Happiness

What is happines? Where does it come from, and where does it go? Why do some seem to have it in such plentiful amounts, and others struggle to hold on to it, and yet others lose the connection with it for years?

I suppose most people have asked themselves, in one way or another, such questions once in a while.  And even more so nowadays, when we live in a world full of self help books that supposedly will guide you in an eye blink to happiness . A world where being happy, even if it’s just false appearance, is the norm. A world where we sadly compare our lives with that of others on social media, in search of our own happiness, and at the same time trying to feel ourselves better than the rest.

Happiness. It’s such a charged word nowadays. We might have forgotten the essence of happiness, just like we’ve forgotten the essence of love, and beauty, and all other fundamental things in life. I have decided that the word happiness is, although with a beautiful intrinsic meaning, not my word anymore.

My word is being. Being? Yes, right, being.  24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of our lives, it is expected of us to be something, and to be it in the best possible way. It is expected that we are perfect children, perfect adolescents, perfect friends, perfect partners, perfect parents. It is expected that we excel in our studies, careers and on social level. When someone is asked who he or she is, the answer will include the name, and a long list of attributes, like, I’m a mom, I’m a director here, I’m a scientist there, I’m the daughter of this person, I’m the owner of that...and so on. And ok, it’s alright to know what your place in the social world is, but, do you know who you are? What makes up your essence? Well, to me, it is your being. And by being completely you, that is, by the most simple and (at the same time) complex act of being, you can find what we call happiness.

But being completely you, that’s a damn scary thing.  We tend to change ourselves in order to blend in into society (we’re social animals after all) but somewhere down the road we lose ourselves, stop simply being the person you truly are, and start acting an apparently perfect play for the outer world.

In any case, being completely oneself is hard, and even more so in places where your physical or mental wellbeing is put into peril if you express your true self. But if you want to have a try at being happy, at being you, maybe some of the following ideas might help:

·         Recognize and appreciate the small things in life. Wasn’t that a beautiful sunset you’ve just missed because you were stuck to your smartphone? Didn’t a loved one just remind you how much he or she loves you? So often we encounter small gifts in life, but as we are so spoiled, we don’t even see them, and eternally wait for something bigger, better  and more beautiful to come, without realizing that it is all happening now.

·         Which leads us to the next idea: live in the now! Ok, how cliché.  And how true! We keep ourselves busy with thousands of tasks, thoughts, and other mess, so much that we avoid living in the moment.  I think it’s because we fear the brilliance and greatness of living in the moment, as it can be a very powerful experience. On the other side, we are so addicted to distraction (just watch how many people are inseparable from their electronic devices nowadays) and drama about the past and future, that we prefer to just ignore the now and munch on the binge diet of unhappiness.

·         Gratitude. That’s a biiiig word, and has a very high happiness factor. Being grateful for something is, in short, accepting and feeling grateful about something ordinary in our lives, in such a way that it becomes extraordinary. That something can vary from a smile from a stranger to a loving hug of your partner, from eating homemade cookies (made by mum), to doing that what you love most. It doesn’t matter what you appreciate, as long as you appreciate it! There are so much beautiful things in life, and much of it we never fully appreciate it until the moment it isn't there anymore.

In any case, lots more things can contribute to a sense of wellbeing. Being in nature, spending time on (constructive) social relationships, feeling safe and protected... We must not forget that satisfying our most basic needs also contribute to the level of happiness one experiences. Nor must we forget that happiness is essentially something you can find in your interior, and thus no matter how much temporal satisfaction you feel by obtaining material goods, the only true happiness is that which emanates from your being.  

So, after a good hour of being in my element, enjoying myself whilst writing and listening to classical music, I can say that, writing about happiness is good reminder for myself, as lately I’ve felt unable to connect with that great feeling that tells me that I am satisfying all my needs and simply being me.  To be honest, I could just go on and on writing, but as I’m not planning to write a book about happiness, I’d better stop writing ;)

Anyway, there is no foolproof road to happiness. It’s often a difficult, unclear and strange journey, and surely a journey without end, as you will never stop learning how to live life plentifully. It's a journey that will lead you to extraordinary places. Moreover, it’s a personal journey, as I think everybody has to find out for him or herself what happiness is, where it lies, and how to make it a part of yourself. 

Fear of failure, and how to live with no regrets

When we are young, we dream of fame, success, great achievements … And often you will believe that you’ll be the one who will make it, because you do everything as perfect as possible to ensure success.

But then life happens, as unpredictable as ever, and events can make our dreams, efforts and goals fall apart. Some people, or even you yourself, will say that “you missed the boat”, “you didn’t try your best” or “weren’t the right person for it”.

Doubt starts to arise. Who am I without my dreams, without my success? Do I deserve to be happy when I’m a failure? How would things have turned out if I had given more of me? How can I overcome this enormous, all-consuming, feeling of defeat?

This negative spiral of doubt, low self-esteem, shame, loss of identity, and even anger towards oneself can lead to depression, isolation, an intense fear of failure, anxiousness and a whole list of other symptoms.

Maybe, at some point, the pain of failure will pass, and you will once again start to chase a new dream and put all your effort, time and money in it. But, in a world where everything is measured in or success, or failure, only too often the outcome will be considered to be a failure, and you will be back at where you started, feeling depressed, lost and despaired at your incapacity to do anything right.

Because we think, that if what we did turned out to be a failure, we ourselves are a failure. Our society teaches us that we’re never good enough, rich enough, smart enough, pretty enough. Our society teaches us to link achievement and success to our personal self worth! We even attach our inner identity of who we truly are with accomplishments, thus when we meet failure in life, we feel deprived of self worth and identity, and see our lives as a series of consecutive failures, in our relationships, in our careers, in our health…

And then, the pressure to succeed becomes so enormous, the risk of failure becomes too great, and we let go of our dreams, for fear of not being able to cope with failure. The thought “better to let go of my dreams then to risk failure” appears.

