Garbage's The World Is Not Enough

That intensity sure is intimidating and threatening! I, truly, cannot think of anything else more representative of unhinged ambition than this song and its music video. I tried. Believe me, I did.

But before I start with the disclaimers, because this is the internet (and you probably know what that means by now), I’ll just straight out mention that I’ve always liked this one to extraordinary degrees, and even beyond my own understanding. I do get more of it now, though, but I would fail to explain or even describe it. It is just so… vivid. If you know what I mean. And I’m eternally amazed by how that richness was captured.

Villain or anti-hero? Either way, that woman pushes through and utilizes what’s at her disposal to get to where she’s going as if nothing could, or even should, stand in her way. And that level of determination, in itself, is astounding. It does sound like a whole lot, how she goes, not simple at all.

You might know me, though, I’ll take things symbolically too. And that being so, I like to ponder what alternate meanings the final explosion, along with more that’s shown, could have. Taken literally, it is what it is, and I’ll reserve my comments on that for now. But symbolically? Damn. I can feel my brain expand with the possibilities.

This isn’t the only piece by Garbage that caught my attention, however. There is also When I Grow Up - which I used to listen to over and over and can still listen to over and over! It is so incredibly igniting to me! And sort of resembles the same fiery attitude, though coming across as feisty more than deadly in this case. Then there’s Special, being unapologetically spirited even while wounded. Another personal favorite. The lyrics are genius, also, if I may add.

I’m revisiting Garbage now and it’s kind of mind-blowing. I’m like, “Huh, I REALLY was THAT into this specific brand of alternative. Even then. Guess I don’t ever have to worry about being a poser!” But then again, that’s not a concern. Still, though, the liking is off the charts and it is shocking me! I’m super grateful that they exist!

Types of Brands you will Encounter as an Artist

As an artist, and in other roles too, there are different types of people that you will encounter. They may prove to be anywhere from extremely favorable to extremely unfavorable to you. Here are only a few (more might be added in the future). Not necessarily in descending order from best to worst, but grouped by how recommendable they are or not to be invested in. And under this category, as brands.

Recommendable
• The Solution
What you’ve been striving for or struggling with, the mission or task that you’ve been on, that you are better not doing on your own, they take over and solve it for you. And no, it is not a ‘they tried’ or ‘they had the intention to’. It is an undeniable solution to your problem. Problem solved, literally. You can sigh in relief now. And spread the word in solidarity. Definitely worth it.

• The Complement
What you’re working or have worked on can go side-by-side with what they’re working or have worked on. You could do without them, but you’re bigger and/or better with them. Your ‘much’ is ‘muchier’. And bringing them along is like introducing a missing piece and revealing more of the picture. It may be a luxury, but of the fine kind.

• The Small/Local
They’re often assumed to be unserious, but it can be quite the opposite. In certain cases, you will find the most devoted and dedicated people, giving their all to offer the best quality they can, intensely invested in their craft. They just haven’t, for one or another reason, scaled up. And having your own criteria to figure out which is which, and to dismiss vanity metrics or even peer pressure, speaks highly of you. Plus, it shows support.

• The Public Service
Especially after becoming and while being abundant, looking for those who genuinely help others and helping them will not only help you sleep better - it will also help make the world around you better. Which, whether that directly or indirectly positively affects you too or not, can bring you profound fulfillment and set an example for others to go along with.

Tolerable/Manageable
• The Trending
It is an opportunity, and maybe a quite worthwhile one at that, but it could be one to quickly evaporate. Being too eager to jump into whatever is trending can keep you from considering whether or not something is truly meant or at least suitable for you. And over-relying on chasing trends can leave you without solid ground to stand on, as well as have you looking frivolous. If there’s more to it, great. But if not, eh.

• The Irrelevant
If there is room to spare, you could fit it in. However, it’ll come across as desperate or undiscerning on your part. And for those keeping up with you and what you do, it could be a tedious or even annoying ‘added ad’ they’d rather skip over. Why are they being put through this if it has nothing to do with you? Some may even view it as a lack of respect and consideration for their attention. You would have to keep its display to a minimum.

Not Recommendable
• The Public Disservice
This is what net negative means. By little or by much. The bad outweighs the good. Usually in the form of waste and/or harm. They leave a trail of destruction that they don’t make up for. You can repeat “the end justifies the means” all you want, but it is not applicable here as far as reality is concerned. It may go overlooked for a while, unbeknownst to most, but it is likely to eventually come out and be what they’re identified for. Enabling them further makes you a part of the issue.

• The High Cost/Low Value
We know that value can be subjective as well as abstract (or seen in the potential), so it can be missed. But this is not the case here. Here we’re talking about how, no matter where you look at or from, there is very low or no value at all, especially when contrasted with the cost. It screams tacky wannabe. The sort of mentality that goes ‘this is expensive, so it’ll give me status’ while having no taste. Alternatively, it is the lazy thinking that has you assuming that high cost = high value. Worse if you’re aware and promote it regardless, then it’s just scammy.

• The Fraudalent
They talk a big game to compensate for the lack. Or what faults they may be attempting to hide. It is because of this that the “too good to be true” saying came into rotation, casting doubt and skepticism onto everything that sounded promising, including what is legitimate. They will view you as just another fool to fool. And once they’re exposed, the embarrassment of associating with them will probably not be easy to handle and dispel.

• The Guinea-Pigger
They do not care, at all. You, and mostly everyone, are just a number. How much can they push it? How much can they get away with? How much can they profit and save? And how much can people buy and fall for it? It isn’t about innovation or testing, though those may occur. It is about having no humanity and no remorse as they position themselves. No guilt and perhaps not even shame. It can get twisted beyond belief. Horror clowns.

Alternatively, as a brand, do you see yourself among the Not Recommendable or the Tolerable/Manageable and don’t like it? Start/keep working on your improvement.

