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ParallelDreams reacted 3 years ago

Music Review: Ed Sheeran's "=" Album

A while back ago I wrote about Ed Sheeran’s single “Bad Habits” and how it debuts his new music era. So now that his = album has been out for some time, I want to come back to him and review his work. I had suggested his new album will be electronic music since “Bad Habits” resembles techno. This was basically a guess, but I didn’t expect to get it right. Yet despite this new change in genre, there are echoes of his past self, which is symbolized in the equal sign for his music and life. “An equals symbol is the end of a question and start of an answer, it’s in the middle of the two. I definitely feel like being 30 I’m on either side.”

Music Review: Ed Sheeran's "=" Album by Esmeralda Gomez
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ParallelDreams reacted 3 years ago

How Venom Is Eddie's Shadow Self

In the craft of storytelling, there’s this thing called the "shadow," which is essentially a character that the “hero” has to confront if they want to overcome an obstacle, achieve growth, and reach their goals. The character is often a “villain,” but they embody the problematic parts that belong to the hero, which get ignored by subconscious suppression. But the term "shadow" came from Carl Jung's work in psychology and his concept of “shadow work” which was built from Freud's work on repression. If you’re unfamiliar with the “shadow self,” know that it is the self that’s suppressed from the conscious mind. This is because the shadow self is the negative emotions, thoughts, and behavior that a person is unaware of because they don’t want the negative traits associated with them, but they can surface when a person is triggered. But because they suppress their shadow self so much, they won’t remember their hurtful actions or words after the triggering event has passed.

How Venom Is Eddie's Shadow Self by Esmeralda Gomez
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ParallelDreams reacted 3 years ago

The Best Version Of The Legend Of La Llorona

Growing up, I knew La Llorona as a wailing woman who drowned her children. My dad would dismiss the stories saying the cries heard in Mexico were simply cats. He told me this the first time I was exposed to her story, seeing no need to scare me into behaving since Catholicism did that too much- which he tried limiting my exposure from. But as much as I want to credit him for my logical and realistic mind, I’m here to tell you which version of La Llorona is best to tell. Throughout South America, Mexico, and the Southwest of the United States there are regional variations of La Llorona. Yet despite them, the most famous tale from them is that La Llorona was a beautiful peasant woman who married a rich ranchero. They’re said to have lived happily with children until her husband brought home another woman and condemned her and his children back into poverty.

The Best Version Of The Legend Of La Llorona by Esmeralda Gomez
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ParallelDreams reacted 3 years ago

How Is Your Mental Health Linked With Your Physical Health And Vice Versa

What is mental health? According to World Health Organization (WHO), mental health is defined as "a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life and develop his full potential, can work productively and fruitfully, and can make a contribution to his or her community." It is totally normal for mentally healthy people to also feel sadness, anger, or unhappiness, which are the core components of a meaningful life. Nevertheless, a good state of mental health quite often is considered as a positive state of mind, filled with happiness, and being in control over the situation and environment.

How Is Your Mental Health Linked With Your Physical Health And Vice Versa by Eglant Hoxhulka
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ParallelDreams reacted 3 years ago

The Philosophy Of Names In The Movie Coraline

When I first saw the movie Coraline, I was horrified by the creepiness, so I made sure to never watch it again. But I saw it as a child, so of course, I was scared. However, as an adult, it’s still terrifying, which I respect and love. Because of this, I read the book and there’s something I noticed that makes me love the written story more- the motif of names with identity and listening. It sounds weird, but there’s a philosophy behind names and identity. I kid you not, there’s literal philosophy about names and their semantics. But don’t worry, I won’t bore you with the theories and their technicality.

The Philosophy Of Names In The Movie Coraline by Esmeralda Gomez
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ParallelDreams reacted 3 years ago

How To Help A Family Member Through A Stressful Life Situation

Stress is an undeniable fact that plays a crucial role in our life, an unavoidable reality we have to accept if we want to live our lives meaningfully. It is a normal part of our lives, we deal with it every day. According to the NIMH National Insitute of Mental Health, stress is the way our body reacts to any demands. It comes in many different forms, amounts, and situations. People experience stress differently from one another. Stress may be triggered by small events, like traffic jams, a long line at the store, or it can be the outcome of a crisis or big change in life like the death of a loved one, divorce, the pandemic, etc.

