January 28b- On long-term relationships and women’s bags

 

Hello dear January,

you wouldn’t probably understand the importance of a bag, or the reason it needs to be a love at first sight. A love that will transform into a long-term relationship. I am sure that you walk around care-free.

I have been looking for a bag, black preferably, to match everything, even if fashion codes are more relaxed nowadays regarding colour… There are still sales in Paris, in case you care, even though less important for “classic” items…

I had one I loved, but it started getting old, and I need to replace it. The thing is, I have been around many Parisian stores, not to mention e-shops, but I still haven’t made up my mind.

I need to feel a kind of thrill… to say… this is “it”!

It has to look good on me, and the way I dress (or if it is too nice, it might be an incentive to upgrade my style)

I also want it to be of soft leather, something that is agreeable to touch, and hug.

Something very practical with pockets, where I can put a cell-phone, or metro ticket.

Also a bag I can carry in many different ways, because I usually have my hands full.

Something that has personality: not too dull, but at the same time not showy, because I need it for everyday.

And, last but not least, something that I can afford, (so I will pass on mainstream designers).

Have I found my “it” bag?

Well, not yet! I thought I had the perfect deal, but after trying it for a day, I realised the handle was too short to carry it on my elbow, and the more weight I put in (notebook, umbrella, etc), the more I need alternatives.

Others were ok, but with no external pockets. Too showy, too expensive, too dull, too not me!

If it were for something dressy, that I carry once a month, I wouldn’t need to worry.

But this everyday bag needs to be reliable. In a way, a substitute of a close friend, a faithful partner, or… a teddy bear?

We need to feel good together, to merge, and at the same to keep our independence…

The whole process made me wonder if a long-term relationship shouldn’t have some of these characteristics 🙂

 

 

 

 

http://newfashionwearout.com/international-latest-leather-and-fancy-handbags-fashion-for-women-2014-2015/

January 28- Having coffee at 7.30!

Good morning to you too, dear January!

Yes, I did it, I woke up at 6.50 and had my first coffee at 7.30! This morning rhythm is something I have promised to achieve, especially when I don’t have to give an account to anyone else than myself…

or almost…

I have a deadline: finish a report until tomorrow! It is for an institution I have intervened, as an event organizer, last year.

I’d better write it beautifully to make it worth the waiting for them 🙂

So just for self-encouragement,  I will keep in mind this quote for the day:

“Life has two rules: #1 Never quit #2 Always remember rule # 1.” – Unknown

 

 

http://addicted2success.com/quotes/37-inspirational-quotes-that-will-change-your-life/

January 26- Update on love and work

Dear January,

yes, I am ready for an update since the month of April 2014, the beginning of this blog. What were my objectives and what has happened?

The idea was to transform myself in order to reach important goals that can contribute -I think- to my happiness:

a. find true love (and be found by it).

b. get a real job that I love (meaning getting paid enough to live and …enjoy art, fashion, traveling, offering gifts, having a luxurious home, etc) (https://april4june6.wordpress.com/about/).

Now, if I want to be honest with myself, it would seem as if I haven’t accomplished my goals, at least not completely. But it is important to acknowledge the progress I have made:

A. In terms of true love, I found myself lovable, and try to live up to a true love of me, which is a way to love other people also.

Writing a blog, is a positive action, it has helped my emotions to unfold. So it weighs in the balance, on the side of true love, I would say.

I know you will tell me, come on, April, be more specific: are you on a relationship with another human being, a man right now? Mmm, not exactly. I have dated someone though during this period of time.

I still have an imaginary crush on B, the guy I occasionally meet at the café. But our romance -which could be one-sided- has not advanced more than the occasional greeting kiss on the cheek (la “bise”). And we have been in the presence of a whole bunch of people.

