365 days project 2. Day 76. Travelling with(out) objectives

   Our honeymoon is in 2 weeks and today I reminded myself that I should look into what there is to see in the cities we are visiting: 7 Italian cities in 11 days. Pretty intense, huh? So intense that it seems impossible to actually enjoy those amazing new cities if I make lists of things to see.
   At the end of the day what's best? Having a to do list you found online and leaving home with expectations that will or won't be met, run from one objective to the other and at the end of the day be happy just because you can cross them all out... or just allowing yourself to explore them at your own pace, stop when you am in awe and enjoy the true vibe of the city wherever that might be? Hmmm...

   I never liked having a preset schedule when I went travelling but on the other hand I don't want to be oblivious to the absolutely MUST SEE sights in a city either. So? What's the answer? Probably, just like in any case: a little bit of both:) Yes, be aware that in X city you can see Y, but I don't think you should make it a MUST. If you have time and you really want to see that objective, then go for it, but if you somehow happen to stumble onto something very amazing that takes your time and makes you really happy, there's always next time, isn't it? 

   Life should be taken slowly... and travelling as well. I love seeing everything there is in a new city, but sometimes all I need to do is slow down and just breathe in the whole atmosphere of the city and let it guide me towards its wonders:) Right?

365 days project 2. Day 75. My artistic journey

   Yesterday I told you how art saved me from being bored. Now I want to tell you how I grew to love art and what I discovered today:)

   My artistic journey started when I was a teenager... mmm... around 14. I was writing poems. They were veeeery cheesy and somehow childish. But they were me. And I loved writing them. In highschool I was advised to start a profile on deviantART to exhibit my photography and I'm very proud to say that is when my artistic path has really started flourishing. I learned so much from various artists on that website and I feel I grew very much. I loved macro and landscape photography and I experimented a lot with those two fields. At the end of high school I started writing short prose. Then during university I attended a literary circle and I improved my writing skills. That was another wonderful phase. I learned to appreciate literature and my writings. I learned to trust my inner feeling and to just write about anything that feels worthy sharing. Later on I tried making my own earrings, I was into quilling and lately I am very inspired to paint. 

   And that's how I got to today when I wanted to surprise a good friend who loves panda bears. I've never painted them before and I needed some practice but I am pretty happy with the result. I discovered while practicing painting that art is not about following rules like maths. Art is about feeling not about precision, it's important to set yourself free and just paint with your soul and then the hand will do the rest. I didn't know I would ever be passioned about painting, but you live and learn. And art will always find a way to express itself in creative people. Who knows what's next? I can't wait to be surprised :)

365 days project 2. Day 74. Busy vs Bored

    Sooooo, summer is here. And some of us don't work in summer. Yeah, I know you hate me by now but just bear with me a little and then you'll see you're actually in a better position... 

   Once summer holiday begins, everybody's happy we're all finally free to do W.H.A.T.E.V.E.R. we want. And that sounds like a holy chant. In the first week. Ok, maybe in the second week too. But in the third week of being at home and studying for your summer exam and doing nothing else... you're getting bored pretty easily. No TV show that before sounded so good is actually good enough to fight boredom away. You get creative cooking new dishes, you try to do something (new) every day, and still, some times you just feel dead bored. And then you start thinking: is it better to be busy all day or to be bored? My answer? Busy! A thousand times busy! I can't just sit around all day and look at the walls. You'd ask: so what's preventing you from going for a walk and exploring the city, finding a new hobby or just catching up with friends? The answer? I did those things. And summer holiday is still boring. Until you discover coloring books and you listen to your favorite songs while you switch colors around and mix them all together in a beautiful summer mess. So now I know: that's what lazy summer days are for: ART! :)

365 days project 2. Day 73. Childhood memories

   Proust had a madeleine. I have a blue flower! :)  
   Today I walked to the bus station and I passed by some blue, summery flowers. And then I stopped. I turned around and I smiled. One second later the movie of my childhood was playing in my mind: the summer days in the countryside when grandma was baking delicious desserts for me and my brother, my grandpa was teaching us to play chess and later on we were all eating fresh and healthy food from the back garden. Those days will always be sunny in my mind... sunny and carefree. 

   It's so interesting how a madeleine in Proust's case or a blue flower in my case can bring back so many memories, isn't it? Mysterious are the ways of our wonderful brain! How amazing is that? Good, happy memories are always with us, hidden in forgotten drawers and ready to get out when we expect them the least. And isn't that exactly what can make our day? :)

365 days project 2. Day 72. Beautiful encounters

  I love those days when beautiful encounters happen when you expect them the least. I get so inspired by meeting creative, sunny, wonderful people! They make me believe that the world is still a good place to live in. And today was one of those amazing days :) I had my first henna tattoo made and the decision definitely brought sun in my life: literally and figuratively :)

  As I was thinking about the beautiful encounters and how happy a simple henna tattoo can make you feel, tonight I had this revelation: our life is a real hourglass and the sand in it is moving fast. We're all going to die at some point even if we don't like to think about it. The conclusion? Do whatever you can to make sure you would pass away at peace with yourself and with the idea of dying. When you feel you want something so bad but "you shouldn't", that's when you should go for it! This doesn't involve buying a fifth pair of shoes though :))

   Let today be a day of reflection for you too. If a henna tattoo makes you happy, go for it! Do whatever will make you happy. Life is short and it's definitely worth living! :)

365 days project 2. Day 71. Glasses

   Today I went out in the middle of the nature for a bit and I enjoyed it so much I wished I could have taken it with me - the whole atmosphere, the sounds and the smell and the visual soothing images. So then I thought: how cool would it be if we could all have special glasses that we could put on and just "land" in a place like this whenever city life seems too stressful? 

   I know there are some prototypes made to help people overcome psychological disorders, but I'd love to see this produced for the whole population so that we could all use them whenever we can't escape to a secret, quiet, green place. Just imagine how calm you'd get in a matter of minutes if you had those glasses. Hmmm... maybe someday :)

365 days project 2. Day 70. Celebrating

   Do we really need a reason to get together with our friends and have fun? Do we have to find a specific event that calls for celebration? I think not :) Any day is perfect for eating a delicious meal out while we catch up with our dear ones. Life happens so fast lately that we sometimes forget to keep in touch with them. We keep planning to go out but it never happens. Then we wait for their birthday or their wedding or something like that. I hate to tell it to you but friendships aren't the same over Facebook. So go out and have fun! Life's worth celebrating every single day! :) What are you waiting for?