An Update!

So I've opened a Patreon page, I felt it would be more appropriate than my GoFundMe campaign. I will not be closing my campaign just yet if you want to contribute follow this link. And if you want to check out my Patreon, follow this link.

Thank you for all of your support, from reading and following my content to your monetary contributions. 

If you want immediate updates from my blog, leave a message in my inbox here and I will add you to my email list.  

Have a fintastic day,

-Seaspray

Discovering Lessons in Yoga

Hey, seastars! At the end of this entry, I'll tell you about an oil treatment for your nails. I've been using an app called Keep Yoga for less than a week now. I'll be honest with you, I already have skipped a day. That said I've been seeing improvement in the four practices I've been working through. I can move deeper into a movement, I feel stronger during more advanced poses, and I don't feel like I've been put through a taffy pulling machine at Wonka's factory. I've also been struggling with being patient with myself. Back in high school, I would practice both yoga and pilates for a total of an hour and a half before going to swim practice. In working with the app, I recognize many poses. My body just won't contort the way it used to, and it frustrates me. I feel like a failure because I can't move the way I used to. I can feel the potential to push myself further and my own body gets in the way. I must admit, I haven't been kind to myself, I allowed the frustration and all of the negative emotions that came with it to take over my mind. Telling myself I couldn't do it, I'm too fat to do it, I'm weak. All of that became a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy. And today I tried something different.

But first, a few quick facts. It can take up to eight weeks to see physical changes in your body when exercising regularly. It is important to properly fuel your body, especially when you are exercising regularly. It is imperative to keep yourself clean after every work out session.

I tried something different today that really made a difference to my routine. I encouraged myself. I sliced through each wave of negativity with positive thoughts. I can do it. I will do it. I am strong and capable. This pose is almost over. I can make it. Henry Ford, the founder of Ford Motor Company, once said: "Whether you think you can or you can't, you're right." Yes, that is super corny. It's also true. I hyped myself up and settled deeper into every pose, lasted through every advanced pose, I could breathe easier.

I feel this practice can be carried into daily life. Instead of settling into a negative attitude and creating a pit of despair, what if we approached hurdles with a positive outlook? What if we told ourselves we can get through anything? Imagine the possibilities!

Before I tell you my nail oil treatment, I challenge you to tackle every problem by leaning into an affirmative mindset. I challenge you to kill every unkind word you tell yourself with kindness.

Alright! You've earned it! For roughly two weeks I've been taking just enough olive oil to easily submerge my nails and cuticles, adding rose essential oil (for the smell}), and warming it up for ten seconds. Then for five minutes, I give my nails and cuticles a massage, making sure to evenly coat them with oil. My nails are thicker, less brittle, and seem to be growing faster. And at the end of a long day, this oil treatment has been like a mini spa day. After the five minutes is up I've been rinsing the oil off in cool water and following up with lotion.

How do you relax at the end of your day? Tell be all about it in the comments below! And while you're in the comments, tell me if you accepted my challenge and how well it works for you.

Thanks so much for reading, seastars! If you'd like more exclusive content, check out Seaspray's Shoal!

Remember, you're fintastic!

-Seaspray

Discovering Hate

Hey, seastars. If you follow me on any of my other social media accounts, you may have noticed I've been quiet for a few days. I needed a break from social media. Not a big, dramatic delete everything and flee to the Himalayas break; just a pause. Recently I woke up to a hateful message in my personal inbox saying I was ugly inside and out and too fat to be a mermaid. At first, I wanted to punch the sender in the face, then I wanted to cry. After some time I realized my initial reactions were from being reminded of all the times I had been bullied for my weight. Once I calmed down, I felt pity for this person who went out of their way to send me a hateful message and immediately blocked me- all at 9:41 in the morning. Just thinking about all that wasted energy makes me tired! Truth be told this is not the first time someone has made a negative comment about my body in my adult life. So let me walk you through what this beautiful body has done.

