Today marks the thirteenth anniversary of the day I joined SL.
Thirteen… years… in… SL!!
I will unashamedly say that I am profoundly grateful of that time and space in my life. SL has provided the mental buffer zone to troubled times in my life, but has also afforded me the luxury of stepping out of myself, to see my written words almost as a different viewer and use that perspective to work on who I am.
This time of year always makes me reflect, and I guess 2020 even more than usual. As we travel from Halloween to All Soul’s Day, it is a perfect time to focus on what is important. Life is never set in stone. Indeed, if there was ever a year to prove that this one is it! We must adapt and evolve.
Yesterday it was announced that we will all go back into a national lockdown here as of Thursday. This closing of the doors and hiding away is something I always thought would be nice as the weather turned colder. That concept of lighting the fire, closing the curtains and hibernating always appealed. Those of you who know me, or read these rambles know how I struggle with anxiety, and the idea that a potentially deadly virus is raging outside my door is not a comfortable one in any way!
My anxiety does not simply lessen on its own. I must… suppress it or find things to occupy that part of my mind which frets so much. I am busying myself with cooking, both for my home, but also for my student son and his friends. I shall continue with the seemingly endless task of de-cluttering my home, but I shall also be finding time to paint, to draw, and to make some small Christmas gifts to post through my Neighbours’ doors.
My mental space is also supported by the time I spend in SL. For thirteen years it has been important to me for that. I have found that this year has forced me to be even more selfish about my time there, and to be strict about being honest what I can and can’t take on there, just the same as I have had to on the other side of the screen too. I have become proudly defensive of myself, and my teeny circle of loved people. Life on both sides of the screen mirror each other in so many ways!
One thing I am very sure of this year, is that my Christmas decorations will be going up early! One house on our street put up fairy lights in their windows for Halloween, and it made me smile to see them. I am sure they will be staying there from now on, and it’s a wonderful idea. I can see it will spread to the other houses here too, just as it spreads smiles as people see them.
There is so much to be said for concentrating on the things and people that make us smile and feel well in ourselves.
Oh… I ought to offer up a few credits for this picture, just so you can see how much demo-trying fun went into putting it all together! I am having such fun with BOM, and how many layers can be added. The main skin here is one of the older Halloween skins at 7 Deadly skins, which I then added different wounds and blemishes from Izzie’s to. The cut neck tattoo is from Nylon Pinkney via MP. It’s all dropped onto the Chelsea head from LOGO, and the Legacy body. The eyes are from Soul, and the smudged eye make-up is from LOGO.
I am wearing the Sabrina dress from Just Because, and Poetry hair from Truth, with an added dry flowers headdress from an old Gacha from LODE. The held bouquet is from Hotdog.
The picture was taken at: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Rosewood%20Hills/203/87/2
DevaStatingSL 