365 days project 2. Day 69. Signs

   How often does it happen that you watch a movie about Greece that makes you fall in love with that country and you decide to travel there the following year... and then you take a bus and you randomly sit down next to this word? I think it's a sign the Universe is sending me :) A sign that I should really go there :D Or at least I choose to believe so.

   Maybe you don't believe in signs. Maybe you think they're just funny coincidences. But you see, if you choose to believe in signs then life starts having a little more meaning... as long as you pay attention to the ones that will improve your life and make you happier. Being paranoid didn't help anybody. 

   Today Zeus made me happy. Now I know what country is next on my travelling list: Greece!

365 days project 2. Day 68. Of travelling and missing Canada

   The world is so much more than your lovely balcony, your wonderfully decorated apartment or your quiet neighbourhood. It's a huge, vast place waiting to be discovered and it's calling for us. It's right there, at an arm's length. It might sound expensive but if you save up and you buy plane tickets early it's all achievable. Really. And once you start travelling you will never be satisfied with just lounging on a chair on your cozy balcony anymore. So many life changing experiences, so many people to meet, so many stories to tell and look back to with utter happiness and that sense of achievement. 

    That's what Canada was to me. A place I only heard and studied about, somewhere far away where the people are very nice and the steaks are delicious. I had no idea it hosts more than 80 nationalities all around the world, that Edmonton would make me feel like I am in Cluj or that the Beaver Creek Farm would be heaven on earth. Little did I know that Jasper and Banff National Parks and their turqoise water and endless, amazing forests would impress me so much, that wild goats and moose would roam freely by the road and that Nelson with all its hippie feeling would make me want to move there. I saw parts of Alberta and BC, I met Oli's cool friends, I found my latest favorite author in an unexpected place, I bought a lot of decorations for my home at a very good price and I attended festivals that will forever be in my memory because of the multitude of nationalities and the colorful vibe I got from them. 

   Canada came when I needed it the most and it forever changed who I am. It made me grow spiritually and it showed me all the greatest things a country can offer: amazing, friendly people, absolutely delicious food, terrific places and unforgettable experiences. As I am writing this the movie of everything that happened for 3 weeks last summer is playing in my mind and I can't stop smiling. They were some of the best 3 weeks in my life right up there to visiting France and Switzerland, Iceland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Venice.

   Ever since I was little looking at the colorful pages of the atlas my dad bought for me was my favorite activity. I was so impressed to read such interesting things about other cultures that I decided that when I grew up I wanted to travel EVERYWHERE.  I was so hungry to travel the world and meet new cultures, learn valuable lessons from them and become more enriched as a person. And now that the process has started I feel very happy and enthusiastic to travel MORE. My ultimate goal in life is to become wise and help the world and traveling is helping me reach that goal.

    I miss Canada terribly but the best is yet to come. In less than 3 weeks Oliver and I will go in our honeymoon around Italy and Switzerland and I already can't wait to discover the beauty of Tuscany and everything Italy and Switzerland have to offer! Life's so exciting!  

365 days project 2. Day 67. The perfect day

      *no editing was necessary on these pictures

   How would a perfect day would look like in your eyes? Mine would definitely start with a purple sunrise, continue with the wonderfully painted blue sky and finish with the most amazing golden sunset ever. I am all about the sky, the clouds and as many colors as the sky can paint.

   In between those moments of the day I'd love to travel with my husband either by car or by train: somewhere with a lot of trees, mountains and many, many flowers... have a picnic outdoors, read a bit, look at the clouds and find nice shapes in them, then dance a bit and just enjoy life, breathe easy.
   Then we'd go to Venice and wander around the city some more. I've seen so little until now and that town just has a very special vibe about it. We'd have dinner by the canal and we'd watch that golden sunset from somewhere up above the city, then we'd walk around the little streets some more until we get lost. At that point we'd take a cab and get home to the perfect, comfy bed with stars above and crickets soundtrack as we fall asleep. Yep, it would be a dream :) What about you?