But here society is wrong. It’s not true that there exists only success and failure. It isn’t black and white. Failure isn’t unacceptable, contrary to what society believes, but rather a necessary path to success. If failure would truly be unacceptable, we wouldn’t even be alive, because the whole essence of nature consists in endless attempts that end in failure, and a couple of successes.

Just to get my point: How would a baby learn to walk, without at least a couple of hundreds of failed attempts? How would the nature have been able to create life, and subsequently all living beings, without endless failed attempts at combining and recombining the building blocks of life? How would technology have advanced and developed without all the failures it has gone through?

The sad thing is that, sometimes we are so focused on archiving success as our ultimate goal, that we forget to enjoy the things we already have, the moment of now, and the whole journey of life. We forget to accept our limitations, we ignore to celebrate our efforts however small, and we will punish ourselves for our so-called failures.

Because, honestly, it’s fine to try just for the sake of trying, it’s fine if a goal isn’t reached or the outcome is unexpected. The most important thing is the effort, not merely the outcome. Remember all the positive things you will gain from failing: important life lessons, deeper knowledge and wisdom, knowing how things should and should not be done, a capacity to love yourself even if society dictates you should hate yourself for failing. Learn to accept, to let go, practice forgiveness and compassion, and be kind to yourself, in whatever situation. And maybe, learn to not see failure in a negative way, but rather as an opportunity, a stepping stone to new heights

Lastly, if you find your true calling, your passion, your dream; listen to it, and follow that what makes you feel most alive. Deep inside you, you know what to do, but fear of failing is often in the way, as are the people who advise you to not pursue your dream, in fear of you getting hurt, or in envy of you being brave enough to follow your dreams. Do what you’re here for to do, so you will live with no regrets. Because, one of the deepest regrets people have when they die is having not done what they wanted most, not having followed their dreams, and not having lived truly. 

Here is a very inspiring video that gave me the idea to write about this today; 

And a few quotes that might make you think ;)

Living in the now

We are alive. There is no doubt about that. 

But are you conscious? Are you awake? Or does the world go by in a blur, without you noticing all its beauty and splendor? Are you only awake sometimes, only aware of the surrounding world once in a while?

To be truly conscious, or mindful as some call it nowadays, you must be in the NOW. It’s hard, as we humans tend to jump from thoughts about the past, to the past, and then reflect all our hopes, expectations and fears onto the future. We are busier with mentally analyzing the past and creating all sorts of possible outcomes for the future then that we are living in the present.

What I love about the word present is that it has a double meaning;

• Present, the period of time now occurring.
• Present, a gift.

The present, this right moment, is a gift. You have nothing else but this right moment. You might think, well, I have a car, a house, a family, money etc. But actually, all that wouldn't be able to exist without the present moment!

Isn't that just beautiful? I find it a beautiful idea. And it’s a powerful idea. Because once you realize that NOW is all there is, you will be filled with awe and marvel, and feel a lot more grateful and awake.

Why not try it? Feel conscious about the fact that all there is is the present moment, and that you should accept it as a gift. Expand your being, until you feel so calm, so deeply in harmony, that it becomes like a meditative state of mind. It’s a little hard at the beginning, but once you get the trick, its fun. And better even, it’s healthy. People who live in the present moment are in general happier!! Now, who doesn’t want that!? http://www.ted.com/talks/matt_killingsworth_want_to_be_happier_stay_in_the_moment.html

But, besides being in the present, there are more fun things to do! Why not try observing our surroundings? Go outside, and observe something that is insignificant for you. Something you walk past often, and never have taken the time for to see nor observe it. It could be a stone, a little feather or even just drops of water. Observe it. Describe what it looks like, where it might have come from, and just look. Does it still seem insignificant to you?

We are surrounded by beauty. Not once or twice a day. Every single moment is beautiful, alive, and joyful. If you feel down, maybe it’s because you’re letting the present slip away while your mind is too busy with the past and future.

Besides, not all people value beauty in the simple things surrounding us. In this period of human history, in which we are bombed with endless pictures and movies of the most beautiful places on earth, we forget to be humble. We forget that beauty is in life itself. We make ourselves believe that the only beauty that surrounds us is found in dazzling sunsets, perfect white beaches and picturesque landscapes.  

Beauty is found in life itself. And so is joy. Beauty and joy is found in Nature. Live in the moment, and don’t waste your years wondering in the past or worrying about the future. 

I have added a few nice quotes to this text , plus a couple of photo's, to show the beauty of the nature that surrounds us. 

Namaste

Travelling

Travelling. To me, there is no better way to see the world, learn and grow as a person then to travel. And with this I don’t mean visit places for 5 days, see the touristic hotspots and that’s it. No, with travelling I mean going into the wilderness. Walking into remote villages and try to communicate with people whose culture and language are foreign for you. With travelling I mean having moments of pure joy and enthusiasm as well as having moments of desperation and troubles.

Travelling to me is a great way to grow personally. From all the blessings and obstacles during your journeys you learn a great lot. From the difficult moments you learn to improvise so much more then you would if you’d never leave home. You learn about other people, you learn to greatly respect all cultures of the earth, and Mother Nature herself

.

A few quotes about travelling that I truly love because they seem so true to me are the following:

“To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries.” 

 “If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay at home.”

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.”

“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.”

