Get back in the saddle after Covid19 slowing down: May 31, 2022

Dear May,

I haven’t been on horse-riding- I like horses, and this is something I was dreaming of as a child- maybe it is on my bucket list in a way.

But the idea is, having more energy and getting ahead in the direction of my dreams- things happen and we also happen to others; most of all, we might lose faith in ourselves and in the future. But things change constantly, and what is negative can become a window of opportunity.

Let’s give it a try and let’s keep walking and trying independently of getting this or that outcome.

I commit to waking up at 6 am every day and going to bed a bit earlier, to begin with; and to work for one hour and a half focused, with a short break in between.

What do you think?

I am working from home and took a short break with some lentils and tea; it seems like a great idea to have one and a half-hour focused work, let’s see how it goes.

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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

October 5th, 2020- Making time for what is valuable- journaling for 33 days

Hello October,

one month in the new job, and I pinch myself because I am doing fine 🙂 yes, there have been occasional mistakes, stress, or insecurities, but despite all that, I feel lucky and grateful to integrate a fantastic group of people!

Yes, it is kind of strange to start it from my parents’ home in the South of France, where I try to make space for myself after many years living by myself in a quasi-adult, quasi-independent way.

What I found out is that things are not always what they look like. When I was away, I was struggling between jobs, and occasionally, I ended up asking for my family’s help at the end of the month.

Now that I am back, I have a more regular job situation, but COVID19 sent me back home, since I work online and play with the cat.

Is this challenging? Yes, in a way, since I am an insider and an outsider at the same time. Old friends have their own rhythm, conversations some time are on things I ignore, and the pandemic doesn’t make socialising so easy.

Nevertheless, this new situation has been a tremendous opportunity to focus on what is valuable. And to do it in a different way. It is time to evaluate priorities and to find new ways to socialise and to connect.

Going around with a mask and speeding back home to disinfect is not the best way to make new friends; maybe I can invest more into online friendships?

In any case, I will go back into journaling, and today I feel proud to have waken up at 6.30, although half of the credit goes do the cat 🙂

So I intend to write everyday, let’s see how it goes!

A time turner might be handy

http://www.noblecollection.fr/time-turner-special-edition-harry-potter-p-4839.html

March 31, 2020- Thriving in times of COVID19 storm- Resilience

Hello March,

a few years ago I started this blog to help me navigate through challenging times: I was loosing my almost job, and I didn’t know what direction to take exactly.

I see myself now, grateful for the present.

It might also be challenging in different ways.

But being here, interacting with friends who brought their perspective, has made a big change.

Tomorrow is the birthday of this blog. A six year anniversary, when I decided to blog every day, for three months at the beginning: April to June.

And I did.

I might have blogged less later on, but it still felt right to continue: From Paris, to London, to the South of France and then London again.

I am now in my hometown, waiting for the COVID storm to pass while I try to do my best by self-isolating as much as possible.

So, since we do everything on line, I decided to come back to my hometown for as long as necessary.

Tomorrow it’s my blog’s birthday, and I decide to blog again every day, and make something out of it:

Publish

https://www.happybrainlife.com/blog/2020/1/16/10-tips-for-navigating-difficult-times

 

December 27, 2019- Wrapping up certain things before the year comes to en end?

Hello December,

I have added a question mark because I don’t want to put pressure on my flu-suffering head. Yes, there are things to do. The kind of things I don’t like to face. The practical ones. The ones that if you don’t do you are not an adult and eventually, everyone will notice.

On the other hand, we do I avoid to look into the abysse? Because I am afraid I will not know what to do. And I will just stress.

I might feel bad about myself, not successful enough, not beautiful enough, not enough of something.

How about asking for help?

This is probably the best one. I need to ask for help and advice instead of pretending they don’t exist.

How about seeing myself as all there is to it?

There must be some technique to say, wait a minute, I am good and gorgeous enough, I am Worthy and my hair is just awesome today. It can be nice tomorrow also, but that doesn’t take away anything from their awesomeness today.

And I don’t need to post a picture to prove it.

Doing something special.

Giving oneself a medal?

What if some people disagree with this?

Let’s not ask them!

https://www.printavo.com/blog/year-end-checklist-10-things-you-must-do-before-wrapping-up-the-year

April 5, 2019- Celebrating 5 year Blog-Anniversary!

Dear April,

do you remember? I started this blog five years ago, with the intention to write a post-a-day for three months. I was facing a crisis in my personal and professional life: horrid wannabe boss, finances, relationship, instability.

Where am I today? In my home town, with my ageing parents and the cat, where I was afraid to end up if my projects didn’t succeed. And guess what? It’s not as bad as I thought.

