Sunday, July 30, 2017

Blog Challenge #07: How have you changed in the past five years?

/ @instagram /
I was a really shy and sensitive kid growing up. I could cry because of literally anything. I bumped into a table? Yups, I would cry. You raised your tone just a notch higher that normal when talking to me? Yups, crying again. I accidentally broke a tree branch? Better hide and cry some more. 

I am really glad to say that my younger crying self is way behind me. Now I am more of a "don't give a fuck" kind of person, definitely not shy anymore, but I would, at any time, avoid talking to people unless I reaaally have to. I don't know how I come across to other people, but I am the kind that values the time spent alone, and at the same time I become paranoid and a bit lonely when there's no one around. 

Going to college roughly five years ago had the biggest impact on me. I met a lot of new people and it felt refreshing talking openly about not having money, share opinions, and talk about just whatever crossed my mind. Growing up in a small village with almost no one my age to share my opinions with and asking questions, I was rather afraid of speaking up, but the whole college experience contributed to my change. I learned so much about myself and about the world that now I can say I am a different person. 

Of course my younger self is not all behind. Even now I'd rather not speak up unless things are really unfair and affects me in a bad way. I stay away of arguments and fights as much as possible, and I generally don't let mean comments affect me. Although I never was one that cared about what people say about me. You don't like how I dress? That's your problem, buddy, I suggest you look away.

I keep noticing things I do differently than before, I notice how I react differently to what happens around me. If you'd put the me now, and my teenage self side by side, I don't think anyone would believe we are the same person.

There are also some changes that happened simply because I grew up, I became an adult (although I'm terrible at adulting). Things that seemed vital to me years ago aren't important now. If my teenage self would read every interview and every piece of information about their favourite bands, now I don't really care about anything more than the music itself.

All in all, I enjoy realizing how I changed, and I truly believe that I am a better self. I strive to change even more, and I'm certain I will, it's inevitable. (•ᴗ•)

P.S.: I recently activated anonymous comments on my blog, and now I have hundreds of spam to go through. It wouldn't have come to this if blogger would have been kind enough to notify me about the comments other than by e-mail (I use a different mail that the one on my contact form and I don't check that one as often). What I want to say is thank you to the people that replied to my previous posts. I answered to some of them and I'll check today to see if there are any more non-spam replies.
But really, blogger, is it that hard to notify authors about comments on dashboard? Spam or not.

Sunday, July 23, 2017

Blog Challenge #06: Write about a movie you enjoyed rewatching

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There are quite some films I rewatched, some because I couldn't remember much of what happened, and some because they are simply awesome. One of these films is Life of Pi which is beautifully made. I rewatched this one quite recently, I just had to see again the amazing sceneries (CGI or not). Along with the stunning views, Life of Pi is an adventure, we get to see a young boy cast away at sea in the company of a Bengal tiger, we get to see them trying to survive together in the middle of the ocean, and trying to get back to civilization.

The first time I watched Life of Pi I was amazed by everything that was going on. I enjoyed it tremendously. This is the kind of film that after a while you (or me) just have to watch it again, and be amazed again.

Another film that I really enjoyed rewatching is Kung Fu Hustle. The first time I watched it it was kinda by mistake. It was on TV and I guess I didn't have anything better to do so I said why not. I liked it a lot. Ever since I was little I was amazed by Chinese kung-fu films, I couldn't wrap my head around how they fly, or more like leap, like that so effortlessly. 

On the plus side, Kung Fu Hustle is a comedy, and man, it is one of the best comedies I ever watched. I'm kinda picky when it comes to this genre, so when I find a film that actually makes me laugh it goes right up my list of good films. 

I could probably add some more films to this post, but for now I'll leave it at these two. I highly recommend them. (˵^‿^˵)

Sunday, July 16, 2017

Blog Challenge #05: What's the significance of your blog's name?

// @instagram //
I'm afraid my blog name doesn't have any hidden significance, and it's nothing out of ordinary. Blowing time means exactly that, blowing time. Plain and simple. 

I might have been a tad bit bored when I changed the name of my blog from whatever it was called at first (I'm not sure I remember, but I don't really want to remember either), and just thought about blowing time the same way you blow dandelions, only that I was planning on blowing time with words on top of words because sometimes when I'm writing time seems to just fly away. 

For me the title is pretty straight forward and doesn't really need an explanation, although at one point someone told me they are rather confused by it. When I came up with the title it felt natural and it fits so well that I had no doubt about it.

From the start I planned for my blog to be some place where I can fill my free time, where I can go when I get bored or when I want to do something that feels productive. Back then, same as now, I procrastinate a lot, so I figured a blog would make me procrastinate less (at least).

Actually, if I think about it, I think the initial name of my blog contained the word blog (very original), and toxic. That name is cringe worthy and I honestly don't know what I was thinking when I made it up, so Blowing time is actually an upgrade, and I feel it's way better than the original.