Alanis Morissette's Ironic

It’s messed up that this classic wasn’t already here. Being such a cultural phenomenon, along with being an undeniable personal favorite. And I’ve always admired (and found relief and comfort in) Alanis Morissette’s character and what came from it. But it’s not like I’ve been keeping my appreciation a secret, either!

Ironic, in particular, is especially peculiar to me because of how anecdotal it is, as it goes through and over many of the ways in which life can go, both being grounded and having perspective. I first listened to it around the time it came out, while I was a kid, and couldn’t get enough of it. Back then, I lacked the life experience to relate to it and more fully grasp it, but I was still intrigued and fascinated, somehow resonating regardless. Later on and still today, it became and remains relatable in a more pinpointable way.

“Life has a funny way of sneaking up on you. And life has a funny way of helping you out…” I mean, tattoo worthy indeed! Albeit not fond of the tragedy, I absolutely love how full of terrible, or just non-ideal, things the song can be, but then this line hits. Then it’s like, “Oh.” And it is sooo stabilizing. Yet, also, ironic.

I did listen to many of her songs while I was growing up, maybe chasing a similar effect and/or state (but don’t get me started about her more hot-tempered songs because I totally enjoyed those too! Talk about snapping!). Going back, though, I remember listening to Hand In My Pocket a lot as well and found it profoundly reassuring. It is, to me, such an ‘Everybody starts somewhere’ anthem. Plus, her personality is all over it. And this is just another example of the gem that she is.

I am so fortunate I didn’t miss out on Alanis Morissette’s art during my upbringing that I have to try really hard not to project my inclinations & preferences onto others and feel sorry for them if they did. And if that’s the case for you, I don’t know how to console you. Other than, hey, it is not too late!

There's an Exclusive Uniquenes to You

It sounds fake, but it’s not. You are unique. Exclusively so. Whether that’s something you reveal, let come through, and highlight is on you. If not completely, then partly.

It won’t make sense if you tend to strip subjects and objects to their bare structure and most basic components, missing nuance, ignoring context, and overlooking what’s clearly in sight. You may assume that this makes you more profound, more metaphysical, but really… it only makes you blind to what the spot that only you take has to offer.

Because think about it. Who else is exactly like you? And where are they? The mere fact that they aren’t precisely where you are, in either time or space, already differentiates them from you. You may share traits, a bunch of them, eerily so, but you’re in different realities. And that’s already two wholly different points of view.

So even when it seems as though all’s been done, it hasn’t. You may just need to be more attentive, take another angle, and get to appraising what you, from where you are, best can. Lean into it. Don’t try to replicate what others are doing. Try to map out what others can’t or would struggle to. That is how to be original.

Tried and proven formulas for success are fine. You can work with them in a few or many instances. But if you want to bring something of your own, to integrate with these formulas or while completely dismissing them, you’ve got to start from where you’re standing.

You’ll notice, if you really look, that you’re both filled and engulfed by infinitely more than you could ever ask for and that even a lifetime might not be enough to fully depict everything. So you get to choose what to focus on. What, of everything, will you bring attention to? Sometimes what’s important is already tugging at you, but sometimes it is elusive and you must search and search until you find it.

From there, it is your dedication to manifesting and materializing it that will make or break something exceptional.

Capricorn's Season

♑ CAPRICORN

As we enter the season of Capricorn, it is believed that the universe will be affecting us with energies that will cause us to work diligently and pursue goals. We will be more in tune with our ambitions, and abilities to plan and persevere will be enhanced. If you are receptive to them, you might be imbued with discipline and commitment. If you are resistant to them, you might be conflicted with rigidity and workaholism. If you are completely blocked out, you might not notice them at all. And if you don't pay enough attention, you might miss opportunities to create long-term success.

Motivational Quote: "Climb mountains not so the world can see you, but so you can see the world."

For context and more of relevance, please read about The Zodiac.

Forging & Enriching Your Spirit

Ever wondered why you’re here? Why are we all? There are numerous theories and beliefs surrounding that, but many of them seem to agree that we have a soul. More precisely, some would argue, that we ARE a soul and we have a body. Our body is merely the vehicle for it while we’re on Earth.

And if that’s the case, what are we supposed to be doing? Why come here? Is this a playground, a school, or a prison? Or some kind of mix? Whatever it is and whatever you’d call it, one thing is for sure: we learn, the easy or the hard way, but we learn. Or at least, some of us do.

If learning is at the core of our purpose, and drawing and incorporating lessons from what we get to be and do while we’re here is the whole point, is life here only a means to forge and enrich our spirit? Adopting this outlook puts plenty into perspective, including the cycles that repeat over and over again until we finally break them.

Certainly, however, we don’t all leave with the same. There’s this idea that, before incarnating, we know exactly what we’re coming here for and it can be very specific. Therefore, the circumstances surrounding our birth, upbringing, and all that follows, are chosen and arranged to deliver the established outcome. It’s our ‘fate’ or ‘destiny’, and every tiny little thing, led to it.

Some detest this concept, as it implies that freedom is an illusion and that we’re forever subjected to what is already in store for us. Others find it comforting, figuring that then there is something to take away even from the worst events endured. However, the truth might not be so set in stone. Perhaps a shift is possible.

Nevertheless, looking back and looking forward, what seems to be shaping you or trying to shape you? Into what, exclusively? What are recurring scenarios that you’re stuck in or that level you further within them? After everything that you’ve been through, what do you carry inside, and what does it crave you move towards?

If you’ve merely been given the opportunities but the rest is up to you, are you failing or succeeding at tending to this constellation of ordainings? Would you have to come back and try again because it went so poorly or because you still have a long way to go and this is only a part of it? What would your next life look like then?

Are you being rewarded or are you being punished? Or neither, and yet, you’re still studious?

