My Sweet Lord

EXPLORING SECOND LIFE

And there I was, a woman without religion but with faith to praise one hundred Gods.

- lori Novo

My Sweet Lord

- George Harrison -

"I really want to see you

Really want to be with you

Really want to see you, Lord

But it takes so long, my Lord

My sweet Lord

Mm, my Lord

Mm, my Lord..."

-lyrics

Welcome, this is Luanes World - Le Monde Perdu - Summer 2024 (Moderate)

I grew up in the catholic faith, with a great-grandmother who guided us under very strict

religious guidance that cast fear, more than love to God. She truly believed that the only way to

make it to Haven was to follow the Catholic faith. So punishment, hell, and purgatory were some

of the words she would use on us to keep us in line and obey the Lord. More than a loving and forgiven

father, God was painted to us as this unmerciful being who could see everything we did, even our

thoughts. In a way, she was right on that one, but to her, we could be struck by lightning if

we ever did something wrong. Something as small as liking a dress from a magazine. That is what

she would call a vanity sin and so we should feel ashamed and pay penance for our sin with

Twenty Hail Marys and twenty Our Fathers and don't forget our pet, Billy the goat for a blood

sacrificial! Okay, I am exaggerating a bit there with the goat. :P

Anyway, growing up under my great-grandmother's faith was utterly torture.

Going to church with her for mass meant that for the whole duration of mass, our eyes had to

be locked on the priest and we were not allowed to make any sounds, not even a cough or a sneeze.

Don't get me wrong, my great-grandmother was a very loving woman just too intense when it

came to her religion.

I, however, began to unfollow her faith and demands at a very early age. I am surprised she didn't

disown me. However, the way she treated me after my rebellious uproar changed drastically.

She no longer showed physical affection to me as she did with her other great-grandkids that

continued to obey her more out of fear than out of love and respect.

I became the black sheep and with the years, almost all of the other joined me as well.

It was hard to follow her faith that more than love and peace was all about pain, sadness, and

punishment. Standing with her meant walking on eggshells at every second with God. A small,

unintentional wrong step could mean damnation in hell for an eternity.

I did continue practicing the Catholic faith but on my own for a few more years.

However, for some reason, my spirit felt empty and so I searched in other religions for what my spirit

was lacking. As I continued to soul struggle one day I felt it in my heart, what I had been looking for

was already inside me. It had been there since the moment I was born and that was to be good, to

care for the world and every single living thing. To live by love because once we live by love,

everything good falls into place like peace, joy, acceptance, forgiveness, encouragement, etc.

But here's the catch, the beauty of living this way is not with the purpose of earning a spot in Heaven

or to avoid hell, those two things are already on earth. The beauty should be in doing it because it is the

right thing to do, for ourselves and others, with no rewards expected, other than knowing that a life

lived with love for the world can only bring light and light is good, very good!

So that is how I came to be a woman with no religion but with a very strong faith in a

merciful and loving God.

♥

Credits On Me

Sintiklia - Hair Milan ● /TRUTH/ Tempted Left Bang ● [ LEPUNK ] Glitter Set - Bottom Liner

 [ VelvetVue ] Rouge Blush ● iNeed [ Torn Petals  LelEvoX fem ]

=Zenith=Summer Rattan Flower Hat (ALL) - RARE (Old Gacha) ● .cococat. Liebestraum Dress - Floral Emerald

Understanding the Unacceptable

COMMENTARY

Hello Beautiful World!

What a rollercoaster of a Second Life I've been having in the last few weeks. I have probably gone

through every possible emotion a human can feel. Everything from happiness to fear and hate and

everything in between. Now hate is the emotion that I hate the most, even more than fear.

Hate is the most dangerous emotion for any human to have in the heart. It is a poison that

would eventually consume all that is good bringing absolute misery to life. That is why I have never

allowed it to stay in me, there's just no room for it in my life. I prefer to replace it with love which is the

most beautiful and powerful emotion to live with. While hate brings forth darkness, love brings forth

life, light, hope, and happiness.

Solsbury Hill 

- Peter Gabriel (Acoustic Cover by Sierra Eagleson) -

But with everything that has been happening to me lately what have I learned?

