree in my great grandmother’s yard. It is a magnolia, elegant and powerful. It stands like a duchess, a queen, completely outshining the dull demeanors of the tiny houses, common people, run-down docks, and weak-willed weeds that surround it. At each family gathering, I greet my relatives with a smile, sit down for a bite, and then retreat outside to its glorious presence. This time of year, its flowers have taken to dropping their petals, leaving skeletons of blooms littered among the leaves, yet still, it is beautiful.

             I climbed it again last weekend. The familiar route straight towards the heavens filled me with nostalgia, and my heart was instantly full. It was quiet. It was safe. I climbed maybe four feet up, then five, then ten, then fifteen, before I finally found the perfect branches. I dangled my legs over the first branch, then shifted to my side. My legs were bare (I was wearing a green sundress that blended in beautifully with the leaves), so I could feel the bark pressing roughly onto my skin. It was course and it left marks on my flesh, yet still, it was beautiful.

            On the second branch, slightly higher than the first, I rested my back, my neck, my head, and let my right arm swing softly in the air while my left served as a soft pillow. I looked precarious – suspended high over ground, eyes closed in a dream-like state, not holding on to a single vine or twig – but I felt sturdier, stronger, more secure than I had ever been. I trusted the friction that my legs created to hold me steady, I trusted my body to be strong enough to be still, and most of all, I trusted the tree that cradled me in its powerful arms. I laid there. I rested. I found peace.

            Tree naps, in my humble opinion, are one of the most effective ways that one can recharge. We are consumed by schoolwork, stress, messy social lives, teenage angst, industrialized everything, capitalized media, technological overloads, unrealistic standards (the list goes on)… It can be so difficult to even consider the thought of including tranquility in our chaotic lives. However, burnout is real. If you are constantly spending, and spending, and spending your energy, then what’s left? Who do you become? In my experience, I become nothing but pure exhaustion, fatigue, and apathy. When this happens, there is a simple remedy that I highly recommend. Find a good tree. Follow the steps listed above. Rest. Feel the sun warming your skin, feel the coolness of the patches of shadow casted by the limbs above you, feel the peace of nature (as cheesy as it may sound), trust in your own strength and stability, and allow yourself to heal.  

Once Upon A Time

Once upon a time I was in tenth grade walking to lunch with my friend Madison when we saw this table set up with some flyers, pamphlets, and pens. The first thing that came out of my mouth was not, “I wonder what that’s about” but instead, “Oh my god Madison I want a pen I really want a pen.” My friend Madison replied to me by saying, “Georgia if you really want a pen that badly then you should go get a pen!” Of course I couldn’t just walk up to this lady’s stand, ask for a pen and walk away. That would be rude. I had to at least seem mildly interested in what the topic was. It was at that point in time when I finally decided to read the banner hanging by the table. It read, Mississippi School of the Arts. I had no idea Mississippi had a college specializing in Arts.

As my obsession for pens had grown over the years, I had stopped by multiple stands pretending to be interested in them just to get a pen. Whether they be a college or a business, I was determined to obtain a pen. 

Madison and I got our lunch trays and sat down at our usual table which just so happened to be right across from the lady who was at the stand with the Mississippi School of the Arts. The entire time while we were eating lunch I kept talking to Madison about how I could approach the situation, seeming like I was interested in the school even though I wasn’t. In the end Madison finally yelled at me because she was sick of me plotting about a pen and told me to just go up to the stand and ask about the school and then ask for a pen. I ended up doing just that. I walked up to the stand and said something along the lines of, “So what’s this about?” The lady who was working the stand had really long hair. She told me that it was a residential high school for grades 11 and 12 to specialize in one of six disciplines, Dance, Vocal, Theater, Literature, Visual, and Media. This immediately caught my attention as I had been interested in literature and dance for years. As she told me more about the school I began to ask more questions and as I was more interested in the school. When I was done asking questions, she had me fill out a sheet of paper with one of the very pens I had been trying to achieve from the start. The paper was just so they could contact me to give me more information about the school so of course I filled it out as I was very interested (I also kept the pen).

When I went back to the lunch table where Madison was she asked me what took so long and I told her about the school and that I wanted to apply and she said to me something like “God dammit Georgia! You were supposed to get a pen, not go to a new school!”

After school I called my mom to tell her about the school and she fully supported me. I then called my friend Dannica and told her about the school and she got really interested and wanted to apply to the school. Fast forward to the present day while I’m writing this blog, both Dannica and I go to school at the Mississippi School of the Arts and love it here.

As a note to those of you who are reading this, if you want the pen from the business or college stand, go get it. You may end up going to the school of your dreams.

