Daily Thoughts – Page 4

Why It’s Cool To Spend Time Alone

It seems timely to write this during exam period where I feel like I seem to be spending a lot of time on my own studying. Spending time in your own company is the peace and quiet we all need. Everyone will feel comfortable with different lengths of time spent alone. I find that spending a day just alone, reading a book, writing about everything and nothing, going for long walks, cooking a meal, window shopping, sitting in the library for hours, walking at the park or listening to music can be really enjoyable. However, I’ve found it’s often praised to be busy, socialising with friends and having an active lifestyle. The truth is it really is the simple things in life that are the best.

1) Embracing yourself completely. When I spend time alone, I feel the most completely myself. It gives one time to relax, reflect, and connect with oneself and it’s good for your mental well-being. Taking time out from the world and just being in your own space can allow one to think with more clarity and be in touch with who you are and what you value.

2) Entertain yourself with deep thoughts. I had a strange trail of thoughts the other day of how many hours, days and weeks of our lives we spend just walking, smiling, sleeping, eating and laughing. How many trees grow in our lifetime and how many cakes were baked today. How long do we spend watching movies and how many apples do we eat in a lifetime (I’m guessing enough to fill several trees if you’re a fruit lover).

3) Growing more self-love. Treat yourself to something, such as taking a trip to the movies, as it will make you feel more appreciation for being in your own company. It’ll make you feel comfortable laughing out loud and enjoying the time on your own. Self-love is taking care of yourself mentally and physically. Having positive self-talk is essential in maintaining a healthy way of thinking, and the energy you feel will be projected into the world.

4) The ability to focus and concentrate. There is a level of clarity in the quiet moments with time to think deeply. I find when I’m studying, being on my own helps me to completely focus on the task that I’m working on. This depends, as some people may prefer studying in groups, but I find studying alone makes me feel less distracted and more productive.

5) A sense of independence. If you’re used to doing many things alone, it can make you learn to be more independent. It makes you realise how much you’re capable of, and you’ll start feeling used to doing many things on your own without relying on others. You are your own company, and so it’s important to trust yourself, but don’t be afraid to ask for help when you do need it.

6) An introvert’s key to happiness. As an introvert, I crave a certain amount of time to connect with others, however, I also value time alone. The key to happiness is being completely comfortable in your own skin, sitting alone at a cafe, walking down the street, daydreaming at the park or traveling on a plane.

7) Time to clear the mind. If you’re out and about for most of the day, then when you come home it’s the perfect time to unwind and just clear your mind and restore your energy. I find spending time alone really helps with mental health, and allows one to feel calm and in a peaceful state of mind.

8) It makes you more creative. When you’re alone, your creative juices will flow more. Think of when you were a child playing on your own, and creating something with your hands. If you’re a musician you will understand the feeling of practicing alone in order to really feel the music. It also makes me think of an artist or writer spending time alone in order to express their ideas.

9) Enjoying the simple things. When you appreciate the time on your own, it’ll make certain things more enjoyable, such as commuting on a bus every day or going to the supermarket. It makes you feel a sense of presence and an awareness of your thoughts and your existence on this Earth.

10) You are more in touch with who you are. I find that when we spend time on our own, we can really think about our own values and know who we are in a deeper way. You know yourself better than anyone else, and only you can know what makes you happy or sad and what things you like or dislike. Being alone also makes you more aware of what you care about and what you spend your time doing.

What do you like to do when you’re spending time alone?

Art by Monica Barengo

November 4, 2017

alone, Daily Thoughts
The Ability To Judge Less And Love More

It’s interesting to think that no one really knows what we’re like. Only a very few that are close to us will see us through our ups and downs, but no one can live the journey of another. I had a conversation with a friend recently about how people will view you the way they see you. They will create a perception and an idea of you, but not many people will truly know you. It sort of makes me think of famous people, and how incredibly judgmental people are towards them, without knowing them at all. I’m guilty of doing it too, and felt the need to write about it, because when we judge it repeats the cycle of talking about things we don’t know as if we do know.

