Just Found This Browsing. Nearly Screamed My Head Off. Good Thing The Action Figure Is On Its Way Right

Things Fundamentalism Robbed Me Of:

Growing up in a radically conservative Christian household, there were a lot of things that weren’t allowed. It wasn’t until after leaving the “faith”, and then taking time to fully deconstruct things, that I realized just how negatively it affected me.

Part 1: Special Interests

I’m autistic. And part of my autism is having special interests (that I obsess over to a degree that most neurotypical people think is ridiculous). But for me, my special interests bring me such joy and excitement and pleasure in my life. A lot of the time they’re what helps me get through a tough day (and quite frankly, a tough world for me to live in).

When I discovered anime and manga, it was like cotton candy for me. The art styles, the animation techniques, the manga layouts, the characters, the vast array of generes, the easy to understand emotions portrayed - it was like this entire type of media had been designed just for me.

But one look at it, and my mom forbid me from watching and reading any of it. Because it was too “demonic” or “sexual” (EX. Inuyasha-taking major inspiration from Japanese mythology. Sailor Moon-for showing off too much skin). Basically, it wasn’t Christian, and thus, sinful.

Part 2: Body Image

Another special interest of mine is fashion/costume design. Growing up, though, it was subjected to strict guidelines. All because I had to make sure I wasn’t causing a “brother in Christ to sin”.

Which, as a person who went from children to adult sizes almost instantaneously, not to mention grew into a curvy girl, made clothes even more of a touchy subject.

All of my outfits had to be inspected by my mom to make sure they weren’t too tight or revealing or even have a print that was too suggestive, before they could be purchased.

Because of this, I was never able to feel pretty. I was never allowed to think of my body as attractive, let alone sexy.

Whenever I designed outfits or costumes in my sketchbooks - using a very curvy model as a way to feel like my body could be beautiful if given the chance - my mom would tell me to “fix” them because they were too sexualized.

Part 3: Cultural Identity

I’m a proud Latina woman. My father and his family immigrated to the USA when he was a kid. Spending time with his side of my family are some of the happiest memories I have.

But because of the radically conservative beliefs of my parents (or maybe just mostly my mom’s, since I can’t recall if my papi ever setting any of this taboos), I wasn’t allowed to celebrate Día de los Muertos.

This may seem like a small thing, like not being allowed to celebrate Halloween (which we weren’t allowed to do either, and for the same reason as Día de Muertos), but when I found out about it as an adult, I was heartbroken that such a beautiful tradition was banned because it was deemed “pagan”.

In Short:

I was robbed of so much because of fundamental christianity.

I can’t help but wonder how my life would have been different if I had been allowed to embrace major aspects of myself: my autism, my body type, my heritage.

Part of me is always going to mourn the years I lost. And I wish, more than anything, that I could go back and tell my younger self - the little girl who lived in fear and was forced to live by beliefs set by privileged white men - that one day, she would be FREE.

Random thoughts on personality quizzes and types and systems:

Like most people, I’ve taken a quiz or two and read up on personality systems and even looked at my zodiac signs (Greek and Chinese-which I’m still the most skeptical on because they both so far off it’s laughable).

But I’ve come to an idea regarding the others, like Myers-Brigg and the Enneagram system, and that is:

I don’t think there is one right system, but perhaps different systems work for different people.

Because let’s face it, humans are so unique and full of nuances and there’s quite a lot of us so how could the whole fit into 16, 9, or even just 4 personalities?

I’ve taken the Myers-Brigg so many times and each time I would get a different answer depending on the day (though it mostly stayed within four choices of INFP, INFJ, ISFP ISFJ).

Several other systems labaled me as a White or from Peace Country or a Leo (which is the funniest of all).

Then I took a quiz for the Enneagram system and got a 4. And when I read the description, I was amazed to find how much it resonated with me. And then when I got an in depth book, it was almost scary how on the nose it was.

So why aren’t I advocating the Enneagram system with all my being?

Because the people around me don’t seem to fit as well into the Enneagram system as I do. (The greatest example being my dad because he seems to be an enigma to all the systems).

So if the goal is to have a better understanding of yourself and others, there’s nothing wrong with subscribing to the systems, as long as you keep in mind they are tools for improving yourself and your experience with others.

Tagged by @a-lighthouse-a-man-a-city to try out the latest portrait thingy :3

How I show my age and political savvy:

Recently a coworker mentioned they were going to put in a notice of no confidence towards one of the mangers.

And I, in all my learning and wisdom asked: "That's a real thing?"

They were puzzled by my question so I clarified that: "I though the 'vote of no confidence' was a Star Wars thing."