13th Sagittarius

If you were born on the 13th, under the sign of Sagittarius, congratulations!
It is a peculiar juxtaposition, astonishing to pause and look at more closely, with Sagittarius being the emblem of Fortune and 13th the emblem of Misfortune.

The Sagittarius sign is often viewed as the ‘luckiest’ sign of the zodiac. However, you could argue that this is merely an illusion. Somebody who embodies the character attributed to it could seem ‘lucky’ because of how optimistic, opportunistic, and, overall, appreciative they can be. And how these qualities, in return, bring more for them to be even more so. They carry the attitude and, without much, if any complaining, put in the work of continuing forward. And that usually gets them through and out of the stickiest situations, which, perhaps more than anybody else, they’d rather not remain in. Then, speaking of sticky situations. Let’s say the number 13th is cursed, as superstitions would say, and is indeed ‘unlucky’ to have (or even see). Let’s say somebody born this day seems to be constantly showered with “bad luck”. And yet, they somehow handle it - or attempt to. Would that suggest that they are fated with tricky challenges? If that is so, is the luckiest sign, Sagittarius, meeting the unluckiest number, 13th, someone tasked with, and particularly endowed for, facing, overcoming, and mastering even the most absurd and ridiculous scenarios going against them? For better or for worse, they may even seek them out!

Prominent themes include:

- Disarming and turning around unfavorable circumstances.

- Sympathizing with and assisting those who do not have the odds in their favor.

- “The hardest battle for the strongest warrior.”

Are you a 13th Sagittarius? And have you met any other 13th Sagittarius? Maybe, even if quite different on the surface, you share a few things in common, besides your birthday!

For context and more of relevance, please read about The Zodiac.

Temporarily a Stray

If you feel like you’ve been left alone, out in the cold dark, despite repeatedly calling and reaching out, this is for you.

Focus on yourself for a while. Whether that’s by doing work or by getting rest. Make the most of this “solitary” period. Because chances are that you will soon have more people around you than you can even count. And you will belong there with them.

It won’t matter how much is sitting in your bank account, how many follow you on social media, or the amount of awards you have been recognized with. Although, granted, these can point to characteristics that have merit too and/or make you valuable in some way. But I digress. It won’t even matter much if you’re somebody’s favorite or not.

As long as you’re a genuine person, sincere with others, and devoted to being and doing your best, you will fit marvelously with those who are the same and believe that “the more, the merrier”. Sometimes you just oughta give the universe time to move things around and make space. (And maybe yell and wave a little louder and clearer, just in case.)

You Might Not Change The World But...

You could be particularly ambitious, and whether your ambitions are realistic or unrealistic is another matter. The issue is that, if you are, you are pulled to dream big. So big you might yearn to cause a massive and long-lasting impression on the entire globe. Perhaps even beyond.

For better or for worse, and against the odds, some make it. You could say that they were born for it, as countless factors had to come into play for it to happen, many out of their own control, aligning perfectly to push them forward and up. As if it were fate.

You might not be one of them, but merely be in the pool of those with a comparatively higher chance to wind up with them, and maybe you’ll get quite close but not quite there, and that’s how it goes. Yet, if so, did you miss out or are you comfortably right where you belong?

Regardless of how far you manage to get, if you’re that ambitious, you’d prefer to at least aim for something grander than the usual. Seeing yourself in circular or dead-end roles simply doesn’t go with you. And the mere idea of it can be demoralizing. Not everyone will be understanding of this, possibly not even yourself, but if it is the case, you must go for it.

Convincing yourself and others that you’re both worthy and capable can be tricky (not to mention insulting). If life gives you tests, this would be one. It doesn’t necessarily measure character, but it measures your ability to navigate obstacles, in and out, visible and invisible, right in front of your face or further ahead, coming at you from all around, and deploying unbelievable antics to thwart and sabotage you. People aren’t simply going to hand you the world, or a huge chunk of it, on a silver platter. Not unless you have the privilege of that unfair advantage.  

Yet, if you crave to keep pushing yourself, checking just how much you can get away with, few things can stop you. You would be your best friend or your worst enemy, choosing whether or not you are deterred by what can be overcome.

Ultimately, “luck” or “divine order” might not be in your favor for what you assume, believe, or wish was your place. However, don’t take for granted everything else that you can nonetheless accomplish that also significantly impacts the world. 

Christmas Month

December is here!
It’s Christmas (/holidays) time.
You can expect an emphasis on altruism-related content.

Winter Once More

Winter arrives once more...
Do you know what that means?
It means, at last, we can sit back.
Let out a long sigh.
Spend time with our close ones (and oneself).

Actually, Just Live While You Can

What does living while you can mean? Usually, we interpret this as being fully in the moment at all times, yielding to every whim, recklessly taking every opportunity or risk. However, it doesn’t have to be this reductive (and dangerously regrettable).

It can be more about tending to what’s important. And that differs from person to person. What brings you peace and what brings you joy? Are you caring for your needs and for your wants, in such a way that you can accomplish fulfillment? Do you give enough attention to what you value most and to what deserves it?

There’s a popular saying that can be applied to this. Essentially, they say something along the lines that the only two people that you should try to impress and make proud are the 8-year-old you, who looks forward, and the 80-year-old you, who looks backward. How well are you doing at that? Are you pleasing the version who’s filled with wonder and the version who’s overflowing with revelations?

Your life is more than just your present; it is also your past and your future, and all that interconnects. This means that being thoughtful and considerate is part of what constitutes living without regrets. This can be paralyzing sometimes, trapping in needless fears and worries, and that’s something to watch out for, but shouldn’t be entirely dismissed.

There is peace, joy, and fulfillment in bothering to take into account what must be. The problem arises when you neglect your present for it.

