DIY Time Machine

I’m going to take things back to the very first post I made called “Low-Key New Year Resolutions” because I have already neglected one of the things I was completely sure I was going to do. Item number 1 on that list was, “Take note of the times you are happy”. By nature, resolutions are bound to be ignored, but seeing as the 21st has announced the first day of Spring - the season of new beginnings - I find it acceptable to start this New Year’s rezzie late. 

One of the reasons I really want to follow through with this rezzie is because lately I have become so forgetful. I blame this on my recent lack of sleep. Being tired can completely throw off the way we normally function and turn us into slow-moving machines that has completely forgotten how to speak in sentences and could really use a nap. Balancing school and work can get exhausting and before I know it the days have all become a blur. That’s why this week I’m going to talk about how you can create your own personal time machine. Inspired by Vianey's "Uninspired DIY", I'll lead you through the 3 simple steps of this project. Disclaimer: this is not a DIY for a machine that let’s you literally travel through time. BUT if you are into metaphorically traveling through time then keep reading!

This idea is not originally mine, and you might have even seen it floating around on the internet yourself. My first thought was that whoever first came up with the idea was a total cheesemaster. OR genius. You decide. You can say both, like me, if you want. But anyway, this time machine can exist in many forms. It can be a list, a box, a phone app, a post it note, a journal…The one I will talk about today is a jar. 

In this jar you are meant to slip in little pieces of paper where you have written what good things have happened on any particular day. The purpose of the jar is to reflect on the things that made you smile or laugh, things that made you happy, any lil accomplishments…etc. You don’t have to write something every day, but it helps to acknowledge at least one good thing that happened, especially if it was an especially crappy day. The great things about this jar is that it will help you give attention to the good things so that the bad things don’t overpower your mindspace. 

Note: Only good thoughts should be allowed in your jar. Your time machine should be programmed to only take you back to the year GOOD.

And now for the steps on how to create your own time machine:

1. Find any jar or object where you would like to preserve time.

2. If you wish, you may decorate your jar. 

This process can be fun and crafty. Paste things you like on your jar: stickers, candy wrappers, pretty paper, doodles, anything that makes you happy!

3. Test run ur time machine by reflecting on the perks of this day.

Note: In this time machine, paper slips and words are not the only thing you can sneak in. Any mementos like photographs, lucky pennies, or ticket stubs are welcome guests.

I call this a time machine because in a way it allows you to slow down time by revisiting the good things from the past. At the end of the year you are meant to open your jar and read back all the wonderful things that happened that year like how you found $5 in your jeans in April OR how you aced your midterm OR how you mixed Valentina Hot sauce with ranch to create the ultimate pizza dipping sauce. Anything from accomplishments, to important realizations, to courageous decisions, to funny moments and exciting moments and inspirational moments.

Note: Nothing is too insignificant for your time machine. As long as it made you happy, it deserves to be acknowledged.

I find that this project is the perfect anecdote for anyone who is feeling discouraged, apathetic, tired, or stressed. The bad things are what usually stand out to us when we look back, and the good can pass right under our noses. I guarantee that by the end of your year, no matter how it may have gone, reading back the moments that made you happy, will fuel you to keep making great memories. I hope you guys enjoy this process and are able to gain something positive from it. Safe travels! 

Thanks for reading☺,

Kristal

“I urge you to please notice when you are happy.” 

- Kurt Vonnegut

GRRL Gang Playlist

(Image from Laura Callaghan)

Happy International Women's Day!!! In order to celebrate, we decided to compile playlist of rad women that can write, rock, and wail...Take that patriarchy.

We hope you find the time to celebrate the wonderful women in your lives today. We wish that all you lovely women out there feel unstoppable, empowered, and beautiful. You all have something amazing to offer to the world and don't you forget it.

<3
The Kaleidehscope Team

Playlist available on 8tracks

GRRL Gang from Kaleidehscope on 8tracks Radio.

 or Spotify

A Boss Bitch's Guide to Tackling Bad Days

http://bouffantsandbrokenhearts.tumblr.com/post/73280132147/tears

There are days when you feel like what the first verses of “Be Safe” from The Cribs is describing. 

One of those fucking awful black days

When nothing is pleasing and everything that happens

Is an excuse for anger

An outlet for emotions stockpiled, an arsenal, an armour

These are the days when I hate the world

Hate the rich, hate the happy

Hate the complacent, the TV watchers

Beer drinkers, the satisfied ones

Because I know I can be all of those little hateful things

And then I hate myself for realizing that

There's no preventative, directive or safe approach for living

We each know our own fate

We know from our youth how to be treated

How we'll be received, how we shall end

These things don't change

You can change your clothes

Change your hairstyle, your friends, cities, continents

But sooner or later your own self will always catch up

How is it that The Cribs captured the thought process one goes through during a bad day so well? They even took a philosophical approach towards addressing it. They’re absolutely right! Bad days are immensely daunting. It’s very easy to feel defeated. Your thoughts and feelings will cloud your mind instead of drawing attention to all the greatness in your life. You will torture yourself by over-thinking your situation. You’ll even regret getting out of bed. 

