August 23rd, 2021: New Start in Journaling: being a best friend

I am back journaling, and yes, I am learning the new way to edit my posts, the font size looks so small or I am not used to it… whatever…

It has been a productive summer but somehow, it was kind of difficult from a family point of view and I don’t feel I have really relaxed or taken some real time out…

a friend of mine mentioned a man who seemed to consider being a few eggs at a supermarket in Germany, and I realise how lucky I have been to stay healthy and to have a job.

Despite having all this luck, living with parents and especially one who has serious health issues has been my excuse to feel nervous and ready to explode… yes, it is an excuse, compared to the situation in the world and to the fate of women and children, refugees, unemployed, climate change, it is time to do something. A donation, an action, some support in social media.

So, I did something 🙂

After all, just a small action is better than being a passive observer of other people’s lives.

And if we are ready to mobilise to support anything that is a worthy cause, how about mobilising to support ourselves? What would we do if we were our best friend?

What would I advise my self if I were my twin sister or best friend?

I would take myself out for a small and inspiring trip to lift my spirits and change a little bit.

Actually, talking to a friend through zoom and making plans for the future was like taking a short trip.

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May 4th, 2021-Secret to getting up at 5am: a hungry cat!

Hello May,

my secret for getting up at 5am? A hungry cat!

Let me explain: my parents’ cat had an upset stomach and the vet suggested a diet with less and lighter food. The cat didn’t exactly appreciate this new habit. She is hungry early in the morning and cries next to my head at 4.45 am.

You could say, why not close the door?

I have tried, but then she not only cries loudly outside, but also bangs the door which makes even more noise.

After 10 days, the cat has lost a bit of weight, her stomach is better and what is more, she has helped me install a new morning habit, even if initially, I didn’t think possible to reach the 5am goal many self development guru’s preach for.

So, my advice?

If you want to install a 5am habit, put your cat on a diet (after the vet’s advice, not to starve the poor thing), and then, forget all about alarms etc.

The hungry cat will take over!!!

April 2nd-4th, 2021-Doing something new every day for 30 days in lockdown, days 8 to 10

Hello April,

I am not cheating, I have done something new every day!

So, for April 1, I have called the vet to ask how to bring the garden cat, Felix for his vaccines. You see, he might not take it nicely to get into a box. I also bought vegan protein powder for my future smoothie.

April 2, I have prepared myself a smoothie! With kiwi, strawberries, protein powder and milk.

April 3, I went to a sports doctor to ask if I can exercise again and if I do anything harmful without being aware; apparently not, so I am getting back to exercising!

April 4, today, a walk in the direction of my old school. I realise I don’t like seeing my school a lot. Yes, I should be grateful to be a literate female, in world where girls might get married before they reach puberty and they might not learn to read and write.

Maybe it has to do with my dream to go far away and change my life. I actually did, and even though I am back due to lockdown, I appreciate everything that happened in between. All the goals I have achieved. And even those I didn’t, maybe it wasn’t the timing.

The Best is yet to come!

Turmeric Banana Smoothie with Ginger

Turmeric Banana Smoothie with Ginger

April 1st, 2021-Blog-anniversary, 7 years blogging!

Welcome April!

this is my 7th Blog-anniversary!

It all started 7 years ago in Paris. I had was a freelancer at a Platform, for the organisation of artistic events. I was under a hideous man, ‘the wannabe boss”, not appreciated and not regularly paid.

On the other hand, I was living in Paris! That was already great for a provincial girl, but it couldn’t get better.

So, I decided to forget my promising but unsuccessful love-stories and to leave France for the UK!

London, it was.

I have had adventures, I have been laid off, I have returned to my hometown and then again, made a place for myself.

I have found a new job.

With a horrid vice-director (a female b… this time).

The Pandemic happened.

I came back to my hometown.

I found a better job and resigned from the previous one!

And now, working from my parents’ home where I have adopted a second cat.

Almost.

He is in their garden. Felix.

The cat in the house, is Bella.

I am so grateful for these blogging years, they have given me supportive friends, clarity, and perspective to gain some awareness.

Thank you blog-sphere and thank you wise blog-friends for making this experience amazing!

April, as of (april4june6, the period I meant to journal every day, initially)

P.S. The photo is mine, I have taken it 7 years ago, in the Luxembourg Gardens, in Paris, for this Blog. Such a great memory!!!

March 31st, 2021- Doing something new every day for 30 days, day 7- Jajouka music Morocco

Farewell March,

I spent most of the day wondering what new and exciting thing I could do from home, after my usual working from home and a horrid weather.

Finally, I have discovered this enchanting Moroccan music “The Master Musicians of Jajouka led by Bachir Attar”, and I am happy I run into them online.

