Tag: Discover Prompts

Distance does not affect me

Mia2 Comments
mountains in the distance
Made in Canva

For some distance is a big problem during these times. Some might get depressed they can’t meet their friends or family. We are all different. But for me, there is no problem. I’m not overwhelmed at all. Maybe I’m missing my workmates but it’s not the end of my world. I can’t understand people who are addicted to other people. I’ve survived without human contacts for years so why complain about it now? I actually like it when people keep a distance. I’m such a lazy person so I don’t feel like going out. I don’t know what’s so bad about being home anyway that people want to leave it. Besides this thing that is happening in the world right now won’t last forever. If people would only keep away from other people but I guess it’s too hard for some. Distance is the word right now and people should respect that because then things will never get better.

If I find something overwhelming I don’t do them. In school, Math was something I was really overwhelmed by because I thought it was hard. I hated the whole subject. Then you just had to go through it but now you don’t need to. I think all you need to know how to add up and all those basic things. You don’t even need those because there are calculators so you don’t need to count in your head. You don’t even need to buy things with money. You have a card for that. If I pay with money I pay with a banknote. Which is the reason why I have so many coins in my wallet. I dislike counting money at the checkout so I rather not do it. I do it before that. But mostly I pay with a debit card because it’s the easiest way. My card has a contactless payment so I don’t even need to touch anything. Some people pay with their phones but I don’t really trust that system. I can’t probably download any of that on my phone anyway. I rather use a card.

Another thing that I find overwhelming is how to describe myself to others. Or just to get to know people. So I keep my distance because I don’t want to disturb others or giving the wrong impression of me. At least I did in the past. It really depends if I feel confident that day or what kind of people they are. Surprisingly, I didn’t feel uncomfortable at all at my current job when I first got there. When I keep my distance some people might think I’m shy or that I don’t like people. I could say the same about them. Why don’t they contact me? Why must I be the first one? I get the picture they don’t even want to get to know me. Maybe I’m boring in their eyes. They’re the ones who have an attitude and not me. As you get older you don’t care what others think. As long as you know yourself is all that matters. Distance doesn’t affect me. Actually, I welcome it. The worst thing is people who are too clingy and can’t stay away from other people. They’re the ones you should be worried about.

Repost: What is that scent?

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roses
©Mia Salminen

When I think about scent, I think about something that smells good. My favorite scent is salty liquorice a.k.a. salmiakki, a.k.a. Finnish candy/sweets. Opening a bag of it and smell it, is one of the best things I know. Who can resist a good scent. When you say smell, it sound like something horrible. Cigarettes for example is a smell, not a scent. Instead of asking, “What’s that smell?” it should be “What’s that scent?” Of course you can’t say that about something that smells awful. Not all are good scents. If someone wears perfume too much even if it smells good, it can still be awful. I can’t be close to a person who scent is too strong. I can’t even walk pass a perfume stand without feeling a tickle in my nose. The same goes with scented candles. I can’t be near them without feeling like I’m choking.

Too much is too much. People should really think about those who are allergic. If you want to smell better, how about taking a shower. Especially men who wear aftershave. A clean one smells much better than someone who wears fragrances. If you really need to use them, it should be something that doesn’t smell. Besides a lot of those perfumes are tested on animals so that’s another reason why you shouldn’t use any. The best scent of the world should be called ‘Clean’ I wonder when they’re starting to develop a fragrance like that. If you want to smell something, smell clean. Most of the fragrances smell awful anyway. If you’ve seen those ‘Axe’ commercials where a man wears it and all females goes wild, that’s all fake. It doesn’t smell anything divine and I would even get near a man who use it. The same with Calvin Kleins ‘CK’ It smells like rotten oranges or lemons. You won’t get a date by wearing celebrities or designer fragrances. It’s the person you are that makes you interesting.

Another scent I like is freshly cut grass. That’s a lot of people’s favorite. It’s a sign of summer. Walking on the grass is so soft. When it has just been cut, the scent reaches your nostrils and you feel like you’ve been born again. I can’t wait for the spring to come and the grass to grow. If I lost one sense, I hope it wouldn’t be the sense of smell. Even if there are bad smells, a scent of summer and spring doesn’t compare to anything.

Originally published on
teach cubes on table

Teach me until I’m impeccable

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No one is impeccable and no one can teach you to be it. But you can be as impeccable as you can in your own mind. Humans are supposed to have faults. Even people who seem impeccable are not. You have to know them in person to know how they’re like. Some people think they’re above everyone and they’re the only ones who have the right to be on this planet. It’s useless to compete with people like that. You should use your energy to more useful things than trying to please other people. I’ve known people personally who thought they’re better but for real they’re were only showing their own faults. You don’t need people in your life that only wants to bring you down. It’s a cliché but life is short. There should not be toxic people in anyone’s life. What you don’t know you can learn.

There can be people who might not like what I write or they don’t agree. If it’s blogging or writing fiction. But you can’t please everyone. The same goes with other things. I wish someone could teach me drawing for example. I used to do it when I was a kid but then later not so much. I think I got some kind of resentment towards drawing when in 6th grade we had a group assignment where we would draw a character and it was totally ignored from my schoolmates. I’ve thought I couldn’t draw at all so I didn’t. Even when I studied graphic design in 2009-2011, I didn’t like it at all. My teacher said that I was afraid of drawing but in my opinion, it was because of what happened in the early years. It felt I would be judged for not knowing how to draw. But then when I studied graphic design again last year, the teacher we had said, anyone can draw and it’s about finding your own style (is ugly a style, I wonder). We also learned how to find inspiration and how to brainstorm ideas. I’m never gonna be impeccable in drawing and I’m not planning to become an illustrator but I wish I was more comfortable with it. You can only learn if you practice but it’s hard to when you don’t have the confidence to do it.

The only creative thing I have absolute confidence in is writing. It’s such a natural thing for me. I have no problems commentating online either. Someone is shy to interact on the internet so they don’t activate themselves that much. Sometimes you just wanna observe things. Some don’t have the urge to express their opinions online. For me, it’s easier to express myself by writing. Especially in English. It’s actually more natural for me than writing in my own language. Besides, certain words sound better in English than in Finnish, for example. Of course, since this blog is in English I write it in that language. Practise (practice) makes you impeccable. Or as impeccable as possible. I got an ‘A’ in English in school in my primary school leaving certificate and my English has improved so much after that. And I’m still learning. If I only would feel as confident in other things than I am in English.

Graphic design is something I would want to get better at. Maybe the most cynical would think, this person hasn’t done much graphic design so how can they call themselves a graphic designer. Or think I’m not good enough to be that and that I should do something else. Or I don’t if anyone would think that. It was just an example. I’m just too critical about myself. Design educations have taught me all I need to know so I don’t need to go to school again. I rather spend money on something else. In schools, they teach you the basics and I don’t need a repeat in that. There is also a lot of information online where you can self-study. There are schools where they offer Bachelor’s degrees in graphic design (also in Helsinki Design School) but why should I go. I already have degrees in graphic design. Maybe if you don’t have a talent you need to have a fancy degree. I know graphic designers who don’t have a bachelor’s degree but still have a career. In the end, it’s the job experience that counts and not what kind of degree you have. It’s not like graphic design is operating on humans. Creating something isn’t super science. The most difficult thing is to know what kind of design you want to master.

I would rather learn things good than become impeccable because if you’re already there, there is nothing new to learn. You can teach yourself things you’re interested in. It’s more fun that way.