Instead of dealing with your problems head on, your unforgiving pity party is going to tear you apart. You’re probably rolling your eyes at how easy it is to say “deal with your problems” instead of actually dealing with said problems. (Or you might roll your eyes at how annoying and cliche the previous sentence was.) So, why do we feel like that? What can we do to get to the bottom of this? What is the best way of addressing our feelings other than just internalizing the anger and passively-aggressively and lashing out on others over time?

1. Figure Out All The Factors That Are Contributing To Your Feelings

It’s best to take a step back to gather your thoughts together before you act on what you want to do. It’s prudent to be fully aware of the kind of situation you’re dealing with. 

1. Think about everything that might or should be a part of the problems.
   
   (Including the Notable aspects, the indifferent situations, and the awkward sections. Even if they make you cringe. (This is for your best! I'm 100% sure that you’re tough enough to handle thinking about the embarrassing.)
   
2. Sort out all your thoughts.
   
3. Keep your thoughts compiled into a memory file.
   
4. Try to see all possible perspectives from the situation.

Consider asking yourself the following questions…

Why am I feeling like this? Did someone do me wrong? Did I do wrong to someone? Am I mad? Am I sad? Am I upset? Am I disappointed? Am I annoyed? Could this have been avoided? Could I have done something different? Could this be angst? Has this been slowly brewing for a while? How valid is my perspective on the situation? What else is happening in my life that could be contributing to my current emotions? What bad things are happening in my life right now? What good things are happening in my life right now? How do I benefit from confronting this situation? How do I not benefit from confronting this situation? Could this be fixed? If so, how could this be fixed? How long? Is this for the best? What does "best" even mean in this situation?

Depending on the situation or people that put you in this mood, remember that you're not being “insane” or “dramatic” or “unnecessarily sensitive” for feeling lousy. Those nasty adjectives are specifically crafted comments said in order to make us feel silly or guilty for noticing something wrong in our lives. Don’t let others manipulate your feelings. You’re more than allowed to feel undervalued, inadequate, or empty. And, you need to address this issue before it eats you alive.

2. Remind Yourself That You Are A Boss Bitch

http://vnareyes.tumblr.com/post/112954298065/thatgaykidonline-my-all-time-favorite-singer

I think Kate Nash explained it best in the gifs above. 

Portray confidence for the sake of yourself. If someone happens to credit your thoughts and opinions more due to your self-assurance than that’s great. If someone takes your confidence as arrogance and uses it to discredit your opinion, then they can fuck off. 

Bonus Tip: If you need help portraying confidence, or require a support team, I suggest that you once again take advice from the wonderful Kate Nash and start a Girl Gang. Contrary to one might believe, a girl gang is not a group of temptresses that go around breaking hearts. (Although that sounds like an amazing and intriguing story idea.) It’s kinda of a support group were girls (or boys) get together and talk about everything that they need to talk about. You can learn more from the Youtube video below.

3. Say What You Want To Say

Sometimes women (or men) are too polite to be upfront about upsetting news. Once it gets to the point were you want to say what you gotta say, you need to say what you want to say. And, let the words flow out. Honestly, I want to see you be brave!  (Make sure to only discuss the things that make you feel comfortable sharing or asserting.)

Consider this SNL sketch as an inspiration to be honest and unapologetic about your opinions/thoughts. 

(EDIT: So apparently SNL, being the private dicks they are, decided to take down their video. And, I can't find another version of it.)

You don’t necessarily need to be nice but, you do have to be kind. No low blows. No cheap shots. No matter how creative you might think they are. Once you start name calling or pointing out other people’s insecurities, you’ve completely stopped being civil and you become the bad guy. Take what Tom Hanks's character confesses in You’ve Got Mail, “I must warn you that when you finally have the pleasure of saying the thing you mean to say at the moment you mean to say it, remorse inevitably follows.”

Hoping you all embody your inner Boss Bitch,

- Vianey

Vianey is a nineteen year old self-identified ranter who can be easily wooed by funny three-dimensional TV characters. When she is not watching sitcoms, bugging her pets, or dancing sporadically she posts every Friday on Kaleid-Eh-Scope.

Art Inspired by the wonderfully great Kate Nash <3