A slight update

[a_natural_beauty]

Hey, it feels like it's been awhile since I wrote any sort of update on my personal life... Things are going about the same they have been. Sill I am struggling with personal issues I cannot speak of, but I am getting through. My health I think has gotten better since I have been taking the medication for my thyroid. Lately I feel less tired and my weight has gone down (which is good) but it may have gone down also because my diet has gotten a tad better. I still take an occasional nap, but that may be out of guilty pleasure (sleeping is one of my favorite past times). Still I struggle with bouts of depression and if that isn't clearing up more by mid February when I go to my doctors again I think I will address that. After now being on a medication for the first time in my life and seeing/feeling the improvements I think I could handle another medication for depression if that would help me.

It's been hard to bring myself upstairs to work on my laptop and my puzzle. I'm not sure if it's this room (it was the room my last ex used while he lived here and there still feels like negative energy and vibes at times) or just because I don't pictorially like being in front of my laptop for long periods of time. So web comics I can only read from my laptop have been something I haven't been able to get to as much as I would like to. But I'm going to try to get better at this. Mind over matter or something like that is what they say, right?

One of my comforts has been working on my stamps. I've been sorting my international stamps in new binder albums to give more space in my current lighthouse albums. And I have so many from certain countries, so it's been refreshing to give them the space they need and not overcrowding a page. I'm grateful to have this hobby, it's been a solid in my life during the ups and downs of the last three years since I started it.
Also I've been reading more lately. So much so I've been trying to keep up with two books at a time. Two of the books had to do with birds and I think I may try to take up that hobby again soon.

Also I should note I have been able to work on my comic again, that's been fun. Last night I got the cover page for chapter 11 done and some other important pages for the comic started. Next step I want to do is find another platform to share Promised Memories on. Working on the worldbuilding and characters and story itself has been a nice distraction.

Alright, I feel that is a decent update on myself. In early 2024 I want to write a short entry on good books I read in 2023. Also I still plan on writing the reviews for Comic Fury web comics I have been reading, I do hope those help the authors. I feel like my writing has improved already by doing almost 20 of them now. This felt good to write.

Comments

[adafrog]

Glad you're enjoying your stamps. :D

[a_natural_beauty]

Thank you! :-)

[jazznevermore]

Hey, Jess! Nice to see you on here again!

I'm very sorry to hear about what you've been going through, but I'm not just gonna spew a bunch of bullshit platitudes you've already heard a trillion times before. I'll give you something that might actually help.

I go through depressive bouts damn near every five seconds, but here's one thing I think you should always remember. If there's something special in your life (such as your craft, your passion, your work, or anything else important to you) that's worth fighting for, then hold on to THAT always and use that as your motivation to keep fighting through your woes and to battle your demons. That special 'thing' will be the bright light in your life that'll keep you going and make life worth living.

We love you, Jess! Keep being awesome and know that we're always here if you wanna vent or just talk in general.

[matt_zimmer]

Jazz is right Jess. We do love you.

[a_natural_beauty]

Thank you, I love you guys, too. (I'm going to make some mac and cheese for dinner and read Meek and Gilda for a bit tonight. :))

[matt_zimmer]

That's awesome!

[a_natural_beauty]

Thank you! It helps having some awesome new friends!

Yeah! 😇

[jasonderoga86]

Jazz is right. We must ALWAYS hold on to what's most important to us, whatever it may be. It goes hand in hand with the Serenity Prayer to cherish the present moment and to focus only on what we have control over.

We all love you so much, Jess! And we'll always be in your corner when you need us. 😊

Re: Yeah! 😇

[a_natural_beauty]

It's funny you mention the Serenity Prayer - I actually put it up on my fridge this morning to look at each day. :-)

Thank you, I'm lucky and grateful to have friends like you guys! I was thinking that we should find another way to stay in touch if you'd like since I'm not on here as often as I wish I could be.
I'll always be in your corner as well!

[a_natural_beauty]

Hey Jazz, thanks! I pop in and out of this site!

Aww, thank you. That means the world to me, I appreciate you guys and the friendships we have made. That is excellent advice and I will put it to use when I feel down again.