I have learned a few things that will help me continue my Second Life journey with a better

understanding of why people do what they do or say what they say.

Sometimes we need to step back and listen to ourselves, in this case, read what I have written,

and figure out the problem and then figure out the solution to that problem.

So the main problem for me is the daily disrespect I endure from men.

I used to be a bit feisty in the past and didn't mind having occasional confrontations with them

whenever I felt disrespected even though I knew it was best to just block them and move on.

But I had never been one to remain quiet and look or walk away when someone, including myself, 

is being mistreated. I am that person that will always get involved to help or protect someone else.

I have done it in the past in my real life. I have done it many times in the children's virtual world

where I used to blog before. And I continue to do it in Second Life now. This has created problems

for me that I am left to deal with after the fact. Still, I never regretted stepping up to

aid someone even if I had to pay the price later. I was strong and I would stand my ground and not

retreat until I felt I had done my part to help someone.

Now, I am no longer strong to fight the bad guys. I can no longer defend others or myself even 

when I want to. I feel tired to fight any battles. So one of the lessons I learned is that it is ok

to look and walk away from the bad guys. Sometimes it is wise to retreat in silence in order to

have peace especially when we are already fighting a personal battle within ourselves, for me,

that would be my health. So from this point on, I will start blocking right away anyone that

disrespects me in any way.

Steppenwolf (steppen.crescendo): yu wont be able to make them be friendly anyway,

they are aggressive just to get your attention

Steppenwolf (steppen.crescendo): attention is a very valuable thing in short supply, and the more

beautiful the woman the more valuable her attention

Steppenwolf (steppen.crescendo): so don't give it to anyone who is disrespectful to you baby

Thank you my love. <3

Lesson one learned.

Now, another thing that I learned is that in fact, I can't change the way these men treat women.

I don't have that power. I have no control over their behavior and the things they say. The only

real power that I have is over my own life. While I can't change the situation that happens, I can

choose how to deal with the situation. That is where I have total control and full power, over my

reaction, my action, my mentality, my decision, that is power!

I will never be able to stop men from disrespecting women, but I can begin by stopping wasting my

attention and time trying to do it. Instead, I'll direct my attention to the people that are truly worth my time.

Lesson two learned.

Now the final lesson I learned is understanding these men. Why are they the way they are and say the

things they say without realizing how humiliating and hurtful they make us feel.

I figured that maybe some of these men are truly just trying to give a sincere compliment to women,

but they are just not using the right words in doing it so. This could be because of the way they grew up,

their surroundings, etc., it could be many other factors. While the term "b*tch" may be very offensive to

most women, to them it might just be a daily word they use without no ill intention or 

disrespectful meaning behind it.

Now this brings me back to lesson two.

While we don't have control over what these men say, we definitely have no control at all over how we

would like them to compliment us. They may be throwing a whole bunch of degrading and disrespectful

words at us while they are thinking we will be receiving the compliment positively. While some words

might offend some women, they might not offend others. Men will continue complimenting

every woman the same way, because that it's their normal way of doing so and they know no other way.

SK (silverize): u want my advice

Lori Novo: yes

SK (silverize): take it as a compliment )

SK (silverize): instead of being offended

SK (silverize): laugh on how obnoxious the thing is

SK (silverize): if u know what i mean

SK (silverize): but being mad of what others say

SK (silverize): u got no control over it

SK (silverize): humanity will never be good ... it's a lost cause Lori :P

Now I think my good friend SK is very wise with his words. He also agrees with me that we have no

control over other people. And I do agree with him that is better to laugh instead of cry at the obnoxious

things that come out of these men's mouths. I however don't know if I can take the disrespect that they

give me as compliments. But one thing is for sure, I will try to give them the respect that they do not

give me by trying to understand why they behave and say the things they say. This is not to excuse them

but to help me somehow better deal with the way they treat me. This will help me know that is not

because of who I am or the way I look that brings out the disrespect in them, but because of them, their

upbringing, their surroundings, and the mentality they feed on that block them from seeing that there

are other better ways to treat those around them, especially women.