On a conversation with a new friend about forgiveness, we talked about how when we don’t forgive others and hold a bad feeling against them, it’s not so much hurting them, but hurting ourselves. If we let go and learn to forgive it will free us. There is difficulty in this in times where we feel something is very important to us or we don’t understand why people do things a certain way. There are many things we truly only see the surface of, and only in the times where we have peace, love and acceptance, do we catch a glimpse of seeing one another as we are. Most strangers that are unkind to others are often letting out how they are feeling within.

Everyone has different opinions and thoughts. The thing is we seem to be more hard on ourselves more often than we are on others. At least I know this for myself. At the same time, I notice there are many people who focus on the bad things about other people, but don’t focus on self improving and changing themselves. When we fear judgment, it restricts us from doing the things we want, being the true person we are and embracing life completely.

Nobody is perfect. Everyone makes mistakes, goes through tough times and experiences life in a different way. Remember to raise yourself up, because the more you love yourself and be kinder to yourself and know that you deserve all the happiness and joy, then you will do the same to those around you. The moment we feel down is when we put our focus on things that drain our energy. It’s difficult to not judge when we feel something is unfair, but the thing to also remember and remind ourselves is how we often only see the surface of the water. The ability to judge less and love more is the homework we should strive to do each day.

Photography by Helena Moore

September 18, 2017

Daily Thoughts, forgive, judgment, Love
The Misconceptions People Have About Pigs

I grew up in the country side where we had many pets growing up. The day I met Hercules, he was a wee little black and white Kune Kune piglet. Sadly, he was the last piglet left because nobody wanted him. As soon as I saw him, I thought he was perfect. Every time he was happy, his tail would wiggle a little, and he loved getting his belly scratched. Every time he saw me, he would run right over and oink. I remember spending hours just sitting beside him watching him eat and fall asleep. We later got Shyla who I named because she was a very shy sweetheart.

They are incredibly intelligent animals. I feel really strong about expressing this, because in society, books and the media, pigs are called stupid, filthy and disgusting and that breaks my heart because they are incredibly intelligent creatures. The word pig is often used as an insult in many languages. Pigs are one of the smartest animals in the world, and some say even more than cats and dogs. They have excellent memories, high sense of smell and are able to learn quite quickly. They’re often used to sniff for truffles because of their wonderful sense of smell.

Pigs are affectionate and loving. If a pig is treated poorly or is protecting and defending itself or its babies, it will stand up for itself. However, similarly to raising a puppy, if you raise your piglet well then you bring out more of their sweet personality. They absolutely love getting belly scratched and sometimes if you sing them to sleep, they’ll oink slowly until they fall asleep. I remember when Hercules sensed me standing up to leave, he’d open his eyes. If you’ve ever held a piglet in your arms, you know that warm feeling. Pigs are very loving!

Pigs are often seen as fat, ugly and overweight. There are pigs that are far too overweight because their owner has fed them too much. In many cases pigs are fattened up because they are going to be killed for their meat. There’s that mindset that the fatter the pig is the better the meat will be. I feel that the fatter the pig is, the crueler it is that it’s being forced to become obese. Pigs are not supposed to be overweight, just as much as your pet dog or cat should not be overweight. A healthy pig is naturally lean. I think they are beautiful animals, even though not everyone feels the same way. They may not have the elegance of a cat, but they are very humble animals.

Pigs are very clean and hygienic. Pigs are often seen as dirty, most often because of the environment humans put them in. Imagine all those terrible factories that enclose pigs in tight spaces with their own faeces. Pigs are one of the cleanest animals I know. My old pet pigs would never make their sleeping or eating area dirty. They do love to roll in mud, because they are protecting themselves from the sun and also because it cools them down. The layer of mud can act like a sunscreen or an insect repellent from bugs. Pigs don’t have functional sweat glands and are at risk of overheating. The photo from here depicts the amount of times Hercules has tried to lie in the water bucket or tipped it over to make a mud puddle.

Pigs are not smelly unless they’re in a bad environment. It saddens me that there’s a lot of negativity towards our fellow pigs. Pigs are thought of as smelly, because in many places they are kept in the same place that they sleep, eat and poo. It’s incredibly unhygienic and cruel. As I mentioned before they are very clean. However, if we put them in a bad environment, then they will be smelly. Their natural smell is quite subtle with perhaps some hay scent. It’s also the owners responsibility to keep the bedding area clean and change the hay, because the pig does prefer a clean environment. From a piglet, they are taught by their mothers where they should eat and what area is the toilet.

