Self Care – Aspasía S. Bissas

30/01/202230/01/2022

It’s the (not so) Little Things

Sometimes you don’t realize how much you need something until you get it. In my case what I needed was a happier plant.

My calamondin orange was suffering in a too-small pot for far too long. I kept putting off re-potting, wanting to do it after we moved, but since that’s taking longer than anticipated I finally decided to take care of the plant now.

After transferring it to a bigger pot, pruning, and staking it, I was tired, but also feeling accomplished. It was like a weight had been lifted. Giving the plant what it needed made me feel good. I highly recommend it.

I also discovered that my once-tiny houseplant has gotten huge! It really wasn’t obvious until I was finished and took a step back. How dwarf is a dwarf citrus tree anyway?

By the way, you can use calamondin oranges to make cake, juice (aka Filipino lemonade), or– if you’re like my SO (who also snacks on lemons)– you can eat them straight off the branch, rind included.

What little thing has lifted your spirits lately? Share in the comments…

My character Mara loves plants too. She’s also a vampire. Download my books and find out more…

Aspasia S. Bissas books: Love Lies Bleeding, Blood Magic, Tooth & Claw, book, books, free book, free books, freebies, freebie, free ebook, free ebooks, vampire, vampires, dark fantasy, dark romance, historical fiction, gothic fiction, gothic fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, horror, dark reads, indie author, indie fiction, strong female protagonist, aspasiasbissas.com

Love Lies Bleeding: Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books
FREE Blood Magic: Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books
FREE Tooth & Claw: Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books

If you prefer paperback, use this link to order Love Lies Bleeding from Bookshop – a portion of each sale goes directly to independent bookstores, as well as to myself. Thank you for supporting indie! ♥

Cheers,

Aspasía S. Bissas

27/01/202227/01/2022

Quote of the Day

I’m happy to report that I finally got my covid booster (third shot, Moderna this time). No side effects at all other than a sore arm. I’ll keep getting boosters as long as it takes, if that’s what needs to be done. So far, at least 5.6 million people (and counting) have died from this disease, and the virus keeps mutating with every new infection (because that’s what viruses do). Yet there are still people who refuse to get vaccinated or even wear a mask (never mind the lowest of the low who are deliberately spreading misinformation). Keep caring, my friends, and stay safe…

Cheers,

Aspasía S. Bissas

22/01/202222/01/2022

10 Ways to Be Creative This Weekend

Is anyone else feeling stuck lately? It could be winter blahs. It could be two years of mostly staying home and not being able to go anywhere fun or interesting. Or maybe it’s just something everyone goes through once in a while. Whatever the reason, if you’re feeling meh, you can bring back a bit of the spark by injecting some creativity into your day. Give these a try…

Dance

Put on some music and, as the saying goes, dance like no one’s watching. It’ll get you energized and maybe even spark some inspiration.

10 Ways to Be Creative This Weekend, blog post by Aspasia S. Bissas, aspasiasbissas.com. Creativity, Umbrella Academy, Tiffany, I think we're alone now, dance gif, dancing gif

Cook

Skip the recipes and see what you can put together with what you already have on hand. If cooking’s not your thing, order in and get something you’ve never tried.

Play

Break out a creative or problem-solving game– basically anything that involves active participation instead of just following instructions. RPGs (like D&D) are perfect for this, although you generally need at least three people and a few hours to get the best experience.

Doodle

Blank paper + the writing tool of your choice. Don’t overthink it– just scribble away.

Photograph

Go for a walk or just wander around the house until you find something that catches your eye. Try to get as many different photos of one object as you can.

Daydream

Let your mind wander and see where it goes.

Redecorate

Rearrange the furniture in a room, or plan out your dream house. See the potential in your space.

10 Ways to Be Creative This Weekend, blog post by Aspasia S. Bissas, aspasiasbissas.com. Creativity, moodboard, palettes, decorating — Photo by Anna Nekrashevich on Pexels.com

Repurpose

If there’s something around the house you’ve been thinking of getting rid of, see if you can figure out how to improve it or find a new way to use it.

Compare

Pick (or have someone pick for you) two random things (e.g., a bear and a pair of socks). List everything you can think of that the two have in common (like, a bear and socks are both fuzzy).

Sing, with a Twist

Pick a song and make up new lyrics for it. You can write them down if you want, but it’s more fun to make them up as you go. The lyrics don’t have to be deep– sing about what you’re making for dinner or about your pets or how you’re feeling at that moment.

At its heart creativity is all about seeing things in a new way. Have fun and don’t overthink or self-edit. It probably won’t solve your problems, but being creative can set you free.

What do you do to stop feeling stuck? Share in the comments…

Books take you to new worlds. Download one of mine now:

Love Lies Bleeding: Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books
FREE Blood Magic: Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books
FREE Tooth & Claw: Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books