365 days project 2. Day 66. Take is easy

   This year we want to spend Christmas in Canada and I need a new visa. Pretty easy, right? You gather the papers and you just apply for it. The thing is that when I applied for my first visa last year it took me months to gather the papers and then 8 hours on my birthday to apply for it. So, life just seems like getting more and more complicated whenever I have to solve a problem like this... or more like I tend to complicate my life in such situations. Who said I should apply for a visa on MY birthday? I know, right?

   This year the story repeats itself. I decided I want to apply for the visa now instead of waiting a couple more months in order to avoid the summer holidays. Well, it's enough to tell you that these past 2 weeks have been more stressful for me than planning my own wedding. Today I decided I can't go on like this anymore. Even if I already applied once and everything should be so much easier, something new always shows up and I can't have a lot of question marks and keep being stressed if I don't need to. So I asked for advice and sure enough I was told to wait. What a relief! That's all I needed to hear to be the sunny person everybody knows again.

   My point here is that sometimes we tend to complicate our life so much because we involve a lot of variables that shouldn't be in the equation. We care what other people might say, we plan for the worst, we want to avoid headaches and we march into even bigger issues. In those times we should probably just take a break and ask ourselves if life really is that complicated or we decided to make it so. And if the latter is the answer then we should make a change. And then enjoy a stressfree life again. 

   So, let's take it easy and keep it simple, shall we?

365 days project 2. Day 65. Life is better in 2

   Some people love to be single. They don't want any strings attached, a family, kids or other stuff like that. Others love having someone by their side to share life and everything that happens in a relationship. I'm in the second category. 

   I've been single. I've been in relationships. I found my soulmate and it feels wonderful! I feel lucky and blessed every single morning when I wake up and every night when I go to sleep by his side. We do everything together. We plan stuff, we solve problems, we go shopping together, we cook together, we watch movies together, we laugh and cry together. He's my best friend and I'm his best friend. And I don't know about you but my life is definitely better in 2. Especially when your husband is your best friend and he understands you better than you do. My life just wouldn't be the same without him. 

365 project 2. Day 64. B U

   You are so special! I know that sometimes you forget how special you are because you seem not to know how to accept compliments or because when a big challenge comes you think that it's too big for you. Other times you think you are small and insignificant because that's how society or family made you feel your whole life. But, you know what? It's all a nightmare and you can wake up from it whenever you want. What about NOW?  Believe me! You are very, very special and unique. And I'm not just saying it because that's what goes around on the internet. I know because otherwise you wouldn't have been born on this beautiful, amazing planet. 

   It doesn't matter if you're gay or transgender, it doesn't matter how you look like, it doesn't matter if you had a tough childhood or not, or if you had zero friends for the longest time because you never knew how to make friends, if your classmates all had a boyfriend or a girlfriend and you were the only single person in your class. It doesn't matter if you were bullied for being a nerd, for being fat, for being gay or whatever else. Nothing matters if you stop believing them. Just let them speak and close the doors of your mind around them.
   You are special. You are amazing. You have so much potential to help the others grow. But you have to grow first. Believe in yourself. Accept compliments. Laugh more. Go out and explore the world. Be you. B. U. whoever you want to be.

365 days project 2. Day 63. Meditation

   Do you remember the motivational quotes you and the other people keep sharing on Facebook? What if you took some time off and you started to really think about them instead of just pressing the button share? Pick one a day and meditate for 10 minutes. Really meditate. Have patience to do nothing but that. Don't think about your problems. Just think about the questions that you still haven't found an answer to. Think about your quote and let it improve your day and your life.

   I recently read a beautiful quote: "Make a small change every day. By the end of the year you will be surprised by how your life will look like." I love it! It's my meditation quote of the day. What's yours? :)

365 days project 2. Day 62. Finding peace of mind

   In a fast forward type of world where peace seems like a utopia, something adults wish for their birthday and Christmas and a dream achieved only by Buddhist monks, what can we actually do to have peace of mind?

   I thought a lot about this concept today. Of course I'm not a VILC - very important life coacher or some sort of guru. I've studied psychology but that doesn't make me wise. Not yet. So you can take the things I'm going to write about as a nice story to read or you can try to implement them in your life and see if they work. I'm talking purely based on my personal experience.