Some Pigs are actually very picky eaters. Hercules would often eat the bread and apples first, and then leave the lettuce and carrots last. Pigs absolutely love fruits. Perhaps they have a sweet tooth. There’s a misconception that pigs are greedy and will eat anything and just love food in general. There are some that do have a bigger appetite than others, but I don’t think pigs are greedy. This is another huge misconception placed onto pigs. A pig eats as much as it does to feel full, but they do teach us the art of enjoying our food.

Pigs have feelings and are sensitive animals. I know this isn’t a nice imagery to place in your head, but imagine a pig screeching because it knows it’s about to get slaughtered. If you’ve ever watched a video and heard the sound of a pig knowing it’s going to be killed, you know that they are intelligent and emotional, and they feel that fear. This is the same as when they’re happy and upset. They’ll wag their tail into a tight curl and oink noisily, and if they’re sad, you can almost feel it and see it in their eyes. Next time you see a pig, remember that they’re not dirty and smelly, but that they’re beautiful, intelligent and wonderful creatures.

August 18, 2017

Daily Thoughts, pigs
The Unfolding Nature Of A Quiet Introvert

Many of us tend to show more of our personality the more we become comfortable with a person. I find that there are only a very few handful of people that have ever seen my whole personality, and understand the extent of how odd but loving I am. Truly, I think everyone is a little strange because it’s not possible for anyone to be normal, because even being too normal is a little strange. It’s funny because there are moments I can give a somewhat cold, distant impression, and others where I am smiling, approachable and warm.

It’s common in society that spending too much time alone, being thoughtful, being a quiet soul, being an introvert and having a calm demeanour are sometimes frowned upon. There is an expectation that a person should be outgoing, yet I believe that confidence and skill set is not equated to the volume of our voice. I do feel that to some extent, we live in a society that praises extroverts. I referenced the quote from Carl Jung, the Swiss psychiatrist who said, “The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.”

For those who take time to open up, they do so because they feel they trust you. It can also be the person, because I find certain people can bring out bits and pieces of us. Such as, some may bring out more of our funny side or caring side. It might depend on the nature of the topic, and the conversations we engage in. I find when I get engaged in conversation of interest, I unfold more and more. Many introverts may also be thinkers, and take a pause here and there to think before they speak. Expressing oneself is often easier through art, music, writing, than it is to say the words plainly out loud. Not all the time our spoken words may fully express how we feel inside.

There are hidden layers that are slowly and gradually revealed, when it’s with the right person. For example, there are only a few people in my life who can bring out my ridiculously talkative and crazy side, because I’m willing and comfortable to let them see it. Most of the time, when I interact with people I don’t feel a connection or am not close with, there isn’t a desire to share too much. I was reading the article The Thing About Introverts That Most Extroverts Can’t Understand here, and it explains my first paragraph well. Michaela writes:

“When I am with strangers, I generally behave in one of two ways:

1) If I have the energy, I am friendly, animated and engaging.

2) If I am feeling overwhelmed, drained or out of my element, I am more quiet and reserved

The people who meet me in scenario #1 assume that I am an extrovert, and don’t know how to react when my introverted tendencies emerge. Those who meet me in scenario #2 believe that I am shy or “have no personality”. They can’t imagine that I am confident, silly, and quite bold with the people I hold dearest. The bottom line is that most extroverts simply don’t understand that introverts behave differently in public than they do with the people they love and trust the most.”

It’s natural for many introverts to show more of their personality when they feel someone is a true friend. They want to invite the people who accept them for who they are into their life. There are those who prefer to have a few close friends, than be socialising in groups. There is this craving for deep connections and minimising energy spent on interactions that don’t go anywhere. Introverts have a lot to say, but they are particular about who they choose to say what to. Something I’m trying to improve on is small talk, even if it’s not the most interesting, it’s a good level of unfolding with a stranger, without having to commit to sharing too much.