Lesson three learned.

Thanks For Reading My Beautiful People!

Much love,

Lori Novo

♥

Credits On Me

DOUX - Minji Hairstyle ● VOBE - Mikayla Earrings Gold ● Belle Epoque - Clarie - Flowers Peach Dress

friday - May Sandals (Cloud) ● Location: Luanes World (Moderate)

Only In Second Life ◆ Granny Lila

ONLY IN SECOND LIFE

Because Second Life is just as fun and funny as you want it to be!

Lori Novo: omg baby, look

Steppenwolf (steppen.crescendo): shes coating herself with sunscreen

Lori Novo: awww lol

Lori Novo: she's so cute

Sunscreen Song

~ Summer Dance Songs for Children ~

♫ 

Rub sunscreen on your right cheek. 

Now rub some on your left. 

Now rub some on your nose and hope you don’t forget. 

Make sure you use your sunscreen when you’re out in the sun.

You can be protected and still have fun. 

Doing the sunscreen. Doing the sunscreen. 

♫

♫

Rub sunscreen on your right side. 

Now rub some on your left. 

Rub some on your tummy and hope you don’t forget. 

Make sure you use your sunscreen when you’re out in the sun.

You can be protected and still have fun. 

Doing the sunscreen. Doing the sunscreen.

♫

This Is Your Reminder

Wear SPF Everyday

●Prevents Premature Aging

●Lowers Skin Cancer Risk

●Prevents Sunburn

●Prevents Skin From Worsening

Hyperpigmentation

●Protects Skin From Sun Damage 

(Melasma and Brown Spots)

Ummm, Did granny just start wearing sunscreen?

Hello Beautiful World!

Please meet granny. Not as Granny Smith, the apples, but as Granny Lila Swansong.

Though she's more like a peach, she looks pretty pruney to me. <3

Granny, don't you know that no matter how much sunscreen you apply the 

"Prevents Premature Aging' and "Protects Skin From Brown Spots"

that no longer applies to you. Sunscreen supposes to protect you from the sun,

not do miracles.

Steppenwolf and I watched for over an hour how busy Granny Lila Swansong kept

applying that sunscreen during our visit to Luane's World - Le Monde Perdu - Summer 2022 (Moderate)

the other day. I really loved watching her and couldn't stop smiling.

Watching her made me happy and as I always say, making someone smile is one of the greatest gifts

you can give to someone else. And with that said, thank you so much Lila Swansong for that

happy moment, HUGS!

Much Love,

Lori Novo

❤

♫ 

Doing the sunscreen. Doing the sunscreen. 

♫

Feels Like I'm Knockin' On Heaven's Door

Featuring KUNGLERS

Tell me mother...

Will you recognize my eyes when I get to heaven and I look into yours again?

Will you dry my tears and hold me in your arms and never let go?

Will you know that I am your daughter, mother, please tell me...

Will you smile with that beautiful smile of yours that I carry in my heart?

Will I finally be with you again forever?

Please tell me mother.

Knockin' On Heaven's Door

~ RAIGN ~

Hello Beautiful World!

Earlier today I visited Luane's World - Le Monde Perdu - Summer 2022 (Moderate), and again I visited

it for a second time today just a few hours ago. However, the second visit became an emotional

one. As I was trying to find a good WLS for my pictures, Knockin' On Heaven's Door started playing.

Suddenly, I became overwhelmed with a mixture of emotions. The moment became perfect, perfect

to laugh and cry, perfect to remember my mother, and perfect to wonder about so many things.

Will my mother know and recognize me if we ever meet again?

As a child, my biggest fear was that my mother would someday die. I would cry and cry every time

I would think about this and my grandma would assure me that my mother wasn't gonna die.

Still, that fear remained in my heart.

My grandmother also used to tell me that when we die, we all become angels.

That in heaven there are no titles like mother, father, brother, sister, friend, etc. We are simple

angels with an immense love for each other. She assured me that if I were to die, my mother would continue to love me just as much, except that wouldn't be a mother's love anymore. It would turn into

an angel from heaven's love. This, of course, wasn't something I wanted to hear. I wanted my mother to

continue loving me from heaven with a mother's love for her daughter, not just from an angel

 to a mortal being.

