Lotz of thoughts

What I learned from my nephew… Or my angel-nephew’s legacy through his tannie’s eyes… They say that there are people that are close to us for a lifetime and they make absolutely no impact in the way we see the world or the way we want to be as personalities. And at the same time there are others that pass close to us like a ray of sunshine through the curtains in a cold winter afternoon and bring us warmth and hope unimaginable. I had one of those in my life. Mistake….I HAVE one of those in my life. And most people would think that I would talk about a guru of self-fulfilment, or a teacher of spirituality, or a priest… No, he is a 3-year old, our ray of sunshine, that was borrowed to our lives for a little while but changed us forever not only with his quality while he was with us but also with his absence.. So what I(we) have learned and how I (we) have changed was his purpose on earth? I am not sure… people don’t come with a manual, ultimate purpose a...

(Addition 05/05/2017)     You are an angel! (Scroll down for the English translation) Σ αν σημερα εφυγε. Αν και η λεξη «εφυγε» δεν ταιριαζει στην περιπτωση.. Δεν εφυγε ακομα εδω ειναι. Βεβαια, το παραδεχομαι δεν τη σκεφτομαι καθε μερα, δεν την αναφερω καθε τοσο... Τα «μαθηματα» απο τον παππου ηταν πιο εντονα νομιζω. Αλλα αυτο που καταφερε ο «Αλεκος» μου (ετσι την ελεγα) δεν το εχουν καταφερει πολλοι ανθρωποι στην ζωη μου. Με καθορισε, μου εμαθε πολλα οχι με τα λογια αλλα με τον τροπο σκεψης της, με τον τροπο που εζησε τη ζωη της. Με καποιες στασεις και νοοτροπιες της με διδαξε τι να μην κανω, τι να μην αφηνω να μου κανουν. Η Αγλαιτσα μας ομως ηταν αγαπη, ηταν δοσιμο, ηταν θυσια. Δεν την ενοιαζε ο εαυτος της, το εγω της. Την ενοιαζε η ευτυχια των δικων της ανθρωπων, για αυτους γινοταν θυσια. Αν ησουν στον κυκλο της θα εκανε τα παντα. Την ενοιαζε ομως και «τι θα πει ο κοσμος» και για μενα, αυτο την κουρασε πολυ. Κι ετσι αποφασισε να σταματησει να προσπαθε...

We returned back home, I found a position in bed where none of my muscles were hurting, I put the medal on the bedside table, and I fell asleep while touching it, with a big smile. That feeling the last three years, the emotions of that exact moment, is what keeps me going... I had never been an active person in my life. I was the kind of child that always had some problem to avoid athletics and anything else at school that required getting off your chair and move. Maybe I got a little bit hooked with basketball at some point in my life but that was mainly because the clothes and attitude was cool. Oh and because I was the tallest in class and I felt they needed me…until other girls grew taller or taller girls came from other schools. I will blame hence the environment and conditions for never being active (nonsense, utter nonsense, only me to blame for but anyway…). Later, I came to South Africa, and I was “accused” of not being active as if that was a crucial negative aspect o...

Do you know what a business cycle is? Let me be the economist for a second… A business cycle is “the fluctuation in economic activity that an economy experiences over a period of time. A business cycle is basically defined in terms of periods of expansion or recession…During expansions , the economy is growing in real terms (i.e. excluding inflation), as evidenced by increases in indicators like employment, industrial production, sales and personal incomes . During recessions (contraction), the economy is contracting, as measured by decreases in the above indicators” [1] The main elements in a business cycle are peak (top) – recession – trough (bottom) – expansion. I have observed that these types of cycles exist in my desire for social life. You know what I mean? The one period of time, I am a social bee ; I organize events, I say yes to all invitations, my calendar is full, while at the same time, family and work obligations keep me super busy as well…and the next period, I ...

The last few days the concept of showing appreciation plays a lot in my thoughts: its various manifestations and forms, what are the different things and personality characteristics that people appreciate, and if there are any links to a desire for self-improvement when been appreciated. I am busy observing different approaches and I make an effort to vocalize my appreciation more often nowadays to observe the reactions of the receivers. So, while I was doing my own small-scale research, and in a class of almost thirty individuals (professionals and more mature in life – not typical students) from all over the African continent, I realised there is an important determinant without which (in most cases), a person can neither appreciate life and its beauties, nor be comfortable enough to express his appreciation: that is the moving forward concept, as I call it. (Thank you to this amazing group I work with the last ten days! – People with beautiful qualities). Let me explain now wh...

This was the first weekend after almost a month that I managed to relax and enjoy my family. Deadlines and work did not allow me to have a meal with them without my mind being at work, obligations (both work and social), and planning. Last night, the four of us went out for dinner to a favorite restaurant, the kids were in a good mood and so did the parents (there is a statistically significant correlation – causality – between the two!!!). While the Big boy sits nicely and enjoys his fish and chips (Miracle! Miracle! He ate fish!), a very cute older lady signaled with her hand towards him as if she was begging for food. Normally, I get irritated with people trying to “tease” kids they don’t know in public, but her positive aura made me sit back and observe my son’s reaction. And he amazed me once more! He looked around and he took a bunch of fries and gave it to the lady! Proud mama I was!! The lady was equally amazed and praised him for the politeness. She told us she has seve...

In a world where I am not sure if and where I belong and a world that makes me cry more often recently, I am struggling to find positive thoughts to express myself… So today’s thoughts shared hopefully will help me be optimistic and cheerful again, maybe you too. It has always been there; the belonging issue…especially the first couple of years in another country. My one foot was there and the other one was here. And trust me the two countries are very far from each other so the position was always very uncomfortable. Now, ten years down the line, things are better in my everyday life. I know where I belong. I don’t belong in geographical place; I ‘belong’ where my men are. But every now and then, a political incident, a statement in the press, a voting result and I am again hanging there not knowing where to go, where I am welcome and where not. Surely it is not only me. In current times, globalisation has been a constant presence in our lives. Look around you: surely someone...