Drinking Coffee and Helping Manatees

 I looked up the definition of "spirit animal" and found that the cheeky metaphor is interpreted as "someone or something a person relates to or admires". Based on that elucidation, I'm making the official decree that the manatee is my spirit animal.  I absolutely love the gentle, kind energy they radiate. Living in the West Coast doesn't allow me the opportunity to offer any grass roots help, but I can always continue to participate in raising awareness and support fundraising when I can. The Save the Manatee organization is the leading force in the conservation movement for manatees. If interested, please check them out to see what you can do to help no matter where you are on the globe.

I love their products and even proudly sport my sunglasses. 😊

 

Joining Save the Manatee is another awesome company I found, Manatee Gourmet Coffee, selling various types of coffees and merchandise with a portion of their proceeds going towards manatee causes. Check them out if you're a coffee drinker.  They have quality products. 

I love the manatees. I hope they can survive their latest ecological struggles associated with pollution.  They have some dedicated people working to help them, but their struggle is real. I send conservationists positive energy. Save. The. Manatee.

  

My Encounter With a (Walking Dead) Twitter Troll

I've always considered myself a contributor of positivity on social media.  For me that's simply focusing on subjects I enjoy while scrolling over things that I dislike or feel negative emotions over. I don't often engage in debates and especially make the most effort to stay away from what has become the ugliness of politics. Twitter, for me, is a way to express my feelings and I generally intentionally choose to share what I deem interesting, fun or useful information. I don't seek out conflict.  Being in some arbitrary spat with someone behind an anonymous screen (or in real life for that matter) does not bring me any kind of joy. 

That being said, I was engaged in a Twitter back-and-forth after I made a strong emotional opinion comment on a storyline from the show Walking Dead. It's strictly my opinion and doesn't degrade real life people--only make-believe characters on a make-believe show. I did include a cheeky hashtag--#WritersSuck--mostly to stress how much I dislike the storyline. If there's a better way to express that, I will certainly find one moving forward. Needless to say, I don't enjoy this show as much as I used to. The Huz was a fan of the beginning seasons and we've stayed watching out of some weird goal for completion. But again, that's just an opinion. If you enjoy it, then you enjoy it. 🤷

He blocked his responses at first but then opened them up again so I quickly took a screenshot for posterity. 

So this "Harry" felt the need to point out to me that the character of "Glen" is not real.  But then proceeds to mention the actor's name in his response...seemingly to make the point that the character is not real.  But I never referred to the actor.  I never exhibited (at least I don't believe so) to have issues with discerning the difference between was is real and what is make-believe. In fact, my in retrospect not-so-kind hashtag of #WritersSuck illustrates that I am aware that the aforementioned character is indeed fictional.
 

Evidently, with my response, I was feeling sarcastic and maybe, possibly a tad triggered. I don't know if "Harry" realizes it or not, but his response is what the internet often refers to as "troll"-like behavior. He essentially attacked my intelligence and the ability to discern reality versus fantasy. It's not engaging in discourse of the plot progression or even character development, which is a discussion I have no issues in participating in. 

He then proceeds to state his opinion on character development but then adds another insult about my ability (well, more specifically inability) to understand--apparently since it's against his own opinions.  His response is insulting and rude.

 I could have easily just ignored his ill-mannered responses to me, but I felt compelled to counter and engage. This exchange was small and overall insignificant, but for me, it's an example of the negative and arrogant ways people engage each other most especially on the internet. Opinions are not the same as facts and insulting people just to feel right or superior is a huge reflection on that person. You may think you've "one up" someone, but be assured, pompous intentions are transparent. It's perfectly acceptable to disagree with someone.  It is haughty and disdainful to believe your opinions are the only ones that should exist.

 Don't be a jerk. Choose kindness.

 

We Don't Look Like That Anymore (Memories)

Shutterfly sent me an email reminding me of these pictures taken in April of 2013. I love these surprise little "gifts" that show up that make my already grateful heart even more thankful of what truly matters in life.