How To Help A Family Member Through A Stressful Life Situation by Eglant Hoxhulka
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ParallelDreams reacted 3 years ago

An Undecided Fate

Decisions. Although many of the decisions you make seem to have little effect on your life, they may just flip your entire world upside down. What you once knew, what you were once comfortable with could be gone the instant a decision is made. My awareness of this does not help the fact that I am very indecisive. As each day passes, I grow more fearful that I will make the wrong move and screw myself over for the next 50 or so years of my existence. This weight is too heavy and I’m not sure how much longer I can hold it- “Are you gonna order or what?” “Huh?” I blinked.

An Undecided Fate by Alyssa Hubbard
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ParallelDreams reacted 3 years ago

Why Is "Sex Education" The Best Teen Show On Netflix

Sex Education is a Netflix original show that’s British. It’s perfect for teens because it deconstructs American cliche narratives by fleshing out each character three-dimensionally and dynamically while exploring themes on self-discovery, human connection, and sex. Note that because the show involves sex, there is nudity. So if that’s not something you can tolerate, I don’t recommend this show. Though, if you’re on the fence about it, I recommend trying to overlook that aspect since the stories are irreplaceable and invaluable. Here’s why Sex Education Is The Best Teen Show

Why Is "Sex Education" The Best Teen Show On Netflix by Esmeralda Gomez
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ParallelDreams reacted 3 years ago

How Parents Can Help Teens Manage Their Exam Stress

The wish of every parent for their child is to have success in life and fulfill his dreams. Children and teenagers face challenges to overcome during the road to progress, but it is important to remember that whatever duty or task a teen may face, it carries a considerable amount of stress for them. But what is stress? Stress is our body's response to pressure. There are various situations or life events that trigger stress. It happens when we are faced with something new, unknown, which is a threat to ourselves, or if we have no control over something. In such cases, adrenaline is released which raises heart and breathing rate. Our muscles become tense and we are in a state of alertness.

How Parents Can Help Teens Manage Their Exam Stress by Eglant Hoxhulka
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ParallelDreams reacted 3 years ago

How To Deal With Stress And Anxiety Caused By Work From Home

With the spread of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, everyone's life underwent a dramatic change across the world, the US included. The work sector made no difference, this pandemic forced people and governments to take precautions they never thought of. Although some of us went back to our normal workplace, many Americans are dealing with a return phase or still working from home. Due to this pandemic, people feel like going through unexplored waters, forcing people, governments, and businesses to find new methods to continue working and interacting with one another, but without forgetting to take care of themselves, their mental health, and general well-being.

How To Deal With Stress And Anxiety Caused By Work From Home by Eglant Hoxhulka
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ParallelDreams reacted 3 years ago

"Educating" In Education Is Like Reading, There Are So Many Broad Grey Areas

The standards of education have dramatically changed since the last year 2020 where the methods of meeting in a classroom with a teacher and having an interaction with other students have now been challenged and transformed to remote learning. According to Andy Lalwani's,The Most Popular education trends in 2021is the fact that students will be able to learn faster which will make them smarter to be far more effective in determining the career path, however, teachers need to be more willing to accept not only the constant demands and growth of technology but how to use their classroom in a whole new way which includes helpful steps to make a positive learning environment educational.

"Educating" In Education Is Like Reading, There Are So Many Broad Grey Areas by Saira V Ramjit
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ParallelDreams reacted 3 years ago

6 Native American Books To Read In Order To Support BIPOC Artists And Anthologies

When it comes to supporting BIPOC artists, it can be difficult to know where to start. I personally had a hard time searching for contemporary Native authors that wrote science fiction or fantasy. However, I eventually came across a group of books that I read and loved. Sadly, they’re not as widely known as they should be. So if you’re having a hard time finding a good read, here’s my personal and recommended list of Native stories, but note that most of them are anthologies. Love Beyond Body Space and Time is a science fiction and fantasy anthology with LGBTQ+ characters in interactional stories written by Indigenous authors. In “Imposter Syndrome” by Mari Kurisato, Aanji is an AI in the process of transitioning as a human, which parallels the trans journey of hormone therapy and plastic surgery.

