The Risk of Change

How do you know it is time to let people go? Is it ever the right thing to do? And how will it affect, well, everything? Admit it or not, these questions have popped up in our minds at some point and they are hard to answer; scary, even. It really is rooted on the theme of change, which is something that most of us are wary of. It is not something that everyone necessarily embraces at once and some like to take their time with change.

Change, however, is a sign of growing and of moving forward, at least in its positive sense.  Just the same, change has its downside. Things could change for the worst or, as we all would hope it would, be for the better. Fear or not, change is inevitable and it does us well to risk it because the chance of something better is worth it.

So risk letting people go, especially if it does not serve you to have them with you. In this life, it is instinct to thrive and be a better version of yourself every single day that you live and breathe and do. So why keep hold of the anchors whose purpose is to drown you? There is a vastness of people who can be catalysts for good in life and isn’t that so much better than tying yourself to burdens?

Letting go is as difficult for many as it is easy for some. But sometimes you have to let go of people because they are toxic. They warrant neither happiness nor growth for your being. At some point we have to say enough is enough and that they cannot keep taking and taking until we are but empty versions of ourselves.

Seek out the change that brings you more of the magnificent things in life. Are we not wired for that in the first place? It should be with all the greatness of our efforts that we strive for happiness in whatever form they may be to us but also keeping in mind that our happiness should not hinder another’s.

As you let people go, so should you welcome the company of others and surround yourself with those who do well for you and you can do well for. End a vicious cycle of toxicity and embrace a synergy of a happy, risk-worthy life.

I Never See It Coming

It's a feeling that can go two ways: it creeps up on you in slow, quiet paces or it tackles you to the ground with a resounding thud. Either way you never see it coming.

The thing is you can't really deal with it properly because you're in the wrong place and the wrong time. 

You wouldn't want to be inappropriate in front of other people now, would you?

Discretion is your way. But discreet solutions work only for a short amount of time or they don't work at all and you're just stuck wondering how the fuck you're going to deal with this predicament.

Going of somewhere to hide for a while won't do, mostly because there's nook or cranny that will serve the purpose. So you sit there, fighting the most tempting urge in your present and all you can think about is how good it would feel to be on your bed right now and sleep.

[For a second, I thought I was going to type masturbate.]

Keep It Together

Keep it together. Keep it calm. Keep it under control.

After that initial onslaught of emotion — be it joy, anger, love, or sorrow — rein it in and employ a more peaceful aura for it does not do well to dwell in too much stimulation.

Remember that there are many things afoot in your life and all of it will require your focus, undivided or otherwise. Some will require your immediate attention, some at the same time, and some are content to wait its turn. But you will give them your time, lest everything falls apart.

It pays never to allow anything to consume you completely. There is more beyond the clamoring grasps of passions light or dark.

Left Out

Sometimes you will feel left out.

You will ask yourself, "What did I do?" There are different answers to that posed question. You could've been ignorant to some faux pas previously done. You might've said something inappropriate, on purpose or otherwise. It might not be often but the switch to the colossal asshat part of your personality might've been turned to "on."

Or, and I can't say enough how common this is, you have done nothing wrong and the people around you are just wrapped up with themselves.

As people are different so are their lives. Varying days will be a jumble of things and people will deal with it their own way. In your eyes it may seem like they are ignoring you, but as "interesting" or as "funny" as your day may be going, people will always be focused on their end of the life spectrum.

So chin up. Attention is not all that it's cracked up to be. There is no guarantee that tomorrow will be any different yet carry on and don't take things personally.

Hearts and Bruises

She bruises easily.

Not her skin, mind you, but her heart. And how could it not be when she wears is so readily on her sleeve. It was like a beacon, attracting more sorrow than she can carry in her arms. It was a target so easy, one barely had to be a good shot to take aim at it.

Is it bravery or stupidity? Volley after volley fired and no shields are raised. Does she care so little of herself? Awaiting destruction by way of heartbreak seems to be the quest.

No.

She cares too much, exceedingly so that she feels not right when she shuts herself out. The heart is worn proudly because she doesn't know how to live any other way. She reasons that all the joy that comes her way and she seeks out are worth more than the darkness.

It is madness to others.

It is life to her.

Grief

Grief is never simple, is it? It is also never expected, even when you have resigned yourself to accepting the inevitable. No rational thought can combat the onslaught of sadness and pain rendered upon your heart and mind.

How does one cope with it?

How does one move on from it?

How do you console yourself with truth that cuts deeper than any blade man can wield on another's flesh?

Time, they say, will heal all wounds.But what if all time gives you is more despair?