I am a mother. This body has and is capable of creating and carrying life. Then taking that life and delivering it into the world. On average it takes a woman's body up to a year to fully recover from the effects of pregnancy and delivery. Mine was not an easy delivery, I am lucky I wasn't sent to the OR and I'm lucky to be alive to write this blog. Before that this body was a competitive swimmer for just under seven years. This body had a back injury in middle school from a cheerleading stunt. This body was a powerhouse in soccer for nearly five years. This body carried me through being teased about my mother's work. My mother's amazing work saved so many lives and affected so many others, I refused to be ashamed then even when I was asked if I ate garbage. And I refuse to be ashamed now, again in the face of ignorant bullying. I'm going to be deeply honest with you, seastars. From middle school, all the way through high school I hated my body. I would skip meals and try to sneak hundreds of sit-ups to try and achieve a flat belly. I have a Swedish build, all wide hips, and powerful shoulders. I learned a totally flat belly in a woman is unhealthy, a woman should always have a small pouch at the bottom of her abdomen because that's where her reproductive organs lay. Every body is amazing, and every body is capable of so much more than you can see in a picture.

To the people who think it is okay to belittle, hurt, tear down, or harass anyone else. Stop it. We see you for who you are, and you need to learn to love yourself. I've been taught to know people see something in me they are envious of and try to attack that something to try and snuff it out of me. To quote one of my favorite movies, "No matter how much the wind howls, the mountain cannot bow to it." Seastars, you and I are those mountains. And anyone who tries to rip you down is no more than wind. Stand up and shine that light you have deep down inside of you. Shine your light so bright it will banish all the darkness those antagonizers try to bring into your life.

And to the person who thought they could hurt me, I have a song for you. You cannot tear me down. You cannot hurt me. You, feeble wind, will never be able to make this mountain bow. My body is not for anyone else but me. My body is beautiful. My body is powerful. My body will carry me past this one fleeting moment and forget you.

Seastars, please. If you are being oppressed, antagonized, or bullied try to ignore them. Those people are ignorant and hateful. Those people are trying to cover up their own pain. Hurt people hurt people. You can end the cycle of hurt, you are strong enough. You are strong enough to come out of the harassment and rise.

I believe in you,

-Seaspray

Discovering ADHD Hacks

Hello, seastars! Today I must share a secret I've recently discovered to help stay focused. First, I've been working on developing a program to help build reading confidence in children. That means creating policies and procedures and hours upon hours of research. All of which I love doing! However, just because I love doing something doesn't mean it doesn't get hard. I'm fairly certain I have ADHD. Please keep in mind this is a self-diagnosis (yes, ug, I know). I will go get a proper diagnosis as soon as I am able.

I've always loved music, but music has always been a bit of a distraction for me. I have this tendency to turn a cleaning day into a dance party. I have finally found a way to combine music and work! My secret to productivity ( at least in writing documents) is gaming music. I've been listening to ambiance music from the video game Skyrim. I know this hack sounds a bit silly, but gamer music is designed to make the brain pay attention. And it works! I've been able to regularly sit for 30 minutes or more and type without noticing the time passing.
For me, instrumental music works best. I have read that you should avoid music with lyrics in your language because your brain will process the lyrics and won't focus on forming other thoughts.

Alright, let's get serious. We are all guilty of this, but it is not the best idea to self-diagnose. If you feel you have a certain condition, please talk with a doctor and confirm your suspicions! And please listen to your gut. If you feel you have not received proper care, go find a second opinion! Do not be afraid to advocate and speak up for yourself. It's easy to let the doctor just talk, but you know your body better than anyone else. Be honest, be firm, be involved. The only reason I have not yet seen anyone about my personal suspicions is that I currently cannot afford it. That said I have already taken steps to remedy the issue. Make sure you are well informed about your area's insurance laws and regulations; keep on top of that paperwork folks!

Okay! Let's really get off topic! I have an active GoFundMe campaign designed to allow me to interact with you, seastars. Funds will go to marketing materials, supplies for my one-of-a-kind accessories store I hope to open later this year, fabric for a completely eco-friendly costume, expedite my reading program, and allow me to build my inventory for events and Seaspray's Shoal. A big dent has already been made in my goal of $745. "Vision of a Mermaid" has been live for less than two weeks and I have great plans to utilize donations. If you have questions for me, you can send me a message here.  

Thank you so much for reading! If you want to find more of my content search "Seaspray Mermaid" on Facebook, Holonis, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube.

Starfish wishes and mermaid kisses!

-Seaspray