These excellent musicians play an enchanting rhythm, they have influenced a lot of western musicians also, such as the Rolling Stones. Not to mention, that apparently, this music has a healing effect.

And yes, I personally danced to its rhythm, you should also try it!!!

March 29, 2021- Doing something new every day for 30 days, day 5-

Hello March,

I had a juice with pumpkin, orange and nutmeg… for the first time. There was probably also something I couldn’t identify. But it counts as something new.

I don’t know the recipe, but looking online, I came across one in the following site.

The rest of the day I was running around regarding a big presentation for tomorrow. To a new group of people, so I also have covered the new experience for tomorrow 😉

https://www.favfamilyrecipes.com/our-version-of-harry-potters-pumpkin-juice/

March 25, 2021-One new experience every day for the next 30 days- day 1- Mandala game

Hello March,

After trying a “feel good journal”, intermittently for at least two weeks, I can say that the time I most enjoy is when I feel free to let my imagination run wild, with no restrictions nor guilt.

Blogging, journaling, walking around, day dreaming, etc.

If I don’t give myself some creative space, I just don’t want to focus on anything mundane.

This is the truth, and I’d better accept it.

Then, I make one hundred plans, and feel guilty of not fulfilling them all. Or that they go slower than I would have wanted them to.

Maybe this is it: I could just take steps, and stop worrying about the outcome.

Easier said, than done.

What if everyday life is bringing urgent issues to resolve, and we feel a bit stuck?

What if we recover from something, or wonder if we will see the end of the tunnel?

I came to the conclusion, that we need to feed our inner wolves. All of them. To keep the balance.

And to acknowledge what really makes us happy and incorporate it into our everyday life.

Next step, I decided to try a new experience every day.

For today, I have ordered a new board game, to play with my family.

https://www.awakin.org/read/view.php?tid=927

February 24, 2021-Cognitive Flexibility to find new balance

Hello February,

when something takes us out of balance, literally or metaphorically, how do we establish a new balance? Has it ever happened to you, when one year you have 28 days and another 29?

Cognitive flexibility is something I read about, and it seems very appropriate to develop a new sense of balance and resilience.

After having some vertigo, I was told it is important to walk out and to use my brain to a new sense of balance. It’s probably the same when something is disturbing our mental or emotional balance.

A new one needs to be established and a flexibility in the way we see things is important.

I was talking to a friend who is looking for the love of her life during the pandemic. She mentions that she is decided to meet someone, but she excludes any form of online communication. In my eyes, this is a bit restrictive.

But I realise, that I am equally set in my ways, when someone else points out a way of action I don’t approve.

I might be more open in one respect, and closed and fixed in another.

But if we change everything, will we have principles after all? A strong sense of self?

Probably if we dissociate strong from fixed.

Strong is flexible. Strong is not afraid to mutate and to change.

I seem to believe that not many people will understand me and accept my lifestyle and goals.

Is this actually true?

Have I formulated and communicated what I want and believe to other people or spent more time hiding it to fit in?

That is something to consider 🙂

January 31st, 2021- Monthly update and post-a-day

Hello January,

how has it been this month? Well I ended up with some vertigo, possibly because I felt having too many things on my plate, and too many screen hours working from home.

Yes, that’s why I wasn’t on a post-a-day basis the last week. But I have been journaling a phrase or two on my paper journal.

I wanted to eat less sugar: this is accomplished, although I still have some chocolates and mini cup-cates.

Rest and Sleep? Kind of ok, although rest is also not having my eyes fixated on the computer screen 14 hours a day. More progress is possible.

Exercise? I have done some, but need to go more outdoors (related to less screen time)

Learning? Yes, new things but I need to learn how to be confident during the learning process.

Journaling every day? Yes, even though not always blogging.

Any difficulties?

I felt overwhelmed when I received some negative critique, and forgot the positive one. Apparently we need 5 times more positive feedback to forget a negative one.

And, not confident during learning process, that’s how I panicked.

So, now what?

February, goal no 1:

1. Boost Self-Confidence
2. Reduce screen time, meaning not watching series and films and try audio-books and outdoors activities, such as… walking!

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/281874

January 20, 2021-Post-a-day, day 13 out of 69 – constant effort and detachment

Hello January,

I was going to sleep when I noticed I haven’t written today- it has been a virtually fast day from home, working online.

I was worrying about my online presentation, but it finally went well: I am really happy for this.

Then, there is another matter, the kind I have been following for about a year, and it looks like a major book project; the moment I think it finishes, and I will finally feel rewarded for all the time and effort, something new comes up.

Instead of despairing, I decided to try another approach: detachment.

So, I will try, no matter what. Not blindly, but in a serious and dedicated way.

The way the sea is coming again and again against a Rock.