Being in love is essential to me. B is a source of inspiration, but it could be interesting to have more interaction or to choose another romantic interest. Varying a bit the cafés I go to, might be helpful 🙂

B. In terms of work, I decided two things:

a. to be my own Boss. This was a big decision, and I feel proud for taking it. I have a new artistic project I am attached to, and I want to see it materialize.

b. my second decision is to do everything it takes for a position I have in mind, in the artistic world. It combines a lot of things I really like.

Ok, I have to admit that during this period I kind of got “fired” by the wannabe boss. Kind of, because he wasn’t paying me anyway.

The projects I had submitted for funding last April and passed the first evaluation in June, was not accepted in the end. Actually, it would involve leaving Paris, so, I might not have wanted this to happen in reality.

My spirits were occasionally low and that was the period I was daydreaming instead of answering emails or writing a report. It is communicating what I have done, emailing, that I am not very eager to do. But, I don’t come up as very professional and efficient that way, despite the good work that has been done.

So have I transformed? I am in a process of transformation.

Have I reached my goals? I have reached intermediate, but very important goals. I am on the way of accomplishing these goals and I keep walking!

In the end, I think that walking in the direction of a goal, or a dream, not only transforms me, but also my dream.

New Year’s Resolutions

January 23- A day at the Platform and a word of self-encouragement

Dear January,

I am my own boss, this is what I decided by the end of 2014. Now, in 2015 we need to see how this will become materialized into actions, people, funding of myself and my future team.

Last Friday I went to the Platform headquarters, the loose connection of artistic event organizers and other related professions, where I had a rendezvous with a colleague that was postponed to next week. So I went for lunch by myself and then, my moral sunk a bit.

My ex-wannabe boss is not exactly the person I would look for encouragement, and my friends were missing. I also felt late with everything I had to do, and kind of insecure when it comes to the future. The wannabe boss wants me out of the Platform, and I might have an idea about where to go next, but it is still a bit fuzzy.

Does x colleague like me? Does Y group appreciate me or not? Z influential people want to work with me? In the end, do they love me?

I went for a walk and then something hit me:

That was my old state of mind.

If I need encouragement, I should find it first in myself. I can plan something and invite people to join in, instead of waiting for others to invite me to their party. Is there something I love enough to make me hit the road and take the risk of living?

If the answer is yes, then all these questions have no meaning. I choose a path and welcome those who want to join in.

My best answer to someone who tries to hurt me is to show this person that they actually do me a favor.

And to celebrate this, dear January, I decided to go out and party with my friends.

Party time in Paris!

It is great to go around the city at the early morning hours with the snow starting to fall!

http://www.thechangeblog.com/seven-creative-ways-to-change-your-perspective/

January 22- The stolen gmail address, the laundry place and the French actress

Dear January,

I run into a mystery today, and nothing prepared me for that. I simply went to the nearest laundry place. There are washing machines and dryers -very practical if you don’t have one at home. The place was packed with four women, all speaking english and two of them seemed to be in the middle of an argument. I didn’t get the reason, but when the first lady left, the second explained to the rest of us, her version:

To make a long story short, they were both Americans. Lady no 2 had a gmail address and for some reason couldn’t use it the last month. She had received a gmail message that her email belonged to someone else, and this someone else had the exact same name. Lady no 2 was sure someone had usurped her electronic address, and was after this individual.

And oh, surprise, she found the author of the crime, by accident, at the laundry place, just there. It was lady no 1. The two women started talking about washing powder maybe and somehow they mentioned their names, that should have been quiet similar. What is more, they lived in the same neighborhood. Lady no 1 denied having done anything wrong and she also told lady no 2 they had common friends.

The two women had about the same age, and seemed to be, professionally speaking, on the same field.

What had really happened?

I need to use the dryer more often in case I bump into one of them.

Actually this is the first time I heard of such a thing. I have a friend who was attributed a membership to a dating site and she keeps receiving potential dates who are interested to someone else’s profile.

But finding the person who uses your email address at the same laundry in Paris, is not quiet common. I think.

Was that all?

No, because then, I was addressed by another woman, another American probably. She wanted to know if I was the actress who was playing the role of a French woman in a tv series. She told me I looked so typically French.

