Author: rhodgson5250

Oxford dictionary defines mindfulness as “a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique”.

Everyone’s journey will be different, and that’s okay.

But everyone has the ability to be mindful.

I encourage you to strengthen this ability. Grounding yourself in the present moment, feeling gratitude for your mind and body, will help build the resilience needed for the many challenges and distractions in life.

Using Instagram @raehodgson I shared what mindfulness means to me.

Take a look!

It is important for me to be in nature. I go for walks, watch the birds, feel the breeze on my skin – all of these help ground me in the present moment.

Another key moment in my mindfulness journey was learning to focus on my breathing. I make sure to find a comfortable, quiet place. I breathe in for four seconds and out for four seconds…

So simple, yet effective to calm my racing thoughts.

I stay active, keeping my body in motion for at least an hour each day. This builds gratitude for my body and all the amazing things it is able to do. This exercise is highly effective to build appreciation in all aspects of life.

Lastly, I ask for you to share what mindfulness means to you. Please do not hesitate to participate in this conversation as we have a lot to learn from one another.

Always remember, we are in this together.

Take care of yourself.

Simply put in Wikipedia, “Infographics are visual representations of information, data or knowledge intended to present information quickly and clearly”.

Infographics are effective in communication and marketing as it allows the reader to visualize the narrative of the story in a flow that should be easy to follow.

I attempted my first infographic to display key principles of good storytelling. I wanted each point to catch the readers attention, have value, and be easy to understand.

Seen below:

I also shared my infographic on twitter:

https://twitter.com/RachelErinHodg1/status/1421614488474865666

From the knowledge gained, I would like to utilize infographics again!

For this assignment we were tasked with using a live-tweet to tell an engaging story.

This summer I’m single and loving it. And so, I decided to highlight a hilarious Tinder experience that just so happened to be yesterday…

I used the thread to highlight the events of my day. It began with me hanging at the pool before receiving a notification on Tinder asking if I was interested in a par 3.

Note, I am not a strong golfer.

I was terrible. It was awkward. But still awesome.

I used the tools in Twitter via GIFs and hashtags to add humour and relatability to the story.

I mean, who hasn’t been on a bad date?

Hm. What to share for my first ever live Tweet?

Oh, I know! How about my Tinder date yesterday. 🤣

Let's get into it…#EXSM3938

— Rachel Erin Hodgson (@RachelErinHodg1) July 10, 2021

“All you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to you”

– J.R.R. Tolkien

To this day, the Lord of the Rings trilogy is my favourite fantasy fiction film series. To many it is a classic – the best fantasy series of all time.

To me it is precious.

I first watched the series when I was a little girl. I remember being terrified! The effects, the battles, the emotion was too much. I ended up forcing my parents to leave the theatre. But I knew there was something special here and I was missing out.

A few years later, I mustered the courage to try the series again.

I was utterly captivated, blown away by the ambition and scope of the film! The cinematography, film score, costumes, and characters transported me into Middle Earth.

Key Storytelling Elements

Relatability and morality:

The audience falls in love with the main characters – the good and honest hearts of the hobbits. And despite their small size and lack of combat skills they embark on a perilous journey to save Middle Earth. The characters that join them (Elves, Men, and Dwarves) have their own struggles. This arch of temptation and redemption amongst their comrades adds depth and feeling to the story.

High stakes:

Frodo is the Ringbearer. His mission is to take the ring to Mount Doom. He must face menacing creatures (Nazguls, Orcs, Trolls) and treacherous landscapes (Misty Mountains, Mines of Moria, Black Gate, Cirith Ungol) before throwing the ring into the fire and destroying it for good. Should he fail, all of Middle Earth will fall to the Dark Lord Sauron. Throughout the story the audience is at the edge of their seats, rooting for the characters in what seems to be an impossible task.

In depth material:

This film series was adapted from J.R.R. Tolkien’s books, providing bountiful material and reference. The films do an excellent job of leaning on this material, staying true to the intent and focus of the original story. As a result, the imagery and detail of the film is impressive, making watching the film even that more memorable.

Closing Thoughts

If you have not yet had the chance to dive into the fantastical world of Middle Earth, I highly suggest that you do! The story is packed with adventure – full of life and lessons. And the film is visually and audibly stunning.

Now please excuse me as I re-watch this 11 hour masterpiece!