Buy a plant

A few months ago, I filled out a survey, that drew me a wheel of life based on the results. I guess, I don't have to tell you, that it's a wheel with which it's impossible to move. One of the most critical areas, that I have to improve is my physical environment. So I decided to buy a plant. It has to be relatively small, something that's easy to care for and that loves sun.

Do you have plants in your house? If not, why; do you let them dry out or you over-water them? Let me know in the Comments below!

2015 here I come!

This is going to be a short entry. I have my 3 major goals for 2015 and also my mantra.

1. Travel

2. Photography

3. Create Life

Play by my own rules.

May 2015 be your best year yet!

Images: here, here and here

What are your major goals for 2015? What are you most excited about to achieve? Let me know in the Comments below!

Birthday wishes

Today, it's my birthday. Recently, I've been regarding birthdays as New Year's Eves, aka resolution making days. So here are a few things I want to do (differently) being 32.

- spend quality time with myself regularly

- less shoulds

- start doing 'something more' with my life and start realizing my community based goals

- be braver

Spend quality time with myself regularly: It's funny, I've never hated myself, but if I want to be honest, I have to acknowledge that I don't really love myself. I mean, I think I love myself, but if I look at the way I treat myself, it's sure not the way to treat someone you love. I believe, I deserve the best things in life, but I hardly ever give the best from myself. It's time to act upon my words and beliefs.

Less shoulds: It's time to cut the crap. Recently, I've often told myself, I should do this or do that and I didn't feel like doing any of those things. So maybe I should just start doing what I feel like doing and stop wasting time on the shoulds.

Start doing 'something more' with my life and start realizing my community based goals: I have a few causes I've always dreamt about supporting, yet I haven't joined any organisations supporting or fighting those causes. So it's time to act.

Be braver: You know that cliché about amazing things happening outside your comfort zone? Although, I've changed a lot, I still have shy and/or introvert days, when I find it really hard to speak to people. But I love hearing people's stories, so I want to be brave enough to walk up to them and ask.

Do you make birthday resolutions? What does your ideal birthday celebration looks like? Let me know in the Comments below!

Build up my ideal life

See fireworks live!

I wanted to see the national day fireworks, so I talked to a friend, because I didn't want to go alone. We stood at a safe distance, so we could breathe and we weren't crushed, yet our hair still ended up full of debris. It was a very interesting experience. The show of course was beautiful. If you're considering watching a fireworks show live: safety first!

Find time for inspiration

It's amazing how it improves my life when I make the effort to find time for inspiration. This goal is one of my resolutions for 2012. So, it actually took me more than 2 years to achieve. Inspiration is like air for me. So you can imagine how achieving this goal has improved the quality of my life. I find inspiration in people's stories and blogs on design, gastronomy and travel. And at this moment, my life is full of inspiration. 

 

What helped me achieve this goal was my positive attitude and creating time for myself.

 

Where do you find inspiration? What blogs do you read for inspiration? Let me know in the Comments below!

Socialize

This goal comes from my resolutions' list for 2013, so it took me a bit more than 1 year to actually achieve it. I totally believe in interest groups. I'm a member of a women's networking group and a knitting circle. Both have gifted me with some amazing people. I'm also taking part in a performance, which is great fun and again, has brought some fantastic people into my life. And at this moment of my professional life I network like crazy and due to this I get to meet inspiring people from whom I can learn a lot. And yes, sometimes I'm very very tired, but it totally is worth it. Should you want to go out and mingle: go out and even if you don't feel like opening your mouth, smile!

Treat myself to 43 simple pleasures

This is a goal in progress...

This goal is easy-peasy for me, since I'm a person who appreciates the smallest things the most. But it's also fun and a positive energy booster to record these simple treats. And at last, what better way to inspire you?

One

Today, it was quite windy and we had a sheet of foil lying on the balcony that the wind suddenly lifted and twirled like the dress of a flamenco dancer. It was magnificent!

Two

Yesterday it was heavily raining in the morning. I opened my windows to listen to it. It was amazing, though I'm not someone who usually enjoys the sound of rain or wind.

Then later I saw a huge seagull soaring above the river.

And even later I saw an impressive building through a screen of rain mist. It was fascinating.

Three

Today I went to a farmer's market and enjoyed the sight of a field of flowers. It was beautiful. Especially a sprig of heather in a pot.

Four and Five

Yesterday, I didn't think through my route properly, so I ended up on a "new" bus line. I'm glad. It had a wonderful route passing beautiful buildings.

Also, I managed to catch a light-tram for the theatre. (A light-tram is a tram decorated with fairy lights for the Christmas season.)

Six

A whirpool of lavender flowers in my friend's lavender tea.

Seven

Today, as I settled down with my breakfast I noticed the steam wreathing from my tea. It was a lovely sight. It's been a while since I noticed steam around my hot food or drinks.

Eight

Kneading dough with your bare hands feels extremely luxurious.

Nine

The other day I saw a beautiful grey bird in a park. It's either a heron or an egret, I can never tell them apart. It was a real gift from life. (In the meantime, I've found out that it's a grey heron.)

Ten

The other day, on my way back from the city, I walked through a park. It was heavily raining and there was an opening between the trees where the rain came down in a heavy curtain and I thought, now this is what's called a shower of rain. It was mesmerizing.

Eleven

I was doing the washing up, when I noticed that my friend's glasses got fogged up over her grilled zucchini. It was quite a hilarious and mesmerizing experience as I've never seen anything like this before.

Twelve

The other day I went to a Science Festival where, among many other interesting and mind blowing things, I could inspect a cube of brown sugar under the microscope.

It was amazing. Its crystals looked exactly like a heap of honey coloured precious stones. Which of course is only logical, but you have to see it with your own eyes to understand how mind blowing it really is.

Thirteen

It's amazing, how nature can surprise you. How you suddenly see something, that you could have just as easily missed if you didn't look up, or didn't turn your head.

It was something like this when I saw the snowfall in a frame of tree branches, and that frame included a lovely queen statue, as well.

Fourteen

I read about Ólafur Arnalds' music in a local magazine. I've never expected it to be so beautiful. If you're looking for some relaxing music, or some soft background music to help you focus, while working, look him up.

Fifteen

It was a fat red squirrel. It made me really happy to watch him.

Sixteen

A friend of mine has told me about the hidden crocus spot in a nearby park, so I went to investigate and took several photos in the morning. I had a great time.

Seventeen

The other day I saw my favourite grey heron, then a black stork, and finally some flying swans. It felt like the luckiest day of my life.