Furthermore, others may get a say in how it goes, but you do as well. If you’re completely handing over the script of your life to somebody else, or to traditions, trends, or predictions, are you really living your life? Certainly, you can learn from them and implement what sits right with you (or what is imperative), but you lose the plot when it wholly dictates what you do and don’t do.

And what about your growth? Isn’t it amazing that you get to come to this place to explore, experience, experiment, express, and expand? You literally start with a set of talents and capabilities and can, from there, decide what sort of knowledge you will be collecting and what sort of skills you will be developing, reaching higher and higher levels throughout your entire lifetime. Overlooking this and getting stuck, stagnating at the bottom, does seem like a waste.

Ultimately, you could live so fully that it makes a positive and constructive difference, not only on you, but on those around you - or even coming after. And that’s something that, at least to some, makes life worth striving for.

Reclaim your life. Live it responsibly, but live it.

Billie Eilish's Birds of A Feather

Uff, I'm really not yet sure what was behind it. Yet, undeniably, there was a ring to the song, making it now a favorite to go back to over and over again. However, what most caught my attention, initially, was the location. It looks like such a liminal space!

I am personally fond of how it is as if from another time. With the construction, the furniture, the colors, and even the camera. It sort of transports me to when I was growing up and somehow ending up in such places while the grownups were doing their grownup things. Yet, interestingly, in this case, it is empty of other humans (at least in flesh), which is also particularly satisfying, given my innate aversion to crowds and noise. It is difficult to explain, but that’s indeed a dimension that I can sincerely appreciate. Oddly so. Not to be forever stuck within it, but to have at some point experienced.

And of course, it got me with the themes of death, too. As much as I welcome such topics with the ambiance that exacerbates them, it was refreshing to have them in a more casual manner - making it less of a taboo to bring up.

I don’t know what it is intending to portray, exactly, but it is definitely an intriguing and fascinating concept. While words essentially speak of willingly joining in, imagery speaks of an invisible force that can pull and carry someone around and across the room(s).

You could catch me humming and singing along to Birds of a Feather as it trended without realizing the depth of it, though! (Do love it even more now, however...)

Sticking Together, It’s Complicated…

When creating, the systematic processing side is compelled to make everything neatly organized, but the storytelling processing side is like, “No, actually…” And throws that stiffling made-up order out the window for LORE.

It is tempting to have all the parts fit together perfectly, following the same approach, sharing similar traits, and so on, but that doesn’t say a lot. That ends up being… lifeless.

So, although it can be irritating, frustrating, or just boggling when things don’t follow a script, break and/or fall out of their spot, become something other than they could have been, it is what makes it wonderfully organic rather than merely mechanical. And it is what tells a tale.

Yes, I’m mad about the possibility that the deity who nurtured the outlaws at the verge of extinction out of the danger of it will lose her magical powers and turn into cement.

Yes, it was unexpected that one of the catalysts was chosen and promoted by his pupils rather than by the ‘officials’ as it usually goes.

Yes, it is incredible that some of the most impactful factors have a low profile or are even anonymous while the rest rose to fame and stardom.

And don’t get me started about entities that are but aren’t there…

However, if you ponder it, all of this unravels more about the nature of all. It’s gonna be tricky and challenging to narrate, not gonna lie, and you may not be happy about each and every step and turn this takes, but ohhh… the intrigue, the fascination, the slap in the face that this is more grand, more profound, and waaay more complex than you could initially comprehend.

You are not in control. You are only the creative writer. And ironically, that makes you a reader too.

(May not even have to go out of your way and ‘do it for the plot’. It gets crazy on its own.)

Shakira's Anniversary

Oh. My. God. It’s been DECADES. And this song has aged like fine wine! Shakira, questioning social and societal norms since forever. And for that and more, love her!

You know what else I’m grateful for these days? Being able to remember stuff. This is taking me back to when I was a kid, singing my lungs out, jumping around to this song, while attempting to keep up with the lyrics and checking how much I managed to do so. (If I recall correctly, I couldn't get a hold of the CD, so it was a cassette I had to patiently rewind or fast-forward to get to the parts I was into and/or play the whole thing without skipping. If anything, I'll take that as a testament to being a true fan!)

It is taking me back to my grandmother’s house - specifically to the living room she had, where she kept antiques and artworks she cherished (we play-pretended it was haunted), and the big family dinners, with relatives and their +1s coming from different countries for it, were held. I’d indulge in music and more there any day of the year, enjoying the space and the atmosphere. And I’m so thankful to be able to relive this, even if only in little bits.

It’s no news that many Latin Americans fell in love with and remember Shakira for her earlier work. I mean, damn, talk about artsy. But fret not, we love her later stuff, too! That woman is a genius, whenever and wherever she goes… 🤭

How's The World's Culture Progressing This Year, 2025?

This year has been unhinged and deranged. And not even in an edgy way. Regressively so. All the way back into denial and delusion. For the comfort and convenience of people who cannot be bothered to be more cultured.

This isn’t my first time writing about cultural progress, so you can check for more of my views and opinions on my previous World’s Cultural Progress articles.

My Personal Stance
Still, again, it remains the same! As it has been from the very beginning, I stand for what is truthful, effective, and fair. I don’t yet have all the answers, but I do my best to consider and weigh different views and opinions to grasp the reality of the matter and find solutions to issues. Generally, I see that people are either ignorant, confused, misguided, malicious, pushing an agenda, or a combination of two or more of those. And I try to have patience, but it can run out.

Cultural Progress in 2025
Now, as it turns out, not only do we have to worry about regular folks and established reporters spreading misinformation and disinformation while lacking reason and/or compassion, but also about the rapidly increasing amount of bots and paid actors, along with the mess of AI, taking over platforms and playing the algorithms - that can turn the tide in one or another direction. The times when you could come online to have honest and enriching debates with others have been coming to an end and are approaching that end. You’ll have to find your group of people who genuinely care about learning and dig through the vast amount of trash, with skepticism and discernment turned up, in order to retrieve anything you can of value, so that you can then discuss it.

