October 21, 2023- Relaxing-and how to avoid old demons

Hello October,

have you been through a traumatic experience that is filling you with terror? I guess some of my French work experiences can be categorised in this section.

A friend asked me about them and I felt again terrified.

How do we get over the feeling of being a tiny little ant in the vast Universe, where other huge, powerful and aggressive creatures make the rules?

Well, one way is to find smaller than us and to be happy with the comparison.

Another way is avoidance.

And a third way is to connect. Who said that ants aren’t powerful? A tiny creature holds the power of the Universe. They carry many times the weight of their own body. Ants are superheroes and super-heroines!

Another friend told me about the feeling of connection. We are connected with everyone, our hopes and wishes are related to our role in this world. Instead of feeling that we live in isolation, we can believe in the power of the WE.

After all, we are all manifestations of LIFE on the planet, we share so much in common even with plants such as rice, or trees and butterflies.

October 16 -Rainy Day and “Past Lives” film

Hello October,

after a moody start and some reminiscences of old traumas (isn’t it scary to do something and put yourself out there?) I ended up working in the afternoon and then accepting an invitation to watch “Past Lives”.

Yes, it was great, and yes, I cried when this lovely almost-couple didn’t get to live together in the reality of the film.

We talked about love, romance and friendship.

How do we look for partners?

As the result of a list to check?

As the person who seems to want to be with us?

As the person who ignites a passionate attraction?

Does any of this guarantee Happiness?

October 11, 2023-Meetings and recovering flu day

Hello October,

Yes, I thought this flu was over, but it makes me feel as if my hands and feet need to be ordered to move. How about my thoughts? I just finished a Duolingo lesson but it took me twice as much time.

Instead of a walk in the park, I took a shortcut today.

And then a meeting is coming, online. And a real one in the afternoon. I promised to get there so I need to be in shape pretty soon.

I’ll try some vitamin C.

And be grateful for whatever I may accomplish even if this is not perfect.

Surprisingly, after having a great meeting, my energy is building up.

January 11, 2021- day 7 out of 66- post-a-day: 2 imaginary life paths

Hello January,

so I start by answering a challenge: imagine two life-paths: one in a well-worn path, and the second, in the path less travelled.

This is based on Ryder Carroll’s suggestion in his “Bullet Journal Method”.

So, for the well worn-path:

1. April stays with her parents until they are no longer physically there, she is a bit bored, finally starts dating a neighbour without being in love. When she can move back to London she does, but she takes the least possible risks. She gets to buy a flat and owes a cat.
2. April starts a you tube channel embedded into her blog and an instagram account. She publishes ebooks and books, and gets to meet some people with common interests and passions. When she moves back to London, she is comfortable between her artistic work and her teaching art. She owes a home and lives with cats, dogs, humans and the love of her life. She can distinguish between people who want to grow and who are happy to see others grow and those who don’t. She gets away from the last species. She makes new exciting friendships. She meets a soul mate who is a loving and charming person and falls in love.

Ok, I like the second scenario better. In any case, there are cats in both.

January 10, 2021- Post-a-day 6 out of 66- let your hair down

Hello January,

Sunday, I started the day feeling guilty: I meant to finish some work but instead I was in and out of the kitchen. At the same time, my room evolved into a place where a tidiness wizard like Marie Kondo might be needed: a mess.p

Staying so much time at home, it should have been easy to tidy up, my conscience said. But somehow tidiness looked full of difficult choices and having to face the past. Not always what you want to do on a Sunday.

How about my other decisions like cutting on sugar? I continued to have cake and chocolate.

On the second part of the day, I decided to take it easy.

After all, it’s Sunday, I can let myself go and do whatever I please, at home.

Yes, I started a new Netflix series: Lupin, (I just loved it).

On the positive side, I read about healthy nutrition and planning.

Tomorrow, is another day, and after all, writing a post-a-day is already an accomplishment 🙂

January 8, 2021- Post-a-Day, Day 4- Life path, love, past and future

Hello January,

Yes, I feel again energy to set goals and optimistic that they are realised day by day!

What if our goals are not in the same direction with those of our social circle or family?

Hmm, then, maybe we can try to find common ground, I would say. I have felt the tension for a few years, with my family wanting me to live nearby and myself wandering around, and the worst not having much material evidence to prove my choice was a good idea.

In any case, being an artist and wanting to “create” one’s world is a path with tensions and tears, but also joy.

Then what, should I have stayed at home?

We’ll never know, but I have read that a ship is not made to stay in the harbour, so as a young person, we are meant to face our own struggles, learn and give our best!

It doesn’t matter how we fail as long a s we learn for next time!

How about Love then, have I learnt anything?

I have loved and hurt, my big love is now living with another woman and they have a child together. He hates being with her, but he made his choice. And I think it is the right one, because he is used to toxic relationships and I am not.

Despite my attraction for toxic people, I catch myself and get back to my path. And in this path, I am optimistic that love without a toxic side is possible. Love where you are happy to see the other person grow, and where a partner, a parent, a friend is not someone who is putting us in prison, but someone with fly along with.

May 7 and 8, 2020- Day 4 and 5- Great instead of High Expectations

May hello,

two very busy days and my hopes got up a little bit with a possibility for a collaboration. There is an artist I met last year and she invited me to participate to a collective project. It seems good and this person is trustworthy, I think.

So, I put myself to work for it.

Let’s see how it goes.

I was so excited to work on something creative and inspiring again!

Almost afraid to raise my expectations for fear of disappointment (what I learn in CBT).

May 2, 2020- How to stay Open-minded in lockdown- Josef Albers

Hello May,

how do we stay OPEN in lockdown? Artwork, could be the answer! This is the work “Open” by Josef Albers from the free online collection of the Guggenheim museum. Let’s take a walk there.

Saturday almost morning, and after my second coffee and finding the right recipe for lunch, I get back to a busy weekend. I am going to mark some papers, so all my attention and focus is needed.

Have a nice Saturday also, whatever you do!

 

Open (b)

December 2, 2018- Love oneself ritual, Day 2

Welcome December,

Christmas month! How do you keep up with a loving oneself ritual in challenging times?

To begin with, by keeping our eyes on the target.

I need to be in shape for interviews mid-December, and mid-January.

How do I do that when I need to move out of my place and find a temporary solution until I have answers?

Well, by getting coffee in a beautiful place.

I also got a nice compliment from one of the waitresses for my outfit.

Rather nice.

How about all the things in my to-do list, starting from a place to stay for three days when I move out on Wednesday?

October 8 and 9- Bounce big days 21 and 22- Life as a hop on hop off bus

Hello October,

I am looking at my posts since I decided to Bounce Back, and I need to congratulate myself for doing a very good job.

I have come back to London, overcome, or almost a feeling of sadness due to family issues back to France, financial and others.

At the same time, I catch myself here and there, feeling a bit down, tired or overwhelmed. So I need to boost myself a bit more.

Eat well. – More fruit and better breakfast in the morning

Ask for help on practical questions that get on the way.

What if we use the metaphor of a hop on hop off bus for our lives? Let’s say that the bus is our inner self, and maybe the people we are connected with: some hop on and hop off during our life time.

There are beautiful things to visit, we can hop off ourselves and then hop on again with more energy and dreams.

What happens if we have an unpleasant or difficult experience somewhere? A waiter is insulting, we don’t like what we experience? We can hop on again and take the time to digest the experience.

Something new is coming our way.

Because actually, we are on the move.

Constantly.

The earth is moving and we move with it!

So whatever is bad, will pass.

Some good things pass also.

But others will take their place.

And yes, we can even take a nap on the bus!