Day 116. Happy New Year!

   2012 was the best year of my life:) I got to travel to cities, finish school and have the job of my dreams. I'm as happy as anyone can be!:) I have my friends, my family and my boyfriend by my side and I earn money that help me satisfy my little pleasures like decorating a big Christmas tree:)  

   So I wish 2013 will be the same, just as awesome and full of beautiful surprises. I don't want anything to change or be better since this is clearly the best period of my life:)  I only wish to have rational beliefs, stay positive and be healthy. Everything else will come naturally. 

Day 115. I choose to believe

    I meant to write something about the state of complete peace I get whenever I step into a church but during the day I was approached in an unthoughtful manner about my beliefs (and "The nativity story" movie) so I'm writing about my beliefs instead. 

   In this rushing world where the most important thing is having money and enjoying yourself, few are those who still seek God, no matter His appearance. I know we can find plenty of reasons not to believe, be it because we can't see Him, because the facts the Bible describes happened too long ago and they were written by simple people who could have lied or because the priests have hidden some of what was written in order to control us and that some of them are to be ashamed of instead of being a role model for the society they work for. Honestly, I don't care if some of the history written in the Bible is distorted or lacks information. It's enough for me. I choose to believe because it makes me a better person. It makes me feel at peace with myself and solve problems easier. It makes me be confident and give sense to everything that happens to me. I don't have to see God in person to believe He exists. I can feel Him. I choose to believe in Him because of His son and the role model He is for me. 

   I know there are sooo many debatable things regarding christianity but I choose to have my own religion, my own path and believe. I don't go to church every Sunday, I'm not the best human being but I strive. I want to be better. I want to help the others. And today, the priest said that striving helps. So I choose to believe and I want to be accepted for who I am. I want to be shown thoughtfulness instead of being pointed and laughed at. I'm a human being and I do have feelings. 

Day 114. There's a right time for everything

   For me it's still Christmas. In my case these "in between" days until the New Year's Eve have always been a sequel of the greatest holiday of the year that I look forward to for the whole twelve months so it only seems natural to prolong it as much as I can. 
   So today I did another Christmassy thing that I wanted to do on Christmas Eve but I forgot. I watched "The nativity story" and so I remembered why movies like this should be seen at the right time:) This time it's sort of "better now than never" because I did get my lesson even if Christmas Eve has passed, but I have to remember that there's a right time for everything and respect that. 
   The movie totally gets you in the atmosphere and it reminds you something highly important: that even if the Christmas tree looks beautiful and the Christmas decorations are so delicate and wonderful and you're in awe while gazing at the city full of lights or you're happy about the gifts you have just received, the real meaning of Christmas comes from the nativity and the most precious gifts of them all: baby Jesus and everything this involves:) 
   I really loved the movie and it made me want to buy a nativity scene next year. This way I'm sure I spread around the real meaning of Christmas at the right time:)

Day 113. On the fourth day of Christmas

   ... my best friend gave to me "Christmas Stories - Nutcracker Collector's Edition" game by Big Fish. I loooove mistery games made by Big Fish. Their graphics are simply breath taking and the games are so cleverly made up and interesting to play. Since I'm playing a seasonal game this time, it prolongs my feeling of Christmas along with my Christmas tree sparkling by my side:) What can be better than a cozy day in the realm of solving puzzles and saving princesses with the help of a Nutcracker, a kitten and a dog?:)

Day 112. Dream home

   Today I went to my best friend's place for a cozy Christmassy day together. As I stepped in the house I gazed in wonder all around me. I always believed her home looked the way I want my house to be "when I grow up" and have my own one:) There's simply so much attention put in every detail and everything looks so classy and just perfect. You always feel welcomed, loved and at peace when you step in:) I used to say that whenever I entered that house I felt like going in a hotel but today I felt I was visiting a museum... one with valuable pieces that I couldn't take my eyes of:) It was all because of the Christmas decorations placed with care and passion in the hall, in the kitchen and in the living room. In the end that's what makes a simple house... home. And my best friend's home is my personal dream home:)