Points
Overall, it looks to me as though a lot of people don’t want to think anymore and are not even trying to hide it. As if progressives were frying their brains, with either valid arguments or plain nonsense, and it’s bouncing back with all the force. However, we’re also generally living in a more stressful, overwhelming, and exhausting period that barely allows any deep or thorough thinking. The ability to be level-headed is a luxury nowadays.

• “Your way didn’t work, so we do it my way!”
There’s no pausing to see where, exactly, things took a turn for the worse or went too far. It’s a no-nuance jump-to-conclusion. "You got these movements wrong? That means they were all COMPLETELY WRONG." And now we have people casually considering that, ~actually~, maybe slavery, rape, etc., are all fine. Yes, it is getting THAT bad.

• “I miss the good old days…”
When, though? People are looking at the supposedly preferable past as if it were some ideal epoch where none of their current problems existed, and neither any other kinds of issues that they’re now fortunately free of. New generations, too, are romanticizing the past while overlooking everything that many fought and worked hard to leave behind for the better.

• “WHITE MEN, YEAH!!”
Nothing says “I lack worth and I’m insecure about it” like insisting on somehow having more worth than others on the mere basis of having been born white and male (I can’t even call them ‘men’ at this psychological development level). If anything, the unfounded belief that you’re superior solely because of that will lead you to not put in the effort to be truly competent because, according to this logic, you magically are. “But the statistics!” Look, it is not that simple. It really is not.

And again. That’s all for now. I may still sporadically engage and elaborate on various topics, but expect the continuation of this post next year. Please stay lucid and keep improving!

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You…

Whoa, it’s been really… something. But despite and after almost unbearably turbulent months, I have much to be thankful for! In fact, it blows my mind how blessed I am. And more and more it looks like I’m where I’m meant to be. With more answered prayers than I can count!

I’m particularly astonished by how God, The Universe, Inexplicable Forces at Play, whatever and however you’d call them, have been on my side - with more grace than I could ask for. And believe me, I’ll try my best not to fall from this grace.

I’m deeply and greatly thankful for…
• The appreciation, regardless of being found in my mess, and the help, realizing my potential.
• Being joined despite the opposition I face, given the risks and sacrifices that it entails.
• Patience had with my limits (can’t do everything) and lack thereof (might do a lot).
• Being granted space to be human, and grow, mature, and evolve through it.
• Understanding and tolerance when I cannot or fail to be at my 100%, my best self.
• Allowing me to learn from you and letting me teach you, too.
• Much of the mediation, the diffusion, the relief, and more that's done before I could tend to it.
• Harsh, but necessary truths (often with fantastic timing and delivery).
• Outstanding levels of attentiveness and devotion to important projects.
• Energy, inspiration, motivation… quite overlooked but essential to go against and beat the odds.
• Dreamers, dreaming big, INSANELY SO, and it being okay, encouraged even.
• Those still here, but also those gone, that I couldn’t have gotten this far without.

I know I’ve kept people waiting, and I am sincerely sorry about that (what is predictable these days?). However, I am also immensurably thankful that you did. And if you are sticking around for more of where all this will take us and what it will bring us? Grateful beyond words!

Thank you, for real.
And Happy Thanksgiving!

"Get a Real Job!"

For some reason, for some people, it is never enough unless you lose your shine. You’d assume that income would make a job qualify as real, but not even that. Not even when it does give you financial security (and freedom).

Some just want you to be miserable. They are not about keeping you afloat. These are often resentful beings who cannot stand to see you enjoy yourself at a job you love or moving toward it. They will try to bring you down with them. Worse if they have a nice position but are still so insecure that they're compelled to sabotage you and your efforts.

They could start tearing you down with the topic of money. Does it pay as well or more than theirs? And if it does, is it guaranteed to keep bringing as much or more in the future? However, it is the case that you don’t really have to prove anything to them. Perhaps you’re not quite there yet or you’re fine with what you make, so that’s irrelevant and besides the point. 

Yet, even if you check those boxes, they’ll keep probing. They could go for how ‘decent’ and ‘respectable’ it is. They could go for whether or not it is challenging and requires advanced skills. They could go for how much of a difference it makes in your community or in society at large. Feigning concern for your well-being, or merely bragging about their own, they might make it about how much life/work balance it allows. May even accuse you of having little or no humanity if you are intensely devoted to it. Their arguments could go from sensible-seeming to bafflingly absurd as their insistence goes on. Instead of support and solutions, you get discouragement disguised as nobility and good intentions.

But while almost no job can be all joy and perfection, and most have stressful or tedious parts, do you truly have to settle for one that eternally makes you dead inside? You must be smart and wise about your finances, of course, as this is real life and it is messed up enough as it is, but you don’t ought to restrict yourself to whatever this or that person considers a “real job”.

Granted, they might only be misguided, erroneously conditioned, overly pragmatic, and/or trying to nudge you into reaching more life milestones like you’re “supposed” to as you age. And that’s simply how they roll.

But you are the person who has to wake up every day, go through the day, and then end the day with the job that you’re in. Is that something somebody else should decide for you based on their narrow vision and short sight? With a closed mind, too? Selfishness even? If ever, then, hopefully, may it be not for very long.

It is your life. Something that you should begin early on, but are likely not too late to start, is looking for what fulfills you and becoming somebody who can fulfill that role. A job that inspires and motivates you to do your best (and can pay the bills while you’re at it). If not that, at least a job that you’re content with and leaves you with all you require to live a fulfilling life outside of it (with hobbies, projects, and/or being human). 

If options exist for you to choose from, you are immeasurably fortunate. Don't let that go to waste over unjustifiable limits placed upon you.