I have to be honest, I was expecting this post to be longer. What can you do, huh? ┐( ̄ー ̄)┌

Sunday, July 09, 2017

Blog Challenge #04: What characteristics you admire in people?

// instagram //
I think this might be one of the hardest topics of this challenge. Yeah, it seems simple enough, clearly I didn't think too much about it when I wrote the challenge, but there are so many characteristics that I appreciate that I just don't know which ones to pick. I'm gonna try and make a list of the top five characteristics I admire and also say why I admire them. I hope it won't take me too long to write this.

01. Being open-minded.
With all that's happening around us I'm surprised to see how many people seem to live in some sort of bubble, kind of like a world of their own where everyone has to agree their opinions, where all the things they don't like don't exist, or are not happening near them.

It's really not that hard being open minded, accepting that we are all different, that we feel, act and love differently. I admire open-minded people perhaps the most because even if they don't understand why you did or said something, they accept it as your own choice and don't try to impose when there's really nothing to impose about. As long as you are not hurting anyone, by all means do whatever you feel like doing.

02. Learning from your own mistakes.
We are only humans, we make mistakes, some bigger than others, but every mistake is a lesson. Being able to learn from it is a great thing. Instead of looking for someone to blame, we should want to overcome ourselves and become better.

03. Being kind. 
Kindness is such a rare trait that often a cashier's smile is mistaken as flirting, it's so rare that we actually need video proof that someone did something selfless. It's so weird. Growing up I thought that everyone is kind, but along the years I learned that some people are mean just because. I still can't wrap my head around it, I can't see a purpose or a why. People that can't be kind are the most mind blowing for me. It takes so little to offer someone your hand to cross the street and it makes you feel so good afterwards that I honestly wonder why not more people are doing it. Just imagine how the world could look like if we all showed a bit of kindness.

04. Giving space.
There are some days when I put my phone on silent, take my PC and do whatever without even bothering to check my phone. There are days when I actually don't know where my phone is, so having someone that can understand the need for space is wonderful instead of receiving passive-aggressive texts and whatnot. There isn't always a reason for needing space, so that need might be a bit hard to explain. People that can actually understand it and are able to give you the space you need are some of the best people to have around.

05. Being honest.
Honesty is another trait that seems to be lost when it is so much easier and a lot of unpleasant situations can be avoided by being honest. Honesty is one of those characteristics that take so little, but can take you very far, and I feel like dishonesty is so pointless, it doesn't help anyone, all it does is just messing things up for everyone involved.

Writing this I realised I could actually write more about the type of people I don't like. They are just so many! It's ridiculous! Really, guys, be kind, love yourselves and do whatever floats your boats.
Lots of hugs! ╰(*^︶ ^*)╯

Sunday, July 02, 2017

Blog Challenge #03: What TV shows are you watching now?

//instagram//
I don't think I ever was a big fan of TV shows, but there are some that are simply awesome. I'm not a patient person, so when I'm watching a TV show I often lose interest and completely forget about the new episode coming out so I usually watch already completed series. Still, there are some I could wait months for and I'd still be interested. 

  American Gods

Since this is the latest TV show I watched, I'm starting with American Gods. As someone who didn't previously read the book, everything is a mystery and I have to wait for every new episode to maybe find out a bit of what's going on or who everyone really is. At this point I know everything is going to connect in a way or another, but I can't really make the connections myself. Still, it is fun trying to do so.

Now that the first season already ended, I am left waiting some more to find out what on earth is going on exactly. Round two of fun is on when the second season comes out.

 Game of Thrones

Just a bit more until the next season of Game of Thrones, so this one is the second TV show I want to talk about. I don't even know what to say about it. I started watching Game of Thrones when the first two seasons were already released, and I got hooked from the first episode. I lost quite some nights of sleep and studying watching GOT, and I don't even regret it. To be completely honest I would have stayed up those nights regardless. 

Every episode of GOT makes me curious about what is going to happen next, and it's damn hard trying to detach so you won't get your heart crushed and stepped on if something bad happens to any of the characters you like. And never, ever have I disliked a TV show character as much as I dislike some of GOT's characters. It is a great show, I recommend it to friends and enemies too. 

  NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service

Or more commonly known simply as NCIS is a TV show that I keep getting back to. I used to watch random episodes on TV when I was little and later, when I realised that you can actually find anything on the internet, I started watching the show from the start. I sometimes watch episode after episode weeks on row, and sometimes I don't watch any for months. I found that this kind of arrangement works really well when it comes to this TV show, I don't get an overdose of NCIS, and it keeps me interested enough. 

The NCIS team is the best team, I like the chemistry between the characters and I like their different personalities. NCIS is a really well made show, and if it kept me hooked for years. 

For me, all these TV shows are interesting and don't bore me in the slightest. Since they are all so different from each other it is also refreshing switching back and forth, maybe throwing a film in between them at times. If you watch these TV shows too, please do tell me what you think about them. I'm excited on hearing opinions. (⌒▿⌒)