People

Where Has the Happiness Gone?

/ Daniel/Codefreak / Leave a comment

I have been writing in this blog for 4 years now. I have shared thoughts and opinions and feelings. I have seen people grow and learn. I see people fail and break. I have seen a world of change and a changed world. I have also seen a change that scares me.

Where has all the happiness gone?

I see people, more often than not, getting nasty on social media. I see folks attack and fight bitterly over social and economic systems. I have seen a great number of people break off friendships and cut off loved ones because of who they voted for in the last election.

I ask you again, where has all the happiness gone?

Where is the brotherly love we used to feel for one another? Where is the rebuilding of America after 9/11? Where is the gathering of help for tsunami victims? Where is the love of Pokemon Go that had everyone, young and old working together towards a common goal? What has changed?

What are you doing to keep the happiness here?

How have you acted in a kind fashion lately? What acts of kindness have you performed? Did you hold the door open for that person running behind you? Did you let that car get over a lane in heavy traffic? Did someone need that quarter you have in your pocket? What smiles have you brought to others faces?

What have I done to change the world for the better?

Did I do enough today to make a difference? Have I smiled at enough people to show that I care? Did I say hello enough times in the elevator to make someone feel welcome? Have I fed the dogs for my friends? Have I encouraged my daughter enough about school?

Happiness is not gone from the world. We just have forgotten to spread it around. The we spread it, the more it comes back to use. I ask you all, dear readers, to consider who you interact with today, tomorrow, next week. See who’s lives you can change for the better.

Don’t let the happiness disappear.

#hugapony my friends

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That Next Big Thing.

/ Daniel/Codefreak / Leave a comment
I am going to take a moment and something amazing. My article has struck a chord and resonated with many people. It has now been published at TheMighty.com, three of their Facebook pages, 3 (!) more news pages, and has been put on twitter with a large Spoonie group. I have to share the links cause it is so amazing.
 
 
The word is spreading. It is incredibly humbling to share with so many amazing people. I am honored to be one to speak out. Let us keep the momentum going.
 
I love you all.
 
#hugapony.

Self care day 4: Finding your towel.

/ Daniel/Codefreak / 1 Comment

Thank you for joining me on the grand undertaking. There is going to be a lot of work for me and  I hope to be able to keep up. Please make sure to comment, share and follow along as I share some simple things to better your life!

Taking care of yourself involves so much. Mental and physical well-being should be considered crucial in keeping you healthy as a person. Sometimes, in my opinion, it can all come down to something as simple as one thing.

Do you know were your towel is at?

Towels are amazing. They provide warmth and comfort. They can be associated with going to the beach or swimming. They also make a great reference to Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.

One Christmas, my dad decided to do a present to each member of the family. He did not tell anyone, even my mom much to her annoyance, what they were. These large light boxes were stuck under the tree, shaken daily as we tried and tried to guess what they were. Christmas morning arrived and we all dashed to see what these mystery gifts were.

They were very large, soft towels.

We sat around confused at such a gift when my father explained how we have had ragged old towels for awhile now and being something that we use (or should use) daily, why do we keep using them? Why not have a bit of luxury in having nice, big, soft towels.

With this simple message in mind, I bring it to everyone else.

Part of self-care for everyone is cleanliness. I know with some mental and physical disabilities, it can be very hard to get the energy to clean yourself. I wrote a post a few weeks back on a picture on Facebook that I got angry at for the tone of it. One of the items them mentioned was bathing. While I did not agree at all with the tone, I understood the message that cleanliness is an issue.

Why not motivate yourself with a new towel?

Here is an item that is used so often but how often do we think of buying a new one? When the old one rips? When it is so thread bare it takes another towel to finish the job? Do you have that nice towel the whole family fights over because it is so nice? Why not take a time and find a nice luxurious towel for you.

Knowing that you bought yourself a new, soft, warm, beautiful towel can be the thing to motivate you to take care of yourself.

It can all come down to just a towel.

#hugapony my friends

Special People

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I was at the convention, Anime North Texas, when I got asked to do a special job. I was put in Guest Relations. This met I got to pick up voice actors and pro cosplayers from the airport, make sure they made it to panels on time and make sure they were fed.

It was awesome.

I have always been good at customer service and this was no different. I just had to provide the best possible care for them. It is always fun for me to make people happy.

And I think I did.

I got to help pick up Cherami Leigh and her husband from the airport. It was so awesome just being able to talk to her. See how much she loves her job and seeing her “geek out” over other (in her opinion) more famous people was a adorable. She was one of the most kind actresses I have met.

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Then there was Josh Martin and Chris Rager. They both had tables next to each other as they have been friends for awhile. They would play off each other for the people coming by their table. I got to sit near them at a special guest dinner and they were both amazingly funny. Again, just being able to talk to them about their work was so cool. They were very down to earth but they were awesome people.

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(Sorry Chris, I could not get a picture with you!)

I also got to see an old friend from conventions past. Greg Ayres was someone I knew when I started doing conventions. I would do security for his dances. He is still the best DJ I know at conventions. He brought down the house. Seeing him outside his DJ was cool as well as he would talk about his new projects. Seeing him get excited about his own characters and having him giggle over how they came out the way he intended was so spectacular. He is so much fun to be around.

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QuantumDestiny cosplay was super cool. I had to rush to the airport and pick her up. This was her first convention in Texas and she was so cute to watch. Her cosplays were amazing and she showed her skills off impeccably. Her skill at both cosplay and talking about it showed in each of her panels. She was truly one for the fans. (I do not have a picture of her unfortunately).

Then there was Chuck Huber. This guy had more energy than most toddlers. He was out and about. He had a table near my wife’s and we got to watch him in action with his fans. He would go out of his way to make sure that each one was made to feel special. Seeing him gave me so many ideas of how to be if someone looks up to you.

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And then there was one other person. Someone I was not expecting.

Me…

I got to do my first panel, solo. It was called Surviving Fantastic Fandoms. I was not expecting the crowds being a Sunday morning panel. Being that as it may, I had 20 people show up to see me. It was so amazing talking about what I do at conventions and how to “act” as both a attendee and as a staffer.

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I was not expecting to touch people as I did. I had people who were at the panel come up to me afterward and thank me for the panel. It felt so weird. I was not special, in my mind. Then I had someone buy me a Fluttershy hat. I had someone come up and give to me. I did not know how to respond other than thank you.

I was so confused. I am nobody special. I was not famous. I did not do anything. It wasn’t until I had a conversation with a friend later who informed me. He told me that I must have touch someone in a special way for them to do that. He said that act was a sign I was special.

I am still in shock over everything. But, I am coming to grips with the fact that I was not “Getting a big head” (as is my biggest fear of all). I want to let everyone who I interacted with know that you are ALL special to me and that I was beyond touched by how much fun we had. I wanted to say THANK YOU ALL!!

I will hug a pony with joy over the memories!