   I noticed that we talk the talk but we don't really walk the walk when we say we want to be at peace. No, really! Think about it. What have you actually done lately to be at peace? 

   You see, someone wise once said that first you have to be at peace with yourself and only then you can be at peace with the others. There are so many things that upset us, disappoint us, frustrate us or annoy us daily. And when that happens, I don't know about you, but I feel a pressure in my stomach and then I know I am feeling negative energy growing inside me. As much as I don't like the feeling, it helps me take action. Because when I feel that pressure I know something's wrong and I can stop and analyse what has just happened. I think that one important step in achieving peace of mind is trying to find an explanation to what happened, the source of the negative energy. The way we interpret the world brings us closer or pushes us further away from peace of mind. It's normal to not be all sunshine and rainbows every day. Being sad, upset, dissatisfied or frustrated is normal, but wallowing in those negative emotions doesn't help you or the others. Therefore, think about it. What made you feel like that? What can you do to fix the problem so you can be happy again? 

   Another step to reaching peace of mind is accepting what is happening to you. Sometimes some things will upset you but unfortunately you can't control everything. So if you just accept that other people might have different values, interests, needs and desires the world might seem less grim. So, take it as it comes. Don't stress about it, it will only bring negative energy around you. And then you're back to square one.

   Stop comparing yourself to the others. I've said it a thousand times and I'll say it again. You are different, they are different, but we can all live together in a happy world if you start liking yourself more and stop caring about what the others are doing. Are they happy? Good for them! What's stopping you from being happy? Remember, the way you interpret the world will make your day sunny or rainy :)

   Also, I recently read that going out in the nature to take a walk or just to sit down on a blanket and enjoy the view helps your brain relax and brings the wonderful feeling of peace of mind. How amazing is that?
   What are you waiting for? It's summer, go  out in the nature and relax. Peace of mind is sure to follow :) 

  

365 days project 2. Day 61. People are books

   They say “never judge a book by its cover”. Heeding that advice, we take the time to open it, read it, spend time in it, with its characters and its story, and more often than not, we are pleasantly surprised. However, a lot of times, we forget to apply the same rule to people. We judge them according to how they look, especially when we have no idea who they are. Why do we let ourselves label strangers without taking the time to know them, to listen to their stories and adventures?
   People are like books. A tattered old book can show you a world of wonders. So can a man in poor clothes, with tired eyes and downcast expression. All we need is to open the book and read. All we need is to open our hearts and listen to the human soul.
   We are all books - some open, some shut, but we all have a story written on our pages. Some stories are longer than others. Some are psychological monologues, others are children books or adventure books, and yet some others are dramatic, full of pain, sorrow and a sad ending. 

   What's your book about? Is it a happy book or a sad book? You're the author and you can write your own destiny. The past can't be unwritten but the future holds a million posibilities.

365 days project 2. Day 60. Happiness through others

   Do you remember the last time you were happy... because of something that happened to someone else? Being happy because they were happy? I experience this every day at work.

   These are just a few examples:

- When the kids are getting enthusiastic because I want to play with them 

'Hey, kids, can I play with lego too?'

'Yeees!' they all say happily. 

'Let me show you how to build a house' one of them says.

'I'm going to show you how to build a garage for the policeman.' a differrent boy adds.

'That sounds really exciting' I say.

The other children in the class watch us curiously.

'Do you want to play too?' I ask them. 'Why don't we build the highest tower ever made out of lego? Do you want to help me?'

And soon all the kids are around the table each helping me build the tower.

-When they are thrilled because I am telling them a story and afterwards I give them a coloring sheet about the story. 

'Did you bring us something to color today, Dana?'

'Yes I did.'

'Oh yeaaaaah!!! Can't wait!' 

-When they all come towards me and hug me in the biggest, tightest group hug ever every time they see me once a week 

   They're all sweethearts and even though they have their bad days when they don't seem to want to obey or follow rules I still love them to bits and their happiness becomes my happiness daily! 

365 days project 2. Day 59. Light it up

   Life is a maze, with problems and solutions at every turn. Some people are very ambitious and they never give up even though they walk through the maze a lot and it gets dizzy at some point. Instead of saying this is too hard for them, they just think of strategies and they test them all until they find the one that works. 