Needless to say, everyone in earshot burst out laughing.

To be fair, it was pretty funny and I was laughing right along with them.

But in my defense, I was a kid when I first saw Phantom Menace, and G. Lucas ain't exactly one for accurate details, so I just assumed it was something he made up.

I gave this explanation to my coworkers and that just made them laugh more.

http://chng.it/fqXB4YPvv6

I’m can’t believe this! Why would they want to drop such a good show? And just when we’re were getting such great cameos and mysteries!!!!

Change.org

Sign the Petition

Save Ducktales Reboot!

Basically a board of facts I’ve found about Autism as I work through my own neurodivergent experience

(Above image was me talking to someone about my Masking all the time... and their brilliant response lol)

There didn’t seem to be an all imcohmpassing comparison for Ahsoka’s face transitions, so I decided to make one myself :3

Ahsoka belongs to Disney

Answer 21, Tag 21

Tagged by the wonderful @a-lighthouse-a-man-a-city

2. Zodiac Sign: Leo (Greek), Horse (Chinese)

1. Nicknames: Ana, Princess Leia (back in the day when I had hair long enough to do her cinnamon roll buns for real)

3. Height: 5′5 and 3/4

4. Hogwarts: Hufflepuff

5. The Last Thing I googled: Star Wars summer outfit (anyone ever notice no one in Star Wars wears shorts?)

6. Favorite Musicians: Within Temptation, Imagine Dragons, Lindsey Sterling, anything written by Joe Hisashi

7. Song Stuck in My Head: Red Right Hand by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

8. Following Now: Depends on the site (I have a lot of art sites)

9. Followers: Same answer as before 

10. Do I Get Asks?:  Not recently T^T

11. Amount of sleep?: 8-9 hours

12. Lucky Number: 3 or 9

13. What I’m Wearing: My white Chinese flats with blue embroidery and ankle frog ties, dark forest green jeans, a white tank top with porcelain teapot pattern (delicate vintage florals), an electric blue cardigan/throw with matching lace decal down the back, and silver jewelry (dangling drop earrings, a white gold necklace depicting the Children of Leer from Ireland, a lotus and Ankh ring from the King Tut tour, and a ring that says ‘We’re All Mad Here’)

14. Dream Job: Writing YA novels full time

15. Dream Trip: A river cruise down the Nile in Egypt

16. Favorite Foods: Chocolate hazelnut anything, Chicago pizza, and Japanese Royal Milk tea

17. Instruments: Piano, voice (that so counts as an instrument - I had voice lessons)

18. Languages: English, Spanish, a little Japanese, working on Ancient Egyptian

19. Favorite Song: No Light, No Light by Florence + The Machine

20. Random Fact: I have petted a manatee in the wild (which is illegal, but I didn’t know that at the time!)

21. Aesthetic: Asian, Art Deco, and Art Nouveau inspired patterns and designs set on white backgrounds. English cottage decor with dark woods, butterflies/bees/dragonflies, roses, and skeleton keys. Vintage 1940-50s dresses paired with ballet flats in jewel tones or iced pastels.

(Sadly, I don’t have 21 people to tag, so I’m just going to skip that step ;P )

10 songs I love (in no particular order)

Tagged by my bestie @a-lighthouse-a-man-a-city

1) Ai no Melody by KOKIA

2) Stay for Awhile by Amy Grant

3) No Culture by Mother Mother

4) Marian the Librarian from The Music Man

5) No Light, No Light by Florence + The Machine

6) I’ll Set You Free by The Bangles

7) Recuérdame by Natalia Lafourcade

8) (If You’re Not in it for Love) I’m Outta Here by Shania Twain

9) Memories by Within Temptation

10) Shoot Him Down! by Alice Francis

Some of My Favorite Autistic (or ASD coded) Characters : Girls

Mirabel Madrigal - Encanto (2021)

Parker - Leverage (2008)

Webbigail "Webby" Vanderquack - Ducktales (2017)

Kaywinnet Lee "Kaylee" Frye - Firefly (2002)

Dr. Temperance "Bones" Brennan, Ph.D. - Bones (2005)

Peridot - Steven Universe (2013)

Lilo - Lilo and Stitch (2002)

Entrapta - She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (2018)

Rosa Díaz - Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013)

Bella Brown - This Beautiful Fantastic (2016)

Princess Luna - My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (2010)

Lunella Lafayette aka Moon Girl - Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur (2023)

Yor Forger - Spy x Family (2019)

Maomao - The Apothecary Diaries (2011)

Marcy Wu - Amphibia (2019)

Elle Woods - Legally Blonde (2001)