But… however much I love travelling, it’s something that I want for myself. And there is something, this force that always drives me further, that is even more important than my love for travelling; it’s my desire to help others. I’m ambitious. I want too much, I’m idealistic. So at the moment I can’t see a way how to combine both things in such way that I can both make myself happy and others. I wouldn’t find it fair if I were to have all the fun and benefits from my personal growth on my journeys, whilst others continue to suffer.

What I do know, is that I need both to be happy. I want to help others so that they can grow, become happy, live beautiful, fulfilling, peaceful lives. And I need to travel and see this great, beautiful, extraordinary world.

I already go on small journeys in the region where I live, and although it’s nothing big, it does give me more insight about life, and gives me a feeling of self-worth I’ve never felt before. I grow, every time I step onto the road with unknown country to be discovered. And I do try to help others. But how much do I wish that there were a way to combine both, make my living out of it.

All I can hope for is a strike of insight that I know someday will come, whether it will be on a 2000 m high mountain, on my kayak on the sea, or anywhere else on my journeys. 

Not save, but love/ no salvar, pero amar

“You cannot save people. You can only love them.”

Maybe this is a good phrase for me. For a long time I suffered a lot when I saw people being unhappy, feeling lost, or simply not able to find happiness in their lives. I suffered even more when I myself learnt how to be happy. I still suffer due to those things. So many times I have thought long and hard about how I could help everyone, how I could be most useful.

I remember that when I was young I had a time when I really wanted to go to Africa to help the poor children. Sometimes that image still passes by, or some other in which I can help people to be happy, peaceful and in harmony with themselves and their surroundings.

But in the end everyone has got his/her own responsibility. I can’t force people to let me help them. If they don’t want help, I can’t oblige them to accept mine. I might think that the best way to happiness is gratitude, love and respect, but others might be convinced I’m wrong.

So… to my great sadness, I cannot save nor help all the people I so much desire to help. But there is something that I can do. I have grown as person. I’m still growing, day after day, but until now I haven’t been unhappy with the result. What I can do is love. Maybe to you it sounds pointless, useless, foolish. Think whatever you like. I have experienced the power of love in many ways, and it’s better than anything else in the world to make you a better person. It’s the most powerful and pure thing there is.

Thus, what I can do for others is to love them. I can remind them that I am here for them, respectful, patient, loving, without prejudices, without conditions. And hopefully in that way, during my entire life I can bring at least some smiles onto people’s faces, love into their souls, and hope into their hearts.

So I will. I will love each being with all my soul, always wishing them the best, and being the best possible person. I want to live my life in such way that I can inspire people, and thus bring a little more light into the world.

My kindest and most loving greetings to you all.

 

"No puedes salvar a la gente. Sólo puedes amarles. "

Tal vez esto es una buena frase para mí. Durante mucho tiempo he sufrido mucho cuando vi a la gente estando infeliz, sintiéndose perdidos, o simplemente incapaz de encontrar la felicidad en sus vidas. Sufrí mucho más cuando yo mismo aprendí cómo ser feliz. Todavía sufro por esas cosas. Muchas veces he pensado profundamente sobre cómo podría ayudar a todos, cómo podría ser de máximo utilidad.

Recuerdo que cuando yo era joven tuve una época en que yo realmente quería ir a África para ayudar a los niños pobres. A veces, esa imagen aún pasa por mi cabeza, o alguna otra en la que puedo ayudar a la gente a ser feliz, pacífica y en armonía consigo mismo y su entorno.

Pero al final, todo el mundo tiene su propia responsabilidad. No puedo obligar a la gente a dejarme ayudarlos. Si no quieren ayuda, no puedo obligarlos a aceptar la mía. Yo podría pensar que el mejor camino a la felicidad es la gratitud, el amor y el respeto, pero otros pueden estar convencidos de que estoy equivocado.

Así que... para mi gran tristeza, no puedo salvar ni ayudar a todas las personas a las que tanto deseo ayudar. Pero hay algo que yo sí que puedo hacer. He crecido como persona. Todavía estoy creciendo, día tras día, pero hasta ahora he estado muy contenta con el resultado. Lo que puedo hacer es amar. Tal vez eso te parece algo sin sentido, inútil, absurdo. Piense lo que quieres. He experimentado el poder del amor de muchas maneras, y es mejor que cualquier otra cosa en el mundo para hacerte una persona mejor. Es la cosa más poderosa y pura que existe.

Por lo tanto, lo que puedo hacer por los demás es amarles. Puedo recordarles que estoy aquí por ellos, respetuosamente, pacientemente, con amor, sin prejuicios, sin condiciones. Y espero que de esta manera, durante toda mi vida pueda traer por lo menos algunas sonrisas en los rostros de la gente, amor en sus almas, y esperanza en sus corazones.

Así lo haré. Amaré a cada ser con toda mi alma, siempre deseándoles lo mejor, y ser la mejor persona posible. Quiero vivir mi vida de tal manera que pueda inspirar a la gente, y así traer un poco más luz en este mundo.

Mis saludos más amables y bondadosos a todos.

Believing/ Creer

All of us have questions about things like the meaning of life, what comes after death, if destiny exists and so on. Since mankind has gained the capacity to be self-conscious and think about things questions like these, and millions more, have raced through our minds.

Nevertheless, barely any of these questions have been answered satisfactorily. You’d think, with the great human mind and all the accomplishments of the human race we would be able to come up with some good answers. But no.. Many have tried, and one result has been the creation of religions. I will not say too much about religions, only that I think the principles may have been good and honest, focused on inner happiness, but during the passing of the eras it has been misused too much for power and wealth. But, in all honesty I can say that the principles of many seem good.

Nowadays less and less people are strongly religious. People are no longer satisfied by the vague explanations provided by religions about life questions.

