Tag: love

Stream of Consciousness

The Secret to Stories

Daphne Shadows

If I give it claws, we’ll talk about the monster in us.

If I give it fangs, we won’t look away from what society tells us is too uncomfortable to linger on.

If I make it a world we don’t live in, we can look at the things we don’t want to talk about. Perhaps we can find the strength to do something about it the next time we see it.

If I make its eyes glow, we’ll think about the pain we want to hide. Maybe we will find a way to deal with it too.

If we have to suspend disbelief, we can poke at our childhood programming, our insecurities, our secrets.

 

Stories don’t judge us. They open us up to the possibility of change, connection, hope, and purpose. They give us new perspectives on things society labels for us (as if we don’t have brains or hearts to decide for ourselves). Stories give us the option to define our own life, our own self, and realize we’re not that different after all.

A black grandpa can read the same story as a white single mom. They can both recognize love when it’s being denied, the pain of a child dying, the need for someone in this world to see us for who we truly are.

 

Stories show us what’s broken and what’s beautiful. They give us a safe place to peel back the layers of this life without anyone mocking us or telling us we’re wrong or bad.

Stories give us heroes with fantastic abilities, somehow making it easier for us to love them when they mess up, hurt, and prove they aren’t perfect. It gives us a little more leeway to be imperfect ourselves.

 

There’s a certain magic to a story, whether there’s anything fantastical or whimsical in it or not.

If we read a story about a monster with a heart, it doesn’t hurt so much to look at the monster within ourselves. Only then can we do something about it.

Stream of Consciousness · Videos

Tips for Stress-Free Holidays

Daphne Shadows3 Comments

I’ve started a YouTube series on my new channel on how to stay as stress free as possible during the holiday season.

I do this because it’s a really painful time for a lot of people. The holidays are meant to inspire and create joy and peace within us all. A time for us to remember all that we’re thankful for, the people we love, and all the ways our life has grown. It swells within us the urge to spread love to others, to help out those who stand in need, to uplift the heavy heart.

 

And yet, it turns out to be one of the most depression, anxiety, and emotional pain inducing times of the year.

Rates of depression and anxiety sky-rocket. Parents feel guilt and shame over not having mountains of gifts for their children. Adults feel stretched thin by family, feeling as if there is no way to please everyone, no way to spend time everywhere. We feel we “should” be doing this or that, here or there, and that we never meet the expectations the season has placed on us. We become isolated and lonely, sometimes alienated and sick with stress.

Instead of peace, joy, and love – too often we get manipulation, shame, and anger. This is not how we’re meant to feel.

Our joy and happiness is so important, I can’t express it in words. We’re all so valuable and worthy of the best this world has to offer.

 

I hope you have a healthy, more enjoyable holiday this year. Regardless of what you celebrate or don’t, where you’ll be or what you choose to do or not – you deserve to be treated with love, compassion, respect, and dignity by others AND yourself.

Don’t forget to take care of yourself.

 

What are your experiences this time of the year?

Do you do anything in particular to keep away from the negative emotions and behaviors of this season? Any magical advice?

 

Stream of Consciousness

Thanksgiving- Before and After

Daphne Shadows2 Comments

BEFORE DINNER

AFTER DINNER

I’m gonna pop. But I’m totally okay with it today.

I hope you enjoyed Thanksgiving! If you don’t celebrate it- I still hope today was fabulous for you. Every day is important.

I have issue with the roots of Thanksgiving but I choose to celebrate what I’m thankful for, regardless.

I’m so glad I have you amazing people of the blogosphere. I hope you feel loved and know you’re valuable beyond measure.

Photos

Fall is A Lovely Color

Daphne ShadowsLeave a comment

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A little taste of lovely life, changing before our eyes. Fall is a phoenix, reminding us that everything must die and be reborn.

We allow our lives to wax old too easily. Allowing our loves and inspirations and motivations to die in a snowy land of desolation and disuse.

Fall is a burst of maddening chaos and reason, reminding us of all this world and all our hearts have to offer – if only we’ll reach out and snatch the vibrancy burning just within our reach.

Amazing, the way the world looks through the lens of a camera.

 

Copyright Daphne Shadows. All Rights Reserved.

 

Stream of Consciousness

Dominate and Eradicate Self-Hate

Daphne Shadows1 Comment

Good morning. 😃

I do hope you are feeling well and know you are loved.

I’m getting ready for work and simply wanted to pop by and remind you that you are fabulous!

You can totally crush this day. Whatever is presented to you – whether new or old hat, easy or something you’re not certain you can do – you can do it.

You are worthy, good enough, lovable, capable, and stronger than you give yourself credit for.

After all life has thrown at you, you are still here and trying. That means you have a 100% success record.

Never give up on yourself. Even if others do. You keep stretching toward your dreams and hopes and never compromise your standards and values.

You are not alone.

We have got this.