Staying true to ourselves ( specially when one is perceived to be “different” for whatever reason)  is one of the biggest challenges that we face in our lives. But it pays off as eventually we will be on our own journey,  learning our own lessons and making our own contribution to this world 🙂 And here are the words of the favourite songs from “La La land” to give you the inspiration to do that:

“She told me
“A bit of madness is key
To give us new colors to see
Who knows where it will lead us?
And that’s why they need us”
So bring on the rebels
The ripples from pebbles
The painters, and poets, and plays
And here’s to the fools who dream
Crazy as they may seem
Here’s to the hearts that break
Here’s to the mess we make
I trace it all back to then
Her, and the snow, and the Seine
Smiling through it
She said she’d do it again”

From an early age we learn to stand up for ourselves and defend our point. But very often things are not so black and white – people perceive them differently based on their experiences, background and beliefs. In these instances there is no view that is  right or wrong – but just different. Isn’t then listening and understanding much more valuable than proving that we are right and the other side – wrong? 🙂

Today I am sharing with you a wise set of words that “found” me very recently.I truly believe that our experiences shape us and only through them we grow and develop in our journey. We are often our toughest critics, without our “mistakes” we would have hardly learnt any lessons in life. Let`s start the week with embracing and honoring who we are and continuing on our path with confidence and no regrets.

In life we do things

some we wish we had

never done. Some we

wish we could repeat

a million times in our

heads. But they all

make us who we are.

And in the end they

shape up every detail

about us. If we were

to reverse any of them

we wouldn`t be the

person we are. So just

live. Make mistakes.

Have wonderful memories.

But never ever second

guess who you are,

where you have been,

and most importantly

 whereit is you’re

going.

Let’s end the week with the inspiring words of a very wise man! 

Even though Churchill is definitely not an example of a role model, his words below deserve to be shared:

“If you can start the day without caffeine;

If you can get going without pep pills;

If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains;

If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles;

If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it;

If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time;

If you can forgive a friend’s lack of consideration;

If you can overlook it when those you love take it out on you when, through no fault of your own, something goes wrong;

If you can take criticism and blame without resentment;

If you can ignore a friend’s limited education and never correct him;

If you can resist treating a rich friend better than a poor friend;

If you can face the world without lies and deceit;

If you can conquer tension without medical help;

If you can relax without liquor; If you can sleep without the aid of drugs;

If you can honestly say that deep in your heart you have no prejudice against creed or color, religion or politics; then, my friend, you are almost as good as your dog.”

It’s never to late to learn- and the teachers are all around us. Scientifically we are the most advanced species, but indeed – there is so much to learn from our pets and the power of their inspiring unconditional love. 

Let’s start the weekend with a wish to be kind to ourselves and not to judge ourselves too hard for the “mistakes” that we’ve made!

Today a story that I’ve read years ago came to my mind during a team meeting where we were discussing the heavy work load in the team. The story goes like this:
“Once upon a time there was a very strong wood-cutter. He asked for a job from a timber merchant and he got it. The pay was very good and so were the work conditions and for that reason the wood-cutter was determined to do his very best. His boss gave him an axe and showed him the area in the forest where he was to work.

The first day the wood-cutter cut down 18 trees. His boss was extremely impressed and said, “Well done. Keep it up. You are our best wood-cutter yet.” Motivated by his boss’s words, the wood-cutter tried even harder the next day, but he only cut down 15 trees. The third day he tried even harder but only cut down 10 trees.

Day after day the woodcutter cut down fewer and fewer trees. His boss came to him and told him that if he did not chop down more trees each day he would lose his job. The wood-cutter needed the job, so he tried harder and harder. He worked during his lunch breaks and tea breaks, but still he could not cut down enough trees. “I must be losing my strength” the wood-cutter thought to himself. He worked over-time, but still it was not enough.

Eventually his boss came to him and told him he was fired. The wood-cutter was really upset, but he knew that he had worked as hard as he could and just did not have enough time to chop more trees. He sadly handed his axe back.

The boss took one look at the axe and asked, “When was the last time you sharpened your axe?”

“Sharpen my axe?” the wood-cutter replied. “I have never sharpened my axe. I have been too busy trying to cut down enough trees.”
Perhaps you are thinking ” What a brainless guy! How could he not sharpen his axe!” But very often we are doing the exact same thing by immersing ourselves in endless to-do lists and jumping from one task to another without sharpening our axes by taking a break, doing something that we like or simply enjoying the silence. These are acts of self care that have a unwinding effect and help us refresh ourselves. The work related benefit of this is is proved focus, creativity and productivity. To put it simple words- working less hours and properly sharpening our axes could make us more productive compared to a situation of non- stop working. The next step is to experience this on your own. And spread the word when it starts working for you 🙂

Today I came across this great quote in “My grandfather’s blessings”:

“Meaning is a form of strength. It has the power to transform experience, to open the most difficult of work to the dimensions of joy and even gratitude. Meaning is the language of the soul. Few works service can endure unless they are sustained by a lived sense of their meaning and purpose.”

This post comes with a wish for all of us to live lifes full of meaning that inspire us to get up in the morning and fuel our days 🙂