Category: #LivingThroughLit

Oh! The Places You’ll Go!

Places, literally and metaphorically.

I have more than a handful of handfuls of the experiences and sights that I want to endure throughout the rest of my time as a spry young woman. I doubt that the WordPress word count is equipped to handle my list! However, I don’t simply want to “travel” to various, countries and towns; I want to embrace the opportunities that they and my surrounding communities offer me. As a matter of fact, that is exactly why I used the word “activity” in my #LivingThroughLit list of challenges; it’s not wholeheartedly about the physical characteristics of the city or town, but the opportunities and adventures you take advantage of to discover yourself and your life going forward.

It’s corny, but it truly is about how you run the race, not its finish line.

Without further ado, here is my list of twenty-five activities that I would like to complete as I journey throughout high school, college, work, etc. Keep in mind that the majority of them are not generic, they are unique to my personality and goals in life – try not to think about where you want to go, but what it is you want to do when you get there and why it means so much to you… and if there is no why, try a different route and see where that takes you. This process is for you to analyze and interpret the next steps in the adventurous part of your mind – it’s not a “bucket list.” Use your imagination, and remember: it can be as far-fetched as you want it to be, as long as it holds meaning to you.

Travel

• Travel throughout the South of France and Italy with nothing but a backpack, tent, and a close friend.
• Take a friend to Scotland and sword fight in a long white dress at the peak of a cliff or mountain about our ideologies.
• Find a small cottage to rent in Surrey with a couple of close friends and pretend we’re Cameron Diaz in “The Holiday” and sing “Mr. Brightside” at two in the morning.
• Volunteer with a program in an underdeveloped country by building infrastructure and teaching literature at schools.
• Once I further my knowledge in psychology and psychiatry, I want to conduct research on citizens in European cities compared to how behavior differs from those of major cities in the U.S.
• Find a secluded lake in Northern Italy and read poetry, specifically Louise Gluck’s work.
• Ride a horse on the beaches of Portugal.

Movie/Theatre Nerd

• As a result of numerous hours at midnight memorizing movie scenes and monologues, I’d like to run into Jack Nicholson and re-create the scene from “A Few Good Men” where he yells “you can’t handle the truth” in my face.
• Have a twenty-minute conversation with Stephen King and how he researched the information he needed for my favorite book of his, “The Green Mile.”
• I’d like to attend a Haunted House event (preferably in Scotland – the Edinburgh Dungeon) with Guillermo Del Toro and Bong Joon-Ho.
• Spend twenty-four hours with Christopher Nolan doing crossword puzzles and reading Mark Twain (truly any other 19th century literary genius).
• If Stanley Kubrick were still alive, I would’ve liked to attend The Museum of Moving Image with him.
• Research the validity of robotic character HAL in “2001: Space Odyssey” with a robotics and psychiatric professor.
• Have a deep conversation about relationships with Woody Allen
• I’d like to have Lin Manuel-Miranda spend five minutes talking with me and then writing a one minute rap about our conversation.

Photography

• Buy a Rolleiflex camera and travel to Russia and Germany to complete a street photography assignment with another fellow photographer interested in older photography techniques.
• Integrate Rolleiflex photography with my psychological studies and observe behavior in prisons.
• Find a waterfall in Iceland and stage a photograph of someone in a long blue dress with his/her feet handing off the edges (done safely, of course).

Miscellaneous

• Spend a day on a case with the Behavioral Analysis Unit at the FBI to observe their processes and how they integrate psychology with criminology.
• Volunteer with a program that assists patients with PTSD and other trauma disorders.
• Drive out to the middle of nowhere with some friends, singing Hamilton and other show tunes.
• Read poetry and play piano with young kids in the foster-care system as a mentor/supporter.
• Befriend a sea-creature such as a dolphin or seal and learn more about the animal rights movements.
• Embark on an “Endless Summer” type of field trip for three days, finding my perfect wave across the beaches of California.
• Shadow a director accustomed to Hollywood, and one that is currently starting out to note the differences that the environment can have on style and choice over longer periods of time.

