Christmas can sometimes seem like a big commercial cliche – the presents frenzy, the cooking frenzy, the ‘look how cool is my Christmas tree’ frenzy. The underlying vibe to consume and display your consumption and material possessions  can be quite intense.

But what more is there? Spending time with your family? Reminiscing the good childhood moments? Surrounding yourself with coziness?  I often catch myself wondering and thinking there must be more than that.

In these moments I think about the story of Jesus, the son of God who chose to join the human family and afterwards sacrifice himself out of love for humanity. The ultimate gift – to devote yourself fully out of love. And I am thinking – ‘ for me this is the essence of Christmas’. 

Throughout my life I’ve been given many gifts the most important of which haven’t been material. They have taken various shapes and forms – a shoulder to lean on, a brain to pick, an uplifting role model, an important lesson, a life- changing experience…

My wish is to be able to give to others the same way I’ve received. With a smile, a light heart and no expectations of people being grateful or giving anything back.

To create – good thoughts, deeds and also better versions of myself. And to have the inspiration to keep on trying in the moments when I run out of energy. 

And in the moments when I can’t give much, I wish to be able to be present for my loved ones. Simply being present and fully dedicate yourself can sometimes be the most difficult thing and my wish is to master it. Because giving presense and simply being there for your loved ones nourishes the heart and soul and can be the biggest gift for others and also ourselves.

This year I`m expressing this wish and intention through hand-made Christmas cards. I would be happy to also hear your thoughts and ideas.  

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В някои моменти Коледа прилича на едно голямо комерсиално клише – суматохата около избирането на перфектния подарък, декорирането на най-красивото коледно дърво (и споделянето му в социалните мрежи), подготвянето на перфектната трапеза (за която също трябва поне да бъде загатнато със снимка) придават усещане за пресиленост и фалш.

А каква ли е идеята всъщност? Да прекараме време със семейството? Да си припомним детството? Да се обградим с уют? Често се улавям да търся отговорите на тези въпроси, мислейки си че отговорът съдържа повече от това.

В тези моменти си мисля за Исус – Божият син, който избира да се присъедини към човешкото семейство, а след това да се принесе в жертва от любов към хората. Най – големият подарък : пълно посвещаване в името на любовта. Тогава си мисля „ На този етап това най-точно се доближава до олицетворението на Коледа за мен.“

През годините съм получавала много подаръци, най – важните от които винаги са били нематериални – рамо на което да се опра, ценен съвет, модел за подражание, важен урок, незабравимо преживяване..

Пожелавам си да мога да дам а другите същите тези неща и по начина, по който самата аз съм ги получила. С усмивка, леко сърце и без очаквания за благодарност или получаване на нещо в замяна.

Пожелавам си да създавам – добри мисли, постъпки и подобрени мои версии. И да имам вдъхновението да не спирам да се опитвам в моментите кога остана без сили.

В моментите в които не мога да дам много, си пожелавам просто да дам пълното си внимание на тези които обичам. Да посветиш безпрекословно времето и вниманието си може да бъде доста трудно, и ми се иска да го овладея напълно. Защото давайки внимание и време означава да дадеш част от себе си и действа благотворно на другите и на нас самите.

Тази година това пожелание оживява чрез ръчно изработените коледни картички. Ще се радвам ако споделите и вашите размисли и идеи.

Today is the International Children day which always reminds of my happy childhood times and also of the importance being opened and playful. It is sometimes difficult to imagine that we can learn a lot from the children around us and even from the children within us. Nevertheless,  being opened, fearless and approaching things without predjudice and judgement are important qualities which we can see in practice in the many of the young ones around us that are unspoiled by the desire to fit in  and be accepted as well as the fear of failing. And just how much lighter and more inspired could we be if we were a bit more like that? So look around- you teachers are all around you, but also – within  🙂

More thoughts on this as well as a beautiful video can be found here 

Let`s celebrate the longer days with a beautiful dialogue between flowers in bloom by Khalil Gibran 😉

I’ve written before about the art of loving and embracing life  that I deeply admire. I recently had another inspirational example of this. It was my 92-year-old neighbor that I met in the elevator and who complimented me on my outfit (the funny coincidence was that I was also super impressed by her classy look). She also invited me for coffee in her house. I couldn’t make it, but promised to go the next day. 

