childhood..

..means:
- everything is incredibly interesting (EVERYTHING!)
- even the tiniest earthling matters
- fairy tales are true
- magic magic MAGIC is everywhere!
- everything can be our precious (have you ever heard of a magic bubble gum? or an incredibly powerful stone or a wooden stick, I mean, a wand, of course!)

I definitely remember my childhood fondly. As a two-year-old I attended a day care center, then a kindergarten, which was not at all a traumatic experience (as some might think). I also spent a lot of time travelling on trains and I enjoyed it a lot. My parents work on the railways, so my love to trains was bound to develop. Once, my dad let me be an engine driver. All I did was holding the steering wheel, but still - it was a day to remember! Among other super-secret activities I loved drawing, playing hide-and-seek and making sandcastles in our famous sandbox.

I miss my childhood terribly and I believe we should never forget about the little people we were once. After all, we could learn a lot from them. Starting from worrying less and smiling more often. Just like the girl below does..

♫

Music.

I honestly can't imagine my life without music.

Music is powerful. It helps us to wake up in the morning and it may be our lullaby before we go to sleep. It can influence our mood - evoke a smile, as well as tears. Music doesn't only equal entertainment, but, to many of us, it's a remedy. It can bring comfort or heal our wounds, and it's a faithful companion in times of crisis.. As if it wasn't enough - music accompanies us during the most beautiful moments and makes them unforgettable..

How many times have you heard a song which felt perfectly right?
As if the author knew your secret.. as if the song was written exclusively for you..
Have you ever wondered how would the soundtrack of your life look like?

I have and what I know for sure is that it would be diverse, as there are no rules to music, no strict rules to say what is beautiful and what is not.
Some songs just sound and feel right.

Well, that is probably the reason why I don't really have my favorite band.
It changes constantly depending on.. I guess circumstances ;)
Recently, I started appreciating Icelandic artists..and so I wanted to share a song with you, which somehow fills me with hope.
The group is Seabear and the song is called "I sing I swim". Enjoy..

A hug a day keeps the doctor away

After visiting a lot of websites, I was willing to give up on the 'good news task'.
All of it seemed either irrelevant or naive.. not very convincing somehow.
And then I realized that it all depends on the way we look at things and on our attitude, don't you think? A ray of sun on a cloudy day or a newborn baby.. those can really be great news! :)

And so, I've chosen something that seems a bit trivial and naive, but could be an encouraging and precious piece of news, especially for those who enjoy hugging.

"We need four hugs a day for survival. We need eight hugs a day for maintenance. We need twelve hugs a day for growth."

It turns out that hugging is not only pleasant, but also very healthy as it lowers stress levels, improves mood and reduces blood pressure. To read more on the subject, just click here.

And if words don't appeal to you, just try it yourself.. I know I will!

Doctor Dolittle

I’ve always liked animals. As a child, I used to travel a lot on trains, and every time I saw a cow, a deer or any other earthling, my reaction was quite the same: “Look mum – how sweet!”.. I’ve always regarded animals as cute and interesting creatures.

When I was 5, my parents bought me a dog and I was extremely curious about my new friend’s thoughts and what she’d say to us if she could.. And then I “met” doctor Dolittle – a respected physician who learned the secret of speaking to animals - how lucky he was to enter this unknown world! I loved reading stories about doctor Dolittle and imagining myself being able to understand what my dog barks about.

Today, I’m used to the thought that I may never master this secret skill, but I still love animals and I love coming back to the books from my childhood; they bring a little bit of magic and hope to our life and it turns out that we’re never too old to enjoy them.

tadaaa

I'm not particularly proud of this ;)

Home vs. house - a very crucial distinction.

I feel lucky to say that I've found a little bit of home in my house, or to be more precise in the apartment that I've been renting since last September.

At the moment, I’m sitting in my small, but cozy room, which looked "a bit" different when I first came here. It was empty - unfurnished - bare walls, wooden panels, a lamp and a window - not much to admire, no place to sleep in.. so I spent couple nights on a mattress (which was quite a salutary experience – getting up from the floor in the morning can really be hard!). Today, thanks to my mum and IKEA, I can enjoy staying in my little corner of the world (or rather, my little, private.. chaos, most of the times). All the details I have here around, make me feel comfortable and secure, like the tiny, cactus-like plant on the window sill that I brought from my hometown, or pictures of my friends, my dog.. postcards.. some English words stuck to the wall (in case I feel a desperate urge for knowledge :D).

But let's not forget about things that truly make this apartment an enjoyable place to live in: great roommates (always willing to play some Scrabble!), BIEDRONKA <3 – just below! and a nice spot in the kitchen where I can sit, watch planes passing by and daydream about all the trips I’d like to take..

Well, I’ve collected a bunch of unforgettable memories here and I hope to have some more.
For now, good goodnight and I’m off to sleep.. in my cozy, little bed – this time.. ;)