Mystic Monday: In the pursuit of a trope

    Most works of fiction rely on the use of tropes to convey the story to readers. Whether it's a broad theme like "man vs. nature" or a specific characterization like "The Chosen One". These tropes play a crucial role. In my work in progress, Æther, I'm focusing on a few tropes that I'd like to explore.

    Let's start with Accismus, a rhetorical trope where someone pretends to refuse something they actually desire. While commonly found in fictional narratives, this trope can also be applied to real-life situations to add humor, playfulness, or intrigue to interactions. Here are a few examples:

1. Invitations: Instead of simply accepting a party invitation, you could employ Accismus by responding with a playful refusal, such as, "Oh, I don't know if I should go. Parties are usually so much fun, and I wouldn't want to have a great time with awesome people. But okay, I guess I'll make an exception this time!"

2. Compliments: When someone compliments you, you can respond with an Accismus-infused reply to downplay your achievements or appearance. For instance, if someone says, "You look stunning today," you could respond with a lighthearted refusal like, "Oh, stop it! I just happen to accidentally put together a decent outfit from time to time."

3. Gift-giving: If someone offers you a gift, you can show appreciation while employing Accismus. You might say, "Wow, this is amazing! I definitely don't need another snow globe. My house is just overflowing with snow globes, but I suppose I could make room for this one. Thank you so much!"

4. Requests for assistance: When someone asks for your help, you can playfully refuse using Accismus. For example, if a colleague asks for assistance with a project, you could say, "Oh, I'm not sure if I'm the right person for the job. I'm terrible at public speaking! I might accidentally make things worse. But if you're desperate, I'll give it a shot!"

    In my story, this last example serves as the jumping-off point. The main character resides in a town, knowing they have something more to offer the world. They yearn to be asked to venture forth but seek permission to break free. Through acts of refusal, they hope others will help them shed their chains. They search for support in their closest family and allies, seeking the confidence to accept their desires. The desire itself is a crucial aspect of Accismus. The manner of refusal carries significance—whether it's haughty, cocky, humble, lighthearted, or scared. Fear plays a significant role in the main character's denial, leading them to underestimate themselves and their abilities. This theme of wanting to do more while grappling with guilt over potentially abandoning those in need becomes the focal point of the first section of my book. I hope it resonates with readers who have experienced similar emotions and allows them to identify with the character.

    The overarching arc of the first part revolves around leaving home and discovering a shattered world. By emphasizing trepidation and fear in the main character, I aim to create a protagonist who doesn't immediately garner unwavering support from the audience. He will have to earn their affection and loyalty. I believe in the philosophy that readers shouldn't blindly side with a character simply because they are introduced first. Therefore, I plan to introduce this flaw at the beginning of the book, starting the main character with a negative balance. He will have to work hard to climb out of this character hole and earn his way into the readers' hearts.

 I'm excited to delve more in to tropes and character development in this blog and hope that my three pillars are able to keep people entertained and talking! Thanks for stopping in for writing exploration on Mondays!

Setting a Schedule

    I've learned from past experiences that setting a schedule is crucial for keeping myself on track. With that in mind, I'm excited to announce a revamped approach to my blog. Starting this week, I'll be dedicating specific days to discussing the three major aspects of my life: Fatherhood, Food, and Fantasy. By organizing my blog posts around these topics, I hope to share my experiences, insights, and passions with you in a more structured and engaging way.

Thursdays: Fatherhood Findings     On Thursdays, I invite you to join me in reflecting on the successes and challenges I face as a dad throughout the week. I'll delve into various parenting topics, sharing my thoughts, experiences, and lessons learned. Together, we can explore the joys and complexities of fatherhood and parenting to engage in meaningful conversations about raising children in today's world. There are a million places to go to talk to other parents and I hope here is becomes a space where people are comfortable to share!

Saturdays: Fun With Food!     Food has always held a special place in my heart (and stomach), and on Saturdays, I'll be diving into the realm of the delicious. I'll share my culinary adventures, whether it's a show I recently watched, a thought-provoking podcast I stumbled upon, or a delightful recipe I've tried or plan to attempt. Get ready for tantalizing discussions about flavors, cultures, and the joy of preparing and savoring delicious meals. Hopefully this one will bring along pictures and inspire some people to share their favorites too! I'm always willing to try a new food or recipe!

Mondays: Fantasy Realms and Writing Updates     As an aspiring writer, Mondays will be devoted to my fantasy world-building endeavors and progress on my book. Join me as I explore the vast landscapes of imagination, discuss writing techniques, and share insights from the writing community. We'll delve into tropes, character development, world-building, and anything else that captures the essence of the fantasy genre. Together, we'll embark on a journey to unleash our creativity and craft compelling stories. Sometimes a spark is all you need to unleash an inferno of inspiration!

    I'm excited to try and refresh this blogging journey, and hope to make a community around parents that share my interests and passions! I'll be sharing my experiences as a father, my culinary explorations, and my deep passion for writing and fantasy. Through this revamped schedule, I aim to provide you with engaging, thought-provoking content that reflects a diverse set of interests. I invite you to join me on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Mondays as we delve into the realms of Fatherhood, Food, and Fantasy. Let's embark on this adventure together, discovering the joys and challenges of life's rich tapestry.

Brain's need worked out too!

    I've been working a lot lately, between my side gig driving for Uber and my main job at the bank. I'm putting in about 60 hours a week, which is starting to take a toll on me. Although the bank job will soon be over, I'll have to increase my hours doing ride share. Plus, I'm also a dad and trying to pursue other side hustles, so it's getting to be a bit much! Writing and story-building are a few ways that I can relax for a bit and let my creative side blossom. I particularly enjoy participating in creative writing exercises and mental puzzles like Wordle and Sudoku, which can provide several mental health benefits.