So we are atheists. We say that we don’t believe, that we don’t belong to a religion. But still we feel the great need for those answers which have puzzled mankind since its birth to be answered.  And as no one seems able to give us the answers, at times we feel lost. We try to find the answers somewhere, and the result is that nowadays more and more people become spiritual. They don’t believe in a rigid religion, but rather in that there is something so much bigger out there then we can ever imagine. That we have a soul and that there is a life after this one, and endless more.

Everyone has the liberty to believe anything he/she wants. But I would like to say the following; No one can give you the answers to life. Only you can find them deep in your soul, where they appear when you have learnt to shut out the constant noise of the mind. If you are able to do that, if you are able to find your inner wisdom, then you have opened a new world for yourself. A world where you are so much stronger, so much more independent and at the same time so much more full of love and respect and joy.

Once you have found something to believe in that gives you strength and joy and love, then you see the world differently. Then you decide to help others, to be respectful and loving towards all living creatures, to live life with gratitude forever in your heart. Not because you have to, but because it gives you so much good in return.

Of course, this is what I believe. I might be totally mistaken, and even that doesn’t matter! Because I believe in something that gives me inner strength, love and pure joy. I can’t see how this would ever have a negative consequence, when all it does is make me such a happier and better person.

So; it doesn’t matter what you believe. What’s important is that it fills your being with happiness and love and that you’re able to express it to your surroundings. What’s important is being happy and in total peace with yourself.

I wish you the best, dear reader, and thank you for reading.

Levantémonos y  seamos todos agradecidos, porque si no hemos aprendido mucho hoy, por lo menos hemos aprendido algo, y si no hemos aprendido algo, por lo menos no nos hemos puesto enfermos, y si nos hemos puesto enfermo, por lo menos no hemos muerto; así que, seamos todos agradecidos.

Todos tenemos preguntas sobre cosas como el significado de la vida, que viene después de la muerte, si existe el destino y etc. Desde que el ser humano ha ganado la capacidad de ser autoconsciente y pensar sobre las cosas preguntas como estas, y millones mas, han pasado por nuestras mentes.

No obstante, casi ninguno de esas preguntas ha sido contestado satisfactoriamente. Pensarías con la gran mente humana y todos los éxitos del ser humano seriamos capaces de venir con unas buenas respuestas. Pero no. Muchos han intentado, y un resultado ha sido la creación de religiones. No diré demasiado sobre ello, solo que creo que los principios pueden haber sido buenos y honestos, enfocado en alegría y paz interior, pero que con el paso del tiempo ha sido mal usado demasiado para poder y riqueza. Pero, en toda honestidad, puedo decir que los principios me parecen buenos.

Hoy en día menos y menos personas son religiosas. La gente ya no esta satisfecho con las respuestas poco claras dados por las religiones sobre las preguntas de la vida,

Así que somos ateístas. Decimos que no creemos, que no pertenecemos a una religión. Pero aun así sentimos la gran necesidad para que las preguntas que nuestros ancestros también tenían sean respondidas. Y como que parece que nadie nos puede dar la respuesta, a veces nos sentimos perdidos. Intentamos encontrar las respuestas por algún sitio, y el resultado es que hoy en día cada vez más gente se hace espirituales. Ya no creen en una religión rígida, sino en que hay algo tanto más grande que ni podemos imaginar. Que tenemos un alma y que hay vida después de esta, y infinitas mas.

Todos tenemos la libertad de creer en lo que queremos. Pero quiero decir lo siguiente: Nadie te puede dar las respuestas a la vida. Solo tú puedes encontrarlo, profundamente en tu alma, donde aparecen cuando has aprendido a callar el ruido constante de la mente. Si eres capaz de hacer eso, si eres capaz de encontrar sabiduría interior, entonces has abierto un mundo totalmente nuevo para ti. Un mundo donde estarás tanto más fuerte, tanto más independiente y a la vez mas lleno de amor y respeto y alegría.

Una vez que has encontrado algo en la cual creer que te da tanto fuerza y amor y alegría, entonces veras el mundo de manera diferente.  Entonces decidirás ayudar a otros, ser respetuoso y cariñoso hacia todos los seres vivos, de vivir la vida con eterna gratitud en tu corazón. No porque tienes que hacer eso, pero porque te da tantas cosas buenas en cambio.

Claro, esto es lo que yo creo. Puede ser que estoy totalmente equivocada, e incluso eso no importa! Porque creo en algo que me da fuerza interior, amor y alegría. No veo como eso podría en algún momento tener repercusiones sobre mi vida, cuando todo lo que hace es hacer de mi una persona tanto más feliz y mejor.

Así que, no importa en qué crees. Lo importante es que te llena tu ser con felicidad y amor y que seas capaz de expresarlo también hacia tu entorno. Lo importante es sentirse feliz y en paz completo con uno mismo.

Te deseo lo mejor, querido lector, y gracias por leer. 

Universal energy/ Energia Universal

We can go on days without really seeing anything around us. Unable to see the bright colors, unable to feel connected to others, the earth or yourself, unable to feel pure joy.

Such days can easily pass into long periods in which you are so busy or disconnected that time flies but you feel that something is missing, some kind of inner energy or happiness.

It’s quite easy that this happens. Especially when you have a busy life, and even more so when you are far away from nature.

But sometimes Nature presents to us a gift, so powerful that we are shaken to the deepest of our soul and we awake from our disconnected state of mind. This might be in form of a particular beautiful flower, an encounter with an animal that does something special, or a beautiful sunset. It could really be anything. I have experienced this a lot, and it’s marvelous. It’s like a fresh shower after a day’s hard work, an awakening to a beautiful world, a song of joy.