   There are days when the process is so tiring and we fail to see that the answer is right in front of us. Other times we need help from others. But what I learned is that problems always have a solution. 

   Even though occasionally the light at the end of the tunnel is off we should remember that we have matches on us and we could light it ourselves. If that doesn't work there's always plan B: give the matches to somebody who knows how to light it. Pretty easy, huh?

365 days project 2. Day 58. Flowers just bloom

   We compare ourselves to the others every single day. And not for the better. We don't learn from them. Not all the time. Rather we see what they have and we don't, be it looks, wealth, power, social position and so on. We want what they have and we start longing for a better life, a happier existence, an improved version of ourselves that we will never become. 

   

   Flowers don't care that they are merely daisies when colorful, fragrant, imposing roses live next door. Or that most people buy tulips. Or that peonies and poppies are all over the internet when they bloom because their life is so short and condensed it has to be remembered. Nope. Daisies just bloom, doing what they know best. Shouldn't we do the same?

   We're not perfect. We don't have the perfect, flawless personality, the perfect life and the perfect career. What if we start accepting ourselves and our life just the way it is right now and enjoy what we have? 

   You want more? Work hard until you get it but when you reach your goal stop and ask yourself "Is this really making me happy or is it an illusion so that I would look good in other people's eyes?" 

   We're not perfect so let's stop worrying and start blooming :) 

365 days project 2. Day 57. Parenthood

   Parenthood - I think about this concept more and more these days because a lot of people my age are having babies around me.
   Working with kids makes me meditate upon this subject thoroughly very often. Some would say that thinking about it could be my body telling me I'm ready to have a baby myself. I don't agree. I think that choosing to be a parent is a major lifechanging decision that has to be well thought before. It involves sacrificing yourself and your time to raise a human being. And not just raising it to become a functional, healthy person but also to mould it in order to leave the world better than they found it.

   Being a parent involves being a teacher and not everybody is made to be a teacher. Kids are a gift you can't give back. Ever. It's an experience that will change you forever and that will switch your priorities. 

   Are we ready to have kids or are we still having them just because we come of age and it's expected of us? How many of the parents that have kids now are good parents, ready parents and how many of young people my age jump into it just because that's the next step after getting married? I know friends who had kids because they really wanted them and even if they were not completely ready mentally speaking (are we ever?) they learn to be good parents every day. That's an option too :) 

   I only wish that we have kids when WE choose and when we feel we are ready both financially and mentally so that those kids can have a bright future.
   I thought about it for a while and I choose to wait some more. I still need to learn.

365 days project day 56. 18 things I wish I knew when I was 18

1. Even if you have no idea who you are and why you are here, in 10 years time you will know who you are and you will have the wisdom to accept you'll never have a certain answer to "why you are here". Some questions will always remain unanswered and that's the beauty of it. This way you'll get to have pleasant philosophical talks with your friends.

2. It's normal to want to experiment a lot. Exploring helps you grow. Spiritually. And if your parents don't allow you to explore make a wishlist and make it come true when you will start working. 

3. Don't be afraid to start working now. Small jobs pay as well. This way you don't have to depend on your parents for everything you want to buy.

4. Live in the moment without making too many plans about the future. Let the future surprise you, it surely will! Do whatever makes you happy. That should be your goal.

5. Most friends will come and go. As much as you love your closest friends now, in some years they might not be your friends anymore. And that's ok. Real friends never go away even if you don't keep in touch very often.

6. Life shouldn't be made of just school and homework. Volunteer, take care of your hobbies, make new friends! 

7. You don't have to be perfect and have perfect grades. You should try your best but not be harsh on yourself if things don't go your way.

8. Life is not always fair. Accept it. You can't control everything.

9. You are way stronger than you think! You can do it! Exams, difficult projects, anything. Others did it so you can do it too no matter how difficult it might seem.

10. Getting sick now and then is normal but it's all temporary. Stop being afraid of terminal diseases. Stop being afraid of being sick.

