Food For Thought | Writers

I have realized why I respect writers so much. I used to say that it was because they can just make beautiful things, beautiful pictures in the mind, just with words. And sometimes the simplest thing really. That is still true. But what I really have grasped as of two minutes ago (I was doing math and my mind tends to wander) is that it really is how that have that in their brain, and the ability they have to get it out. 

Sometimes I'll have the happiest, most beautiful thoughts (at least to me), but I can't get them into words. I guess that's why I enjoy reading a good poem sometimes. The writer uses the simplest of words to create a beautiful picture.

On another note, something I have discussed with a smart friend of mine is how for each person the mental image is different. We compared what our mental images had been with a book we both had read and it sometimes was quite different. Universally, everyone is going to have different beautiful images as they read something. A writer has that power.

Food For Thought | Different Truths

So, what I've been hearing these days is "We just have different truths," meaning, "That's true for you, but this opposite thing is true for me." I really did want to buy into this idea. No fuss over difference, just letting someone live their way and I'll live my way. Because honestly is this day and age it's just easier to do that. When you try to say to someone what they are doing is wrong you are "judgmental" and "It's none of your business." So, sure, "Different truths" sound like a nice comfortable way of living. But if you really love someone, wouldn't you try to correct them? If you love someone, you don't just let them continue on the path they are on. It makes them end up in bad places. Maybe they won't listen, but maybe they will. And yeah, don't be annoying, but tell the truth in love.

~Food For Thought~

Many of these "Food For Thought" posts are not super original ideas which sometimes bothers me. I feel that if I am to write about something, it must be an original idea. But what I've just realized is, who cares? Yeah, sure, sometimes it's an idea that someone else has planted.
But I need to remind myself that if these ideas get stuck in my head it's okay to get it out, write it down, even if it's not a purely original idea.
And just because I've heard it before, it doesn't mean that someone else has. That's why it's called "Food For Thought," I wish to feed the brain, make it think, make it work. I want y'all to think! I want to think!
When I write it down, it gets the passion for the subject out for me, so that I might move on and find the next idea to be passionate about. But I don't wish to move on and completely forget. That's why I write these, they are things I wish to remember.
So, when I write these it's probably been thought of. But for me it's such a revelation, a greater understanding that I've got to scream it out (more like furiously write it out).

I'm thankful that this blog is (presently) a private blog. I don't have to worry about others opinions. Just my own. Just me and my thoughts and words having a good time.

Food For Thought | Trendy?

It annoys me that I'm at the point where I can't find people beautiful, or things beautiful, because of the way I have been influenced in my life.
Because someone is wearing a new trend makes them "basic" and "shallow," or something.
What? Why can I not appreciate it? Who cares if everyone else is doing it too? It still is beautiful, it still looks nice. Sure, I don't judge in this way often, but the fact that I can look at something beautiful and then dismiss it because it's "too popular"?! Just because something is popular it doesn't make it inherently bad.

I've grown up with this notion that I always have to be different, never liking anything popular.
And, sure, there are some dumb trends out there. But usually something that becomes so popular among a lot of people is because it's good. If that many people like it, from so many backgrounds...
This is something I'm just trying to fix in my brain: popular does not make something immediately bad.

So let's quit dismissing things that are "too popular." Let's just enjoy the mutual agreement that something is beautiful.

Thanks y'all,

S. Meadows

Food For Thought | Body Positivity and Fashion Confidence

Though I don't agree on some world views, something I've thought about is how lovely it is that people are supporting body positivity. It's so nice to be told that how you look, how you are built, is good enough.
Throughout history we've always been given standards of how one should look and a bunch of it is unrealistic. There's no way everyone can fit into the box of what is "beautiful." (Sometimes the standard is just little things to change, e.g. have thick eyebrows, or curly hair, or straight hair, and so on). But everyone is different, it's what makes us beautiful.
If I hadn't been born in this age I would probably be very self-conscious of my appearance. But as it is, everyone embracing that they are different, it causes me to see myself as enough, and to see everyone else as enough.

We also have entered an age (in my opinion) of fashion confidence. We are very free to wear pretty much anything. You could wear a cape and rock it! It's nice to have the freedom of expression through clothes. Everyone is allowed to have their own different styles.

Sure, there will always be haters. But the only way to change the world is to make the change yourself. Be the example.

A Fairy Tale

Once upon a time there was a lovely maiden named Delilah. She had many admirers and proposals of marriage, but she soon became tired of the whole business.
So, one day she set off up the mountainside to see the old wise man who lived there. The hike took a whole tiring day, and as she reached the very peak she finally caught sight of his home. It was a meager, pleasant hut. Outside it basking in the sun was the wise man.
Delilah walked forward, introduced herself, and explained her predicament. The wise man listened patiently and when she had finished he cleared his throat. "I'll give you advice... for a price." "Oh! Of course!" said Delilah. She yanked a gold tooth from her mouth. "Here." The wise man gingerly took the tooth from her outstretched hand. Then he whispered her the advice (though there was no around for miles to hear him). She thanked him and set off back down the mountainside.

The trip down proved to be more difficult then coming up, and Delilah was often in danger of losing her balance it was so steep. Suddenly Delilah did lose her balance and tumbled down for quite a bit till she managed to grasp a bush and stop herself. She had few injuries despite her fall, all but a few ugly bruises.