6 Native American Books To Read In Order To Support BIPOC Artists And Anthologies by Esmeralda Gomez
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ParallelDreams reacted 3 years ago

Radical Feminism: The Intimates Of Man And Woman

In a world of society that governs Man and Woman by the roles that they play; the man plays the husbands, fathers, boyfriends, brothers, lovers, friends, and yes, the hunters and the woman play the wives, mothers, mistresses, girlfriends, sisters, and friends. It is often wondered why there has always been a hidden imbalance about the way men and women coexist and live together in a less happy world where the Women's Rights Movements had to be made to provoke the acknowledgment of the rights of women to stand side by side by their men or men in general. The question is why men and women in society rank so unequal in both their professional and personal lives that the word Feminism was invented.

Radical Feminism: The Intimates Of Man And Woman by Saira V Ramjit
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ParallelDreams reacted 3 years ago

The Top 10 Ways You Can Embrace And Celebrate Who You Are

From our earliest childhood memories to the times in adulthood that leave the deepest impressions on us, society has seemingly written our story for us. Society’s story unfolds in a way that is often out of our realm of control. It is written time and time again that unless we fit a certain mold, we are worthless. Unless we look or act a certain way or come from a certain background, we are different, weird, and unworthy of care and attention. Society tells us what we are, and then society tells us what we should be and what we should strive for, pointing out all our flaws and imperfections along the way.

The Top 10 Ways You Can Embrace And Celebrate Who You Are by Emily Zane
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ParallelDreams reacted 3 years ago

8 Reasons Why The FX Show "Pose" Deserves More Attention

When the BIPOC and LGBTQ+ community are presented in film and tv, they’re either supporting or minor characters that get killed off, stereotyped, or simply underdeveloped. But Pose has a special place in LGBTQ+ history since the story is about ballroom culture in the trans community during the 80s in New York with a specific focus on Black and Latina women. So throughout the seasons, we get to witness them trying to live their best lives, despite their hardships with the AIDS epidemic and discrimination. The show is then about trans history and their struggles during this time period, but it’s also about the hope and love that make them strong and resilient.Though, other reasons make this show great.

8 Reasons Why The FX Show "Pose" Deserves More Attention by Esmeralda Gomez
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ParallelDreams reacted 4 years ago

3 Reasons Why "The Suicide Squad" Is Better Than "Suicide Squad"

The film Suicide Squad (2016) was hyped up from its premise, actors, brand, and studio company, making it successful in the box office. However, it left DC fans disappointed. Now in 2021, there’s a new film called The Suicide Squad. What’s up with that? And I’m with you; I was equally confused by the title. These days franchises avoid placing numbers in their titles, so it comes across as a reboot or sequel. But it’s neither. According to James Gunn, The Suicide Squad is a stand-alone film. James Gunn was initially hired by Warner Brothers to write a Superman movie. But he had a particular interest in “The Suicide Squad” comics, specifically with John Ostrander's version and his idea of the villains being disposable. How’s the film not a reboot then? Because the multiverse exists. Yet some features make it sound like a sequel.

3  Reasons Why "The Suicide Squad" Is Better Than "Suicide Squad" by Esmeralda Gomez
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ParallelDreams reacted 4 years ago

How To Be A Low-Key Creep While Talking To Your Crush

Have you ever had a crush that just doesn't seem to take a hint? Follow these steps and he's sure to notice you! Look him up on social media and check it regularly. This is always the first step because social media will tell you a lot about a person, and if he’s already taken, you don’t want to be wasting your time. Pay attention to his timeline, notice how he shares political commentary but spaced out between funny memes; clever. He wants to show he stays relevant but doesn’t want to overdo it. Scroll past the pictures of him and his guy friends, but notice how one of them is actually really cute. Stop at the pictures with a skinny blonde girl making duck faces; a false alarm, it’s his friend from high school. Whew, that was close.