One on one interactions are a great way to understand people, and put all my focus in getting to know someone. I also find people are more themselves when they’re alone talking to me, compared to when they’re with a group of people. However, in group situations, most of the time I tend to be the listener. Unfolding takes time, and in different environments we will unfold different things. Such as in the work place, many introverts are talented, but it may take them a little more time to open up. I find it’s easier if I’m drawn or have an instant connection with someone. In our personal lives or at school, it might be a particular person that we gradually open up to.

Eva Green in the Violet Book Fall Issue 2016

August 6, 2017

Introvert, nature, quiet, unfolding
Don’t Let Fear Stop You From Your Dreams

This is one of the most important reminders in life that we need. Getting outside of your comfort zone is important, because for a very long time I allowed my anxiety to take over my daily life. Most fear is built up in our imagination. Once we conquer our fear, it never is as scary as you thought it would be. Playing it safe can limit us. Sometimes taking risks, challenging ourselves and breaking our safety barrier can make us stronger and wiser. Fear of Failure stops us from taking the first step. When we fear failure, we have already set ourselves up for failure in our mind. It means that we don’t give ourselves the chance to try.

Many goals and successes that someone reaches, has conquered many failures. I remember watching the ballet, The Nutcracker. The ballerinas make every move look graceful and effortless, yet it took a lot of hard work, time, energy and passion. Through all of that, they have faced their own failures. It took moments where there may have been many bad practice days or rejections from auditions, but there they were on the stage now, because they had a dream and worked hard for it. Fear tells us to not try and it tells us we’re not worth it. It stops us from enjoying life and being happy in the moment.

In order to achieve our goals, we must start with the first step. Our mind is so powerful because every thought we feed it affects the actions we’ll take. If we tell ourselves we can, then we’ll make that action to do it, and that’s when we set the path in the direction we build for ourselves. Everyone is on a different journey, and we all want to achieve different things in our life. Life is unpredictable, but having dreams is what makes it worthwhile. I saw the quote the other day, that we aren’t here to pay the bills and die. It’s absolutely true!

Life has far more meaning, and dreams are within all of us. We often want to wait for the right moment when we feel ready, but often that moment won’t really come. Most things in life start when we take the first step, just the way we learn to take the first step as a baby. We might have fallen over, but we have to keep trying until we learn to walk, and now it’s something we don’t even think about, we just do. In that moment we might have been hesitant, but when you pass that feeling of your comfort zone, there is so much you realise you have the ability to achieve. It all starts with taking the first step.

Art by Naomi Wilkinson

July 16, 2017

comfort, comfort zone, Daily Thoughts, Dreams, fear
The Lost Art Of Staring Into Space

As I walk into a space, there is often people with their heads down on their phone or laptop. It makes me think about how we don’t see daydreamers as often as we used to, and if you catch sight of one, perhaps you might make eye contact for a fleeting second. Our eyes show what we focus on or perhaps we might be gazing into the distance absorbing our surroundings. The lost art of staring into space, also suggests the quiet moments where we pause for a moment. The kind of pause that needs no interruption or interaction with our technological devices.

There’s time to take a deep breath, stare into nature and listen to the birds outside. We are all plugged online at some point of the day (hence I’m writing online this moment). However, these thoughts wonder into my mind about how this has become normalised. Whenever I visit Taiwan each year, it’s normal for the whole row on a train to be on their mobile devices and in Sydney, I often nearly walked into someone while they text their friend. But, somehow, it just doesn’t seem like it should be normal.

I say this mostly because I rarely use my phone when I’m out and about, or at least I try not to too much. The truth is we don’t need to use our phone most of the time, but it has become a habit or a ritual of some kind, that seems natural and we might not think twice about it. Space makes me think of back on the farm when I was younger, I could crouch down and stare at little ants walking past, watch my pigs eat or lie on the grass staring at the clouds moving across the blue sky and time seemed to pass by. The art of staring into space is also the art of simply doing nothing.

We are a culture that praises busyness because it ties in with the idea of productivity which also suggests motivation. Busyness is always trending, as a memory seemed to pop in my head of how many times we may have said we’re doing nothing, but people seem to need to feel sympathetic when there’s no need. It’s nice to do nothing. Back in high school, when I was bored I would always daydream, but nowadays when someone is bored they may whip out their phone or listen to music on the streets. Comfort in being alone is important, as it means we are able to disconnect from the world.

