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!

Day 291. To be or not to be afraid

   From time to time we want something really bad but we're afraid to go get it because something might intervene and the odds might not be in our favor. So we back off and wait for the proper time to make our move and finally get where we want. But when will that day come if we keep postponing it?:) 

   It was a moody day today but my family and I chose to defy it. We went for a picnic even if we knew there was a high chance it would rain. It was already noon and that's a late hour for a picnic, but we left knowing that we wanted to have a good time in nature and so we did. We found our spot and spent some relaxing hours without even a single drop of rain. I even found some amazing photographic material:) 

   So, I'm asking you now: Would my day had been better if we had chosen to fear the rain and stay at home? 

   Whenever you want something, the right time to go get it is NOW!:)

Day 240. Heaven is a place on Earth

   There are places in this world that make you feel like heaven is a place on Earth. Valea Draganului is precisely one of them. 

   You know, they don't even have to be very special and wow. For me, it's enough if there are different shades of green in spring, leftover pine cones and mountains covered in snow in the distance, the smell of fir trees and a lot of birds singing, just like it was today. 

   Let me tell you what happened. Usually my parents take me to a place in the middle of the nature during the weekends. And sometimes I wish I could just stay at home and watch a movie instead. Today was just like that, but now, at the end of the day, I am thankful for it because we discovered this beauuutiful, new place very close to the Dragan dam where we always go. We were amazed by the fact that in all these years it was right under our nose and we didn't see it. It was so beautiful and I loved it so much there that I decided this was one of the best days of this year! Discovering it filled me with energy that will least for weeks and the joy of having seen a magnificent place God blessed us with.

   The sun was shining and I loved laying on my back and watch the clouds pass and then walk around and enjoy the beautiful scenery while taking pictures. All in all, being there was very relaxing and meditation appropriate. So much that I realized perfection is much less than we think of it. It's not a utopia as long as we believe. And I believe today I reached perfection. Actually the place did:)

   You know, people usually expect to see waterscapes or landscapes in Malaysia, Hawaii or the Alps to call them "pieces of heaven", but you really don't need that to be amazed by nature and by the power of God. It's enough if you go where I went today and see what I saw. Because I'm sure you'd be as amazed and as happy as I was at the end of the day:) 

   So let's try to visit our own country first and be open minded to discovering such little pieces of heaven just like Valea Draganului:) 

Day 160. A blessing in disguise

   Many times when misfortune strikes we start pitying ourselves and we expect to receive kind words that will help us move on. But if we have the power to close our eyes and breathe, stand back and see the whole situation from a different perspective, we find out that misfortunes are really blessings in disguise.

   Haven't I frequently told myself that I need a break and that I want to spend time with myself? Well today I realized my sickness gave me just that. I wanted to go to work by all means but sometimes we just gotta follow the signs and accept the road life leads us onto. It's not easy to do that while in denial or being blinded by sorrow, but after some time we get the chance to see the real meaning behind it all. I am now relaxing and gathering my forces to help kids understand that life isn't how they want it all the time... and maybe I should learn that lesson myself:)