How To Be A Low-Key Creep While Talking To Your Crush by Mia Belgie
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ParallelDreams reacted 4 years ago

15 HAUNTINGLY Good Haunts In Savannah, Georgia

As a born and bred South Georgian, who has been to Savannah more times than I can recall, and as a lover of all things paranormal and spooky, there are few places I love more than this city. The hostess city doesn’t just host thousands upon thousands of tourists and locals with good food, beautiful architecture, and southern hospitality; it is also the permanent home to countless souls who are bound to loom over its squares, streets, taverns, inns, and halls for eternity. Why is Savannah claimed to be one of the most haunted cities in the United States? Founded in 1733 by James Oglethorpe, the city of Savannah has been no stranger to death, disease, and siege for almost 300 years of its existence.

15 HAUNTINGLY Good Haunts In Savannah, Georgia by Kathlyn King
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ParallelDreams reacted 4 years ago

Job-hopping For Mental Health, Be Free From Ties And Explore Different Lives

Have you ever felt stuck in your daily routine, felt a massive weight on your shoulders, and experienced huge swing moods (usually between extremely bored and overwhelmed by your tasks)? Have you ever wished to experience another way of living? Then, welcome to the club. Just ask around you or look at the faces of the people on the metro: what do you think they’ll tell you? I hate my job. Boss. Workmates. Whatever: the point is that they have had enough. I have got two words for you: job-hopping. That is to say, the art of changing the workplace every so often. Let’s answer a few questions that I have been asked throughout the years about my job-hopping.

Job-hopping For Mental Health, Be Free From Ties And Explore Different Lives by Sara Piselli Giunchi
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ParallelDreams reacted 4 years ago

11 Warning Signs Of Exercise Addiction

You pull on your leggings, tie up your laces, tighten your ponytail, and secure your EarPods. The weather is beautiful, perfect for a run. You head out down your normal route and run a couple of miles with the music pumping in your ears. With a glistening sheen of sweat, you circle back home and head inside to cool down. As you wipe your face with a towel and lie under the fan, you feel strong and energized. The endorphins are racing through your body and you feel empowered, ready to take on the world. You’re tired but you feel proud and content. Maybe you’ve just finished a yoga, barre, or Pilates class. You may have just wrapped up a CrossFit WOD, a weightlifting session, a dance, or a kickboxing class. Maybe you’ve just knocked out a quick HIIT workout or spent 30 minutes on the Stairmaster.

11 Warning Signs Of Exercise Addiction by Emily Zane
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ParallelDreams reacted 4 years ago

History Behind Leonardo DiCaprio’s Movie, Killers Of The Flower Moon

Though Leonardo DiCaprio has been the source of the famous "pointing meme" lately, there is now some fresh DiCaprio-related news to share. Leonardo DiCaprio’s last film, 2019’s Once Upon A Time In Hollywood left fans and film buffs alike asking for more. Here is everything we know about Leonardo DiCaprio's next film: Killers Of The Flower Moon. Leonardo DiCaprio is set to star in Martin Scorsese’s next film, Killers Of The Flower Moon. Costarring Robert De Niro, it takes place in the 1920’s when members of the Osage Tribe are murdered, sparking an investigation by J. Edgar Hoover.

History Behind Leonardo DiCaprio’s Movie, Killers Of The Flower Moon by Joseph Poulos
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ParallelDreams reacted 4 years ago

How To Heal A Damaged Family Relationship In 10 Clear Ways

Family relationships can often be fickle. You find yourself in a conflict with a family member, and this can lead to anything from a stint of the silent treatment to cutting that family member off completely. Your response depends on the conflict and how you’ve chosen to communicate with that family member thus far. Family conflict is most often caused by a difference of opinion or belief over an important issue. Even though you’re a part of the same family, you won’t always see eye to eye with all family members on an imperative matter, and you will often disagree. These disagreements don’t have to be earth-shattering, but sometimes they explode into something bigger than the family members expected. An argument that goes south can cause a deep rift among families, resulting in the severance of communication and affection.

