inspiredodyssey daily prompt

Lara Croft – The Tombraider in Me

So, for today’s daily prompt, I feel more compelled to be a video game character from my youth. Back when graphics weren’t the best, my 2D version of Lara Croft on the original Playstation’s Tombraider, was heaven to me. I played for hours, solving different puzzles and learning more about history.

I’ve had a love of Indiana Jones for as long as I can remember. So, when they came out with a female version in a video game I fell in love. The movies followed of course, but nothing beats the original Lara Croft. I went on to collect various statues and things of Lara over the years, and even though I wasn’t a real fan of the Angelina Jolie version or the other new version that came out a few years ago, I hope the franchise gets reinvented properly.

But for the 90s version of Tombraider, it will always have a place in my heart of hearts.

Especially making those impossible jumps!

Stay tuned.

inspiredodyssey daily prompt

Bipolar Disorder and Mental Health

Daily writing prompt
What’s something most people don’t understand?
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So for the most part, it’s the “if I don’t have it, I don’t get it” mentality. Being bipolar for almost 20 years now, it has opened my eyes to a lot of things and a lot of stigmas there are out there about mental illness. I don’t want to claim ignorance, but I do want to say that for the most part we are “ignored.” For a long time in my life, my outbursts of anger, my alcoholism and my overall behavior was masked with, “it’ll be okay,” or “it’s just a phase,” and this advice was given to me by people who didn’t really understand what they were dealing with – not that I am criticizing, but you know people are only as knowledgeable as the information they are given.

There have been a lot of breakthroughs in the mental health field during the past 20 years, and one of them being awareness on the subject. People are a lot more knowledgeable as well as understanding. But the stigma still exists because there is a difference between just understanding and knowing what someone is actually going through. I love the phrase, “walk a mile in someone’s shoes before judging,” because unless you are going through a debilitating depression or a crippling manic episode you will never know or understand what that feels like.

I am glad though that my life has taken a turn where the idea of me being bipolar no longer equates me with being a leper. I can say that jobs are lined up even though I check off that “disability” box on a job application. So, even though most people still don’t understand mental health or bipolar disorder, I have learned that living with it and talking about it can enlighten someone’s thoughts on the subject.

inspiredodyssey daily prompt

Reading a Damn Good Book While The Rain Falls…..

What do you enjoy doing most in your leisure time?

One of the things I have missed out on the past twenty years is reading, I mean really reading, like a novel. Paperback. Hard Cover. Eff this staring at a tablet or screen nonsense! I mean actually smelling the pages. Turning the pages and savoring every moment.

Out of all the things I am grateful for that happened while being jailed for 10 months, was the opportunity to read a total of 43 books. I read almost a book every few days and I loved every minute of it. Being in this rehab afforded me that luxury too. Since we weren’t allowed phones or the internet, I got to read even more books; getting to know authors like Nora Roberts and Lee Child. These opportunities brought me peace and excitement I hadn’t had in a long time – and even now that I have my phone again and television, I find myself resorting back to the paperback books that are at my disposal.

But the best? The ABSOLUTE BEST is reading during a thunderstorm. I have found so much peace listening to the rainfall and engrossing myself in a good book. It is my favorite pastime so far.

Do you like to read during a good rainstorm too?

I would love to know.

Stay tuned.