Day 111. Family traditions

   

   My family has two big traditions: in spring - picking snowdrops from a forest near the city and in winter - picking mistletoe from a different forest near the city:) They're things we've done since I was a little child. I don't know how it all started but I remember how much we liked to pick our own snowdrops that announce nature coming back to life/ mistletoe for good luck and how  happy they made all our relatives that we gave them to. In the end we just liked the idea of making these OUR thing:) 

   Today was the day for picking mistletoe. We even took my best friend with us and so our journey began:) The day was surely the warmest of all the years so far. I thought I'd find crispy trees and take awesome landscape photos but the snow merely covered the ground in patches. We started to walk towardws the trees we knew to provide mistletoe for us. Meanwhile my best friend was continually slipping so I had to hold her tight:) Life is full of nice surprises so I found other interesting things to take photos to and after a while of walking we got to the trees we were looking for. We got our lucky mistletoe and then we drank some hot tea and ate some of my best friend's amazing cookies. After all this we started walking towards home. My best friend was right about a thing though: it was like the whole year was felt in our bodies: our head was warm (spring), our body was hot (summer), our legs were chilly (autumn) and our feet were frozen (winter). 

   It was a nice experience though and I remembered how good it is to have family traditions:) It's a personal signature that will last forever, at least in pictures and our memories:)

Day 110. A time of meditation

   

   Besides being a time of joy and pleasant surprises, for me Christmas is also a time of meditation. These last days of the year I ponder upon the year that has passed and, just like Thanksgiving day is for the Americans, Christmas is for me a time to be thankful. I don't know why and how come, but the years of my life keep getting better and better. I keep fulfilling my dreams and that's what makes me want to go on more and more powerful and full of life and hope. 

   So today, in the first day of Christmas, I layed back under my Christmas tree just like kids use to do and I started recalling my last twelve months. I arrived at the conclusion that if God wanted to take me right now, I'd do in peace. I have everything I could want at this very moment so I am at peace with myself. Nevertheless, I wouldn't wanna miss the fun that is yet to come and the beautiful life that awaits: having my own family and owning a dog. I'm looking forward to discovering new paths that God has prepared for me and solve new puzzles that will make me want to strive more and help more people. 

   Another conclusion of my today's reflections is that we have to find the thing what we're best at and then try to help the world with it be it arts, science or anything else. I believe this is our purpose in this world just like Michael Jackson said: "Make the world a better place.", spread the love and be kind to people around us. I wish we'd all stop fighting and trying to be someone we're not and instead find time to find ourselves, the real person within and then try to be the best at whatever we're good at and use our skills for the better of humanity, for the better of this world. It's important to be at peace with ourselves, to accept our fate and to give sense and significance to everything that happens to us... because you know everything happens for a reason. 

   Have you ever felt like missing something even though you still have it? It's what I feel for Christmas. I feel time flowing and I wish it'd just stop. Stop right here right now and let us enjoy all this for as much as we can. But then I remembered. We can bear Christmas within ourselves the whole year. We can be Santa for people around us any time of the year, we can enjoy the good memories Christmas brings and wait with an open heart for the presents God has prepared for each of us. So let's accept the past and the present and look forward with hope and anticipation:)

Day 109. Christmas surprises

   

   What a day! Christmas is all about happiness and surprises and this Christmas had a good start. On Christmas Eve my friends and I surprised my aunt and made her happy by singing some beautiful carols to her and I was surprised as well by some amazing people and facts. 