I found when we were younger, there was a sense of creativity that we build in our moments of space. If we didn’t know what to do, we’d find something to do or imagine what, where and who we might be. The curiosity of noticing the things around us invites excitement and experiences into our lives. They make us more aware individuals and more engaged in the present. There is so much beauty in quiet moments, that we forget it if we surround ourselves with a noisy environment. Take those moments where you look around, people watch and feel the world around you.

Space gives us the ability to develop creativity, awaken curiosity and allow critical reflection and thoughts to wander. The lost art of staring into space reminds us to see the world offline, without our screens in front of us. It allows us to see the reality around us through the lens of our own eye. It reminds us that we don’t always need to be switched on and that we need time to be in a quiet and peaceful state of mind. A wonderful article here, talks about the ability to switch off and the true joy in leisure.

The last few paragraphs from the article: We’re either working, or preparing and commuting to work, or recharging our batteries for another round of work. Otherwise, we’re just flopping out in front of a screen. And many of the activities that we deem as leisure are in fact just another version of toil, argues Skidelsky. Jogging to lose weight, hosting parties in order to ‘network’, learning yoga to be an instructor, these activities are undertaken instrumentally with a specific goal in mind. Leisure, on the other hand, is done for no other sake than for the sheer joy of immersion.

image via

June 8, 2017

Daily Thoughts, lost, space
What Did We Do When There Was No Internet?

When I think back to my childhood, I’m grateful for a time when technology hadn’t been as nearly prevalent in our lives. We weren’t surrounded by a screen for a significant amount of the day, and we cherished the moments of going to the cinema to watch a film or played outside in the grass. Children didn’t have any phones in their hands, and there were more eye contact and in-person interaction. We’d hop on over to the neighbour’s house, bounce on the trampolines to play and walk to the beach together. If the internet disappeared tomorrow, what would happen?

There were always shelves of books at home, and almost every weekend we would stop at the local library to borrow books. If I wasn’t practising my flute or piano, playing with the animals or walking around the farm, I’d be reading a book, drawing a picture or playing with my toys. The difference now is that children grow up playing games on a screen, interacting with one another through online and are growing up learning through technology. I felt that we still experienced that feeling in a classroom with only a pen and paper, writing our essays by hand.

Til this day, even at university, I prefer writing with a pen to paper. There are certain things that are still preferred without the internet, such as reading a book or a magazine. There’s nothing quite like having the physical element of a book and being able to flip through each page. Before technology became what it is, life seemed far more innocent and thinking back, we spent a lot of time outdoors running around, and more time talking to strangers. The lack of technology meant there was no form of escapism, and so everyone would talk to one another.

When there were moments that you wanted to escape, you’d draw or read a book in class. I’m sure children now have just as many hobbies, however, I can’t help feel that back then the lack of screens meant that we spent more time exploring with our imagination, and trying new things. We’d spend time going to drawing classes, going to ballet classes, learning new instruments, learning new languages and spending our time experimenting what we like and don’t like, and finding our own unique ways to entertain ourselves and use our time.

In many ways, it was far more polite back then, because if you think about it, anyone who uses their phone constantly when they’re with other people, are not really present there with them. Creativity meant writing little stories, going outside to explore nature and always craving a sense of learning. It meant researching and getting books out to do your projects. I still remember listening to Beethovens Tape to sleep, and the fact that there is barely anyone who still listens to the tape, even though it was only over 10 years ago.

Simplicity and interactivity would be the two things that I think of, that have changed in a drastic way. The way we interact with people has changed immensely, and the simplicity of life has become noisier with the chaotic nature of the online world. In anything, there requires a balance, as too much excess of anything makes it a negative. This means Social Media, the internet and the online digital world can have their positives, but it’s all a matter of balance. We live in a time where things are changing at a rapid rate.

We live in a time where businesses rely heavily on having the internet, students need the internet in order to do research and individuals have the internet to stay connected to news, entertainment and socialising. Meeting people (whether friends or dating) were done in person, sending an email meant sitting down to write a letter and going to the post office to send it and calling a friend meant sitting on a chair where the phone had a wire on it. There was a sense of greater patience we had because the internet is so greatly convenient and fast. I still remember rather than spending 2 hours online, we’d spend 2 hours playing with the cat or going out to slide down the hills on cardboard boxes.