At home Delilah went directly to her bedroom and began putting into work the wise man's plan. She found her most colorful scarves and draped them about herself haphazardly. Then she ruffled her hair into a mess, and set off towards the village munching on an apple.

Where the village began there was a large oak tree. She climbed this and hid among the branches. Soon enough, a respectable young man passed by. "Ouch!" he exclaimed, rubbing the back of his head and squinting at the tree. Another acorn hit his hand. "Delilah!? Ouch! What are you doing?" She chuckled and climbed higher into the tree. The young man shook his head and headed into town. Soon enough the rumor had spread "Delilah"s gone mad!" "Henry said she's acting like a squirrel!" The villagers gathered under her tree gawked, and occasionally got hit in the head with an acorn.
Delilah carried this on for several days until the rumor had been throughly spread of her gone crazy.
So she sighed contentedly, went home and lived in peace no longer plagued by suitors. Occasionally she got back the reputation of being "normal," but she always quickly fixed that with a stunt of some kind.

She lived happily to the end of her days surrounded by her beloved cats and bunnies.

The End

An Ode to My Mug

Many cherished memories stay with me, mug, though you can not. 

I remember our times of laughter, our times of sorrow. The time spent exploring together, rolling down a hill, breaking my arm, and you, dear old mug, only you, there to comfort me as I winced down a steep incline in the middle of the night. We were convinced coyotes were following us, which turned out to be true. 

I remember as we swan across rivers, leaped over chasms, and sang merry rounds (though, I admit old chap, your part was always a bit weak), and how you so tenderly cared for my many coyote bites in the hospital. And, oh, I fondly remember what style you had. With your flower patterned china, and odd rubber top. But it was your odd rubber top, old mug. For all these things I mourn your loss. But through these tears I will fondly remember our thrilling adventures. Rest in peace, good old friend. Rest in peace.

Tales be Told

The clouds were black

And heavy with rain

The day that Rumpelstiltskin came.

He came for my child,

My first-born,

He claimed that I'd been fairly warned.

He gave me a riddle,

I'd guess his name.

Otherwise, the child he'd gain.

He leaned over my child

As I searched my brain

Hoping t'was not all in vain.

I remembered.

The tale my mother had told,

A little man who spun straw to gold.

He and that man of "fairy tales"

Must be the same.

I knew Rumpelstiltskin was his name.

I'd won the riddle

fair and square

Still all of you should beware

Of a tiny man

His games unfair.

But only because of the "myths" I'd heard

Did I win that jest

With just one word.

Rumplestiltskin

Food For Thought | Sharing the Things You Love

I enjoy sharing things I like with friends. However, there is a wrong way to this.

Say you wish to share a favorite musician with someone. If they say they've never heard of the musician, don't get angry at them about it, or belittle them ("OMG, how have you not?! You have like no taste!"). How is that ever going to make someone want to listen to the music you like? It is definitely okay to be excited to show someone new music (and also accepting if they don't like it, people are allowed to have opinions), just don't make them feel bad for never having heard of the musician.

The next thing is, if you have gotten them to share an enjoyment in the same musician don't make them feel bad for not knowing things about the musician. If they don't have all the facts it doesn't make them less of a fan, or make their enjoyment of the musician invalid. If you bother them about it or they'll just feel bad for liking them in the first place. If you kindly wish to share a fact about the musician that is fine. Don't attack them for not knowing something or making mistakes.

And lastly, don't attack someone for enjoying something in a way differently then you do. There is no such thing as liking it "the wrong way." The musician does not just belong to you. Everyone is allowed to enjoy them. For heavens sakes, just let people enjoy things.

I had to learn some of these the hard way, either being the one trying to share the things I loved with people, or people trying to force me to like something. Don't be that person. It makes you want to like something even less.

Thanks for reading my rant, and dealing with me still learning to write. I'm trying to figure out how to get my thoughts explained in the most sensible way.

Have a lovely day!

Sapphie M.

Introduction

Well, I suppose I owe ya'll an introduction.

This place is for poor me, who is having a bit of a struggle learning to write.
I said to myself, "Let's make this fun," so I created this blog. We shall see if this helps me in any way, shape, or form. The part that is meant to make it fun for me is the freedom. I'm not here to write just stories, or thoughts, or opinions, or ideas, but everything and anything. I have no plans, no outline, no theme. Just whatever I want to do.

This may or may not end up as a blog with several authors. If that does happen, I expect them to write introductions for themselves. Remember that.

As long as I'm making my future (maybe) co-authors write about themselves, I'll make it fair and introduce myself. As I like. So this may or may not be a bit fictitious. Also I might change in the future. I may as well exercise my freedom.

Greetings! My name is Sapphire Meadows. My hobbies include trying to write, unicycling, and, as of last week, whittling. I find my energy through being with people (AKA, I'm an extrovert) and will rarely turn down an invitation.
On quiet days you will not find me, because there such as a quiet day for me. So, on a normal day you can find me doing this and that, but when I'm free, curled up on the couch with a book (usually by Diana Wynne Jones- my all time favorite author) munching on an apple. There are apple cores scattered throughout my house, since whenever I read I eat an apple. Future plans for me are to make the world a little brighter in some way or another, and to spend my days with numerous cats.

So. There you have it.

Farewell.

Sapphie M.