   This night I met two people who made me remember how much I love life. I had a beautiful Christmas dinner with my friends, I got a great present from my Secret Santa (more angels, yaaay!) and meanwhile going caroling with my friends we found a lot of abandoned fir trees (which is really sad) and we decided to adopt one and make it our very own devious Christmas tree which we got to decorate together. One of us didn't have a Christmas tree but did have some Christmas decorations that weren't used for ages. I took it as a sign from Santa. I would have never guessed I'll spend Christmas night decorating a Christmas tree with my friends:) This experience and all the surprises this night had for me were heart warming. On my way home I smiled happily and felt at peace with myself. This Christmas is really the best and I'm loving it!:) 

   In the end it all comes down to how we interpret it. The fact that I achieved to have my very own perfect Christmas tree, the fact that I have the chance to be around my friends and family on Christmas Eve and receive more than I could ever expect is what makes life worth living. And this, my friends, is what Christmas is all about: being taken by surprise, being embraced by the magic of Christmas and the birth of the Saviour. This is what makes Christmas the best holiday of the year:)

Day 108. Say hello to Santa

   Everything's set in place. We're almost there. The night when Santa's coming is just around the corner. Until then, I'd like you to meet my sweet Santa:) My mom and I played today and this is what we achieved:) I like spending time with her in the kitchen:) 

   My only regret is that Christmas is gonna pass so soon after its arrival... and we'll have to wait for a whole year for the next one. If only it was Christmas every day...

Day 107. The city of lights

   Today most of the people began getting their homes ready for Christmas. I did that too. We cleaned our cozy home and I can't wait to bake cookies tomorrow! 

   My city is ready for Christmas as well:) It's full of lights that just make it seem magical. That's what Christmas is all about! Magic and childhood. So let's nurture the child inside us and enjoy these holidays as innocently as a child would:) 

   P.S.: Here's some proof of how amazing my city looks like around Christmas:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdjo5vfzmaA&feature=youtu.be

Day 106. Wait for it

   I hate waiting for it! I love Barney (from "How I met your mother" TV show) but today I was forced to wait for someone and I didn't like it. I hoped the courier would come sooner but he didn't and it was important since my prize was about to be delivered to me and I wanted to share the joy with other people who might have been waiting for me too! Ah, this chain of depending on someone! It's one of the things I hate the most. I want to be able to control my own life and when I can't do that... well, it's pretty nasty for me. 

   But as we all know it, all's well that ends well:) And so it did. And now I can really start enjoying the holiday that is about to begin and last for 3 looong weeks!:)

Day 105. Sharing the joy

   Today I got an awesome present from my best friend and on the top of it I got the chance to decorate the Christmas tree with her!:D I felt so special! Carols were playing in the background, we were catching up and sharing the joy of this beautiful holiday that lays ahead of us: Christmas!:) Oh dear, I really enjoy it because, most of all, it brings people together and it makes them happy! 

    I wish we'd all remember that Jesus was born and how important that is for mankind but also enjoy being with our family and loved ones instead of just seeing it as a drag. We should enjoy things while we still have them and instead of missing them like crazy after they're gone...

Day 104. The other me

   Today I replaced a teacher in the kindergarten for some hours so it was like "a different job day" trying to see if this suits me. Well, I knew I wanted to be a kindergarten teacher since 11th grade but I let myself go with the flow and took the psychology path. Today I remembered how much I would have loved that job too:) To be the one teaching the kids all sorts of things, the one that dances with them, plays with them, colors and sings with them, that's just wonderful:) I enjoyed every moment and I even got two "I love you, Dana!"s and a "wow, she's not shouting at us, she's actually letting us play!" so I guess I did my "job" right:D 

   The day ended with watching "The night before Christmas" and while I was watching them... I felt at peace. That very moment I felt the pieces were in the right place. I'm happy I had the chance to be their teacher:)

Day 103. A Christmas to remember

   Every year I change the color of my Christmas tree. I like to play this little game and I already know what color  my NEXT year's tree is gonna be. But enough about future.