Now that I am a grown woman and my mother has passed away, the fear continues.

What if my grandmother was right and now my mother has forgotten who I was and now

loves me just the same as she loves everyone else because now that she is an angel the titles 

of mother and daughter no longer exist for her anymore.

Even though the second visit today to this beautiful sim turned into a very emotional moment,

it also brought joy and a sense of peace. It is incredible how even in a virtual world we can

become emotional by our surroundings, to the point that we shed a tear, or two because that

moment in that virtual world has touched our hearts deeply. Has this ever happened to you too?

Thanks For Reading!

From earth to heaven: Love you and miss you so much mom, From your daughter.

- Lori Novo

❤

By the way, I am wearing KUNGLERS - Diandra Set 

available now at the Cosmopolitan Event (Ends June 11 / Gallery)

Kunglers In-World ● MarketPlace ● Blog ● Flickr Official ● Flickr Fan

Designer Ava Kungler ● My Kunglers Inventory ● My Kunglers' Blog Posts 

Credits

DOUX - Olivia Hairstyle

erratic / esti - dress

Belle Epoque { Stay Warm } Boots Hush

Model & Photographer: Lori Novo

Thanks to my wonderful ●Sponsors for their kind support!

Different Memories

Featuring Thalia Heckroth 

Selfish Love

~ Jessie Ware ~

Hello Beautiful World!

Today I had the chance to spend some time at Luane's World - Le Monde Perdu - Summer 2022 (Moderate), 

a very beautiful sim owned and landscaped by LuaneMeo and Gorba McMahon.

AND, I had the great pleasure of running into Gorba, whom I may say I have known for many

years on Flickr. 

But then again, I bet most of you are aware of who he is. Gorba McMahon is an incredible Second

Life photographer, a true giant of this art. HERE you can check out his beautiful work.

Thank you Gorba for the nice chat!

 

While I was there I also ran into someone that likes reading my blog and we also use to have a friend in common.

We had an extended and very interesting chat. My chat with her gave me an idea of what I would be

writing for you in this post...

Is it possible that two people, strangers to each other, can meet the same person but have very

different opinions/experiences/memories of that person?

It seems that is possible according to what we share with each other about how our encounters 

were with this person.

For me, my experience and the time I got to share with this friend left me with very sweet and pure

memories. Memories that to this day still make me smile. It was very unfortunate that our friendship

ended. But for the brief time that it lasted, I will forever be grateful.

But for her, the experiences she got to share with my friend were very different from mine.

Her's were a constant torment, and she didn't feel happy or secure. It was as if we both were

 talking about a different person, but we were not. I felt so sad for her to have

gone through that pain. But I also felt sad for my friend, for having behaved in such a way that

now was being remembered with such anger.

"When tomorrow comes this day will be gone forever,

but I shall hold something which I have traded for it. 

It may be no more than a memory,

 but if it is a worthy one 

I shall not regret the price."

-Author Unknown

Thalia Heckroth: Lori! absolutely, there will always be a space for you here, 

it's a pleasure to have you back !

OMG, my heart just melts away. These are the words from Mrs. Thalia when I asked her if

she could add me back to her group of bloggers. I've been blogging for her for around four years

already and since day one I felt how kind this beautiful lady was. She is the only designer that I

collaborate with that designs the style of clothes that I wear in real life.

I just want to give her a HUGE bear hug of how grateful I feel for taking me back again. <3

BRAVO, BRAVO to Mrs. Thalia!

Wearing one of her beautiful designs for this post.

Thalia Heckroth - Memphis Bikini

(Maitreya - Legacy - AvLove Momma - Kupra - Reborn)

Thalia Heckroth In-World ● MarketPlace ● Blog ● Flickr Official ● Flickr Fan

 Designer Thalia Heckroth ●  My Thalia Heckroth Inventory ● My Thalia Heckroth Posts

I leave you for now my beautiful people, you might see me again today in a few hours.

In the meantime, keep enjoying this beautiful day!