I hoped the actress in question was a nice one.

It would have been  if I actually were the actress.

That would have made quiet a group of people at the small laundry place, in downtown Paris.

 

 

January 21- April comes back to town (Paris)

Dear January,

I would like to reassure you that you mean a lot to me, as the first month of the year. I might not been very present – at the blog-sphere- I know. I might have not finished my resolutions, and my update to see what progress has been made in my transformation process. What new things I have learnt. How my love life and romance has evolved.

During the holidays, I have been back to my little South of France village, where I dedicated myself to the following activities: coconing and spending time with family and neighbors. I have eaten chocolates and “galettes des rois” and have turned into a vegetable in front of holidays tv shows, don’t think of anything exotic. I have laid on the family sofa and for a change, have taken a membership card from the closest local café. I have played Playmobil with my godson Alexandre and his brother. Read fairy tales that seemed to interest me more than them.

Yes, this has been part of my adventures. After the acceleration of the rhythm just before the holidays, and the wannabe boss who put as much pressure as possible, I felt I needed to slow down a bit. Maybe a bit too much. You might consider it a form of hibernation.

That is why I start waking up, with my return to the capital. There have been some events, during my absence, very unfortunate. Hopefully, now that I am back, things will get better and everyone will adhere to the resolution of kindness, wisdom and gratitude. In any case, I feel I have a more active part to play.

I have a baby orchid plant and during the last year it has grown so much, it is falling out of the pot. I bought a bigger one, and now it has what it takes to grow better.

The same goes with me. 2015 is a year to find the conditions and ingredients for growth and well-being. It’s a promise.

April has come back to town 😉

http://www.grand-paris.jll.fr/fr/le-projet-du-grand-paris/presentation-generale/id/48

 

 

January 19- One Lovely Blog Award

Dear January,

I would like to thank wholeheartedly Meg for nominating me -a while ago- for the One Lovely Blog Award! It was an opportunity to discover the musings of someone who might “never be an adult”, but so much the better!

Now, January, you want to know how come I accept an award every day?

Well, it is like having a birthday close to Christmas or another celebration, and then there is also New Year’s Eve coming. You are entitled to a present on each of these occasions. So you come up with at least three presents. Isn’t it great?

I will not mash-up the awards as Meg did for hers, although it is an excellent strategy: (https://mediocremegblog.wordpress.com/2014/10/14/the-one-lovely-liebster-blog-award/)

Each gift is valuable and I will have more fun unwrapping each package and preparing a gift for other bloggers on my turn.

So, the One Lovely Blog Award nominations are chosen by fellow bloggers for those newer and up-and-coming bloggers. The goal is to help give recognition and also to help the new blogger to reach more viewers. It also recognizes blogs that are considered to be “lovely” by the fellow bloggers who choose them. This award recognizes bloggers who share their story or thoughts in a beautiful manner to connect with viewers and followers. In order to “accept” the award the nominated blogger must follow several guidelines:

– Thank the person who nominated you for the award. (Thanks again Meg!)

– Add the One Lovely Blog logo to your post. (Ok)

– Share 7 facts or things about yourself

Now, 7 facts anyone would like to know?

1. I like “Galette des rois”, to begin with, the Epiphany cake with a special recipe

2. I was having a piece right now

3. I am a passionate person, when I love something I love it: I can read the same book a hundred times, eat “gallette des rois” every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

4. I am messy but appreciate order

5. I love herbal tea

6. I have a secret identity

7. I have a lazy side

 

– Nominate 15 bloggers you admire and inform the nominees by commenting on their blog.

Now, this is the part that demands some work… the main criteria I used this time, apart from the fact that I love these blogs, is that in their majority, they are written by men. Yes, I tried a positive discrimination because I realized I have nominated more women’s blogs the last time. Not that it matters, but I would like to highlight a different form of sensibility.