   I donno about you, but this year I invested in my Christmas tree. I have a brand new one and tons of ornaments and Christmas decorations (a lot of my salary went that way BUT I'm happy about it:D) and today I got to evaluate this year's idea: a Christmas tree in purple and gold:) All I can say after seeing the result is that I'm completely satisfied:) It actually exceeds my expectations! 
  I'm a kid all over again but in the same time I feel like a grown up always reasoning with the help of logic. I do love to decorate the Christmas tree but now it's not only about the magic of doing that, it's also about a competition with myself regarding how it's gonna look like and this involved a LOT of planning:) Maybe all this "being hired" thing has its saying:) 
   So theoretically this year's gonna be my first Christmas as a "grown up" since I started working. And I know for sure it's gonna be a Christmas to remember:)

P.S. Closer look of the tree because I know you wonder;)

Day 102. As the angels sang

   Today I went to see my boyfriend sing in a beautiful Christmas concert performed by the choire he's attending. It's already a tradition for me but the concert doesn't cease to amaze me every year! I almost burst into tears while I was listening to it. They sounded THAT good and they're not even professional singers. 

   At some point while I was listening to the beautiful songs my thoughts slipped to other contexts of my life. And then I remembered... Weeks ago a fellow psychologist told us: "That's our problem. We're not THERE when we should be. We often think about something else: problems that need to be solved, future plans, past experiences. Our mind is in the wrong spot. So let's be here and focus only on what we're doing NOW." And so I did. I went back to enjoying the concert and in the end I left at peace with myself. It was truly an evening well spent:)

Note to self: Be there with your mind too not only with your body!

Day 101. We're almost there

   All gifts are bought and some are already wrapped up. Everything looks marvelous!:) I love being Santa for my loved ones and I can't wait to see their faces when they unpack:D

   On the other hand, there are eight more days till Christmas. And I still got the flu. But this relaxing weekend got me on my feet again and I feel full of energy so I can't wait for the last 100 m run including the Christmas tree decorating and the cake baking:) Yum!

Day 100. How fragile we are

   I stayed in bed all day. Thank God for the people who invented medicine and pills. I feel way better than I did this morning. Yet, today I had plenty of time to meditate at our condition. Our fragile condition. 
   I'm not sure we value health as much as we should. I think health is like a friendship. It takes a lot of time to preserve it and we lose it so easily. That's why we should be more thankful for being healthy and start working with pleasure because we can. There are so many who can't. 

Day 99. Be careful what you wish for

   Weeks ago I wished for snow. I wanted it so badly because I wanted everything to be perfect (like I usually do. Bad Dana!). I wanted a true winter, not just a wannabe winter, so here I have it. There's snow everywhere and I am thankful for that but... it's SOOO cold. Of course that by a mysterious chance I got a flu (again). So I decided I should be more careful with what I wish for. In the end it's not the first time I get hit in the face by my own wishes coming true. 

Day 98. Good luck vs. Fate

   Some people believe in good luck while others call it fate. Or God's hand. Which one happened today? I'd say the second:)

   Today I won 2 prizes (6 Christmas cards and a box of Kit Kat). It was all very unexpected since I had never won anything in my life:) Actually, that's why words cannot describe my utter happiness! I was extatic!!!

   When I found out about the second prize I was already thinking how lucky I got when I least expected it. If you asked me yesterday, I could have sworn I'd never win anything and then... boom. It happened. How did I get here? How did a day like this turn into a lucky day for me? Why today? 

   Then I remembered my aunt's saying: "There's no such thing as good luck. It's God sending you a message":) So I started wondering what these prizes could mean. They surely came in handy since I really need the cards for Christmas presents and something sweet always makes people happy so I decided to take it as a reward for my behavior this year and spread the joy. Today I learned that God is my personal Santa:) 

Day 97. Curiosity

... didn't always kill the cat!:) It's already a while since I got bored of the same home-work-home road. Today I beat my fear of the unknown and I tried to find a new way towards the kindergarten so I followed a different path and I was amazed. That very moment I felt like the squirrel in Ice Age when finding THE nut. In my case it was a shorter road and it looked even cuter than the previous one (of course, the NEW always seems more interesting than the OLD):D Therefore, I decided to change my course. I'm proud of myself:)

   Note to self: Don't get stuck in the same routines only because you know they work. Be curious! You might find better solutions to your problems:)

Day 96. Life lessons

 

   Today I remembered a life lesson my dad taught me: "Never run after something or someone who's not waiting for you." ... basically buses and men. 