11. Everything happens for a purpose. 

12. Always listen to your heart. Even if it will give you headaches sometimes. Do what it says. If you follow your brain too much you will never be happy or at peace.

13. It's better to regret something you have done than to regret something you haven't done. We're not talking about drugs, alcohol, getting arrested or having an unwanted pregnancy.

14. Don't let the others (including the media) dictate how you should look like and how you should live your life. 

15. You won't always be happy but if there are small things that make you happy then you should hold on to those.

16. The internet is important because it allows you to find information and keep in touch with your friends but go out with your friends as well. Face to face connections are stronger.

17. Follow your passions even if people don't believe in you. Prove them wrong by achieving all your goals.

18. Your parents might seem like your enemies right now but try to understand where they are coming from and compromise.

365 days project 2. Day 55. My favorite smell

   Today I was talking with a friend and she asked me what my favorite smell was. I honestly didn't know to reply. From all the smells in the world, pick just one? I never thought about this before, but after some minutes of thinking I remembered the smells that make me smile happily: the smell after rain, the smell of freshly baked bread, the smell of coffee (even if I don't like drinking it), the smell of my favorite perfume - Little Red Dress, the smell of lilies and freesias, the smell of new and old books. 

   We focus so much on seeing and hearing that we forget the smell is also a very important sense in our life. How would life be without it? Definitely way more boring. But I couldn't choose just ONE smell that I love very much. How about you?

365 days project 2. Day 54. The unexpected inspiration

    I never expected a book to make me want to paint again. 

   I've been reading "Paris is always a good idea" by Nicolas Barreau (my newest favorite author that I discovered in Canada) for the past week and every time I immersed myself in the world of the book I felt this deep surge to go buy watercolors and brushes. And today I finally did. The book is very visual and artistic, about this painter woman who paints custom made postcards in watercolors. It's so amazing and vivid that it became my favorite book ever.

   Let me get this straight so you can understand why I am so surprised: I consider myself an artist. I love photography, writing and all those crafty DIY projects but while I was a student in school I always told myself I was not good at painting or drawing. My art teachers were generous with their grades but deep down I knew I didn't have this talent in me so I never tried to paint again after I finished the art classes in high school. I always admired painters but I just knew that I wasn't made for that. Until today. Today I had this huge desire to paint. I followed a video online on how to paint poppies and I painted this. The whole process was very relaxing and cathartic.
   Who knew a book could awaken such feelings inside me? I foresee more painting in my future :) All thanks to my favorite book!

365 days project 2. Day 53. Random messages

   In yesterday's post I pledged that books can bring happiness but today the Universe chose to show me another way to reach it: random messages received from people surrounding you. They're like receiving flowers even if it's not your birthday or a special occasion: unexpected and definitely welcome!

  The day was really, really dark and gloomy and I barely dragged myself out of the bed in the morning. One of those days when all you want is to stay in bed and sleep till the day is over. I won't bore you with details. You probably had the same type of day. But when a friend sends you a very nice message and hugs to help make the day better, the whole perspective changes. 

   It's so interesting how small gestures like that lift our spirit so easily! We all want to be important and when someone thinks about us, a little light bulb lights up and sheds light on an otherwise dark day... 

   So we love receiving random messages that make us feel important. Let's pay it forward and make someone's day happy too! :) Spread the love!

365 days project 2. Day 52. Happiness is just a book away

   I always loved reading. When I was a little girl I would read all the fairytales I would find in our library and my grandparents' library, any book, no matter how old and wrinkled, if it had illustrations or not (though I loved to look at the pictures). I loved being my favorite characters' fellow and go through a multitude of adventures together, but what I loved the most about fairytales were the happy endings. I always enjoyed that part because no matter what happened everything was ok in the end and the good prevailed. 

   Books have always been my friends, my comfort, my heaven. They have taught me lessons of true, deep, amazing friendships, eternal love and wisdom conquered through a series of surpassed challenges. Not all the books have a happy end just like not all life stories do but for me books themselves are my happy ending... of a day. No matter how stressful or hard the day was, books always make me smile and bring back that inner peace.
   See? Hapiness is just a book away... at least in my case :)

365 days project 2. Day 51. Wild animals

   I usually see humanity in a romantic way: focusing on its good side, on what restores our faith in it, on the selflessness and help given to others. Therefore I tend to forget there is also a negative side of it: the hate, the fight for resources, the selfishness, the wish for power no matter the cost, the purpose achieved no matter the means. 