Some of these blogs belong to artists, photographers, writers, cinema critics. Others are written by educators, coaches, people with a life experience, unfolding in their writing. I will not say which is which, but this is a token of appreciation. They are all lovely blogs to me!

Home

http://therichthoughts.com/

http://jasoncblight.com/about-2/

https://aadhira.wordpress.com/about/

http://iconsidermyselfavagabond.com/

About Counseling TidBits

https://christopherinhr.wordpress.com/

http://graphicmatrix.org/

http://selfdevelopmentaddict.com/

https://meshthemoviefreak.wordpress.com/

http://dalocollis.com/

https://reflectionsonage.wordpress.com/

http://lewellynhughes.com/

http://dmelicertes.com/

http://davidjrogersftw.com/

 

 

January 18- Excellence Award!!!

Dear January,

I am just retrieving a gift, very kindly bestowed to me by Erika Kind, inspiring author and blogger: (https://erikakind.wordpress.com/2014/12/05/excellent-award/).

I have been extremely grateful for this nomination, but was thinking that it involved answering questions, and since I was busy with both important and useless errands, I was procrastinating. Could it be that I felt overwhelmed and not worthy enough of an award that is talking of “excellence”? Excellence seems like a cousin to perfection. And even if it is important to accept praise and distribute it, there is a critical non-loving side hiding somewhere, smirking: “Do you consider yourself excellent April?”

Ok shadow self, what is your problem if I do? Go get some “galette des rois” (french cake for the Epiphany, delicious by the way), and relax a little bit.

So Erika, thank you, not only for this nomination, but especially because you has been reading this blog and for all your insightful comments!

Here are the rules once accepting the award:

1) The nominee shall display the respective logo on her/his blog.
(Done, this is an easy one 🙂 )

2)  Link to the blogger that has nominated her/him.
(Ok done also).

2) The nominee shall nominate ten (10) bloggers she/he admires, by linking to their blogs and informing them about the nomination. (This is always more tricky because there are many blogs I admire, it is difficult to choose).

Among the blogs that I admire with the order that they come to my mind. Among these blogs you can find artists, thinkers, educators, inspiring authors. I love them all!

https://kimberlyharding.wordpress.com/

https://julesgemstonepages.wordpress.com/

https://rachelcarrera.wordpress.com/

https://closetoeighty.wordpress.com/

http://yoursuccessinspirer.com/

https://tellingthetruth1993.wordpress.com/about-me/

http://movingtowardsthelight.com/

https://rubyspolaroid.wordpress.com/

https://chaitalibhattacharjee7.wordpress.com/

http://damiengwalter.com/2015/01/19/

Three principles for 2015: kindness, Wisdom, Gratitude

Happy 2015 dear friends!

I have started 2015 in my hometown, and as I came back to Paris I was absorbed by some violent, but also some very solidary actions of the citizens in this beautiful city!

In order to start this blog-year well, I found out a petition on line, that corresponds to my beliefs: let’s promise to show Kindness, Respect, Wisdom and Gratitude the whole year! I have signed up, and in case any one would like to join, you will find the link at the end of the post. But I guess practicing is more important than signing 🙂

Three Principles for 2015

Show Kindness and Respect

We will show kindness and respect towards ourselves and others whenever possible. And it’s always possible, because everyone we meet is fighting a battle we may know nothing about.

Strive for Wisdom

We will seek to be wise in our decisions, listening deeply to ourselves and others, and balancing our heads, hearts and intuitions in a harmony that feels right.

Practice Gratitude

We will regularly reflect on what we’re grateful for, because it brings perspective, dissolves negativity, and grounds us in what’s most important.

Our community has overwhelmingly voted for these 3 simple, powerful principles to support each other to follow in 2015. Join thousands of others in this New Year’s pledge to ourselves, and then share stories and insights from our “journeys within” on a live chat tool. When 500,000 of us pledge, we’ll invite world leaders to personally join us, and we’ll all check in 3 times this coming year to see how we’re doing.

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/three_principles_loc/?fpla