Here are some of the benefits of engaging in mental games:

• Reducing stress and anxiety: Engaging in creative writing or mental puzzles can be a relaxing and calming activity. It can be used as a tool to distract you from any stress or anxiety you may be feeling. Sometimes the best way to deal with anxiety is to try and trick your brain out of a non-helpful "what if" circle.

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• Boosting mood: Creative writing can help you express your emotions and process any difficult experiences you may be going through. It can also provide a sense of accomplishment and pride when you complete a piece of writing or solve a challenging puzzle. Success drops little serotonin bombs into our brain. Likewise, we get a sense of accomplishment from working through our feelings. I know that I feel a hundred times better when I can communicate something to my partner that bothers me, when I understand it more myself. Decoding my personal emotions is like a puzzle in itself, which can boost my mood!

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• Improving cognitive function: Mental puzzles like Wordle and Sudoku require critical thinking and problem-solving skills, which can improve cognitive function and mental agility. Creative writing exercises can also challenge your mind and improve your memory and verbal fluency. Your brain is a muscle, and training it with simple exercises is going to help keep you sharp. I know I am at my best when I'm feeling in tip-top shape.

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• Building self-confidence: As you practice creative writing or solve more challenging mental puzzles, you may feel a sense of self-confidence and self-esteem. You may feel a sense of pride in your abilities and accomplishments, which can boost your overall mood and mental well-being. Everyone enjoys being a winner. It's human nature. Accomplishing small things helps you build up to bigger things. Knocking out your puzzles for the day and crossing them off your list leads to doing your small chores, which leads you to completing pieces of a project, which leads you to finishing a book! Or at least that's how I'm going to picture it!

    If you're interested in trying out writing prompts, try going on Twitter or Reddit to find writing prompt groups. Fan fiction is also a legitimate form of creative writing, although I try to avoid the over-the-top, world-breaking ones. There are prompts all over the spectrum, from horror to action, to subverting character tropes. However you do it, it'll get your creative juices flowing to try and weave a tale or at least a character or scene.

    As for mental puzzles, Wordle obviously has its home over on the New York Times, but there are variations like Qourdle, Worldle, and Heardle. There are tons of options for people to do puzzles to recharge their batteries. Sudoku is a bit more immersive, so I usually combine it with a DuoLingo lesson to start my day. All in all, it may seem like a lot to do each day, but it's a fun way to try and organize. I work best with lists, and these games make for a fun bit of change on the check list.

Take a chance on some prompts this week and let me know if you find any interesting ones! It might even give you inspiration to complete a chunk of your book or other project.

Baby steps baby!

I don't have any book updates for you today, but I've been continuing to record my observations of creatures in real life. The most peculiar creatures by far have been the other humans on a weight loss journey with me. As someone who is a little overweight and looking to stay healthy, I can attest to the power of small changes that can lead to big results. Making sustainable changes to your daily routine can be key to achieving your weight loss goals. Here are some examples of how I've incorporated small changes into my own routine, and how they've built up over time:

Exercise: One of the most effective things I've done to increase my activity level is to take daily walks with my dog. At first, this was just a 10-15 minute walk around the block, but over time I've gradually increased the duration and intensity of our walks. I've also started incorporating other forms of exercise into my routine, such as bodyweight exercises and yoga.

Diet: Making small changes to your diet can also have a big impact on your weight loss goals. For me, this has included things like swapping out high-calorie snacks for healthier options like fruit or nuts, choosing more nutritious meal options, and packing my own lunch instead of eating out. I've also been paying closer attention to portion sizes and trying to eat more mindfully, which has helped me feel more in control of my eating habits.

Intention: Finally, setting intentions and goals has been crucial to staying motivated and focused on my weight loss journey. This can be as simple as setting a goal to drink a certain amount of water each day, or aiming to take a certain number of steps each day. By setting small, achievable goals for myself, I've been able to build up my confidence and momentum over time.

When it comes to setting intentions, I take these four steps:

• Be specific: Set a specific goal to achieve rather than a vague one.
• Make it realistic: Set goals that are challenging but attainable given your current lifestyle and circumstances.
• Keep it positive: Focus on what you want to add to your life, rather than what you want to take away.
• Be consistent: Follow through with consistent action to make real progress.

Overall, I've found that each small change I've made to my diet, exercise, and intention has built on the previous one, creating a solid foundation for a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. While there have certainly been setbacks and challenges along the way, I've learned to be patient and kind to myself, and to focus on progress rather than perfection.

Another key component of my weight loss plan apart from my diet is hydration. Drinking plenty of water is essential for staying hydrated and can also help with weight loss by reducing hunger and promoting feelings of fullness. I've also made an effort to cut back on high-calorie beverages like alcohol, which can quickly add up in terms of calories and sugar.

The most important thing is to make small, sustainable changes to your daily routine. Rather than trying to overhaul your entire lifestyle overnight, focus on making small changes that you can stick to over the long term. This can include packing healthy snacks to take to work, choosing more nutritious meal options, and finding ways to incorporate more physical activity into your day.

The result of these small changes for me has been a total weight loss of 13 pounds this year, bringing me down to 249 pounds. While this may not seem like a dramatic transformation, it's a testament to the power of small, sustainable changes. And I know that by continuing to focus on my health and wellness, I can achieve my weight loss goals and enjoy a happier, healthier lifestyle.

Remember, weight loss doesn't have to be a daunting task. Small steps make great strides! it all starts with baby steps!