Rise of the Guardians (A.K.A. The Best Animated Film I've Seen In A Long Time)

I first came across this movie as a gifset while I was Tumbling about. Though I wondered what animated film it came from, I was never curious enough to do the research.

I came across another gifset, this one focused on a particular character from the movie. I loved the gifset so much and was inspired to know more about the character to which I turned to Youtube for answers and there I found the trailer for The Rise of the Guardians. A Dreamworks Animation-produced and Peter Ramsey-directed film, this came out late last year in November and toted as a holiday flick for the kids.

I am completely flabbergasted at how this movie hadn't blipped my radar back then. It was totally right up my alley: amazing animation, fantasy-adventure genre, liberally sprinkled with comedy, and brilliant created characters.
The Rise of the Guardians brings together the mythical characters of Santa Claus, Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, and Sandman as protectors of children, guarding the wonder, hope, memories, and dreams of every child all over the world. Enter Pitch Black, the Boogeyman, a character so resolute in engulfing the world with darkness and fear and erasing every child's belief in the Guardians. With that oncoming threat, winter spirit Jack Frost was chosen by the Man on the Moon as an unlikely candidate to join the band of Guardians and protect the children.

The Guardians: (L-R) Jack Frost, North, Tooth, Bunnymund, and Sandy.

Now, let's rave. 
I tremendously enjoyed the characters and how they were portrayed but I especially liked North (Santa Claus), Bunnymund (Easter Bunny), and Sandy (Sandman) in the film.
North is completely different from any other Santa Claus I'd ever come across in pop culture. From the Russian accent to the tattooed forearms, I just thought that this character was the most badass St. Nick in history. And despite the badassery, North possesses this child-like wonder that helps him see the amazing in everything and that's what he represents and protects as a guardian. Alec Baldwin lends his voice to North and I barely heard any semblance of Baldwin in his voice acting for this role which to me says a lot about the work that was put in for the character.

Bunnymund is not your typical Easter Bunny. Against all stereotypes, he is about 6 foot tall and instead of carrying a basket filled with Easter eggs, he has a boomerang and egg bombs as tools for his trade. Bunnymund is portrayed as such gruff and rugged character yet he creates these utterly wonderful and colorful Easter eggs that play their part in bringing joy and hope to children all over the world. I don't know with anybody else, but giving Bunnymund an Australian accent just fit so well with the character, though I did wonder if Hugh Jackman made the accent a bit more pronounced for the film.

I just adored Sandy. He is the cutest Sandman ever. Though Sandy had no lines in the film as he did not speak, it certainly didn't hinder the character in anyway. I thought it was just darling the way Sandy communicated through images he creates with sand. This character had the prettiest animation effects in the movie; it was so detailed but simple and just so perfect for the character.

Speaking of animation effects, this movie had the best that I had ever seen. The work on Sandy was impeccable but so was the animation in the rest of the film. As I've mentioned before, it was incredibly detailed and there were a lot of nuances that made the effects all the more better, like in how the ice fragments around Jack as he breaks through the frozen lake in the beginning of the movie, how the plumage of the Tooth Fairy changes color when she moves a certain way, the filigree-like details in the frost that Jack creates, and, of course, the golden sand Sandy uses to create dreams. The art in the movie is truly gorgeous to behold. The scenery was incredible especially in Bunnymund's warren with its rainbow vibrancy and North's workshop where these fantastic toys were created by yetis and elves. The creative team behind the film certainly put a lot of work and imagination to it and comes across in such beautifully rendered animation.

Jack creating frost on one of the trees he touched in the beginning of the movie.

As far as the story goes, I definitely related to Jack Frost's inner turmoil with trying to discover who he was and what his purpose on earth is. I think everyone of us is just trying to figure out who we are and, just like Jack, sometimes it takes looking into the past to really know ourselves and how it has shaped who we are now. Jack was chosen to be a Guardian because in his last moments as a human he saved his sister's life and he comes full circle in becoming a Guardian. 
With the film, I can honestly say that I have never watched anything like it. I thought the concept was truly original. Bringing together these creatures of myth and translating them to today's audience has never been done and it was such a fresh take on it. It was a superhero movie with a unique twist and though it is generally regarded as a movie for kid's this 22-year-old immensely enjoyed watching it. And I think that's the underlying theme of the film, keep the wonder in everything alive even as you transition into adulthood. Just because you're an adult, it doesn't mean that you have to stop believing and enjoying the things you did as a child.
Watch the movie and see for yourself. It's perfect for marathons during the holiday, or any day for the matter.