Maybe there’s something you’d like to prove to yourself, then go ahead. But understand that to grow, mature, and evolve, along with living a full life, being and staying miserable isn’t exactly a requirement. What kind of world are we in, allowing or even promoting, if that is all that is available?

Halsey's Colors (Live)

It is not the first and it will not be the last time I bring up Halsey! So many of her works caught my attention and even helped me through some really messy situations. Particularly during the stage of finding myself and redefining who I am, which I called “Exploring & Experimenting” (prelude to “Unbridling & Sustaining Artistic Abilities”), that happened mostly underground, I could often resonate with what she put out.

Today, to me, ‘Colors’ is not only a brilliant piece that illuminates the art of combining, mixing, and blending colors, but also one that commemorates it. Halsey, herself, from what I can tell, through her artistry, does an exquisite job at being a ‘taste tester’ and describing (or rating) the intricacies of what happens when there is one or more unions or fusions and, similarly, when there is a lack of them.

As usual, though, artworks can be interpreted as they were originated, as they were intended, or as however they fit (within reason). In this case, I’m reinterpreting ‘Colors’ more abstractly, more in essence. And it is beyond anything I could have imagined before!

Plus, the emphasis on Blue? Do you remember what makes blue a particularly peculiar color? Besides blue-daba-dee and 'feeling blue’, which… eh. And besides being a harmonious color or even the color of a political party, which… valid associations. Any clue? Here’s one: “I love the colors in the sky.” *Proceeds to paint them.* 

Sagittarius' Season

♐ SAGITTARIUS

As we enter the season of Sagittarius, it is believed that the universe will be affecting us with energies that will cause us to expand our horizons and embrace adventure. We will be more in tune with freedom, and abilities to explore and learn will be enhanced. If you are receptive to them, you might be imbued with optimism and curiosity. If you are resistant to them, you might be conflicted with recklessness and restlessness. If you are completely blocked out, you might not notice them at all. And if you don't pay enough attention, you might miss opportunities for self-discovery.

Motivational Quote: "The journey is the destination."

For context and more of relevance, please read about The Zodiac.

Privacy Please

It is not about being ashamed or guilty of anything, it is not even about lacking self-esteem, it is about respecting the process. You are not meant to perform for others and welcome their input at every step and at every turn. You are entitled to privacy.

Even if somebody is completely non-judgmental and accepts you wholly, and even if they remain silent and still the whole time, you need your moments in absolute privacy. Moments in which you won’t be compelled to be aware of what is happening, in minute detail, through various angles and points of view, so that you can intuit how it is being perceived by another. You shouldn’t have to be burdened with forming an image for somebody else before you’re ready to and unless you’re willing to. That just adds more to take into account and consider. More to juggle and do. That disrupts the process. And exhausts you.

Worse when, instead, THEY ARE overly judgmental and reject many parts of you. In such a case, you’ll barely manage to deconstruct, reconstruct, and construct like you’re supposed to in order to get to the final result. It’ll all suddenly be about them and whether or not they’ll be okay with what you’re doing (or even throw a tantrum over it). And, if they got you invested in their approval, you will be shrinking and twisting yourself, likely breaking while at it, enslaved to their cheers and their boos.

Have some walls up and close some doors. It will only offend two types of people: those who are too immature to understand boundaries and those who are also too selfish to care about them. In both cases, it is not a you problem.

Easier said than done. And in certain situations, not even an option. But if you can claim it, then do without remorse. Stating that you require privacy to focus, regardless of whether it means you’re too inhibited or not, should suffice. You may learn, through inevitability, to concentrate in spite of it, but it is still making it harder and more difficult for you. If they are reasonable and considerate, that argument should be enough. If they are not, how valid is their opinion on the matter?

Are you giving a show or are you only practicing and/or building something? You may choose to make your practice and/or your building a public display, but you shouldn’t be obligated to when that’s not what you’re going for.

If you do have inhibitions keeping you from achieving a greater success, making you too reclusive rather than merely reserved at certain points and in certain areas, that’s something to work on by addressing your fears and vulnerabilities when being exposed. But if you just want some darn privacy, then why should it be a debate at all? 

The Artist's RPG - Batch of Drafts

I haven’t forgotten about it. This is still going! It's practically gonna be my life’s work: The Artist’s RPG.

This year, I didn’t have much time allotted for its design and development, but I kept it in mind as I went through my everyday. And whenever I made observations or had realizations that caused me to go, “OHH! This belongs in The Artist’s RPG!!” I ran to note them down so I wouldn’t forget to add them when the time came.

Next year, I’m allowing myself A LOT more time to work on this. But meanwhile, I wanted to update you all with a few outlines so that you know, without waiting too long, what I’m onto.

For various reasons, I must hold back in showing too much before more official releases, so I’m keeping plenty vague and brief. Left to ponder and interpret. Yet, you can count on extra snippets here and there, over time, on what I continue to figure and sort out for it.

Also, here’s a big THANKS to those who have helped with the manifestation of this astonishing wonder. You know who you are and you know what I mean! I promise I’ll do my best to honor and do justice to your contributions!

Sooner or later, we’ll have an outstandingly memorable game set. One that will also bring and hold everything, within the art realm, in perspective - and then keep adding on to it. In the committed protection and promotion of true artistry. Totally looking forward to this!

Meanwhile, I’ll keep updating you about progress...

NOTE: Names, descriptions, graphics, and more are not yet final. These are still drafts. Prone to various errors and shortcomings.

Too Quiet or Too Loud

Sometimes you just want everyone and everything to shut up. And sometimes the silence is somehow unbearable. Our brains can be picky about what and how much they process, and what goes into our ears can be especially distracting.