This all might seem quite poetic, and maybe some will be puzzled by what I describe. But its real. So many people don’t even notice how much they are shut up in their own mind. But if you relax the mind, and open your heart, you might feel it. I’m talking about something that I call the Universal energy. The energy what makes stars be born, trees grow, planets move. The energy what makes people feel love and pure joy, the energy that creates and is part of Everything. Others might call it God, or Mother Nature, or the Great Spirit.

Even if you don’t believe in all this, it can all still be explained by science how little things can make you feel so much happier, how a beautiful sunset or a spectacular landscape can lift up your spirits. So I’d say; don’t hide away in your busy stressful life all the time. Make time free to take a walk in the woods, next to the sea, into the mountains. Wherever you want. Be close to nature, because we’re all part of it. And once you’ve found peace and joy, you will feel so much better.

"How can you NOT love a place so beautiful, where mountains reach high, the sun lightens up the clouds, and a new moon rises. How could anyone see such a spectacle of nature and not be moved. I believe this was a present from the universe, to lighten up our spirits and bring light into our hearts" 22 July

Puede que pasan muchos días en las cuales no somos capaces de realmente ver algo alrededor de nosotros. Incapaz de ver colores claras, incapaz de sentirte conectado con otros, el mundo o ti mismo. Incapaz de sentir verdadera felicidad.

Esos días fácilmente pasan a ser periodos largos en las cuales estas tan ocupado o desconectado que el tiempo pasa volando pero sientes como si te falta algo, alguna felicidad o energía.

Es bastante fácil que esto pase. Especialmente si tienes una vida muy ocupada, y aun más si vives lejos de la naturaleza.

Pero a veces la Naturaleza nos presenta un regalo, tan poderosa que nos toca hasta las profundidades de nuestra alma y nos despertamos de nuestro estado de animo desconectado. Eso puede ser en forma de una flor particularmente bella, un encuentro con un animal que hace algo especial, o un atardecer precioso. Realmente podría ser cualquier cosa, y es algo muy personal. Yo lo he vivido muchas veces, y es maravilloso. Es como una ducha fresca tras un día de duro trabajo, un despertar a un mundo bonito, una canción de alegría.

Todo esto puede parecer muy poético, y quizás estarás confundido con lo que digo. Pero es real. Tantas personas ni siquiera notan cuanto están encerradas en sus mentes. Pero si relajas tu mente, y abres tu corazón, quizás lo sentirás. Estoy hablando sobre algo que yo llamo la energía Universal. Es la energía que hace que estrellas nacen, arboles crecen, planetas mueven. La energía que hace que personas sienten amor y alegría pura, la energía que crea y que es parte del Todo. Otros lo llamaran Dios, Madre Tierra, o el Gran Espíritu.

Incluso si no me crees, podría ser explicado científicamente cómo es posible que cosas pequeñas te hacen sentir tanto más feliz, como un atardecer bonito o un paisaje espectacular te puede animar. Así que digo; no te escondes en tu vida ocupado y estresado todo el tiempo. Toma tiempo libre para caminar en los bosques, al lado del mar, por las montañas. Donde quieres!. Siéntete cerca de la naturaleza, porque todos somos parte de ello. Y una vez que has encontrado paz y alegría, te sentirás tanto mejor.

* Traducción foto: "¿como No puedes querer a un sitio así, donde las montañas son altas, el sol ilumina las nubes y una luna nueva aparece? ¿como podría alguien ver tal espectáculo de la Naturaleza y no sentirse conmovido? Creo que esto era un regalo del Universo, para animar nuestros espíritus y llenar nuestro corazón con luz."

Compliments / Cumplidos :)

It’s always nice to hear people say that they like my blog. It makes me feel very proud of myself and motivates me to continue writing. (This is a hint you know? Haha)

Of course, such compliments are always welcome ;) everyone loves to receive compliments about things they do well. Although I have a tendency to say things like “it’s not a great deal/ I didn’t do so well/ others are much better than me etc”. (According to some persons, I’m very cruel to myself!) Honestly: if someone compliments you for doing something well: accept the compliment and be happy with the fact that other people recognize the things you are good at :) Trust me; it really makes you feel good.

So, what I actually just wanted to say is this:

Thank you dear readers for reading my texts, and telling me once in a while that the things that I write are interesting/funny/wise/true. Knowing that there are people who read my texts is really motivating :)

Siempre me gusta oír de la gente que les gusta mi blog. Me hace sentir muy orgullosa de mi misma y me motiva para continuar escribiendo (esto es una indirecta ¿sabes? Haha)

Claro, ese tipo de cumplidos siempre son bienvenidos!! A todo el mundo le gusta recibir cumplidos sobre las cosas que hacen bien. Aunque tengo una tendencia para decir cosas como “no es gran cosa/no lo hice muy bien/otros son muchísimo mejor que yo etc.” (según algunas personas soy muy cruel conmigo misma). Sinceramente: si alguien te da un cumplido sobre algo que has hecho bien: acéptalo y se feliz con el hecho que otras personas reconocen las cosas en las cuales sobresales :) confía en mi; de verdad te hace sentir bien.

Así que, lo que realmente quería decir es lo siguiente:

Gracias queridos lectores por leer mis textos, y por decirme de vez en cuando que las cosas que yo escribo son graciosos /interesantes /verdaderos/ sabios. Sabiendo que hay gente quien lee mis textos es verdaderamente motivante :)

Sun!/ Sol!

Nature thrives thanks to the sun

 I don’t know how the weather is in other parts of the world, but here it’s sunny. A nice, fresh spring sun, that little by little is warming up the northern hemisphere once again.

And since I study at home, I decided to sit outside and study there, nicely, in the sun, feeling relaxed and happy. Then I suddenly started wondering: what benefits, both physical and mental, does the sun give us?

