Breezes

This morning I was drawn from my day-dreaming by the touch of a sweet breeze. Bread freshly taken out of the oven. It reminded me of the smell in my grandparents' yard. Of that crusty bread, which I still prefer. Grandma trying to keep us from tearing into the hot loaves of bread. Us, smiling and conniving to disrupt grandma's attention. I smile and I wish for that smile and this smile to be connected by a bridge, like an arch over time.
Ah, immortality!
Yes, actually, immortality is gained through memories.
A breeze of freshly bloomed freesia takes me back here, in the present.

Little red shoes

Next to me there is a small cup made of clay with cat. No, the cat is not alive. It is just drawn on it. Its little sharp ears seem triangles that go up and up, and up. I stare at the cat, remembering the little bunny. Yes, neither it is alive. A little bunny on the sole of little red sling shoes. I think I liked it back then, getting my feet soaking wet. Thus, the sole of my little shoes was unique. Bunny-like. Actually, there were two bunnies for I have two feet. Now, I just enjoy watching from the window when it rains. Maybe some bunny stamps could make me change my mind. 

A mindset game

I recently recommended Lyudmila Ulitskaya’s novel and one of the arguments was that it was easy to read, having short chapters. I did not realize the importance of this recommendation until the other day, reading ‘The Book of mirrors’ by Eugen Ovidiu Chirovici (a very-well written novel, which I kindly recommend to you, too. I admit that while reading the book I was expecting for something regarding Romania to come up – I don’t know exactly what; maybe traits of Romanian characters, sights etc. – but it never appeared. Which actually confirms the talent of the writer Eugen Ovidiu Chirovici, who succeeded in being a truly chameleon-writer.). Many of the nowadays novels have short chapters, making it easier for the readers.

Firstly, I must admit that such type of novels give us, the readers, the gift of assimilating the information. I will explain: after every chapter a pause is made; the more chapters there are, the more pauses appear. Thus, we can take a short time to reflect upon what was presented to us and to read further or to take a break. Which leads me to the second argument in favor of this technique.

Nowadays, we are in such struggle with time. Not all of us afford spending hours on reading a book. Thus, by having to read short chapters, we can easily stop from it when we must take care of something else, and mostly, our mind does not become stuck (and a little guilty) for having stopped in the middle of the reading. Actually, the mind feels that it has successfully fulfilled an action and it will come back again, maybe soon, to start another, and not having to finish the one before and thus trying to remember where everything was.
As bizarre as that seems, this really calms the brain. It is like any other activity that gives us a sense of satisfaction because we have successfully fulfilled it. The next activity (actually, a chapter) starts, thus, with new forces, with no guilt regarding the stopping in the middle of things.

Cold

It's cold. Actually, very cold. So cold that I remember M., a colleague from university. M. arrived by bike at the university in order to take an exam. There were -20 degrees, and the moist in the air coming from the sea and the Siutghiol Lake could easily slash the bones. I remember M. in the hall of the university. He was in thermoplegia, and his frozen and white eyelashes seem very real to me still.

It's not cold. Not cold at all.

6 Signs You're Doing Better Than You Think You Are

I was asked to enumerate six signs showing that someone is doing better than they think. Here they are:

Are you in front of your computer, sipping your coffee and feeling guilty about spending too much time browsing through the internet instead of doing something else? Say, looking for jobs or finding that plumber to finally fix the sink that has been leaking for a week now?

Well, the time of guilt has ended. From time to time, everybody needs something to boost their morale. And since you’re here already, take a glance at the list below. This is to praise the wonderfulness of you. Chances are you might give yourself more credit after reading the list below.

1. You haven’t lost your interest about what’s around you

Curious people are more and more praised. Have you asked yourself why? Researchers found that the human brain must always be challenged in order to function at its best. That’s why companies tend to hire people that prove to have that certain thirst for knowledge for they’re an asset. Look in the mirror: remember that your curiosity is always an asset. Now brush your teeth and you’re ready to go.

2. You don’t compare yourself to others

We all go through those times when we feel sorry for ourselves. No matter the reason, somehow it always seems that the grass is greener on the other side. It’s better to think about all the good things you have in your life instead of that only one thing you don’t. It’s easier than it seems, trust me. Start by making a list and proudly display it in your room. That’s how you never lose focus.

3. Diversity

People tend to surround themselves with peers that have similar interests, but that often leads to boredom. Just imagine: having to talk over and over again about the same topics. Diversity is cool! If you have friends to talk about politics or last night’s tennis match, but you also have friends that give you book or movie recommendations than you’re set. Plus, you’ve got quality friends.

4. You have a purpose in life

You’re jobless, and your mother has stopped asking ‘What are you going to do with your life?’. Your friends have stopped fixing you up with total strangers, and your grandmother no longer asks you when to buy that special gown for your wedding. The truth is that they have stopped doing that because of you. Your message has been successfully conveyed and they understood that you have different expectations. You go, champ!

5. You still got it

A bad hair day and you ooze your way out of the store, hurrying home. But wait! A stranger totally checks you out, despite the fact that you’re still carrying some holiday weight. Oh, and there’s more: that stranger has given you their phone number. You’re back in the row, baby!

6. You’re funny

Well, we can’t all be Chandler, but it feels good to know that you can make your friends laugh their pants off, from time to time. Misery does love company, but if it gives you enough material to make your friends laugh, then at least you have your own audience, your own stand-up comedy show. Seinfeld, watch out! (I couldn’t risk mentioning only Friends characters; maybe you’re a Seinfeld fan)

These are the six signs I thought I could bring to your attention. Have you found yourself in one of my brain pickings? If so, I would love to know which one/ ones. Do you have your own six signs to suggest? I would be proud to add them to this post.  

Let me know your thoughts!

Matei Vișniec – Shoe-type loves/ Umbrella-type loves...

Just imagine a wrist watch. You remove its back and so the entire mechanism is revealed. With your left hand, you lift a magnifying glass to clearly see the inside. The magnifier will help you better observe a particular wheel. Suddenly, the wheel starts to spin and you realize the importance of it. 

The discovery will knock you down and you’ll be wondering how come you’ve never noticed it before. Then, again with the help of the magnifier, you will droop over another small part. And just about then, the small part starts to spin even faster and you’ll discover new roles you’ve never suspected before. Even though you had them all right in your face the entire time.

The same happens with Matei Vișniec’s novel – it’s a mechanism revealed only to those capable of being a little more patient in order to see things that they have grown so much accustomed to that they no longer can notice them around. 

My Evrika moment?! Well, it has to be the majestic description of the à la française breakfast formed of a croissant and a cup of coffee; and, especially, the fact that I am a little bit of umbrella and a little bit of shoe myself. And I haven’t even noticed that before.

At the very start of the year, little frogs

White frogs dancing in the sky

White frogs dancing in the sky.

I saw them once, when I was ten.

It’s just a game of you and I

And a remembrance of then.

They’re holding hands, and jumping,

And laughing at the noisy birds.

Don’t bother now restructuring

What you believed when you were kids!

White frogs dancing in the sky.

Be still, and breathe the current view.

And all you have don’t question why!

Just taste the courage of the few.

They’ve started yelling at the rain,

But then again, rainbow would come

And clean the blisters and the pain,

And weave the future with a comb.

White frogs dancing in the sky.

Be sure to find what you expect.

And all in all, they’ll bear you out,

Then it is you who must you not neglect!

I wrote this poem a few years ago thinking about patterns. But not those for clothes. Let us make a small step outside their lines and, for that matter, let us give the children the liberty to color outside the lines.