Dafadilia Wayfarer

Pet Delight: Finally overcoming enough of my anxiety to start a photo prompt project I've been wishing to take part in since last year. Just never had the confidence before this.

Your friend is correct about many shops. You can make a slim shape on LaraX. I've been making shapes since 2010. Not a business by the way. Needed to clarify that because I don't wish to cause confusion. For myself and people here and there over the years who wished me to make a personalized shape for them. I did make a slimmer version of LaraX as well as a shaplier one. The body still wasn't to my taste. I'm not going to point out the faults in detail since it is just a personal preference. Just as some find issue with the original Lara shoulders and so on. I never had issue with the shoulders. The look that is often described really depends on the body frame an avi gets from the shape they are using. Since my shape can't be described as slim by any means, the shoulders were never an issue because my frame was curvier. For slimmer avis, I can understand why the shoulders were a nuisance though. The Maitreya creator has made it very clear that LaraX was never meant to replace the original Lara. They are two different existing bodies that will continue to be supported so everyone can use what they are most comfortable with. I don't and never have had an issue with the creator of Maitreya. The new body will open up a new customer base for Maitreya. Which is great. I will always be a loyal customer as long as the older body is supported. Now I have my own thoughts behind creators dumping the original Lara as they did. They have a right to decide what works for their business because it is their business. That just means they no longer get my support. The ones who have continued support of the original Lara and started creating for LaraX have gotten even more support from me. So much so, I may have acquired a shopping addiction. So there we are. My whole spiel here is I feel people should use what they want. What they are comfortable with. Without getting flack from either side.

*Blushes* Thank you so much. I'm humbled and appreciate this so much.

Newfound Friends

I can understand where you're coming from since there were small details of the LaraX body I disliked to a point where I just couldn't like it. I did try to like it. I just couldn't like it. It doesn't matter that it was a free body for those of us who had the Lara body already. I still absolutely love Maitreya Lara and will always support Maitreya as long as the original Lara continues to be supported. My shape that I created for Maitreya Lara on my own is petite, but shapely. My shape isn't overweight, but just a healthy look. Maitreya Lara neck and shoulders never bothered me. I always thought the body was beautiful as is. I will be sticking with my Lara for the most part unless it comes to blogging newer looks. I purchased a different body to model newer looks if it is a necessity in the future, but I also have stopped supporting stores that are no longer creating for Maitreya Lara. We are all going to like different things. Need different things with our look. Not everyone is going to agree and that is completely okay.

I got a chance to read the blog and go have a look. It's okay. I remember in 2009 when I joined I was instructed to choose a destination to land in which was the Faery Crossing. They helped me learn everything I needed to know to find my way. I'm still part of that community and in the past when my health permitted volunteered to help new comers for many years on my old account. I feel this was such a great experience that made me want to come back to Second Life. To keep learning. I feel this is okay. I'm not sure it is enough to attract and retain new users to want to come back and figure out what Second Life can be for them. I really do hope that it can be a beneficial tool for new comers to Second Life.

I realize you're asking opinions from others, but ask yourself if you feel your look is outdated or not. It really only matters what you think about your look. How you feel about it. People should use whatever head and body they wish to use. There are a few things to look at though. If you are happy with your wardribe and look. If you're not into shopping. If you are happy with your current head and body. Your wardrobe. All of these things mean that your look works for you so it shouldn't matter what others think. If you love to shop, but can't find new looks and meshes that support the body or head you use...that could be an issue. You might want to give yourself a makeover. If you enjoy fashion blogging this is a necessity if you want to keep being able to create new looks in your photos. A personal example is that I love to create photos and I'm really into fashion so I had to recently come to the decision to get the Reborn body. Reborn allowed me to edit my shape almost identical to my Maitreya Lara with a look I actually like. I only use the Reborn body for newer looks though. My head is Lelutka and I found that you can get such a beautiful and original look from all the Lelutka heads with editing, skin, makeup and eyes. They are very versatile in that respect. There are endless possiblities. It really all depends on what you want for your look. It never hurts to give yourself a makeover from time to time if you are asking this about your current head and body.

