But I Did - Tumblr Posts
An interesting demonstration of how the human brain works.
But also something of a lesson regarding perception, and the unreliability of subjective perspective versus objective reality.
You can be extremely certain about how you perceive the world, your "lived experience," that which you "feel it in my heart." But that doesn't mean it's actually true. And it doesn't mean we have to endorse it, or ignore or outright deny objective reality.
That's a "you" thing, not a "we" thing.
An interesting demonstration of how the human brain works.
But also something of a lesson regarding perception, and the unreliability of subjective perspective versus objective reality.
You can be extremely certain about how you perceive the world, your "lived experience," that which you "feel it in my heart." But that doesn't mean it's actually true. And it doesn't mean we have to endorse it, or ignore or outright deny objective reality.
That's a "you" thing, not a "we" thing.
The Hero’s Shade
Time was not having a good day. After all, being woken up at roughly five in the morning by a screaming Wind and a laughing Legend is not the best way to start a day. Legend had thought it would be funny to pour freezing cold water on the boy. It was not funny. Needless to say, the Legend was thoroughly chewed out for the meaningless prank and Wind had to change clothes. Because of this rough waking, everyone (aside from Sky who somehow slept through all the commotion) was on edge and exhausted.
This aggravation and tiredness led into the current situation, a surprise bokoblin attack. Time held in a tired groan as one of the monster announced their position. “Get ready for a fight!” He called to the others. From his current position, Time could not see how many enemies they would be fighting, however knowing this rowdy bunch, there was likely a lot of them lurking in the shadows.
“How many?” He heard Warrior ask.
“Can’t tell,” Time yelled back, unsheathing the Biggoron sword and gripping it tightly. “Wild,” Time called, “Try to take out as many as possible before they reach us!”
The pyromaniac nodded pulling out his bow and notching some arrows. Once Wild began firing, the bokoblins pulled out their artillery as well and responded with equal fire.
“Have your shields ready!” Time commanded bringing his Hylian shield up to block the oncoming fire.
Spareing a quick glance over to the others, Time could see that they had all readied their shields in time, but Twilight was gone. Time quickly scanned across the battle field and his worries were eased when he heard the snarl of a wolf and a bokoblin squeal in pain. The pup was fine.
Time didn’t have much time to feel relieved as the bokoblins jumped at the heroes fangs gleaming and swords flailing about as they desperately try to land a hit. Time blocked most of the swings with ease. “No need for extra thematic flare, just get that job done!” Time called to the others and Time swore he heard Warrior sigh in response.
The man was about to roll his eye when the cry of a wolf pierced through the air. Time whipped around searching for the source, heart pounding. Twilight was laying there on the ground, in wolf form, an arrow lodged into his side, whimpering in pain. A silver bokoblin stood a few feet away, bow clutched in his hand and a twisted snarl on his face. Time stopped breathing, his vision went red, and then everything went black.
…
“-light! Twilight!”
The wolf’s eyes opened to see Wild kneeling over him, eyes widened with panic as he frantically dug around for potions. Twilight shifted, but Wild pushed him back down, “Just stay down,” He said, worry clear in his voice, “Just relax, don’t do anything stupid.”
Twilight ignored the boy’s pleas and shifted back into his human form. The arrow that he had been shot with lodged itself further into him and Twilight gritted his teeth together, attempting not to scream.
“I told you not to do anything stupid!” Wild cried. He then firmly gripped the arrow sticking out of Twilight and yanked it out of his body. Before Twilight could even finish screaming a potion was being poured down his throat by Hyrule.
After swallowing the contents of the bottle, Twilight let out a series of harsh coughs before looking around to see the others all hovering around him, worry flashing in their eyes. Well, almost everyone.
“Where’s the old man?” Twilight croaked hoarsely.
The others exchange glances before Warrior took a step to the side and Twilight could see his mentor out there fighting the bokoblins alone. But before Twilight can berate them for leaving the man alone he sees it. Time’s eye glowing bright red. Twilight gasps in surprise, it was terrifying, yet so familiar.
The Hero’s Shade.
Except this time Twilight wasn’t fighting or being trained by the monstrous force. He was being protected.
“We would have helped him,” Warriors tried to explain, “But well…look at him.”