Read a book outside of your genre comfort zone (If you’re a classics fan like me, try out romance or fantasy).

There have been a plethora of posts from my page regarding the literary challenges in writing, but don’t you worry, I have not forgotten about my reading challenges! I could never abandon such a thrilling and ambitious experiences that never ceases to make me laugh and cry all in one chapter.

Before locking away the social networks that plague my psyche, instagram had updated its servers to include “reels” in which I could view thirty-second videos of interest. As you would imagine, most of my interested videos were adapted from a popular feed stemmed from TikTok called “BookTok.” In my experience, I’ve seen BookTok users market their favorite reads, create memes about various types of bookworms, and promote their own work. However, most of these books were an extension of the same genres: fantasy and romance novels.

As a classics and realistic fiction reader, I couldn’t quite relate to these videos and struggled to see the appeal in such stories. During my time in middle school, however, the fantastical and romantic genres were about the only books I could tolerate. Whether that was a result of a barren social life or relationship status, these genres were the only books I would read for the sole purpose of pleasure. As I began high school, my anxiety and neuroticism made quite the spike and I forgot about the miraculous adventures I’d faced on in these pages. As a result, I would read stories just as chaotic as my mind was which, interestingly, I found in classical and realistic fiction.

All that goes to mention that I’d forgotten how invigorating and freeing it felt to fight dragons, fall in love with forbidden guards, and lift curses and spells. When I was little, I couldn’t live out the impossible in reality, so I found a space in my mind to do it. I wanted to relive that feeling again. As a result, I am currently reading “From Blood and Ash” by Jennifer L. Armentrout, a juicy story about a young girl – The Chosen One – preparing for her ground-breaking Ascension. Only, she is indifferent toward this honor, for it restricts her from carrying out the duty she not only wants, but needs to avenge her family.

I am about a quarter of the way through and profoundly engaged with this world Armentrout has built for her audience. It is unique, hierarchical, beautiful, and devastating all at once – exactly what impactful literature is all about.

To conclude, I’d like to publicly give thanks to BookTok for reuniting me with my first true love: my fantastical imagination.

Read an article from The Washington Post, the New York Times, the Huffington Post, etc. about an issue/topic unrelated to the current political upheaval.

Politics brings out an analytic yet emotional side of humanity that impacts a duality of consequences. On one hand, it keeps the governed alert and aware to keep watch on the potential for corruption. On the other, it enforces such corruption.

All the more reason to participate in this challenge – give not just your psyche a break from this trauma, but your imagination. Politics festers in our bodies – it starts in our heads but makes it all the way to our hearts where it gives up our souls and will to take action. All too often, what is the first headline an audience observes in their daily subscription?

“President ________ fires __________, what will this mean for the American People?”

“_________ and ________ go head to head in an international _________ battle.”

For that reason, I encouraged you to research headlines of more positive and eye-opening stories. To show you how impactful this activity is, I’ll briefly share my experience.

My family and I read the politics section of the New York Times each morning, but this time, I listened to my advice and went straight to the science section (okay, I read the political headlines for two minutes but I shifted my focus right after, I promise).

There were a number of headlines that I could have chosen to read, but there was one that caught me off guard, for obvious reasons: “Why Are Pandas Covering Themselves With Horse Manure?”

You see, that sounded like something straight out of one of my SAT reading practice tests. I would never want to relive those traumatizing days, but this article actually sounded like it would further my knowledge in… well, something.

As it turns out, there was a study conducted at the Chinese Academy of Sciences that seemed to suggest that some mammals do this for “tolerating of low temperatures.” Many scientists reacted to this with considerable interest; some challenged it, and some expanded on it. Either way, it was an absorbing and fascinating read about something that I never would’ve questioned in my lifetime. I guess that’s another beauty about literature: discovering the ideas that could quite possibly spark a personal passion.

