Snowflake Challenge: Day 1

[toujours_nigel]

Day 1: In your own space, talk about your Happy Place—the things that give you joy, calms you or keeps you sane.

• Fandom. I'm not kidding, not even a little bit. I have read about five different stories just today, and today has actually been a pretty easy day all told. I have weeks and months, even years when I can't be an active participant in fandom, when even commenting is difficult, and actually creating something is beyond me. But I can always read, and I do, and I read fast and often to the exclusion of anything else. It has kept me happy, and sane, and connected, and I have a feeling alive. It's one of my tumblr tags!

 

• Reading in general, especially and increasingly sf/f written by women and queer folk. I'm looking forward to having a job so I can afford to buy books, but there are plenty of free-to-read magazines and they're full of lovely visions of other worlds, other times, other lives.

 

• Cooking! This has grown on me in the last couple years, and I'm not very good, but it's a soothing thing to do, and often my one concrete achievement of the day.

 

• Photography. I have an instagram account that is usually updated daily, and while most of it is food photos, sometimes I photograph books, plants, people.

 

• Talking to filia_noctis. Well, her in general, but it feels like objectification to call my partner a thing that gives me joy. But definitely she's my Happy Place, and definitely conversations with her often do the heavy lifting re: keeping me going.

(five things make a list)

Comments

[stripytights]

Fandom and book mention high fives! Reading in particular, both fic and books is so integral that I can't imagine life without it and it sounds the same for you.

A great list and I hope you have an amazing year, you and your partner both.

[toujours_nigel]

Thank you!

And here's hoping; the last couple years have been productive but difficult.

[makamu]

Oh, I was so focused on fandom that I forgot to put books in my post, but yes, of course they are a quintessential happy place!

Thank you for reminding me and a Happy New Year to you and yours!

[toujours_nigel]

And to you and yours. ♥

[sexycazzy]

All of these happy places sounds lovely! :D

[toujours_nigel]

Well, I certainly think so. *g*

[spikedluv]

What a great list! I feel you wrt fandom and reading in general. I'm not a great cook (I have a small plaque that my brother and s-i-l got me for my birthday one year: I only have a kitchen because it came with the house. That's pretty much how I feel about cooking. *g*), but I'm glad you enjoy it. I often wish I was better at photography. I can see why that would be a happy place. Your partner sounds like she'd make a lovely happy place. *g*

[toujours_nigel]

I'm not sure I'm good at either, but I primarily have only myself to please, so it all works out. And yeah, she's kinda cool.

[scripsi]

Cooking can be a great way to feel happy! :)

[toujours_nigel]

It's so substantial, plus healthier than eating out all the time! But mostly the sense of having done something is why I persevere.

[badfalcon]

I love to cook - I love that sensation of taking a bunch of ingredients and creating a thing from it... even more so when it tastes and looks good. It gives me such a feeling of accomplishment so I completely see why it's one of your happy places :)

[toujours_nigel]

*g*

Exactly that.

[ithiliana]

What a great list! And yes, reading! Always reading!

[toujours_nigel]

reading is the absolute best.

[colls]

Fandom and cooking - two of my favorite things! I'm glad they bring you joy as well.

[toujours_nigel]

*g*

[littlelostcat]

Here from Snowflake!

OMG -- are your first three me?

Fandom has always been a happy place for me, even when I wasn't in it and when I was sadly watching from afar wanting to be in fandom but not having a fandom to join. Recently I've fallen into various fic rabbit holes that are life consuming and make me want to roll around in love. I've missed it and feel that awesome remembrance of happy.

And reading and cooking, I feel like they are centering acts for me. I can read or cook and feel myself rejuvenate. :)

[toujours_nigel]

I can read or cook and feel myself rejuvenate.

This, exactly.

[thehallway]

Oh, I totally get you about fandom. I haven't written in years and I've changed fandoms over time, but reading fic always brings me joy. And I hear you on the cooking, too. I love to cook and have gotten better over time, and that makes me very happy.

[toujours_nigel]

♥

[fawatson]

Definitely cooking and reading! (And fandom misses you dreadfully when you are away from it.)

And I remember you making icons! (You gave me the one I am using now.)

[toujours_nigel]

I should get back to icons, it has been absolute ages.