When it isn't clean or pretty.

Life has a funny way of showing you that you have no idea what you are actually doing. I was always a confident kid, I pretty much accomplished everything I could. Then I became an adult and it became oh-so-much harder. Suddenly my energy levels were depleted, I needed way more sleep, I cant see anything, unless its 2 feet from my face, and randomly things will hurt absolutely no reason. 

I don't a ton of absolutes that I hold onto in life but here are a few: 

1. I absolutely believe that you go through things not only to shape you into the person you need to be to accomplish what you need to accomplish. I also believe that you go through things so you can help the person you come across one day who is floundering, because they are now going through the same trials you did. Life is never about just you. It is meant to be shared with others. 
2. I absolutely believe that everyone has a right to figure out there own life, and make their own choices, and handle whatever comes there way in the way they choose. (with the caveat that these choices don't change other peoples lives without their consent or hurt someone else in anyway).
3. I absolutely will not make money at the expense of someone else. I want to be successful, I would like to one day have enough money to pay ALL the bills and maybe go somewhere for a weekend. However, I will never do it through dishonest ways, or manipulation, or any other way except honest hard work and lots of love. 
4. I absolutely hate AI in all of its forms. I hate what it is doing to people. I hate that people are using their brains less, and trusting more in machines, instead of talking to people that do know a lot about whatever subject you need help with. I hate that is intentionally deceptive, hurts the environment, and has costs hundreds of thousands of people their jobs. And this isn't even including how much I hate people using AI to "create" art/music/writing etc. I vow to never use AI of my own choosing, to use my brain as much as possible and when I can't do it, then find someone who can. 
5. And Lastly (there are more I am sure, but these are the big ones) I have a deep love for all living things and do my best to never cause harm to anything that lives and breathes. I have a strong connection to nature and forests and have wept when one of my favorite forests was cleared. I strongly advocate for protection of our environment. We only have one, and it deserves to be here just as much as we do. 

Its is always a challenge to start a blog, or anything really. The first chapter of a story, or the start of a song. How does one begin to talk about what it is that means the most to them? I am not much of a planner and so things usually evolve as they go, but I do feel that my mission in life (and strongly with Galarples) is helping other people as best I can. I have been through terrible things in life, and I hope one day to pass along any wisdom, or compassion or simply be there as someone who understands. 

So as odd as beginnings are, I think this one will start with my beginning. My life. My experiences, and how I used them to shape Galarples and hopefully affect the world around me. 

I am calling this the Nitty Gritty. Its rough, kinda messy, little smelly at times. But its real, and it's life. 

sending all of the love. 

Misty