I encourage everyone to take ten minutes of their day and scroll through the arts and sciences sections of their newspapers and/or magazines, I guarantee that you will find something worth your time and benefit potential conversations in the near or far future.

Let me know where you’re at in this process! I’ve only done a few challenges so far, but my mind already feels healthier and ready to take on more. It’s amazing how a few days away from social media can rejuvenate your mind and soul.

Don’t lose sight of what life is now to what it could’ve been then.”

Sophia Ryder

There is only another path if you allow yourself the courage to look for it.”

Sophia Ryder

Reflect on your mistakes rather than regretting your actions. Welcome the new rather than wallowing in the past.

Sophia Ryder

My, my, that was fun! Behold, my first #LivingThroughLit challenge of the Holiday Break!

I enjoyed brainstorming these quotes and organizing this aesthetic of my incredibly beautiful and talented friend, Kaelin.

Please send me any type of feedback you may have whether it relates to the photography or the quotes! I’ve been experiencing a bit of a poetry phase these past few weeks for research purposes for a song that I’m forcing myself to write, and I would appreciate any and all assistance that I can get. In all honesty, I’ve always wanted to write a song but never been inspired by a lyrical passion that would come off as both comprehensive and musical. Recently, however, I reconnected with an old friend of mine from an exceedingly long time ago. While we were on a Face Time call, I was reminded of the joy of innocent times and the kindness that reunions inspire. Hopefully, I’ll be able to transfer the lyrics to the ukulele and untangle my dormant vocal cords to put together and post a finalized original song.

I hope these quotes are somewhat relevant to your current life, but if not, save them because they will be… eventually!

So often it is hard to listen, but literature offers a medium for the fantastical and the impossible, engaging prevalent perspectives unknown to the public.

I’ve always had a flare for the dramatic, so I inputed an original quote to activate your minds and prepare for my announcement.

I’ve never done this type of activity before, but starting on Saturday the 19th, I will be (attempting) to cleanse my mind and soul of the technology and social media that imbues my life with fervent distress and unnecessary FOMO.

My mobile cellphone has always done one of two duties for me as a teenager: contact myself to my family, or wreak havoc unto my social life and embalm my mind with thoughts and feelings of loneliness and/or anxiety. As a result, I will be phone-free this holiday season and appeal to other lovable activities that require less resign, and more family time.

HOWEVER, there is a bit of a twist to this journey: I will be indulging myself in an abundance of literary challenges this Holiday Break, and I encourage you all to do the same.

Indeed, I offer you all a series of challenges to embark on as you devour roast beef over the holidays the same way your family does to you when wearing ripped jeans to Christmas Dinner.

I have inputed a checklist at the end of this post compiled of reading and writing challenges ranging from thirty minutes to weeks at a time. You don’t have to complete all of them nor do you have to go on a phone cleanse like I am, but I motivate you to do as many as you possibly can as you reflect on this chaotic year and embrace the new beginning that the next year offers us. Yes, I am aware of how corny that sounds. However, literature allows us to put our perspective on paper and assemble our creativity in a place of imagination. I think it would do each of us good to take a break from the traumatic year that we’ve had and see where our pens take us. I promise, you will discover something new about yourself and the world around you as you activate your imagination and open your mind to this positive vulnerability.

#LivingThroughLit is not a marketing strategy, but one of the purposes I’ve pursued throughout my time writing this blog. I want my audience to not just acknowledge the world around them, but become an active force within it, and I think literature offers a proactive means to achieving this goal.

As always, feel free to send me your work through the “Contact” page in the menu bar of the home screen, and I can showcase your amazing work in a post! I wish you all the best of luck and don’t forget: I am only providing you with the tools, but you have to create the product. Your pen is your sword, but your imagination is your power.

So, without further ado, here is the #LivingThroughLit Challenge Checklist!