I think all living beings have a special relationship with the sun. Because without its light and warmth energy, we wouldn’t exist.  And to me it seems that even humans still have that special bond with the sun, no matter how separated we feel from nature.

So… I have made up a list about the benefits of being in the sun. I must, of course, warn you that with being in the sun you have to be careful. Depending on where you live, what season it is, and what skin type you are, you can only be between 10 and 20 minutes in the sun. After that, it’s recommendable to protect yourself. Even though the sun is beneficial, overexposure is not healthy. The key, dear readers, is moderation. Like everything else in life.

Physical benefits.

Just as plants photosynthesize nutrients from the sun, our bodies need it for our own photosynthetic activities (yes, we can do a sort of photosynthesis!). Mainly from the sun’s rays we synthesize vitamin D. Vitamin D is known to regulate calcium levels and absorption. It is necessary for healthy bones and teeth. It’s also important for:

• Healthy immune function, in order to fight off more effectively diseases, even diseases like some sorts of cancer or arthritis. I think here that the vitamin D as well as mental benefits from being in the sun is important. 
• Insulin/blood sugar regulation.
• Digestive functions, like better liver and kidney function
• Prevents and helps with muscle pain

Other physical benefits from the sun are:

• Prevention of high blood pressure, thus improving cardiovascular health
• Raising core body temperature, which facilitate increased cell function and higher energy. This increases our detoxification and purification systems. It also increases cortisol levels during the day, ushering more relaxation and deeper sleep during the night.
• Regulation of our natural biorhythm cycles.
• Lower cholesterol
• More physical exercise: It’s more fun to be outside than to be inside, and you can use sunny weather as a good excuse to get out and exercise. The sun encourages biking, hiking or swimming. Head out on a nice day and enjoy the sunshine — and get more fulfilling exercise.

Mental benefits.

Firstly, I must say that sometimes I find it a bit hard to distinguish between physical and mental, because to me the mental part is just as physical as the physical part of the body. And to me it seems both parts are so interconnected that it’s hard to trace a line and completely separate them. Well, now that I’ve said this, and probably have confused you, I will go on with my list ;)

• Reduction of stress, if you take the time to enjoy the sun. it can also help you to sleep better
• Reduction of anxiety, as being in the sun relaxes us.
• Fight depression/feeling down. Sunlight helps to improve your mood. It’s no secret that in many northern countries people in the winter suffer from and official “winter depression”. Seemingly, we need sunlight to be happy.
• And last but not least, in general it really helps people to feel better, happier, and kinder. Why do you think that people who life in (sub) tropical regions are so much nicer than people who live in cold climates? It’s all in the sun. That’s the big secret.

So, now that you have read my list of benefits, I’m sure you’ll appreciate the sun a little more and take some time to sunbathe, right? :)

even animals love the sun! Incluso los animales aman el sol! 

No sé cómo será el tiempo en otros partes del mundo, pero aquí hace un día soleada. Un sol primaveral fresco, bonito, que poco a poco está volviendo a calentar el hemisferio norte.

Y ya que estudio desde casa, decidí hoy sentarme fuera y estudiar allí, en el sol, sintiéndome relajada y feliz. Y de repente empecé a pensar: ¿Qué beneficios, tanto mental como físico, recibimos del sol?

Creo que todos los seres vivos tienen una relación especial con el sol. Porque sin su luz y energía calorífica, no existiríamos. Y a mí me parece que incluso los seres humanos todavía tienen ese vínculo especial con el sol, independientemente de cómo de separados nos sentimos de la naturaleza.

Así que... He hecho una lista sobre los beneficios de estar en el sol. Debo, por supuesto, advertirte que con estar en el sol hay que tener cuidado. Dependiendo de dónde vives, en qué estación estamos, y qué tipo de piel tienes, sólo puedes estar entre 10 y 20 minutos en el sol. Después de eso, es recomendable protegerse. A pesar de que el sol es beneficioso, la sobreexposición no es saludable. La clave, queridos lectores, es la moderación. Como todo lo demás en la vida.

Beneficios físicos.
Así como las plantas fotosíntetizan los nutrientes del sol, nuestros cuerpos también necesita el sol para nuestras propios actividades fotosintéticas (sí, podemos hacer una tipo de fotosíntesis!). Principalmente de los rayos del sol sintetizamos la vitamina D. La vitamina D es conocido por poder regular los niveles de calcio y su absorción. Es necesario para tener huesos y dientes sanos. También es importante para:

• Un saludable sistema inmunitario, con el fin de luchar contra enfermedades más efectivamente, incluso enfermedades como algunos tipos de cáncer o artritis. Creo que aquí que la vitamina D, así como los beneficios mentales de estar en el sol, es importante.
• La insulina / glucemia regulación en la sangre.
• Las funciones digestivas, como un mejor funcionamiento del hígado y del riñón
• Previene y ayuda con el dolor muscular

Otros beneficios físicos del sol son los siguientes:

• Prevención de la presión arterial alta, lo que mejora la salud cardiovascular
• Aumenta la temperatura corporal, lo que facilitará el aumento de la función celular y mayor energía. Esto aumenta nuestra desintoxicación y sistemas de purificación. También aumenta los niveles de cortisol durante el día, dando una mayor relajación y un sueño más profundo durante la noche.
• Regulación de los biorritmos naturales.
• Baja el colesterol
• Más ejercicio físico: Es más divertido estar fuera que estar dentro, y se puede utilizar el tiempo soleado como una buena excusa para salir y hacer ejercicio. El sol anima a montar bicicleta, caminar o nadar. Salga en un día agradable y disfruta del sol - y además así hagas más ejercicio satisfactorio. 