The day after I bought flowers and knocked on the door. She was dressed in a classy black and white dress and was wearing only one shoe. She told me a few months ago she had a stroke as a result of which her left side was very weak so she needed extra stability on the right side. That is why she wore her right shoe in the house as well.

As a result of the stroke she couldn’t do much on her own – not even dress herself, nor cook so she had help in the morning and evening. There was the option to move to a home but she wanted to stay at her own home (which she was happy to pass to her grandson after, in her words “I`ll be gone”, as if “being gone” was the most natural thing).

She told me that she used to work as a model and showed me her collection of Vogue magazines that her daughter in law was buying for her.

She was strong and beautiful, and supremely inspiring in so many ways. 

I was deeply moved by her acceptance of the situation as well as her dignity and gratitude for still being able to live as independently as possible.

Furthermore, her appetite for life despite the fact that her body was failing her was just amazing!  She was a beautiful practical example of our reality in which our impermanent bodies are hosting our potentially forever-young spirits. So fragile and at the same time – so invincibly strong. 

I recently had a very good learning experience with a close friend who asked me to accompany her to the doctor as she needed to undergo an important and very unpleasant medical test. I really wanted to go and support her, so I took time off my work and made sure i am on time. To my biggest surprise she overslept and couldn’t make it.

So there I was, sitting at the hospital reception at 9 A.M. and feeling supremely frustrated. How could she do that to me?  I made such a big effort and what? It all went to vain? 

After continuously asking these questions i got two revelations. First, in my discontent i was really focused on myself and not on her. The truth was that my ego was hurt and it was screaming “Me, me, me!”. But the fact was that I did what I did to help her and not to put myself on a pedestal. So in the end there was nothing to be angry about because I made it as per my commitment. Being frustrated suddenly became a pointless and selfish exercise in which I didn’t want to engage any more.

And second- I had half a day off, so why wouldn’t I try to make the best out of it. In the end when life gives you lemons the best you can do is to make a lemonade. Eventually I had one of my best walks for this year and after which I was much more refreshed and focused than if I had stayed at the hospital.

Each experience that we go through can be seen as positive or negative depending on our perception. It is our choice to keep the bitter lemon, or to make lemonade out of it. That’s the beauty of life and also its biggest challenge.

A few days ago I got to know more about the incredible Salvador Dali, his life, eccentrics and artistic genius. His quote above made a big impression on me as I think it describes the essence or art very well. It also illustrates the fact that art can have many shapes and forms, but one sole purpose – to illuminate our lives and inspire us to unleash our creative selves.  And in that sense, we all have the capacity to become artists. Just how wonderful and empowering is that!

I recently visited the Banksy exhibition at the Moco museum in Amsterdam and was greatly inspired by the philosophy and work of this incredible artist whom I hardly knew before my visit.

Today’s inspiration is a quote from Banksy which is something that I deeply believe in and I can stand behind based on my personal experience – winning is about personal mastery and growth that can only be achieved through perseverance despite failings and setbacks. Every failure can be a lesson when there is perseverance, positivity and desire to learn from our mistakes. So let’s dream on and keep on following our dreams without fear. Because our mistakes are nothing more than stepping stones.

Yesterday was the International Happiness Day and it is the perfect opportunity  to greet ourselves with a card from the “Happiness is” series . More about this cool concept here.

Today is the first day of the spring! The beautiful, uplifting season which is a never-ending source of inspiration deserves a celebration in the form of a poem 🙂 Happy Spring!

Its like the birthday
of the world,
When earth was born in bloom;
The light is made of many dyes,
The air is all perfume:
There’s crimson buds, and white
and blue,
The very rainbow showers
Have turned to blossoms where
they fell,
And sown the earth with
flowers.
—Thomas Hood