There was a sense of innocence. There was a sense of still not knowing many things, but now with the internet children can know things from such a young age. Remembering life before the internet was a part of our lives reminds us of how much has changed. It reminds us to stay true to our own core values in a trending world. It meant meeting someone in person, before knowing what they looked like from a photo or their profile. It meant playing games together, rather than sitting in a circle looking down at a screen. I miss those elements of simplicity and not knowing everything, but each period of time is a different stage in history, and this is just one of them.

Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady (1964)

May 27, 2017

Daily Thoughts, internet, technology
You Decide Your Attitude Regardless Of The Situation

This is one of the most important lessons in life. Your attitude determines your choices and how you feel about a situation, and what you want to learn from it. The mind is everything. What you think, you become. We have a choice in what we want to focus on and how to deal with past hurt or tricky situations. Everyone goes through bad times, and it’ll vary in different degrees, which is why no one should ever judge or compare others for what they’ve been through. If your mindset is always on past hurt then the storm in the past will always rain on you.

If someone seems like they have everything, none of that ever matters. It’s really the things we feel inside that determine how we live our lives. We all have a choice how to deal with situations and attitudes. If I feel annoyed, angry or upset at a situation, can’t I turn it around? If someone says something unkind to me or if I had to deal with a difficult client, I have the choice to choose how to react. That’s the power of how we think and what we do. It’s a lesson that lasts a lifetime but helps us grow wiser and learn from experience.

It’s normal to get upset from time to time (no one can possibly be happy all the time!), but those are moments we need to accept and grow from. I heard a story about a person who broke up with their girlfriend after she realised they would be in a long distance. After this incidence, he became despaired and lost his job over the year and didn’t know what to do with his life. This is just a simple example in that we have a choice in moving on and becoming a better person, or reliving the past and becoming more bitter about what’s been and gone.

A good attitude can be contagious, and make those around us feel better. I read an article here The truth is, while you’re busy worrying about what others think of you, they’re busy worrying about what you think of them. And on the other hand, most people are likely thinking about things like what they’re cooking for dinner! Most people are more aware of what’s going on in their own lives, which is a good reason for not giving a fudge about what other people think. Caring what other’s think prevents us from feeling true happiness and freedom.

There are people who seem like they have everything, but perhaps when a disaster strikes, they instantly feel that it’s the end of the world. Whereas maybe those who have been through tough times or worked hard to be where they are and have struggled through many failures face the same situation, they may have a more calm attitude towards the situation. Of course, it’s a general example, because vice versa could be possible, it depends on the individual as well.

It’s important to also detach yourself from other’s problems in their lives. We must also go through our own failures, and decide how we can turn that experience into a positive because everyone will go through failure. We will all face rejection and disappointment, but it’s how we use those moments to make us more persistent and resilient that can make us stronger. Attitude is everything. No matter what situation you face, it’s ultimately your attitude that determines how you’ll feel. Live each day with gratitude, and know that one of biggest superpowers is your ability to choose!

Photography by Mg Frontera

April 29, 2017

attitude, Daily Thoughts, situation
When Do You Feel The Most Like Yourself?

This is such a powerful drawing, the way it expresses so many different messages. When I look at it, it gives me a sense of disguise, pretending to be someone else, changing our appearances, thinking in different ways, seeing things from different minds (and perspectives), the different sides of our personality, feeling disconnected from our mind and our body or being slightly (or a lot) different when we’re with certain people. One of the most important advice that’s always stuck with me is to be yourself.

At the same time, I definitely feel I am someone that hides parts of my personality with certain people, even when I’m being myself. I’m sure most people will be able to relate to this, as we don’t tend to reveal all of ourselves to just anybody. The people I feel most myself with would definitely be my family and very close friends. For example, when I was living at home, I’d sing and dance around the house without a care in the world. I was as silly as I am, or as talkative, quiet and strange as can be. When I interact with people I don’t know well, that part of me is not shown.