Beneficios mentales.
En primer lugar, debo decir que a veces me resulta un poco difícil distinguir entre lo físico y mental, porque para mí la parte mental es tan física como la parte física del cuerpo. Y a mí me parece que ambas partes están tan interconectados que es difícil trazar una línea y completamente separarlos. Bueno, ahora que lo he dicho, y probablemente haberte confundido, voy a seguir con mi lista ;)

• Reducción de estrés, si se toma el tiempo para disfrutar del sol. también puede ayudar a dormir mejor
• Reducción de la ansiedad, ya que estar en el sol nos relaja.
• Luchar contra la depresión / estado decaído. La luz del sol ayuda a mejorar tu estado de ánimo. No es ningún secreto que en muchos países del norte en el invierno la gente sufre oficialmente de "depresión invernal". Al parecer, necesitamos la luz del sol para ser feliz.
• Y por último pero no menos importante, en general, estar en el sol realmente ayuda a las personas a sentirse mejor, más feliz y más amable. ¿Por qué crees que la gente que la vida en regiones (sub) tropicales son mucho más agradable que las personas que viven en climas fríos? Todo está en el sol. Ese es el gran secreto.

Así que, ahora que has leído mi lista de beneficios, estoy seguro de que apreciarás el sol un poco más y tomaras algún tiempo para tomar el sol, ¿verdad? :)

I know i already put this picture up once, but it's just so funny! and it expresses really well how much animals love it when there is sun :)
Sé que ya he puesto esa foto antes, pero es que me da mucha gracia, y  expresa muy bien qué bien se sienten los animales cuando hay sol.

I will... / voy a..

The following text is a text I wrote some time ago. I wanted to write about globalization, but somehow I went off theme. It isn’t very coherent, nor did I express what I wanted to say about globalization. Maybe that’s because in my mind so many things are interconnected; globalization, environmental problems, human dissatisfaction with life… nevertheless, I would like to put this text here. Thank you.

Globality. What does it really mean? Maybe thanks to globality life of many people has already changed for better quite a lot. I’m only 20, so I haven’t seen much change yet regarding that in my life. But to me, globality hasn’t done all the good it was expected to do. To me, it doesn’t immediately guarantee happiness, safety, love, health, prosperity… we’re now a global species, in a globalized society, but nevertheless still miles apart even from ourselves, not to mention others.

How globally connected are we really? Religiously, politically, economically. Only slightly, and it’s mainly the economy which connects the world. Because there are too many differences between people in terms of culture and beliefs. And how globally connected are we as individual humans, as who we truly are? Barely (here putting emphasis on Who we Truly Are). Maybe globalization has helped us to achieve prosperity in a certain measure, but I can’t help thinking about the thousands of millions of people who still don’t see the beauty in life, who don’t receive love, who have to battle each day for their and their families survival… we, as a species, are still too far away from happiness, love and peace. Things that seem to me as the utmost, fundamental right of humanity. Things I will dedicate myself to give, to everyone, always, as much as they deserve. I myself have received the gifts of peace, love and happiness, and now, now it is time to pass it on to others.

I will give love, for everyone deserves it
I will listen, for man needs a listening and patient ear
I will be patient, respectful, a friend, a companion.
I will embrace others and do my very best to see people as who they truly are
I will help, for help is always welcome and no one should be alone
I will be grateful, for live has granted me many beautiful gifts.
I will try to be true of mind and soul, and always let my inner self guide me through life.
I will be a little stone in the river. Little, but nonetheless I will change for better many things.

Not until my work is done will I leave. Whilst there are still souls to awaken, people to cheer up, love to give, ones in need of a helping hand, I will be here.

English: everything that can be changed will be changed until there is no more time to change anything. wake up, respect, value, care for, help, love and be happy.

El siguiente texto es un texto que escribí hace tiempo.  Quería escribir sobre la globalización, pero de alguna manera me despiste del tema. El texto no es muy coherente, ni expresa lo que quería expresar sobre la globalización. Tal vez es porque en mi mente tantas cosas están interconectadas; la globalización, los problemas ambientales, la insatisfacción humana con la vida... sin embargo, me gustaría poner este texto aquí. Gracias.

La globalidad. ¿Qué significa eso realmente? Tal vez gracias a la globalidad la vida de muchas personas ya ha cambiado para bien en muchos casos. Sólo tengo 20, así que no he visto mucho cambio hasta ahora en mi vida. Pero para mí, la globalidad parece que no ha hecho todo el bien que se esperaba que hiciera. Para mí, no garantiza la felicidad inmediata, la seguridad, el amor, la salud, la prosperidad... ahora somos una especie a nivel mundial, en una sociedad globalizada, pero sin embargo a kilómetros de distancia incluso de nosotros mismos, para no mencionar otros.

¿Cómo de conectado globalmente realmente somos? Religiosamente, políticamente, económicamente?  Sólo un poco, y es sobre todo la economía la que conecta el mundo. Debido a que hay demasiadas diferencias entre las personas en términos de cultura y creencias. ¿Y cómo de conectados estamos como seres humanos individuales, como quiénes somos en realidad? Apenas (en este caso quiero poner énfasis en Quien Somos de Verdad). Tal vez la globalización nos ha ayudado a alcanzar la prosperidad en cierta medida, pero no puedo dejar de pensar en los miles de millones de personas que todavía no ven la belleza de la vida, que no reciben amor, que tienen que luchar día tras día por su supervivencia y la de su familia... nosotros, como especie, son todavía demasiado lejos de la felicidad, el amor y la paz.  Cosas que me parecen como el mayor y más fundamental derecho de la humanidad. Cosas a las cuales me dedicaré a dar, a todos, siempre, tanto como se merecen. Yo mismo he recibido los regalos de la paz, el amor y la felicidad, y ahora, ahora es el momento de dárselo a otras personas.