You would notice whether you’re the type of person who tends to prefer loudness or who tends to prefer quietness, but we all need or want both at intervals, to some extent. It depends on who we are, how we’re wired, but it also immensely depends on what kind of activity we’re currently partaking in or trying to participate in. Are sounds contributing and cooperating or are they interrupting and jolting you out of what you’re doing? Furthermore, are they precisely the kind of sounds that fit the scenario?

Amazingly, sound, or the absence of it, can play an outstandingly important role in how productive we are and what we manage to produce.  

Is it dialogue, melodies, or noise? Are they jumbled together dissonantly, forcing your brain to attempt to break them apart, or are they harmoniously blending with each other, letting your brain swiftly shift through and take in the various layers? Is it so loud it hurts or is it so quiet you strain, in both cases failing to hear what is happening exactly? What can you simply ignore?

• Dialogue is engaging. If the activity you’re partaking in involves verbal or logical tasks, like writing or math, you might not do well with talking on the side or in the background. Hearing words forming sentences can keep you from doing that yourself, but they are the complement to when you’re on ‘autopilot’, in a ‘trance’, or simply taking care of menial and tedious tasks you already know too well.

• Melodies are energetic. When chosen well, they can join you even when you have to think about hard and difficult matters and issues. They can be soothing, inspiring, empowering, and, indeed, energizing. It can direct you, if not merely give you the bit of stimuli that you would otherwise crave.

• Noise is impactful. They could be no more than disturbing. But in certain cases, they might serve to block out what's worse and allow you to focus. White noise, the fan, water running, and so on. 

• Absolute silence leaves you defenseless. Then it’s only you and what you carry with you. Can you listen to that? If you have a lot going on within that you’re willing to sort out, it would not bother you. You might not even notice it. Up until you’re done - and then yearn to fill it.

Have you figured out what you should be filling the silence with? Did you look into podcasts or audiobooks that could interest you? Made playlists of music with or without lyrics? Set up congenial noises to run constantly? Don’t underestimate the effect that they can have - especially when picked out specifically for this or that purpose.

Lastly, should you soundproof where you are?

Grimes' Artificial Angels

Oh, wow, I adore how this was made. It is such an explosion of what it is like being on the internet, or in front of a computer screen, way too much. And not just lately, but since long ago.

I was trying to keep up with everything that was coming up, trying to figure out how things connected, trying to notice any references, and trying to grasp what it all meant. There’s likely plenty I missed. It is happening FAST. Just like being bombarded with a ton of information, which is exactly how cultural and technological advancements (or regressions) are to me these days.

And I seriously enjoy how artsy it is. Although I can appreciate those too, it gave me a much-needed break from the more widely accepted and adopted styles and techniques I’ve been exposing myself to lately. Bringing me back to the more independent and underground taste and preferences. It is art when you can have more fun with it and are not weighed down by logistics. Originality is served.

That’s not to say there wasn’t thought or feeling put into it. They are clearly there if you pay attention. Along with much talent and skill. But, making art like this, is equivalent to when you can finally take off a piece of uncomfortable clothing after wearing it all day. You can breathe and move around more - while still being artful as you choose to.

Then there’s the whole of it, everything that it is telling and showing.
What is simultaneously behind and ahead of time? This madness.

Everything You Need in Your Space

It’s great if you can operate even under the most dire and atrocious circumstances; that makes you unstoppable. However, deterring yourself like that when you have the option not to is only sabotage. So put some thought and strategy into your surroundings. What is the formula to pushing and maintaining your optimal productivity?

Everybody is different, so what works for some may not work for you. This is why you must see what does and doesn’t suit you, then tailor your space accordingly. And funnily enough, what may be paradise to you could be hell to somebody else. At least if they prolong their stay beyond what they can tolerate.

This brings into focus an important fact: Everybody needs their own space. Even if by nature or by nurture you are the type of person who meddles and intertwines with others as if your life depended on it, clinging desperately to anyone and anything that’d keep you from being by yourself, you require your own space. You may not know it yet, and you may even deny it, but it’s something you must look into and have (even if you don’t need as much time there as others do in theirs).

Your space must consist of what is essential, beneficial, and convenient to you. Too often, people stop and stick with only the essentials. And while that, in certain situations, can be applauded, it is ultimately depriving you of what would lead to reaching your potential.

So, if you can afford to, and depending on what your job is, make sure you have an environment that:

• Gets you in the state that allows you to optimally function. Whether that’s one with high or low stimulation, cluttered or not.

• Has all the tools and materials that you frequently use, nearby, placed where you know they’ll be (or at least where you can figure you’ll find them), and accompanied by what would charge or otherwise enable them.

• Is comfortable for you. If you’re standing, sitting, lying down, or moving around. It’s a disservice to give yourself terrible posture or horrid circulation.

• Is secure for you. And this also means just the sense of it. If you have to worry and stay vigilant for threats or disasters, something’s lacking. And maybe you can’t make it 100% safe and impenetrable, but you could put more into it.

• Reminds you of who you are and what your role is. This can be done implicitly through decoration and adornments (including colors, patterns, and textures), but also explicitly through posters and post-its. Try having mood and vision boards.

• Contains illumination that is just right. Straining to see or overexposing to an unnerving degree is no good. Lights should be in the tone, intensity, angle, and coverage that allows you to do you. If they can be inspiring and indulging too, that is a plus. E.g., neons, outer space, underwater, fairy lights, etc.

• Takes other senses into account, like smell. No scents or scents that are pleasant to you. The latter is catered to in a wide range of aromas via soap and wax items. But you can bring in natural objects like rocks, plants, and fruits. Or just spray something artificial every now and then.

• Allows you to have control over the sounds. So you can leave unwanted noises out and choose what fills up the silence inside.

You may now notice that your space isn’t yet all that it can be, but go at your pace. You can tend to it by bits, improving it little by little. Until it becomes your ideal haven.