   Yesterday I went to the "Swan Lake" ballet show organized in for free in open air in the Central Park by the City Hall and the National Opera. It was supposed to be one of those amazing moments when you just gaze in awe at the stage and you are thanking the heavens you are alive to witness such beauty and grace. Instead, people were fighting for seats and standing in front of seated people just because they would view the show better from there, not caring there were dozens of people behind them. It was literally a battle of the fittest right there, a battle for resources. 

   I was one of the people seated behind the standing ones. I tried to be reasonable and polite, to explain the matter in a nice way, but the people wouldn't care and didn't want to move an inch so that the ones behind could get a glimpse of what was happening on the stage. Needless to say, I didn't enjoy the show at all. I felt frustrated, upset and disappointed the whole hour and a half when we stayed there. I couldn't believe what I was witnessing. Then I found the explanation: whenever something's for free, people turn into wild animals fighting for power and resources.
   Therefore, lesson learnt: I'll just go to the Opera or the Theatre and watch ballet shows or theatre plays there. This way I make sure I find the good people there instead of the wild animals. I don't know about you, but I'd rather stay as far away from the "savannah" as possible...

365 days project 2. Day 50. Pain

   I'm speechless and in shock. I literally can't speak. I feel like someone hit we very hard and I am out of words even if I want to scream and shout. A(nother) young, talented, amazing girl died. Christina Grimmie was 22 and she was shot at her own concert. I didn't even know the girl and I've never seen her sing or be part of The Voice but this news just hit me so hard, just like any other news about young people dying. In times like this I always ask myself the same questions: WHY do good, young people die while bad, (old) people don't? Why the heck does the Universe allow bad, terrible people to go on with their lives while amazing people are dying at the beginning of an amazing life??? Why??? 

   I'll never understand how life works. I'll never understand what this all means. What are we supposed to learn and why are we here? Why is it all so random and why we can't control things like these?
.... I'm speechless and in shock. Today another amazing girl died...

365 days project 2. Day 49. 13 (of the best) years

   Today's our anniversary! 13 years. Our lucky number. From deskmates in highschool, to best friends and sisters forever since then. Julia and I went through a lot together. One day we could write a book about it. And man, it would be so thrilling!

   We're so different and yet so alike! This detail always surprised me during these 13 years. We learned so much from each other, we leaned on each other, we cried together, we laughed so much, we cooked a ton of things together, we spent Christmases, New Year's Eve, all our birthdays and sometimes even the whole summer together. 

   She's my half. The cold, rational half when I am too emotional, the shoulder to cry on, the wise and understanding friend anyone should have. She's my best friend and I would never want a better one. For the past 13 years she's the sister I never had. 

   Cheers to you, to us, to a lifetime together, Julia!

365 days project 2. Day 48. Perfect-ation

   Being a parent is very hard. The hardest job you ever take on. I don't have to be a parent to realize that. Working with them daily for the past 4 years helped me know them very well by now. And this is what I saw:

  Generally, parents want the best for their kids. Many of them want their children to do what they couldn't do, have what they couldn't have and all in all, have a better life than they had growing up. Everything sounds very good in theory but practice is very difficult. 

   As a parent, when you want your child to have a better life than yours, you will have the tendency to force him to do things he might not want to because you already played this game called life and you know the stages. If you do so, not only you are forcing him to go in a certain direction and you forget to be mindful of what he wants, but you will also have sky high expectations of him. And when you want him to be perfect, he will fail. He will fall and he will break and he will break you. Because flowers might be perfect but people will never get there. 

   So, as long as parents have perfection expectations of their kids and they treat them like their favorite toys and not human beings with their own will, needs and desires, everybody's life will be harder. Not to mention, kids might grow up and become something their parents wanted but not what they wanted. Who's going to suffer more? The parent or the child? What about both?