The moments I feel completely myself is when I sit alone, write in my diary, go for a long walk, talk with a loved one or read a book. It’s when I stare out the window doing nothing, drink quietly at a cafe, cook a meal, stare at flowers, be my silly self, sitting in the library, spy on a little sparrow, laugh with friends or have a meaningful conversation with someone. Feeling myself is when I simply talk the way I do, walk the way I walk, laugh however quiet or loud, see the world around me and remember all the things I’m grateful for. It’s moments when I speak my mind, stand up for myself and stay true to my values.

Perhaps you might feel the most yourself when you do something you love. It might be playing an instrument, playing a sport, being creative through drawing, dancing or sewing, teaching or watching a movie. It might be when you’re wearing something that you feel reflects who you are, or when you listen to a song. When I feel the most myself is when I feel comfortable, peaceful and confident. It’s when I am completely at ease and happy with who I am. It’s that feeling of not giving a fudge brownie about what anyone thinks.

We might feel most ourselves when listening to the sound of the waves going in and out, breathing in the morning fresh crisp air and walking in the rain with the sound of tapping against the umbrella. It’s natural to some extent to feel more yourself with certain people, but it’s unnatural to pretend, act another character or conform in order to fit in. There are certain people that bring out our silly, talkative, weird, strange, caring, random, quiet, loud, wise, funny and creative sides. So tell me, when do you feel the most yourself?

Art by Helena Perez Garcia

April 19, 2017

Daily Thoughts, personality
The Ocean Of Blank Faces Walking In The City

When we walk in the centre of the city, we’re surrounded by strangers and unfamiliar faces. Everyone’s walking towards somewhere for some reason. Sometimes I wonder in my mind, what’s happening in their lives. Amidst all the blank and neutral faces, I can’t always really tell. There’s this distant, emotionless and otherworldly expression. Then there are several people who might be using their phone, heads down and you have a game of dodging them. From the sea of crowds, there might be a sudden smile that forms or a laugh you hear in the distance.

On a grey day, the streets are silent, until a group of friends, family or travelers have a conversation nearby. You might hear a busker singing or the sound of rain dancing on the umbrellas. If you stare into a cafe, you might catch someone engaged in a conversation, a murmur of chatter, studying on their laptop or staring out the window. Walking is such an important part of our daily life that is often overlooked. It’s often seen as mundane and simply a means of getting us from point A to point B. Walking immerses us into the present and allows our thoughts to flow.

Walking on the streets means observing, daydreaming, wondering, people watching, thinking and sensing. The way we move and walk says a lot about who we are. Although, sometimes expressions can be deceiving. For example if your expression is serious, it can make one seem unapproachable. It can also be inaccurate, because many of us may have been asked if we’re okay, even on our best days. What is it about city life, that causes us to be so distant. From growing up in the countryside, it was natural to smile and say Good morning to a stranger. It was normal to see people you know, each time you head into town.

When we’re in a place with a larger population, many people keep to themselves. It’s also a sense of security, safety, time and focus. Some people are in a rush, some people are focused, some are talking on the phone and others are deep in thought (or daydreaming). There are moments when observing where I feel some people are more present than others. It’s a wonderful thing when you suddenly see a smile form and the crinkles around someones eyes, that makes one realise how much a smile creates light. Blank faces can often make our eyes appear empty.

It’s incredible to think how many people we walk past in a lifetime, knowing that we’ll never see them again or talk to them. We might see their faces in our subconscious when we dream, but there’s this gentle nudge that you’re not alone on this Earth. Everyone has a purpose. Then there’s a lovely thought of how many times we may have subtly walked past or even encountered someone for weeks, months and years, that we later became friends with. Every person we have ever gotten to know, was once a stranger to us. They were once just a blank face in the sea of crowds.

That’s why it’s important to not judge a book by a cover. We can never really tell the content of someones character, until we truly take the time to get to know them. One way walking can be beneficial, is that it helps us for a moment to focus on the world, rather than ourselves. It reminds us to look around and take a breath of air. Thinking about the idea of blank faces, it makes me think of a white canvas. An artist can create something magical and colourful that brings so much emotion. In a way, we’re the artist in our lives, painting the strokes and textures, choosing what colours to paint with. The ocean of blank faces may seem unreadable, yet each face has such a unique and interesting story to tell.

image via

April 3, 2017

blank faces, city