You might be particularly fulfilled by devoting to this if you previously endured significantly harmful settings that kept you down. It's as if you finally get to live your life on your own terms and make your world yours.

Thanksgiving Month

November is here!
It’s Thanksgiving time.
You can expect an emphasis on gatherings-related content.

My Chemical Romance: Long Live The Black Parade Tour

Posted by My Chemical Romance on Instagram ➜ 

It hasn’t ended yet! When the tour actually started, unfortunately, although I had been anticipating it, I was not in a state to be able to appreciate it. And if I’m being honest, I’m still not fully there yet. But regardless, it is GRAND. So I already very much can! 

Frank Iero wasn’t exaggerating when he responded to a mean comment online with something along the lines of “My Chemical Romance doesn’t disappoint” and practically a “STFU”. (Sometimes bits like that end up on my feed, okay?!)

So, even with my heart currently shattered, undeniable great art is undeniable. And it IS my favorite band. Melodically, lyrically, thematically, with Gerard Way’s creepiness and Frank Iero’s badassery. Along with all the energy they transmit. It is just my jam. Imagine the unbearable pain if that love were to be taken from me…

The first teaser. The utter shock when this dropped. I could not process it. Back from death. I was freaking out. While simultaneously in awe of the exquisiteness and exuberance of it. A dictator? In what looks like another era? Or perhaps an alternate universe? Is he evil or strict and villainizable because of it? But most importantly… LONG LIVE THE BLACK PARADE!

More cinematic excellence. But what do these random scenes with random characters even mean? I don’t know, but I would bet they’re not so random. It is quite possible that there’s an underlying order to all of it, one to be revealed, or at least hinted at, throughout the tour. These guys are being ARTISTIC.

And what’s with these letters? They really came up with their own alphabet. Making us go the extra mile to figure out what is being written. Such fine gatekeeping. But also hiding in plain sight. It is a solvable puzzle, but a puzzle nonetheless.

Posted by My Chemical Romance on Instagram ➜

What is even happening on stage? Voting? Stabbing? Decaying? The drama and the theatrics are unhinged and deranged, to say the least. Some of it is grotesque. And if you know the band, you’d know that this is nothing new. In fact, they’re still holding back. But I applaud how they are pushing boundaries. Knowing what they’re doing. While the rest of us are still catching up, trying to make sense of what is what, why, and how. And they continue to change and switch things around.

Some have complained that it got too political. And oh boy. Tell me you don’t know My Chemical Romance without telling me you don’t know My Chemical Romance.

Anyhow! All that said, it is sooooo good to hear that they’re still alive!
(This is a reference to a previous concert in Mexico.)

I’ll keep paying attention to the tour and see more of what it’s leading up to!

Writing Like Nobody's Reading

A friend and I used to do a lot of creative writing together. We’d go all in, draw our OCs, and more. I miss those days. We wrote for ourselves. Not even an afterthought of whether or not it’d be well-received by anyone else. Just exploring and examining our psyches through the characters, the dynamics, the plots, and overall, the storytelling. I miss those days. However, I could only allow myself that kind of ‘leisure’ because it was a much-needed healing activity and not merely a want. An Art teacher I respected recommended it to me - and I took his advice. So we both tended to our wounds, voids, and messes through art.

And now here I am, with ever-expanding universes within me. The passage of time is currently annoying me more than ever. I wish I could walk through every meaningful portal there is to walk through. But the reality is that time is running out. Therefore, I ought to be wise and pick the most important ones before I no longer can.

Also, I got the purple-aura person in my life to thank for literally saving my life and letting me have the space, without rushing, to restore myself after, on more levels than ever, having died. I didn’t get my dream of going to the Chavón Art School and then Parsons School of Design fulfilled like I was aspiring to, in order to eventually achieve renowned success. Instead, I ended up on a weirder path and, frankly, I wouldn’t trade it. (Still pissed off at the people and situations that detoured and/or delayed me for no good reason, though, but making the best of what I can/should regardless.)

So, yep, life has a lot of twists and turns. Just happy for what’s coming together at last…

Lady Gaga & Tim Burton's The Dead Dance

Of course, I was pulled in immediately upon seeing that creepy doll with a sun headdress. But also… WHAT!?! It’s Lady Gaga and Tim Burton! They’re like, PEAK all things monstrous. And with Halloween coming up, it is such a Trick & Treat to pull!

If you know me, you know that I love spooky art that can be enjoyed around this time of the year and can’t ever seem to get enough. I might be (for a while) too stressed, overwhelmed, and/or exhausted to enjoy it as much as I otherwise would, but I would love it nonetheless. And this one not only checked the spooky box!

The fact that they captured *gestures* all of this, in particular, does mean more than I can explain. But let’s just say: Going forward, it is beyond nice to forever have art you love, from artists you love, on a topic that is familiar to you, in a setting that is also familiar to you, and to have it do this sort of restorative and conclusive magic, too. That… is a piece that shouldn’t be missing.

I didn’t think much of it at first, but then the realizations started coming. Y’all, Halloween isn’t only typical European lore and North American store-bought decorations anymore. It is also This Island they filmed on. Why? Because freakin’ LADY GAGA AND TIM BURTON said so! Practically. And as someone who always adored Halloween but happened to live on an island that didn’t quite celebrate it or fit the aesthetic, yet still had its own spooky stuff going on, I literally cannot put into words how much this means. You’ll have to ponder it.

That’s not to say I don’t also appreciate other cultures and historical captures, you can bet I do and look forward to them, but this take is definitely an important and required addition to the ever-growing catalog of what gets associated with Halloween and all things spooky.

Besides hitting this milestone, I noticed a few details here and there that were peculiar. However, I can’t quite tell if they were subtly intentional, consciously or not, or merely attributable. Whatever the case, got The Dead Dance in there!