Just a the words left Warrior’s mouth, the enraged man whipped around, easily decapitating two black bokoblins, before repositioning his blade to stab a blue bokoblin trying to attack him from behind.
“He didn’t even turn around,” Wind whispered in disbelief and Twilight had no words.
All this time, he hadn’t known Time could do this. Or perhaps the man himself didn’t even know.
“He’s unstoppable,” Sky said as they watched Time take out the last of the bokoblins.
“That was fast,” Legend muttered.
The hero of time turned his blood red gaze back towards them and Twilight felt a shudder physically run through him as the man’s eye finally settled on him. The others also realized what was happening as Time stepped towards them not taking his eye of Twilight. Panic over took the others as they reached for their weapons to defend their still healing friend, but Twilight waved them off.
“It’s okay, he won’t hurt me,” Twilight said confidence clear in his tone.
The heroes backed down but remained tense and ready to fight as Time continued walking over, slowly as though in some sort of trance, yet also calm and intentional. Though Twilight should have felt afraid of the glowing red eye, he could feel nothing but peace. The Hero’s Shade was his mentor, not someone to be scared of.
Time finally reached Twilight and kneeled down in front of him. The man cupped Twilight’s chin and earnestly looked him in the eye.
“I’m proud of you,” The Hero’s Shade whispered voice raspy from age, “Now go and do not falter my child.”
Twilight blinked back the tears that began to well up in his eyes and nodded. Time smiled gently before the red of his eye faded and the man passed out.
The others quickly caught the older hero before he fell on Twilight and layed him down next to the healing hero.
“What was that?” Wind asked confused.
Twilight while smiling down at his sleeping mentor replied, “Memories of the past.”
A stupid debate I had with a few friends of mine
Roman: Don't do it, bro, he's merciless!
Remus, ignoring him: Hey Logan! Crofter's are terrible!
Logan, giving a breathy chuckle: Oh look, the Waluigi reject has jokes!
HE CAN YEE MY HAW, IF YA KNOW WHAT I'M SAYIN'---!
This just occurred to me but shout out to aspec folks who figured out they were aspec while having depression. I've never seen anyone mention it but honestly we deserve an award for managing to figure out our lack of attraction while feeling little if nothing most of the time, cheers lads, we're great
YIPPEE !! 2 time nanowrimo winner toby is my new title /hj
What is a story you have been dying to tell?
When I was 15 years old, I ran away from home because I was pissed off at my parents for a reason I cant remember. I didnt have much money, so I decided to hop onto the skytrain(public transport train in British Columbia) and ride it as far as it would go. I reached the end of the line in less then an hour, and decided I wanted to ride it all the way back again, while trying to formulate some kind of plan of how I wanted to live the rest of my life without my parents or anyone. At the last stop, or the first stop depending on your perspective of it, a girl came on and sat in the row right behind me. I didnt pay much attention to her at first, as I was busy writing my life plan on a napkin. It was a few minutes later that she got up and came sat next to me, curious as to what I was writing. I told her the story, and after a few laughs, we began talking about everything and anything. Her name was Amanda, 17 years old, and absolutely wonderful. She told me she was getting off at the last stop, which was also the first stop, depending on how you look at it. It was also the stop I had gotten on originally, and I told her we would ride to it together. The train ride took less then an hour, and what a wonderful hour indeed.
When the last stop did come, we both knew we probably wouldnt see each other ever again(this was before the days of cellphones, and I was a shy little kid afraid to make moves). As we got to the end of the sidewalk which split in two different directions, she went right and I went left. Before saying goodbye she turned to me and asked me a question that has become a wonderful part of my life; she asked me, “Tell me something you have done, or want to do, that you think I should do? It can be anything, as challenging as you want it to be, or as easy. As long as you give me the rest of my life to complete it, I promise I will do it..” I was confused as to why, but I thought about it, and told her, “Sing a song acapella in a room full of strangers.” She said perfect and asked me if I would like a challenge as well. I told her I did, and she told me, “read, from start to finish, “Ulysses” by James Joyce.” I had never heard of it at the time, but I agreed, and we said our goodbyes.