   Parents want the best for their kids. But they tend to forget their children have their own personality, their own desires and that they are not identical copies of them. This is the trickiest challenge parents have to overcome. If they do that, their kids won't be perfect, but they will surely be happy :) And when you're happy, who cares you're not perfect? :)

Note to self: Read this again when you become a parent yourself!

365 days project 2. Day 47. Relax, catch up

   Some days are perfect for unwinding in the middle of a sunlit park with your best friend and good books. 

   I know life passes us by, but rushing doesn't make it better. I always loved people who took their time walking somewhere, who enjoyed the surroundings and seemed so at peace with their life. 

   I took my time getting to work today and then I decided to enjoy this beautiful weather to the fullest. It's starting to smell like summer and holidays. Two more weeks of school and then we're off to wandering the world! Can't wait to relax more and more and more... 

365 days project 2. Day 46. Married life: expectations and reality

 

   Months before the wedding some people tell you there will be a big, wonderful change in your life once you get married, that you will be happier, more at peace and more in love with your spouse. Others tell you you'll have to start thinking about "us" instead of "me" and that that will make life harder, that you will have to overcome a lot of difficulties that before getting married you had no idea of. So here you are: a multitude of expectations that other people instill in you. After the wedding they will all want to know how you feel after the BIG CHANGE in your life. I'll tell you what I feel: 
   I am very happy that Oliver and I moved in together a year before the wedding. This way we got used to each other and to all our daily habits, we learned to work in a team, to plan and solve problems together, to do everything together. So by the time the wedding came we were already very used to the couple life. What has changed after the wedding? Nothing. Absolutely nothing We were married in our hearts ever since we moved in together. It's not waaay more wonderful or way more difficult now. It's just as amazing as it was before. Because we know we were made for each other and that our story is a fairytale we are both so thankful for. 

   Sure, if we hadn't lived together before the wedding I bet some things would have felt like they changed but things change anyhow during a life span. Things change daily. But some things are meant to always be the same. Like our love for each other and our endless happiness when we see each other in the evening after work We still cook together and have dinners on our balcony, have philosophical talks about life in the candlelight, plan our meals, watch movies together, have breakfasts together when we can, surprise each other and send each other cute messages during the day. Nothing has changed. 

   Sometimes the wedding is just the big celebration of the love story and life goes on the same At least in our case

365 days project day 45. The little details

   Today was one of those beautiful Mondays when the Universe was working together to make us feel good: amazingly wonderful weather that made it seem like a lazy Sunday, an unexpected gift from a dear person and little notes around the city telling us we're beautiful. 

   See? Happiness lays in the little details. And when we can't seem to find them, they find us :) Does that make sense?

365 days project 2. Day 44. The guide to playing with a child

   Not everybody meets kids on a daily basis. So not everybody knows how to play with them. But at some point we all meet the little ones. And then some of us freak out and don't know how to react while others seem like they have it in them to just know what to do. 

   I always found it so easy to approach a child and enter his world, play with him, understand him and make myself understood. But not everybody is like this. Some have no idea how to react in order not to harm the child or not to upset the parent. They don't know what is allowed and what isn't. So they seclude themselves in a corner where the child doesn't go and observe him attentively without interacting. And that's alright as long as the observation ends at some point and you let yourself be a child again and play with that child. 

What to do when you know nothing about kids and how to play with them?

1. Ask the parent. No, that doesn't make you look stupid. It means you want to know the child properly. 

2. Observe what the others do and do the same. It's not as difficult as it seems, I promise!

3. Let the child lead and you just follow. Do what the child does. Mirror him and he will be very happy. And when you can't understand what he's saying (and it's not a question) just say "yes, that's right" :) He wants to feel accepted and valued so this way you are doing that for him. Also maybe ask the parent what he said just to make sure you get the right meaning :)

4. Be a child again and do what you used to do when you were little. Kids are still the way they used to be :)

5. Try to guess what he wants and give him options in questions: "Do you want to play with the ball?" "Do you want to play in the sand?" The child will lead you and help you understand what he wants :)

6. It's ok to hug him or kiss him. He's not going to break. A child usually loves affection. But if you want to make sure, observe how he reacts to others being loving with him.

