“Dumb people got it all figured out”
Although we sometimes wish we could be dumb, and rid ourselves of doubt, constant questioning allows our evolution, both as a species and as individuals.
“A stranger I was born, a stranger I wish to remain!”
I dislike the expression: “Whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” because suffering often weakens you. But in the case of bullying, I think it may apply… with a caveat. I believe that truly original people or misfits have an innate strength that makes them a threat to flocks of sheep. That is the very…
“It’s never too late to be what you might have been”
Learning doesn’t guarantee success, nor will it necessarily prevent future pain or failure. But it does ensure constant evolution, which is key to living a full life. And even when you think there is nothing to be learned, one lesson that is always valid is that famous idea from ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus: “Change is…
“A very small heart… could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude”
Why this need to share my joy or express my gratitude toward others? While it’s in my nature to share joys and sorrows, I’ve also made a habit of telling people the good I think of them. Because I don’t think we do it enough.
“Every learner becomes an agent of change ”
Over the last two decades, there has been a growing trend towards overspecialisation at the expense of a broader vision, and a push for hyper-productivity at the expense of reflection and contextualisation. This mindset has been seeping all the way down to our schools and universities.
“Every Stone A Story Like A Rosary”
Every individual is a world unto him/herself and an irreplaceable piece of a larger, interconnected whole. As such, we must sometimes show courage to build bridges rather than walls.
“It’s not left or right. It’s right or wrong.”
Fundamental moral values, right vs. wrong, have been on my mind since Trump and his administration started wreaking havoc on the government and the people of the United States and the rest of the world. The main issue now is no longer one of politics or sides. It is one of core values and ethics.
“Life’s a laugh and death’s a joke, it’s true”
In an increasingly complex and anxiety-inducing world, it would be easy to succumb to apathy and sink into depression. It is therefore not surprising that we turn to humour to cope with this reality.
“It was a long time ago, longer now than it seems”
There is a collective nostalgia in our society for a time when everything seemed simpler. Many are waking up to what we have ignored for centuries. Our societal model and what we call “progress” are built on a profound imbalance. So what does this mean for all of us?
“What kind of fuckery is this?”
The election of Donald Trump as the 47th president of the USA raises many questions. It makes me wonder about this system we live in, that seems to be disserving people across continents. It also reminds me of Hitler’s rise to power in so many ways.
“Diversity must be preserved, so that it can bear fruit for the common good”
Diversity evokes a great many things to different people. As it is increasingly being used with a negative undertone, I wonder about its meaning. Diversity has always been here, so why should it be scary?
“To thine own self be true”
What does it mean to be true to yourself? There are many aspects to each personality and sides to the prism of who you are. So, which “Self” are you meant to be true to? As a new year begins, I need to choose between two paths ahead of me, two sides of my Self.…
“Thoughts arrive like butterflies”
My mind is regularly stormed by thoughts that I want to chase away. Lately, in order to stray my mind from unwanted cerebration, I’ve been listening to audio books, podcasts and series. This constant influx of content feeds my mind, but at the same time, it tires me and slowly stifles my creativity.
“Tears are words that need to be written”
Generally speaking, our mental health is damaged. This is, in part, due to our isolation and to seeds of fear that have been planted and nourished, thereby slowly reducing the spectrum of our freedom and power.
“A time when decency has lost its hold on the public imagination”
People are not less decent or kind than before. But decency is generally no longer valued or exemplified the way it used to be. And though quotes about kindness have become popular, in practice it is not encouraged.
“You fought me when I was strong, you despised me when I was weak”
When I look around, I am rather disappointed with what is passed off as feminism or asserting your femininity today. Like many groups that have been victimised and undervalued over millennia, rather than helping each other up, many women push each other down as they try to gain their spot on Mount Olympus.
“The 21st Century is all about individualism and freedom”
This quote reminded me of a discussion I had with friends about how isolated and disconnected we feel in most western societies. Even though the standards of living are decidedly higher in the West, we felt that, in many ways, the quality of life is higher in the east or the south, and that this…
“Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great”
Just as the fear of missing out (FOMO) is built on the presumption that something fantastic and unmissable is going on and you’re missing it, we are often brought to believe that we should lead extraordinary lives. But sometimes, life is just life, and it is unpredictable.
“Dripping Water hollows out Stone”
We have all, at one point or another in our lives, been victimised by someone. Whether it happens at the level of the individual or the group, manipulation is only effective when it is slow and gradual.
“It’s the end of the world as we know it”
Since Russian forces attacked Ukraine, I’ve been going through every media channel to get a sense of what is actually going on. Finding objective and reliable sources of information among the hubbub of opinions, news updates and outrage on all sides has not been easy.
“No flag, no country! You can’t have one”
Flags have been on my mind, as I’ve been observing the rise of nationalisms everywhere. They do strange things to people. I’ve never quite understood how these pieces of cloth, bearing symbols, trigger such strong emotions.
“The café counter is the parliament of the people”
Though it seems everyone is making podcasts, finding one that consistently elevates your mind without feeling like a heavy lift is not an easy task. I have stumbled upon a remarkable podcast, which manages this delicate balance and gets me thinking about how we communicate.
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About Me
Hi, I’m Ljuba. I started writing this blog as I reached that Midlife milestone. Turning forty brings on a wave of reflections about yourself, the world you live in, and your place in it.
Sharing my thoughts has helped me to deal with these major questions. I hope reading them can help you, too.
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Midlife Reflection 