"Self-Discovery, A Path Unknown Yet Mystical"

Artic Monkeys

Lately I have immensely enjoyed yoga-practice. It clears my mind and brings me back to the basics. My breath, the earth and my body. It makes me feel connected to something much greater than myself and my day-to-day worries.

However I have a feeling that I am just chipping at the surface of something larger, much more beneficial. I feel that in spare time, especially in the next couple of weeks (which happen to be the holidays - yay!) I should be spending more time indulging in more things that make me feel connected, that make me feel fulfilled, whole.

(I admit, this does sounds a bit weird, like a chapter pulled straight out of one of those books in incense-smelling stores that don't make much sense entitled: Self-Discovery, A Path Unknown Yet Mystical And Definitely The Key To Educational Success.)

I set myself mini goals (the whole list might be a bit too private to share in such a public space) in order to appreciate the things that give my life meaning.

I want to find my own way when it comes to food for example. This does not mean that I will go on a massive diet or starve myself, but I think that challenging myself to cook meals completely made out of whole, fresh, unprocessed foods once in a while could help me get into the good habit of eating well and respecting my body.

Other resolutions include...

• reading in French more
• adding to the list I have saved on my desktop called: "Things to check out (because it's time to get out there taste wise)" which covers anything from nifty cafe shops I have seen in the corner of my eye but not managed to check out to movies I have spotted at work (I work at a DVD rental store)
• spending less time on the computer and on my phone - maybe even opting for no-electronic Fridays
• writing more lists
• stepping out of my comfort zone more often, and being OK with rejection / failure / stuffing up
• worrying less of what other's think of me

a little list about life

inspired by lillian's life things and unmaiden's 100 things I will teach my daughters


1. forcing yourself to wear makeup, drink, diet or have sex just because other's are doing it is not cool.
2. girls get half the amount of airtime boys have in class because they are scared to give the wrong answer. speak up and be ok with being corrected. being confident does not equal being bossy or a know-it-all.
3. find your favourites. figure out your favourite macaron flavour, TV show, subject etc. and watch them change and evolve over the course of your life. welcome change.
4. learn from thick novels, from a stranger's phone-call, from unspoken lyrics and from your parents. never give up learning, because learning is growing and where would we be without growth?
5. perfection is unattainable. quality is.
6. (let's get ready for some seriousss metaphors)
don't build your little house on soil that belong's to somebody else, don't let your well-being and happiness heavily depend on anyone else but yourself. furnish you're own home, decorate it with odd objects and memories. plant seeds in your garden, tidy up your room, let the light pour in and do whatever you feel like damn it! you don't even have to put up a welcome mat if you don't want to.
7. toast anything and it'll become yummy.

bless this mess

x listen (album :: "bless this mess", by lisa mitchell) x

the end of winter break ...

things I will miss

+ bubble-blowing in the garden

+ lazing around, doing not much at all

+ borrowing music from the library (yeah, I didn't know that was possible either!) such as lisa mitchell's beautiful album: bless this mess. / link above

+ grey skies, overcast weather giving me an excuse to read in the warmth

+ little every day adventures

+ the non-drama of the holidays (I'm not looking forward to the rush-rush-rush-no-don't-look-up-from-your-studies-to-enjoy-life-sorry-that's-not-tolerated)

+ going to the cinemas in the morning, as opposed to during nighttime - just because

+ impromptu baking or cooking at any hour

things I'm looking forward to

ok. no, guys I'm determined to make this work, positive attitude.

+ the new teachers, the new school-year. I'm also looking forward to the all the new things I'm going to learn and the new approaches I'll take.

What about you? What have been the highlights of your break?

Have a lovely weekend, friends.

xo

lts m

three good || three bad.

good things:
one| i'm trying to choose fresher, more organic produce for my cookery projects. thanks to mama's book & her dashes to the shops, i'm cooking a large range of different dishes that are simple yet delicious.
two| tonight is a quick vietnamese soup, and then we're going to a free-screening of a french movie.

three| i have lovely circle of friends, i am so grateful for all these girls (and a couple of guys, lately, actually) who support me, and especially who make me laugh. one of my close friends is also organising a disco for her fifteenth, which should be so much fun. this is something to look forward to.

less good things:
one| i'm preparing for my huge exams (we've been studying for them for about three years) that determine... quite bit. my weekend is a frenzy of stressing out, studying, and trying to get rid of all my other assignments to have time to study for these major exams. ahh, too much stress folks, too much stress.

two| i'm finding it impossible to be 'amazing' at all my subjects. when i apply myself to, say, french literature, bam, english goes down to a B. obviously i don't expect straight As, but i just wish i didn't have to prioritise subjects over others.
three| yes i have amazing friends, but there are also people who are so narrow minded. whether they be teachers or kids my age or people walking down the street. not everyone has a rosy personality, people can just be cruel.

p-s this photo collage is not mine, (source), i just thought it was so powerful that i wanted to share it.