7. Just let go all your fears and enjoy the utter happiness playing with a child brings. It will make you forget about all your problems and help you reconnect with your inner child. It's like therapy :) Child therapy! :)

365 days project 2. Day 43. Focus

   Every day has the potential to anger you and to bring you down. It might take you by surprise and you might end up wallowing in that feeling for the longest time. That's when you'll miss the small details that could make your day more beautiful, things like drawings made by kids stuck on your bus's windows.  

   You're powerful so get out of your anger, disappointment, stress or worry. Ask yourself why you are feeling all those emotions. The answer is not in the world surrounding you but deep inside yourself. What are you thinking about? What needs have you got that don't get enough attention? What's wrong? If you ask yourself all these questions you will see the light at the end of the tunnel and you'll be able to get out of the dark sooner :)

   Focus on what makes you smile. Forgive, forget and move on! Life is wonderful! Just look around! :D

365 days project 2. Day 42. Making people happy

   I always loved making people happy. It just makes me all warm and fuzzy on the inside when I see them smile. I was born to make people happy. Not as a comedian, but maybe as a psychologist and if not that, at least as a friend :)

   It's not easy all the time. It takes practice and knowing them very well, being patient and very attentive to details. But in the end, the happiest experiences happen when it all comes from the heart, when you forget about yourself and you give yourself completely to them. 

   Sometimes people don't reply with the same enthusiasm you put in the preparation for the surprise/ activity/ lesson/ counseling session/ parent meeting. And that hurts at first, but you know what? It is always worth preparing for it with all the love and care in the world because what goes around comes around :) And maybe not everybody is going to appreciate it, but the ones who matter will :)

365 days project 2. Day 41. A good night's sleep

   You don't realize how important sleep is until you lack part of it. For days. 

   I never liked sleeping. I could do so many things in those hours when all I have to do is be asleep in bed. I could watch a very entertaining movie that I never have time for because I'm busy during the day. I could read a very interesting book. I could do research for big cases from the kindergarten, or enjoy a new hobby. Nevertheless, I have to sleep. 

   There are times when I'm pushing my luck and I only go to sleep late at night. I bet you all know that situation. And what happens next? Eeeexactly. You can't wake up the next day. And if this happens for a while then you dread waking up. It's a vicious circle. You don't want to go to sleep and then you don't want to wake up.

   Sometimes all you have to do is remind yourself that you can't control everything. That some things HAVE to be done in order to live a long and healthy life. Such is sleeping :) And when you decide to go to bed sooner the next night, then the world will seem more colorful the next morning. You gotta do what you gotta do, right?

365 days project 2. Day 40. Lessons of a kid

   On Children's Day I'd like to share some of the lessons I learnt from my kids at work in all these 4 years of meeting them daily:

1. Play. Every day. As much as you can. Any way you can. Be creative and let your imagination fly! It will save you from being bored or stressed.

2. Care about yourself first. Don't take life too seriously. Nobody cares how you dressed today. They won't remember you wore the same shirt 4 days ago.

3. Love innocently. Say "I love you" every time someone dear makes you feel special. Let them know how you feel. There's never "too much" when it comes to sharing love.

4. Ask for what you want until you get it. Use all your methods. Life will have to give it to you in the end.

5. Be a fine observer and enhance your convincing skills. Be bold and fearless. We all want to be like that, but society shuts us down somehow.

6. Always say the truth. Sometimes you have to be careful how you phrase it, but don't lie. People will eventually find out.

7. Get happiness from the smallest things. Life is full of those. We just have to allow ourselves to enjoy them.

8. Share your joy with your friends. Get together more often. Tell them what happens in your life instead of letting them find out over Facebook.

9. Ask when you don't know something. Don't assume people will think you're stupid. Asking is always better than guessing.

10. Tell people how you feel. Don't keep it inside. Tell them when you are sad and ask for help when you don't know how to surpass a situation.

11. Be full of energy. Jump, dance, sing, don't just sit down in front of the computer all day!

12. Ask for forgiveness. And mean it.