How To Heal A Damaged Family Relationship In 10 Clear Ways by Emily Zane
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ParallelDreams reacted 4 years ago

8 Reasons Why We Need To Change Our Inner Dialogues Right Now

How often do you catch yourself saying something negative about how you look, something you’ve done, or something you’ve said? Chances are it’s pretty frequent. Self-criticism is the umbrella over all the mean, harsh things you say to yourself about who and what you are. To be self-critical means that you talk to yourself in a way that is negative and cruel, and while your intention may be good, the outcome rarely ever is. This talk track manifests toxicity and is a breeding ground for self-hatred. We are often critical of ourselves in order to force growth and development. We aren’t content with how we are, and we take charge of the discontent by mercilessly criticizing ourselves and our actions, attempting to create the change we desire.

8 Reasons Why We Need To Change Our Inner Dialogues Right Now by Emily Zane
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ParallelDreams reacted 4 years ago

The Real, Honest Reason You're Unhappy With Your Life

We’re all human; we all experience those days where we’re feeling down, sad, and generally unhappy. There are things that cause that momentary unhappiness such as life circumstances, events that occur, needs not being met, and conflict within relationships. There are many daily situations that can bring our mood down and impact the way we feel about ourselves and our lives. Unhappiness comes in several different forms. To be unhappy, you are lacking joy and excitement in the moment, as well as the typical feelings of normalcy that come along with day-to-day monotony.

The Real, Honest Reason You're Unhappy With Your Life by Emily Zane
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ParallelDreams reacted 4 years ago

How To Break Free From Addiction For Good

How to break free from addiction for good? Whether it’s alcohol or social media, if you have battled with addiction for any number of years, you know that it’s not enough to just stop. Stopping is relatively easy. The hard part is not to start again. Bill Wilson, a co-founder of AA, saw thousands of people quit drinking after “working the 12-step program.” But he noticed over time that many of them eventually replaced their old addiction with a new one. “How often have some of us begun to drink in this nonchalant way, and after the third or fourth, pounded on the bar and said to ourselves, “For God’s sake, how did I ever get started again?’” AA’s Big Book, page 24.

How To Break Free From Addiction For Good by Eugene Terekhin
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ParallelDreams reacted 4 years ago

The Noose Of Thought - A Short Exploration Of Mental Illness And Addiction

As far as human conditions are concerned, addiction and mental health disorders are nothing new. However, understanding these afflictions and ourselves is less than perfect science. Take a look into our history and these themes are seen repeatedly. Snippets revealed in arts, societies, and sciences alike. It may be ugly but look closely, what we know now certainly isn't what it used to be. We’ve come a long way from exorcising schizophrenics, eating happy paints, and letting women die of broken hearts and black drapes. Our minds are intricate things and even now some of our most intimate workings remain mysteries. The good news is they're ready to learn. We know mental health refers to a person's psychological and emotional well-being and mental illness attacks this health.

The Noose Of Thought - A Short Exploration Of Mental Illness And Addiction by fishnets&corduroy
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ParallelDreams reacted 4 years ago

Couples Hack: 15 Relationship Fundamentals You Need To Know

No two couples are alike. That's because couples vary based on the individuals involved in the relationship. However, there are 15 relationship fundamentals each relationship should be built on for sustainable happiness. Many people would answer that love is the base of any romantic relationship, and that love can conquer all. Unfortunately, they are sadly mistaken. Love and attraction will bring you together but won't keep you together. There are many people walking around with love in their hearts for someone they legitimately can't be with for reasons such as; they can't agree on anything, trust issues, they're always arguing, and/or they want two different things.

Couples Hack: 15 Relationship Fundamentals You Need To Know by Rio Sensei
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ParallelDreams reacted 4 years ago

Mumbai!

Everyone has a dream city they aspire to be a part of, to settle in, a city that they can call home out of a sene of belongingness they associate with it. Mine happens to be Mumbai. It felt visceral, to have stepped into this city on 29th July, 2019, for the first time not as a visitor but as a fellow resident. A girl with a suitcase full of big dreams and aspirations (yes, that’s exactly how filmy the moment felt, courtesy to all those cheesy Bollywood movies I have grown binge watching on)...
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