lathriel: (dancedancedance)
[personal profile] lathriel
And on the note of people worshipping stress, I had a realization Monday night: maybe if we all just acknowledged each other's efforts more often, from a positive perspective instead of sympathy, we wouldn't feel the need to dramatize our stress. If someone was constantly telling you how awesome you are for the things you do, or simply saying that they acknowledge and respect what you're doing, maybe you'd feel good about it, not stressed. Maybe you'd take the time to acknowledge others. Maybe we should all try to do this, just to see what happens?

That is not to say YOU specifically, or anyone, doesn't already take some time to tell people "I see what you're doin' thar, tis good." Let's just ramp it up a notch, eh? Validate people before they have the chance to start grumbling.

Anyway, onto my own "stress." Further along the experimentation lines, I'd like to talk about lists. How do you feel about lists? I think they're awesome, the best way of organizing ever, and to empty my brain of tasks so that I can focus one at a time. But some people find them oppressive- "oh shit I forgot about that, and that, and that..." But I think for my purposes I'm going to make a list now. In lieu of in-person external validation, I am going to write it out and validate myself.

So, here has been life since September:

1.) Meet my soul mate.
2.) Get engaged.
3.) Finish the semester.
4.) Graduate from college, and end the 6 year era of me being only pseudo-independent.
5.) Begin planning a wedding. The reception venue and the dress were the MOST stressful to find.
5.a.) Begin being a bridesmaid and substitute maid of honor for my friend whose MoH lives in Cali.
6.) Job hunt forever, doubt my value as a human, my ability as a writer, my capacity for independence, etc.
7.) Start new job working for the family business.
7.a) Start said business from scratch.
8.) Find a new apartment for Jared and I.
9.) Still planning that wedding!
10.) Move into the new apartment.
11.) Plan bridal shower for friend.
12.) Take over paying for all my own stuff, for the first time ever (I've had rent, phone, and some groceries covered during college... spoiled, I know, but I still have to face the adjustment)
13.) Take on a freelance editing assignment.
14.) Hello, wedding planning. What's that, everyone now has an opinion but I still have to do all the work?

And that's leaving out a lot of equally stressful small details.

Ahhh but you know what, despite the stress, it's really freaking awesome! *pats self on back* Besides, if I wasn't under gratuitous amounts of stress I wouldn't have had this opportunity for spiritual growth. And, by the way, I'm really enjoying experimenting with ideas about "stress." So yay for me! Soon this will all be over, and I'll be bored, haha. No, a writer is never bored. But you know what I mean.

Speaking of writing, The Hierophant is reinventing itself, tightening its universe and characters, making itself more fun and, well, rock 'n' roll. ;D Also, I'm definitely over the halfway point in The Poppet and the Lune, and I'm excited to begin the home stretch. Ooooh the ending is going to be so awesome! And I think once things settle down around here, I'm going to begin working on some sketches for illustrations. Yes! And maybe, one day, I will actually get around to that animation...

Well, happy Beltane Eve everyone! Have a wonderful May Day weekend!

Date: 2010-04-30 04:02 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] littleloveflame.livejournal.com
Blessed Beltane Eve to someone who rocks my socks. I LOVE the way you are handling all this -
and devouring Poppet.
And congrats on the growth in The Hierophant :-D

Date: 2010-04-30 04:45 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lathriel.livejournal.com
Heeee thank you! Have a fantastic holiday weekend! ;D

Date: 2010-04-30 04:05 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] costumenut.livejournal.com
You're awesome! And I'm not just saying that cuz you said I should. ;-)

Date: 2010-04-30 04:45 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lathriel.livejournal.com
Awwwwww ;-; THANK YOU!

You're awesome tooo! :D Have a great time this weekend!

Date: 2010-05-01 03:38 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] folkchick3.livejournal.com
Don't let wedding stress take away the glow - this is supposed to be FUN! I loved planning my wedding, but yes, it surely was a lot of work (!!) so take time, MAKE time to spoil yourself, to enjoy the process, to savor the planning. When I was planning my wedding I was renting a bedroom in my friend Ally's house... it was a gorgeous vintage 1930's bungalow with wood floors and high ceilings and I did the bedroom up like a Victorian era stage set and reclined on my antique brass bed in long velvet dresses as I pored over invitation catalogs, ribbon samples, floral designs and dress patterns for a year. It was delicious. Other than the cake, the invitations and my dress & jewelry (Which I bought) and the bridesmaids dresses (which were made my my cousins, but I helped!) I did everything for the wedding, and I mean EVERYTHING. I chose the music, secured the organist and a soloist (a dear friend), picked the songs, did all the flowers myself, including twenty pew-end wreaths, 7 bouquets, 60 table centerpieces and boutonierres for the men... (why don't they just call then man-corasges? That's what they really are!) made my veil and headpiece, found vintage shoes and a 1930's beaded bag to go with my godmothers wedding garter (then fifty years old), wrote the vows and ceremony and even created the unity candle and floral alterpiece. Obviously, I am a control freak. The thing is, I look back on that time and although I know it was stressful while it was happening, I remember only the good stuff now. Making 200 favors amid wine and pizza with my friend Beth and her daughters, trying on wedding gowns with my Mom and my girlfriends (I knew it would be "the one" when Cindi burst into tears, and it was!LOL!)finding out that my best-beloved brother would be returning from Africa in time to be in the wedding... those are the things I remember. These days will be precious memories for you, later, when all the flurry and stress die down... collect them like jewels. I have been married for eight years and I still smile when I remember my bridesmaids stealing my watch so I would stop worrying about how much time I had to get ready. (I never did get it back!) Then there was the advice given by our Pastor... she said "You may kiss the bride, and listen to me - this is the kiss you will remember all your lives, so make it a darn good one!!" I am giving you the same advice. In the end, there are really only two things that matter; you are one of them and he is the other. The rest? Icing on the wedding cake.
I am so happy for you!


PS

You in the dress pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!

Date: 2010-05-01 11:37 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lathriel.livejournal.com
Thank you for this!

It does seem like the bride ends up doing everything, doesn't it? And in my case, it's not for lack of interest on the groom's part, just lack of understanding. He hasn't read the wedding books and magazines, he doesn't really get the timeline and what all goes into it. But, I'm just glad that when I can get him to sit down and look at icing flavors and centerpieces and invitations, he actually enjoys it :)

It's going to be an amazing day, no matter what kind of flowers we pick ;D

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