They are now 16 & 19 & suffice is to say are much larger now. 😊

These two boys have been the subject of our photography for so many years.📸 I'm sure many parents relate--every moment feels special and it feels necessary to capture it. As I look at this particular picture, I see two boys that have changed so much yet, remain the same in numerous ways (their personalities have matured and obviously they're much deeper thinkers but their core characters are still very much there). We had so much fun with them as little boys, and we still continue to enjoy our quality time with them as young adults. To see places, things and events through the eyes of the offspring that you've raised and love beyond anything is a gratifying experience.  I value who they are and I'm immensely proud of them.
 

They still enjoy hanging out with each other.

I didn't have a healthy relationship with my father growing up and have a non-existent one as an adult. So, seeing the strong bond that The Huz has with the boys has always been incredible for me and I've always viewed their relationship with great reverence and appreciation. It goes without saying that he loves them beyond words, but if love can be seen as something tangible, I feel like one would literally be able to see it radiating out of him. He shows his devotion to them by being present and available for them for the important things but also for just shooting the breeze and a fun conversation. It's a bond that didn't just materialize when the boys hit a certain age.  It started from birth with his constant presence as their biggest cheerleader. As they grow further into adulthood, the bond is even stronger laced with not just a solid father & sons connection, but also a true and genuine friendship.

They're my little ones, even though now I'm technically "the little one".

I remember either seeing a meme or maybe reading an article about the importance of mothers taking pictures with their children because we get busy and focused on raising them we forget to be IN the myriad of pictures we take OF them. It's solid advice. I've been lucky to have a dreamy experience with motherhood. What I mean by that is that I super enjoyed getting to raise them and felt the joys of the stages of their development and milestones. We've made the best memories I endlessly cherish. That's not to say that I never felt exceptionally tired at times and immensely frustrated other times. My circadian rhythm will never be the same since becoming a mother and I'm not convinced that I've completely come out of what is cheekily referred to as "the mom fog". Parenthood and specifically motherhood is not some utopian experience (and if it is, good on you), but rather a series of some astounding ups and defeating downs. It's gigantic feelings of stress and worry and hoping--praying that decisions we make on their behalf are not damaging them. It's occasions of feeling tremendously proud of their accomplishments and feeling blessed at the phenomenal people they are. 

Motherhood is not a linear experience. It's a lot.  And it's all worth it.

 

Nothing is Taken for Granted, Everything is a Gift

I've been feeling a little mentally off lately. I'm not sure if it's a reaction to the empathy I feel for situations around me--wordly or far off and some closer to me personally. I'm trying to meditate and control the unnecessary worrying that I sometimes fall into because I know that just allows me to suffer twice. In the past, I would try to minimize my melancholy and/or anxiety (for lack of a better description for my "off" feelings) but now I know that it's okay to feel this way and with time, hopefully, it does pass on by. And from personal experience, it does.  It's a reminder to take care of my mental health and to concentrate on the things that bring much joy to my life--the loves in my life, the simplicity versus the chaos, and the long list of things I'm always thankful for.  

Simple joys: morning coffee, walking for movement and exercise & husband massages. 💗

The following art and poem is sad because this feels relevant to so many lives around me. That one flower seems far and unreachable, but there are flowers closer to you that you just haven't seen.

Please, turn around.

 

You're single and you need company.

You're in a relationship and you lack freedom.

You work and no time.

You have too much time on your hands and you'd like to work.

You're young and you wanna grow up to do adult things.

You're an adult and you like to do young people's things.

You're in your city but you wish you lived somewhere else.

You're somewhere else but you'd like to go back to your city...

Maybe it's time to stop always looking at what we lack and start living in the present, truly appreciating what we do have.

Enjoy the scent of your home before opening the door and going out in search of the perfumes of the world.

Because nothing is taken for granted, and everything is a gift.

Give it courage!

- Unknown Author