Peeve: When I make a resolution to not buy anymore clothes, shoes, hair, etc in the New Year until I do a clean out of my inventory and barely two weeks in the New Year and I just bought six new hairstyles and eleven complete outfits just now. With shoes too! Must have shoes. I still stick with the argument that I always need new hairstyles with new outfits. Just makes sense to me... 🙄 Why did one of favorite fantasy clothing stores have to have a vintage sale? Just why?! 😑

1. My older sl sister and bestfriend taking the time to landscape and build an entire house just to let me know how much she wants hubby and I to return to her residential sim. 🥰 2. Kind people who have captured a silly moment of mine in a photo and sharing it with me. This happened to me two years ago at the Fantasy Faire. I was attending with my husband and we were both on horseback. The sweetest person had taken a photo of me on my horse letting me know how beautiful my little arabian mare is. I had put a lot of time in setting up Snowdrop's (my mare) look and it meant so much that she had noticed! I still have that photo tucked away in my inventory. I'll always keep it. 3. Generally, I find the kindness, strength, support, diversity and imagination people can bring to their sl endearingly beautiful. There is a lot of those attributes in abundance in sl.

1. People who assume that anyone owes them "voice verification" to prove they are such and such gender. The ones who air their insecurities within 15 minutes of speaking that they cannot continue said conversation unless they hear my voice. To be so insecure with oneself that you need voice verification for a simple conversation is silly. I'm not in SL to appease anyone's insecurities. I'm not here for romance or relationships. I have always made that very clear and if my simply conversing with someone depends on me voice verifying, I'm just not interested. I'm deaf. Voice holds no interest for me for very obvious reasons. Just needed to add I'm not talking about those who need that reassurance if they are entering a romantic relationship with someone in SL and that is important to them. 2. People who know I'm deaf using voice when they are around me and getting angry at me for not responding because I didn't hear anything they said or had any idea they were speaking on voice. 3. Getting lectured on how I shouldn't experience social anxiety in sl and should "just get over it." I do in fact have social anxiety even in sl. It causes me to be very shy and awkward towards others at times to the point of having to teleport out of social situations when extremely overwhelmed. Been in therapy for years and have yet to just get over it. 4. Random people I don't even know actually getting hurt over the fact I simply state in my profile that I'm not often open to new friendships. I have a very small circle of family and friends here. They have been in my rl since birth (twin sis) or have been part of my rl or sl life for years. Or both lives. I take these relationships very seriously and put my whole heart and time into them. I don't have the energy to do the whole superficial friendship scene. It just isn't my cup of tea. There is more, but these are the biggest irritants.

I've never done it, never thought of doing it and never would even consider doing it. It is very harmful to the other person and I can imagine very unhealthy for both parties. I had an ex (rl ex, but we had both been in sl) try this with me among stalking and harassing. I had to stop using my two oldest accounts, stop helping my sister run her residential sim and living there. I don't even feel safe posting on the forums on my main account I use. I had to start over completely and it wasn't a fun experience. After three and a half years, I'm barely starting to hang out at my sister's sim again and my husband and I thinking of moving back there. So, not a good idea to do to anyone. Just move on and find new friends.

I'm not sure if these could be considered resolutions since I do these things in both worlds after the holidays every year. RL: Organize and declutter SL: Organize and declutter

Reading two books at the moment. Still making my way through The Witcher book series : The Witcher: Time of Contempt (Fourth in the series) Also reading: Louis Theroux When the World Went Weird and so did I: Theroux the Keyhole

No, you certainly aren't alone in that. That type of lighting in both worlds is unbearable. The blaringly bright white actually causes physical pain to my eyes and body due to my ME/CFS. I just teleport out when I encounter a store with that blaring color scheme.

Family

We hope your Yuletide was merry and bright!

Verity playing with her favorite Christmas present. She has been obsessed with this thing ever since we set it up for her.