Because I might have put up with things out of fear. The fear that if I fail this and that, I might be cast back to where I was at the beginning. A kind of snakes and ladders game.

And guess what? I am not the exact same person. I took risks, huge risks and I failed some of them, for reasons also independent on my effort.

But despite the fact that I didn’t get the funding, that I overworked and I spent all my economies, despite the fact that a member of my family had health issues and I had to go home for a while, I am confident about the future.

I have plans, dreams, and most importantly, I am working towards them.

So, from my place, whatever it is today, I am working towards the next step.

And everything learnt is a profit.

If a snake has swallowed me, I can still take a ladder because I know I can!

Thank you dear blog and dear blog-friends with your wise comments for helping me realize this!

https://www.microsoft.com/de-ch/p/snake-and-ladder-game/9wzdncrcrsq2?activetab=pivot:overviewtab

November 17, 2018- Bounce Back Big Update of 31 days

Hello November,

I started a Bounce Back Big 31 days, trying to do something differently.

I got in touch with mentors and asked questions, I also tried to follow these suggestions:

1. Do the thing you always wanted to do
2. Say what you always wanted to say
3. Feel emotions you never let yourself feel
4. Allow space for discovery and uncertainty in your life
5. When you feel a desire, follow it all the way through
6. Do one thing in the direction of your dreams
7. Express yourself creatively
8. Be vulnerable
9. Take a risk
10. Do something you’ve never done

1. I did small things I wanted, but not something major. For example, I always wanted to ride a horse, or to become an actor, a playwright, a pilot, … but I didn’t really start something major. It felt like I needed to find myself a job

2. I said things I wanted to say, but there are much more, and the thing is how to say them without insulting others, especially when I disagree with something I see

3. I have a range of emotions I don’t allow myself to feel, especially negative ones, should I go there?

4. There is a lot of uncertainty in my life, and I have tried something new in this period

5. I have followed my desire for creation

6. I did one thing in the direction of my dreams, I found a new partner

7. I started a new novel

8.I got vulnerable by telling people some things that hurt me

9. I took many risks (personal, financial, professional, …)

10. I did something I never have done before

🙂

 

December 31, 2017-Ready for a 2017 Year in Review?

Hello December,

the year is close to an end – and it’s time for a review, without letting the food and desert debaucheries weaken my critical judgement.

How do I have fun in a creative way?

Probably, by doing things with people who appreciate and love me, even if it’s just one person. And I’d better be one of them. People I also love and appreciate.

Starting with ourselves, giving some love and appreciation for whatever we have accomplished, tried, failed, imagined, … is the first step I guess.

There is always better and higher.

But don’t we deserve a WELL DONE, for our efforts, struggles and for just being around?

 

April 1rst, 2017: 3 Year Blog-Anniversary!

Dear April,

it has been three years since I decided to start a blogging adventure, as a form of a diary, addressing myself to the different months. I was living in Paris at the time, and I had to face a into my face wannabee boss and my unfullfieled artistic and love drives. I meant to write every day.

Ever since, a lot of things have changed.

I am in London.

I have published my first novel (to be translated in English soon).

My heart is still attached to Paris, but I am happy to have started new adventures here.

I would like to thank so much all of the friends who have accompanied me and offered feedback all these years.

Your advice has been valuable!

More precisely I would like to thank some of my oldest friends, but also those I havent’t mentioned with their wise comments:

pursuit of happiness WordPress

https://equinoxio21.wordpress.com/2017/03/31/paris-time-patrol-numero-four/

la bibliotheque qui ne brule pas wordpress

Eddietwohawks.wordpress.com

Time is Fleeting, Never Stop

https://kimberlyharding.wordpress.com/2017/04/01/born/

https://erikakind.me/blog/

The treasure we are

https://ceejaykayfit.com

https://1000dollarstartups.com

Crucial Inner Skills for Writers and Artists 

These are some of my first and very good friends, but I am grateful for all of you who read and interact with this blog.

Please feel free to give me a feedback, in order to grow also!

THANK YOU so much

Love

April

 

 

September 6, 2016: Back to School and back to London!

Hello there September

I just got back to London with a flue after a month and a half absence in the South of France. Actually, that is where I come from. It has been working for an art exhibition, family, book presentations. And some real holidays.

And now where to April? To London for another year!

With desires, fears and wishes on the bags, I brought with me.

An update of my last adventures? It might help me to set new goals for the ” rentrée”, or getting back to school.

The first year in London worked quite well, and I got to publish my first book, in France in the meanwhile.

I am up to for another year in London, should I look for a regular job or finish my last book or both?

In the meanwhile, I am going for some chocolate to get inspiration!