The beautiful people

During everyday life I usually tend to think what else I want to share on my blog. There are several things that I wanna talk about for some time but it just seems that it takes a lot to put it down in phrases. For example, I know I want to put down my thoughts regarding feminism (or better said opinion regarding men and women, if they should be equal or not, how are we different and special). Then there are the posts about why I think life is magic, then there are the posts about the extraordinary people that I was so fortunate to meet in this life, the posts about great books that thought me things and so on.

This post would enter the category: “The beautiful people” – the extraordinary people that I met in my life.


- One day he left for me, on the memo, in the office this note: “A quote for you: “God grant me the SERENITY to accept the things I cannot change, the COURAGE to change the things I can and the WISDOM to know the difference.””…..

- In the book called “Leadership and the one minute manager” he made all this notes. I like one especially: “To lead the people, walk behind them”. He gave me the book as a present…


- He has the habit of knowing all the synonyms of words and drives you crazy asking u the meanings…

- He reads a lot and has this profound way of thinking and approaching life…

- We talk once at several months on the phone. But every time I hear his voice is like we met just yesterday for beer and chatted…I actually didn’t see him for 2 years now…

- I still have on my phone the message he sent me 2 years ago for my birthday…

- He is the person that actually convinced me to take one of the best decisions in my life so far: to run for President of AIESEC Iasi. I still remember our discussion until 2 o’clock in the morning about this subject. And I had a wonderful experience, one that I cannot ever find again as LCP in my local committee…

- I remember a beautiful day when together with him and A. went on Cetatuia, visited my high – school, played basketball and ate ice-cream. This day is still illuminated by a magic atmosphere…

- I had very powerful discussions about “light” or “heavy” subjects with him…

- I truly felt that he is my friend. For the first time in my life I didn’t feel that a person being my friend judges me and puts me in a certain category. In front of him I could be scared, have flaws, be really talkative or not saying a word, be childish, be mature, or anything. He just accepted me and cared about me no matter what…

- For him the assignment that he had in Romania was not about AIESEC. It was about people. And he influenced an entire group of us, helped us, cared about us…and also trough him AIESEC in my city became what it is today. He is the example of influence of an individual on the world. Trust me…HE is…

- I think his country somehow “tortures” him, keeps him trapped…

- He is of course really modest and most of the people don’t manage to go over his mask of entertainer… :)

Hmmm. I hope he will win the battle against his country or if not…I am gladly waiting for him in Romania :).

Thank u for who I am, M.

Foaie verde de albastru, ma doare un cal maiastru

Ati avut vreodata starea aia de nu stii daca iti vine sa razi sau sa plangi, sa alergi sau sa stai pe loc, sa te alinti sau sa tipi, sa fii dragut sau sa izbesti cu ceva de perete, sa te plictisesti dar sa nu iti vina sa faci nimic din toate lucrurile pe care le ai de facut, sau ar fi bine sa le faci, sau te sfatuiesc altii sa le faci?

Sunt convinsa ca nu-s unica la partea asta si mai exista cel putin o persoana care sa fi trecut o data in viata prin asa ceva. Ori asta, ori sunt nebuna. :):):) Ceea ce nu ar fi exclus. Asa ca va rog sa ma sunati si sa imi spuneti daca am luat-o razna, ca imi stiti numarul. :))) Sau daca nu scrieti-mi pe blog. E ok si asa. :))) Mai putin hurful de fapt :):):):)…

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh, daaaaaaaaaa. Asta e starea pe care o am, cea pe care am scris-o mai sus. Imi vine sa ma comport ca un copil de trei ani. Vreau sa existe Mos Craciun si Zana Maseluta, si Ileana Cosanzeana si Spiridusii si Ielele si Fat Frumos si Covorul Fermecat cu care sa zbori pe deasupra lumii, povestile sa fie de fapt adevarate si nu rodul imaginatiei - ci intamplari din lumile anterioare care au fost pe acest Pamant.

De fapt cine zice ca nu exista Mos Craciun? L-a cautat cineva prin toate locurile din lumea asta, in fiecare coltisor, sub fiecare piatra, la Polul Nord si in padurea tropicala si stie ca nu exista cu adevarat? Daca da, astept sa ma intalnesc cu persoana asta. Sau de fapt nu cred ca vreau sa il cunosc pentru ca trebuie ca e tare trist si dezamagit si el/ea chiar nu mai crede in lucrurile frumoase.

