The Bestiary
This is a rogue's gallery of my various emotions, depicted as tiny ASCII monsters. Each monster represents a specific fear, complete with a corresponding nugget of advice on how to handle it.
I chose ASCII because it’s a cute, lo-fi way to express my idea. These tiny monsters don't just represent fears of mine, but their contained nature symbolise how these once-overwhelming feelings have shrunk over time. Now, they’re little more than strokes on a keyboard. It’s no secret that horror can serve as a safe outlet for many people to explore emotions they don’t have a good way of expressing otherwise. I’m certainly no exception to this and hey, I love monster mashes! Neil Ciecerega’s *Monster Breeder* had very inspiring visuals. My best friend also loved the idea and wanted to see me come out of my shell some more, so here come the ghosts and goblins!
Oh, and expect a few remodellings as my ASCII skills improve. I'll be sure to store the old designs as a display of how far I go!
Bad Ideas
/\
/\ o
( o __)
( __)
( (
( )
( )
( )
)) \ _
(=======) / \ nnnn| |
/ \ _/___\_ | |
| | =(0 0)= /
\_______/ [ [ [ [ prl
You will know what works and what doesn’t, and feel bolder for having tried at all.
Being Formless
______
/ \
0 n 0__/
( )nnn ( )
\ 0 0 / ______
\ / / \
( ) \__0 n 0
) ) nnn
( ( __0 0_\ _
';. ); ____/_( )
UuuU______(_) prl
There is a home for you, no matter how buried it may be beneath the bones.
Being Seen
11
/_______\
=(. .)=
U U
-' '-
/ /\ /\ \
/ /__\ _ /__\ \
| /_\ |
\ \____ ____/ /
\_ \__/ \__/ _/
\___________/ prl
Because you’re constantly inside yourself, it’s easy to think other people are inside you too.
Being Too Much
/\/\
(VVV) @ @ (VVV)
| | vv | |
| |_\\__//_| |
| (;;) |
| |
| /\ |
| ___/ \___ |
| | | |
| | | | prl
| __| |__ |
|( )|
“Too much” can mean “too much effort for the other party to be bothered to spend.”.
Being Unsightly
____
__ ___ ( \
/_ / _\ ) Uu \
o o( ]]] / uUu |
(:Y: ( / _/ uUuU |
V | \ ) UuUu |
\ \ \ | uUuU |
_____\__/\__)|___prl_|
)____
|
|
|
|
|
You don’t have to be understood to be lovable; many things are unsightly but provoke love.
Being Untrue
_(
_) \_________
_) \ \
_) \ \
_) ) \
) _ ( /\ /
6 ((_ _____/ /_____
66 / '(____\__ \ _(
6 ( (o) _(__
66 WwWwWwWwW\ _(
6 mnmnmnmnm \ (
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO
You know when you’re being true to yourself and others. Lying is a choice.
Losing Control
/\
|V \
| d \
) ,_\
/ (
(VVV /;. \ (VVV)
\ /;. / /
\ /;. \ /
';;/ ';;'___
/ __ ______)
/ / \ \ prl
\ / \_ \
) ( ) (
[[[_/ [[[_/
Everyone loses control, but it’s about what you do afterwards.
Missing Out
/\/\
=(q__q)=
)++(
\#@#\
\+*+\
/#@#/ /\/\
/+*+/ =(. . )=
|#@#| | \ _
|+*+| || \| prl
You’re not.
Needing Help
___
(]_]_] /\/\
/ / /\_ \
/ / (o_x| \
\ \__| |__/
___ ___ \
/ \ / ) /
/ / / / / prl
/ / \ / / \ \__
[_[_[_ [_[_[_) ( _]_]_]
It’s okay to need help. Everybody needs help, especially the people that don’t want to say it.
Pleasing Others
< o)
/) |
( o > /m_m
/) | /\__ / \\
/ mm____(x__n) R.I.P ||
(_(______ \ prl || < o)
(===/ || \ (\
.nNNNn...nnNNNnn... mm \
Ask who makes you happy and who doesn't. Then keep the people who try for you, and reject the ones that don't.
Stagnating
_))
_) \\
) .-\\-.
_) @ ___\
_)_\ /VVV
)__/ /
| | __o_o
|u |========0( _ __)
|vu \ U u u
|uvu ^^^^)
|vuvu (__)
DoD /vu _ (__)
))__/ / / / prl
(______\MMM MMM
Check that you feel like you belong to yourself.
Taking Space
'_ -/-:-\- _'
'---|---'
|
_ .--n-n--. _
/ \/\ mMmMmMm /\/ \
/ \ \ \.- -./ / / \
/ / \ \ (.:::.) / / \ \ prl
/_/ \ \/ \/ / \_\
You were born to take space. Every living thing needs space, not just to survive but thrive.