Much Love,

Lori Novo

❤

Credits

:::Phoenix::: Cassandra Hair

Fiji (Flowers) ~ Truth

alaskametro<3 "Frosting" eyeshadow

KUNGLERS - Jaiska Rings Set

KUNGLERS - Raissa bracelet

Model & Photographer: Lori Novo

Thanks to my wonderful ●Sponsors for their kind support!

Could You Be Messiah To Me?

For my Steppenwolf. Love you baby!

Flickr

Hello Beautiful World!

I am dedicating this blog post to the love of my life, my husband, my best friend, my Steppenwolf.

because with each new day, my love for him keeps growing in such a beautiful way that makes my

heart feel like it's going to explode. I can't stand it baby! He's also been on my back for a while now,

encouraging me to return to my blogging and photography so today I decided to surprise him. ;)

Could You Be Messiah

~ Morissette ~

Could You be healer

To a heart that’s been wounded

In a battle that’s never seen

Could You be teacher

To a mind of confusion

Tell me what does this all mean

Are You deliverer

Of a feeling imprisoned feeling in chains

Can You set my spirit free

And just one more question

Allow me this question

Could You be Messiah to me

Could You be Messiah to me

Could You be father

To a soul that’s been abandoned

By a world too busy to hear

Could You be friend

To a helpless survivor

Can You take away my fears

I heard them all sharing

This newfound conviction in them

Are You all that they make You to be

And just one more question

Allow me this question

Could You be Messiah

Please be Messiah to me

Now I’ve been looking for someone like You

And I’m so tired, I’m tired

I’ve read every book and I’ve sang every song

My mind maybe right but my heart feels so wrong

Tell me how much further can my life go along

Which way do the roads lead where do I belong…

Are You forgiver

Of my most unknown secrets

Provider of all that I need

Could You be brother

The one who knows better

Would You now stand in the lead

When all this is over all the thunder and lightning

In the daylight just what will I see

The answers to my questions to all of my questions

Could You be Messiah to me

Could You be Messiah

Please be Messiah to me

To me…

Flickr

By the way, did you all know that Mrs. Poulet Koenkamp, owner and designer of 

PurpleMoon Creations had returned and opened a new shop back on December 1st, 2021?

I sure didn't. How come no one told me?  >:(

Luckily for me that I accidentally discovered this while fixing some of my older blog posts

and clicked her Flickr tab and there it was, beautiful new designs that were not there before.

OMG, what is this?

WTF?

When did this happen?

Mrs. Poulet where are youuuu?

These were just a few of the questions I kept asking myself when I discovered the discovery :P

which is Mrs. Poulet and PurpleMoon are back! However, she has changed the name of her store

to PM.

Now I can't wait to send her a "What's up Mrs. Poulet?" and hope she still remembers who I am.

The beautiful gown that I am wearing for this post is one of her latest creations.

It is the Octavia Gown in pink.

Octavia is available in so many beautiful colors for 249L each or 2,241 for the FatPack.

For bodies Maitreya - Legacy - Kupra - Freya

There are also four great group gifts available ( 99L fee to join the group).

One of them is this beautiful gown and let me remind you all that Mrs. Poulet always

spoiled us with her amazing group gifts in the past, so I am looking forward to the upcoming

ones. ;)  There are also 5 Lucky Letter Chairs for all group members, changing every 12 minutes.

Got to go for now my beautiful people. Thank you so much for your constant love and support

and for not giving up on me. Even though I had stopped blogging, you continue to visit the blog

and the visit count still stands at a high point thanks to you (hugs you all tight) thank you!

Please take care and spread kindness to those around you.

Much Love

Lori Novo

❤

Credits

Hair - TRUTH Halona - Brunette

*LODE* Head Accessory - Crocus [apple pink]

Bracelet - Moksha Set ~ Chop Zuey

Location - Luane's World - Le Monde Perdu - Spring 2022 (Moderate)

Model & Photographer: Lori Novo

PM InWorld ● MarketPlace ● Blog ● Facebook ● Flickr Official ● Flickr Fan

My PM Inventory ● Designer Poulet Koenkamp