Voy a dar amor, porque todo el mundo se lo merece
Voy a escuchar, porque las personas necesitan un oído atento y paciente
Seré paciente, respetuoso, una amiga, una compañera.
Abrazare a las personas y hare mi mejor esfuerzo para ver a la gente como quien realmente son
Voy a ayudar, porque toda la ayuda es bienvenida y nadie debería estar solo
Voy a estar agradecido por la vida, porque me ha dado muchos regalos hermosos.
Voy a tratar de ser sincera de mente y alma, y ​​siempre dejare a mi yo interior guiarme por la vida.
Voy a ser una pequeña piedra en el río. Pequeña, pero sin embargo cambiara parea mejor muchas cosas 

No hasta que mi trabajo se ha acabado me iré. Mientras que todavía hay almas para despertar, personas para alegrar, amor para dar, gente en necesidad de ayuda, voy a estar aquí.

Inner happiness/ felicidad interior

There are moments when I feel so grateful. Grateful for my life, for the things I’ve learnt, seen and experienced. Grateful for love, friendships, and my family. And a veeeery long list that I won’t write down here because then I would be busy writing it during a considerable amount of time haha.

What I want to say is that the feeling of gratefulness is one of the best feelings I know. It simply makes me feel very happy, and I truly believe in the phrases: “The best prayer is not that of begging, but that of gratitude.” And “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them" Just like I believe that by this positive attitude I create a happy life for myself, a happiness that comes from inside me. And as long as I find happiness inside me, I will be happy.

Of course, I have a great life. I have lived in many countries, seen a lot of the world, and learnt a lot of languages, customs, and thinking patterns. I have always had the opportunity to learn, to explore, and to investigate.  I have many good friends. I have a loving family, a safe and nice place to live. I have someone to love with all my soul and who loves me back just as much. I am doing the best possible study there is for me, a study that I love and that inspires me to do even more things.  I have the opportunities to grow as a person and as a soul, to have experiences that I will always treasure.  And, as I’ve said before, a long list of other things

But that’s now that I see what a good life I have. Of course, I have always seen it, but there is a great difference between seeing it and being sincerely, truly grateful for it. During a long time I wasn’t happy at all with myself. I wasn’t happy on the inside, while there was in fact all the reason to be happy. And as long as you’re not happy on the inside, I believe you can’t be grateful for life. The wires are just not there to make it possible. Or something like that!

What’s important is to be happy on the inside dear reader.  Because that gives you so much good things. So much inner peace and joy.

Actually, I want to say that I find it a bit hard to write this last piece, because I think everyone experiences inner happiness slightly different. But I do believe that there is nothing better than that. Not all the material possessions of the world can make you happier then when you are happy on the inside.

I wish you happiness and peace, for every living being deserves it.

Ps: here is a link with a video about gratefullnessI really like :D http://vimeo.com/22100389

Hay momentos en las cuales me siento tan agradecida. Agradecida por mi vida, por las cosas que he aprendido, visto y experimentado. Agradecida por el amor, las amistades y mi familia. Y una lista muuuuuy  larga que no voy a escribir aquí porque entonces yo estaría escribiendo durante una considerable cantidad de tiempo. haha.

Lo que quiero decir es que el sentimiento de gratitud es una de las mejores sensaciones que conozco. Simplemente me hace sentir muy feliz, y realmente creo en las frases: "La mejor oración no es el de rogar, sino de gratitud." Y "al expresar nuestra gratitud, nunca debemos olvidar que la mayor apreciación no es de pronunciar palabras, sino vivir según ellos”. Además,  creo que por una actitud positiva puedo crear una vida feliz para mí, una felicidad que viene de dentro de mí. Y mientras yo encuentro la felicidad dentro de mí, seré feliz.

Por supuesto, tengo una vida muy buena. He vivido en muchos países, he visto mucho del mundo, y he aprendido muchos idiomas, costumbres y maneras de pensar. Siempre he tenido la oportunidad de aprender, explorar, e investigar. Tengo muchos buenos amigos. Tengo una familia quien me quiere, un lugar seguro y agradable para vivir. Tengo a alguien a quien amo con todo mi alma y él me ama tanto también. Estoy haciendo el mejor posible estudio que hay para mí, un estudio que me encanta y que me inspira a hacer aún más cosas. Tengo la oportunidad de crecer como persona y como un alma, a tener experiencias que siempre guardare en mi corazón. Y, como he dicho antes, una larga lista de otras cosas

Pero eso es ahora que veo que buena vida tengo. Por supuesto, siempre lo he visto, pero hay una gran diferencia entre ver y ser sinceramente agradecido por ello. Durante mucho tiempo yo no estaba nada contento conmigo mismo. Yo no era feliz en el interior, mientras que en realidad sí que había razones por las cuales ser feliz. Y mientras que tú no eres feliz en el interior, creo que no puedes estar agradecido por tu vida. Los cables simplemente no existen para que eso sea posible. O algo por el estilo!

Lo importante es ser feliz en el interior, querido lector. Porque eso te da tantísimas cosas buenas. Te da tanto paz interior y alegría.

En realidad, quiero decir que me resulta un poco difícil de escribir estas últimas frases, porque creo que todo el mundo experimenta la felicidad interior ligeramente diferente. Pero si que creo que no hay nada mejor que la felicidad interior. No todos los bienes materiales del mundo pueden hacerte más feliz que ser feliz en el interior.

Te deseo felicidad y paz, porque todo ser vivo lo merece.