   I was seconds away from the bus I had to take and I let it go remembering what my dad said. "Another one will come", I told myself and a minute later it did:) So, I learned I have to take my time and enjoy the ride instead of rushing to get somewhere only to get bored later on. 

Day 95. The first time

   There's a first time for everything: for playing in the snow, for baking the first cake with your mom, for going somewhere abroad, seeing a horror movie... or having your first Happy Meal. My boyfriend helped me check this experience in my life and now, after it happened, it feels good to have done it (I really enjoyed the toy!)... But I'd replace Happy Meal with KFC crispy wings anytime:) I guess I just know what I like:P

   Nevetheless I want to be open minded to first time experiences and try as many things as I can before I die:) This way I know it was all worth it:)

Day 94. Let it snow

     Today I stood quietly behind the window and I gazed at the amazing spectacle outside. My eyes went wider and wider with joy while I was saying "This is soooo pretty! Just the way it used to be! I wish it would last til Christmas." 

   I was so excited by the snow that I even wanted to decorate the fir tree today... and then I changed my mind. I remembered I want that time to be as magical as it was every year and not just a "let's get it over with and look at how pretty it is for weeks until Christmas is here" thing. So I settled for staring at the decorations from time to time. Nevertheless, I can't wait for 15 more days to pass. Or not. I really enjoy these days. These days right before it. The moments when I plan the gifts for my loved ones while listening to carols, the moments when I take the bus home and I see the Christmas lights in the entire city and I daydream about Christmas. These days are magical. And snow just makes them perfect.  
   Now I know: 2012 was my best year ever and I can only thank God for His support and unconditional love:) He really is awesome:)

Day 93. The picture is complete

   She's here. I met her today. She's wonderful. More and more gorgeous every year and it's interesting how we keep forgetting how beautiful she is after some months of terrible cold that gets in our bones. I missed her and I felt like a kid again. Though I didn't feel the need to go out and make a snowman like I used to do. I guess I just like watching the show from a warm place while holding a cup of cappucino in my hands. 

   So she's here. Earlier than I've expected her. Just the way she used to come decades ago. I guess someone up there loves me:) 

Day 92. Innocence at its best

   

   Today was a girl's birthday. The teacher told her to stay in front of the class and all of a sudden some kids started telling her "happy birthday" followed by: "I will make you a ribbon" or "I will make you a heart" said another. The girl looked very happy and pleased. 

   This is innocence at its best. They don't need big gifts. Children need friends. And love. A lot of love. Cos that's what helps them get through rough times. That's how they become the adults of tommorow who know how to live their life beautifully. 

Let's share love more often:) 

Day 91. Powdered sugar

   This morning the town was sprinkled with snow. It looked so cute:) It was like God sprinkled some powdered sugar on everything except the sidewalks and the streets. (I'm still amazed how snowflakes travel such a long distance to meet the ground.)

   I enjoyed this particular frame I saw when I got off the bus. I kept wearing a dumb smile on my face until I got to work because of how the church and the roofs of the houses looked like:) 

   I like this. I actually like winter (wait till the hell freezes over). I amaze myself how beautiful things really look like when you take a closer look while being happy, really really happy:) 

   So I think we should all find our reasons to be happy and then open our eyes to a brand new world:)

Day 90. The magic of the first snow

   The first snow of the year happening on St. Nicholas day sounds like a fairytale. It happens so rarely that when it does happen adults enjoy it as much as kids do:)

   The children were in the middle of a "snowy drawing" when the snow outside came all of a sudden. They literally left everything and ran to the window. In the photo I caught their reaction: a long and enthusiastic "wooooooow" :) 

   I'm so happy to have the amazing chance to be among them and live everything as intense as they do:) I feel am living my childhood all over again!!!:)

Day 89. When the sun smiles at you

   ... you smile back:) Because you know that's gonna be a good day:) 

   I loved it today. I loved the chill in the air, the winter scent and the sun shining through the naked trees. Nature is now ready. Ready for the first snowfall of the year.