Talking About Cringe Culture

Cringe culture is something a lot of people are familiar with. Cringe culture, simply put, is an online culture of making fun of and/or harassing groups of people for their interests. Teenagers, adults, and even kids aren’t excluded. Years ago, me and my best friends were talking about hyper fixations. I told them I had one, and of course, they asked me what it was on. A wave of dread washed over me in that moment. I was hyper fixated on a character labeled as cringe, and I was afraid they would think I was cringe because of it. Thankfully, they were fine with it. They’ve never supported cringe culture. 

Even now, that fear of being cringe still lurks. (Heck, even writing this I’m worried about it sounding cheesy.)  I don’t see many people outright call something cringe anymore, but the judgement and toxicity is still rampant. I won’t lie, fans can be horrendous, but that’s being horrendous. There’s fans who will send death threats to people who like a character they’re crushing on, but people who support cringe culture will be out there tormenting someone who harmlessly ships themselves with a character. It’s so stupid- if nobody is getting hurt, physically or mentally, there shouldn’t be a problem. If it makes you happy, do what you want! Make fan characters, write that lovey-dovey fanfiction, design those brightly colored anthropomorphic characters, ramble about Undertale! These things make people so happy, and that’s okay. I cannot express my absolute joy when someone is fine with me watching kids cartoons, or when they listen to me go on a tangent about a comfort ship. It feels as bright as the sun.  

Cringe culture looks at all of what I just described (and more) and seethes. It tears people down, it makes people feel like garbage, it makes people hide their hyper fixations, hobbies, art, music, and writing. Cringe culture destroys creativity and joy, and acknowledging how stupid it is incredibly freeing. My stories and characters have never been as vibrant since I’ve kicked away the cringe monster, even though it still lurks at times. Here’s some things that helped me build my confidence! I hope they help you, too. 

  • Legit just throw the word cringe into the trash when thinking about yourself and other people.  
  • Hold the word ‘weird’ in a positive light! Weird things are great. 
  • Try and look at yourself without bias. When reflecting, use neutral wording. 
  • Congratulate yourself for the small steps. A step is still a step; look at you go! 
  • Fake it till you make it. Of course, don’t ignore your emotions, but telling yourself “I’m going to do great!” When you feel anxious can do wonders.  

(Do keep in mind this is not professional advice or anything. This is just stuff that’s helped me.) 

And with that, this blog comes to a close! Cringe culture isn’t dead, unfortunately, but together people can stomp it into its grave! Do what you love and have a nice day! 

Ranking Hannah Montanna Albums

I have decided to give Buffy a breather this week and instead I’ll be venturing back to one of my favorite shows when I was little, Hannah Montanna and ranking the albums. From least favorite to most favorite. 

1. Hannah Montana: The Movie

I was originally not going to include this one, as the movie wasn’t exactly may favorite when I was little, but it had some decent songs but overall isn’t touching any songs from the show for me.

Favorite Songs

  1. The Climb
  2. Hoedown Throwdown
  3. Back to Tennesse (Billy did his big one with this)

2. Hannah Montana 3

This was actually such a hard one to put here because it does contain one of my favorite songs from the show as a whole, but overall, it’s just not up there for me.

Favorite Songs:

  1. Let’s Make This Last 4Ever (This song should’ve made Mitchel Musso one of Disney’s it-boys)
  2. He Could Be the One
  3. If We Were a Movie (This is the one featuring Corbin Bleau which is good although I prefer the one where it’s just Hannah). 

3. Hannah Montana Forever

 

I absolutely love this album, I viewed it as a turning point for Miley almost like her music maturing, there was a whole episode dedicated to this idea in which one of my favorite songs from the album are featured. 

Favorite Songs: 

  1. Gonna Get This (Hannah Montana and Iyaz snapped on this one, literally one of my all-time favorite Disney original songs)
  2. Ordinary Girl 
  3. Been Here All Along

4. Hannah Montana 

Since this is the first album, I thought I should give it it’s flowers by putting it pretty high on the list, but it definitely earns its place towards the top of my list. 

Favorite Songs: 

  1. Best of Both Worlds (Come on it’s the theme song) 
  2. If We Were a Movie (This one is just Hannah, which I personally like better)
  3. Who Said 

5. Hannah Montana 2 

This is number one favorite Hannah Montanna album, I personally just feel like it has some of her best songs on it. It’s just top tier. 

Favorite Songs: 

  1. Rock-Star 
  2. True Friend
  3. Nobody’s Perfect (the choreography of the live performance is still hard till this day) 

Honorable Mention: Ready Set Don’t Go, it was a song Billy Ray sung to Miley when she was going to take a flight by herself for the first time, it’s not on any of Hannah’s(Miley’s) Albums but the song was played in an episode partnered with a montage of baby pictures and videos(which was even more impactful given how the actors are actually father and daughter in real life). That songs makes me sob almost every time I hear it. I recommend the one where it’s just Billy Ray it feels more impactful.