Yes, I agree. And I'm always here if you guys want to talk, too. We should find another way to get in touch if you want since I only come on here a few times a week. I love you guys, too. :)

[matt_zimmer]

I am very glad you are doing better!

Good to see all's well! 😇

[jasonderoga86]

I just recently had my appointment with my psychiatrist and am also working on an adjustment to my medications to keep improving my mental health. It ain't easy; there's been a lot of meds-swapping, and it's frustrating sometimes finding the right mix. But above all, I have to keep reminding myself that progress, no matter how small, is still PROGRESS. The journey of one thousand miles begins with a single step, and all that. 😊

I'm sorry to hear that the negative vibes from memories of your ex have made that certain room uncomfortable. An environment can be easily linked to unhappy memories sometimes, and it can be nigh-impossible to shake those vibes. I've had that experience with many places; the first webcomic host I used became associated with major depression after one of my fans became a merciless troll, who was also an arrogant hypocrite, frankly. I can't even remember the last time I went back there. All I can remember is that similar to Comic Fury, some of the "Top Ten Comics" really haven't changed. The same comics were there, as they were for almost a decade.

Ah, there's no shame in taking naps! I often do that myself when I've had a difficult day, or sometimes even if I just want to melt away listening to some soulful jazz music. It's certainly like living a pleasant dream, no doubts there! 😄

As for laptops, I too have one since my 10+-years-old desktop finally died this summer. But yeah, it actually really does a number on your eyes after a while, not to mention that it kinda induces a weird sense of paralysis or a trance for me personally. The warnings about looking at a screen for too long are right on the money, it can literally detach you from your environment... and sometimes, at least for me, reality feels like fiction.

I'm still reading tons of webcomics (such as yours, Jazz's, and Matt's, with Twedee's in line, too), reading about the comics industry's changes (for better or for worse, as I'm just interested in learning about it), and of course, this new 1300+ page single volume of the entire Bone saga by Jeff Smith. It's really, really good. It's like Disney meets J. R. R. Tolkien. Really epic, and humorous too.

I'm also glad to hear you're progressing with Promised Memories. I plan to do some catching up over the following week-long Christmas break from my job, as well as to start on my own next project. Just now I finished reviewing the full script for Sneakers' U-Force #12, and I've already sketched the cover for it. In light of recent events, I'm thinking about dedicating the issue to Joshua Moats (I'll be referring to him by "Jmluvsbob", his CF username) in honor of his ambition to provide those comics of his. His attitude of sharing his art with the world just for the sake of doing so reminded me of the artist I once was and had lost over the years until recently (I was still somewhat focused on the business side of comics, especially since the owner of my local bookstore expressed interest in stocking some of my new graphic novels).

Anyway, I wanna wish you and yours a safe and happy holiday, and I'll be seeing you and the others in 2024! Yeah, there're admittedly a few unsettling things ahead, but as long as we keep our heads up and do our best to stay focused on what's important to us, we'll come out okay. Take care! 😁

Re: Good to see all's well! 😇

[a_natural_beauty]

Yes, I am happy to hear you are making progress! It takes time but you will get there, you are a strong person and I believe in you Nana!

I've been browsing that page the last few weeks and I feel like finally we are getting some new comics in the mix. *fingers crossed* I like seeing the new ones or less appreciated ones get in!
I'm hoping it's a mind over matter thing and eventually I can ease those feelings away.

Wow, I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels that way. I feel like so many people spend so much of their lives in front of a screen - and while that may work for them- I don't feel that is my happy place.

That's nice to hear you have been reading a-lot, too! There's something comforting about it. Bones sounds like it'll be a great series to read when I get around to it! :) I want to get back into reading manga again soon. I have some new volumes.

How beautiful. I'm sure he would be honored. He read my comic and actually predicted a huge spoiler. When that moment comes I plan on dedicating that chapter to him. It'll be chapter 12 or 13 I'm thinking. He truly was a wonderful person.

Thank you, I wish the same for you. I have positive feelings for 2024. We'll get through this! I hope you take care as well Nana! :-)