I have a awful memory, and cant remember most conversations I have with most people. But I remember all of that clearly. You know why? Because of the challenge she gave me. In the 12 years that have past since, I have tried to read that book in over 150 different sittings. Everytime I open my copy of the 780 page monster of a book, I always think of her, and I always think of that day. Ive never been sure if it was her intent or not, but she left her lasting memory on me with that challenge. I soon after learned what she did, was a completey wonderful and amazing thing for me. So I decided to keep it going. Ive met a lot of strangers in my life; some that have become friends, and some, due to living in different time zones and whatnot, didnt. I dont want to just have experiences and then let them go. I want to remember these meetings, and embrace the fact that they happened. So whenever I leave someone who has left an amazing impact of my life, I always make sure to add them to my Ulysses Bucket List. I ask them to give me a challenge, as difficult or as easy as they want it to be, and regardless of the fact that they have done it or not; simply something their heart has had wanted to do.
Some have been easy and fun; I met a man in India 9 years ago who told me to, for a week or a month, cook/buy twice as much food as I intend on eating, and give the other half to a stranger in need. I completed that mission 8 years ago, and thought about that man and the time we had all the way through. I met a girl on a cruise 6 years ago, who told me to jump into a body of water on a slightly cold day, without touching or feeling the temperature of the water first. I did that the very same year. I met a couple at an outdoor music festival a few years ago that told me to wear the most bizarre outfit imaginable and walk through a public place, completely oblivious to the fact that you arent looking normal. I did that task the very next day, at the same festival. Some have been difficult, to say the least: three guys I met in Amsterdam and smoked all night with, told me to go to a mall and give 10 strangers 10 presents. That one took a lot of courage, but I did it a year or so after I met them. It was nerve racking, but at the same time exhilerating leaving my comfort zone. A girl I met on a plane told me to sky dive; Im still in the process of getting that done. A couple I met in Cali on the beach told me to tell the 5 people I hated the most, that I love them and respect them. That one was very difficult because of my stubborness, but ive come close to completing that list many a times(still in the process, 2 more people to go).
And some things, have had an everlasting impact on my daily life. I met a girl at a music festival, who told me that whenever I get mad at someone, walk away, sing my happy song in my head for 5 minutes, go back to the person im mad at with a clam heart and mind, and work things out. Ive made this my way of life. I once met a man at a gym in a hotel I was staying at, that told me “whenever your body and brain tells your that you are exhausted and done…use your heart instead and push out 2 more reps.” Ive made this my motto when working out or working on any kind of extrenuating exercise in which my body demands me to quit. I also use it while working on anything, and while studying. One of the best pieces of advice ive ever received.
There are many others that each brought joy to my life. There are still many tasks I have yet to accomplish, and everytime I think of these tasks, I think of the people that gave them to me. It amazes me how well I remember all these people, while I cant remember so many aspects of even yesterday. These experiences, not only do I take from them a “mission” or a “challenge”, I also take from them a memory of them that never fails to appear inside of my mind. I opened my Ulysses book for probably the 300th time yesterday, and read a few pages, which prompted me to share this story with you today. Im in the final 30 pages of the book, also known as the most dreaded of the read(in the last 40 pages or so, James Joyce doesnt use a single punctuation mark; no periods, no commas, no nothing; a straight 50 page run-on sentence).
I never saw Amanda after that day, nor do I know if she ever did get a chance to sing a song to a room full of strangers. But what I do know, is that she gave me a gift that has never once stopped giving. So wherever you may be, thank you for giving me the Ulysses Bucket List. And I swear i’ll finish it one day. My life advice? Simple: Create your own Ulysses bucket list.
grief is so odd. I barely knew you, but we had classes together for 4 years straight. and I always wanted to be your friend, but I didn't know how to start that conversation (and also your friend intimated me). but I did know you, to some extent. and seeing a picture of you takes my breath and makes me sad cause there won't be another picture of you taken
if andre was alive rn that man would 10000% have a costco membership… he buys his shit in BULK
Aladdin Jr.
reblog if the first musical you listened to was not Hamilton
WARM UP // phoenix
“i’ll bring the fire in any game you want.”
Only when your girlish glow, flickers just so, do they let you know: It's hell on earth to be heavenly. Them's the breaks, they don't come gently. Clara Bow - The Tortured Poets Department (2024)