          I can't wait!!! Let it snow:)

Day 88. Faith

   Today I got scared. Like most people do. I felt that things didn't go as planned. That they didn't go my way. I know... irrational thoughts. But once I make plans or decisions, I like to see them happening. And when they go their way, I get confused. Of course, I have the ability to come up with solutions or secondary plans but those feel somehow unconfortable. 

   So, there I was, in the middle of the awkward situation trying to soothe myself. Then it came to me: "Take it easy, everything happens for a reason. If things didn't go your way, a lesson might be just around the corner. Have faith, it's supposed to be happening THIS way. I know you'd like to control it, but it doesn't have to be that way. Breathe. Everything is going to be ok."

   Some say that we attract negative energies if we feel scared, angry or guilty. So, I decided to leave the bad feeling behind and I found myself smiling: "I can do this. It's gonna be ok":)

Day 87. About gifts

   Gifts are such a sensitive theme to approach. Especially when you're not skilled in gift giving. Here are some rules that I thought about today while trying to find the perfect gift for a friend:

1. We should give presents for the right reason. Don't just do it because "you have to, cos it's his/her birthday" or "because he/she gave me something first". Do it because you WANT to. Because you want to make the other person happy. 

2. Then, find the right gift: something meaningful... not too pricey (we know you want to surprise him/her but don't just overdo it) nor too cheap (let's face it, you better handcraft something yourself than buying a cheap thing made in China). 

3. The right gift also involves knowing the person you're preparing it for. That's right. You have to know what he/she LIKES. If you don't know the person that well, ask for help. Ask his/her friends, family or colleagues. Just ask. Or search it on his/her FB page. It always shows a lot of things you might not be aware of. That's one of the benefits Facebook brings: knowing the others better. 

4. After you found a gift that the person might be happy about and you buy it be careful about wrapping it up nicely. We all like some extra attention on the details (ok, maybe just girls). Even if it's a small gift it will receive a better perspective if it has a beautiful wrapping:) 

5. If somehow you just can't find the right gift for someone, DON'T buy what YOU would like to receive. Bad, bad call! Exception: when you know the two of you have common passions. Otherwise, the person will only feel insulted. Be careful about the other person's feelings. It matters a lot:) 

6. Some people like useful gifts... something practical not something to stare at (like Christmas decorations). Others like handmade gifts. Be careful about that too.

   Gift giving might seem a tough job but it can turn into a challenging yet entertaining problem solving situation if we want to. One that helps us learn things about life and people.

   In my case it's fun. I admit it's hard at first if I don't know the person so well and I struggle a lot to find the perfect gift, but in the end I'm satisfied with the decision. 
   My friends and I played Secret Santa the other day so now I have a nice, new challenge ahead:) I can't wait to make my friend happy:)

   

Day 86. Romania, my home

   Today I'm proud: proud of the good people who died in order for us to live in a free country, proud of the people who represent Romania in a good way showing intelligence, creativity and generosity. I'm proud to be able to live my dream in my own country. I'm proud that even if we don't have the salaries of the people in the West, we can still have a beautiful, peaceful life, loving friends and family. Every country has its reasons to be ashamed of, but we have to remember to see the glass half full instead of half empty.

   In the end, everything happens for a reason and I thank God I was born in Romania. I love its sceneries that give me plenty of photographic material, its warm and kind people and its beautiful, unique cities:) 

   La multi ani, Romania!:)