Pentru ca eu cred ca exista Mos Craciun, si Zanele, si visele frumoase se adeveresc, si exista magie in lume, un soi de energie buna care ne uneste pe toti si face ca la un moment dat sa se intample lucruri nebanuite.

Ahhh, da, sunt convinsa de asta. Exista magie in lume. :) Chiar daca eu am luat-o razna azi…si imi doresc sa vina Zana cea Buna sa imi aduca un job pe care sa il iubesc MEGA mult, si o casa faina, si un al alb, si un caine labrador si …binenteles pe Fat Frumos daca s-ar putea, si fericire…:):). Si implinirea potentialului uman. Hahaahaaaa

Gata. Desi azi nu am emis pe blog nici o teorie noua, profunda :P:) – caracteristica mie (yaaaahh, right) despre viata si/sau despre mine - de fapt si gandurile astea sunt la fel de mult eu, ca si celelalte. Si starea asta e la fel de profunda ca si celelate…

Concluziile:
- CRED in magie
- Sunt si eu nebuna uneori (dupa cum demonstreaza randul de mai sus)
- Cred ca urmeaza sa se intample ceva foarte important de am starea asta. Cam asa e de obicei, urmeaza un BOOM :):). Nu neaparat un BOOM pozitiv, daca e sa ma iau dupa ultima conexiune cu astfel de sentimente...

See Ya!

Si-am zis verde de albastru,
Ma doare un cal maiastru,

Si-am zis para de un mar,
Minciuna de adevar

Si-am zis pasare de peste,
Desclestare de ce creste

Si secund-am zis de ora,
Curcubeu de aurora.

Am zis os de un schelet,
Am zis hot de om intreg

Si privire-am zis de ochi
Si ca-i boala ce-i deochi.

Si de bine-am zis la morti,
Si de sase am zis la sorti,

Si am zis unul de doi
Si zapada de noroi.

Ca am vrut sa fac cu gura focul ce-l facea arsura
Ca n-am fost trezit ca dorm pe un cal cu sa de domn,

Alergand pe-un camp de noapte de la unu’ pan’ la 7,
De la sapte pan la zece mi-a cazut o viata rece,
De la frunza pan la umbra mi-a cazut o viata dubla.
Ca pamantul si cu luna noaptea cand stau impreuna.


Frunza verde de albastru
Ma doare un cal maistru

Pe care ma tin calare
Cu capul la cingatoare.

De ma duc mari ma duc
Ca toamna frunza de nuc

Ori ca iarna frunza alba
De la floarea de zapada.

Frunza verde de albastru
Ma doare un cal maiastru
Potcovit pe luna plina, cu miros de la sulcina.
Inhamat pe soare plin, tot cu miros de pelin
Si tinut de gat cu mine, tot in dragoste de bine


Ca mi-a fost crescut pe umar
De din doi in doi un numar

Tot din trei in trei o iarba
Si din patru-n patru o salba

Si din cinci-n cinci un pom
Si din sase-n sase un om

Si-am zis verde de albastru,
Ma doare un cal maistru,

Vad in fata mov si verde,
Coloarea care ma perde,

Corcov vad cu veselie,
Poluarea ce nu se stie,

Mai aud si-un sunet sus
Care nu au fost adus,

In timpan de oameni vii
In a fi si a nu fi

Cand imi cade umbra lunga,
Pe sub ochii grei cu punga

Si-am zis aripa cu pene
Ca sa zbor cu ea prin vreme

Si-am zis mari ca sa zic singur
Si-am zis pomi ca sa zic scanduri

Si-am zis nord ca sa zic suduri
Si dulceata ca sa sudui

Si-am zis inima la piatra
Si cantec la tot ce latra

Si potcoava la octava
Si uscata la jilava

Tot le-am potrivit pe dos
Pe un fluieras de os

Din osul de la picior,
Care-mi canta cu fior

Si din osul de la mana,
Fluierand o saptamana

Si-am cantat din coasta mea
Din verterba ca o stea

De-a-ncalecare pe-o sa,
Pe o sa de cal maiastru

Foaie verde de albastru
Foaie verde de albastru.

Foaie verde de albastru,
Foaie verde de albastru.

(Foaie verde de albastru - Mircea Vintila, Opere si operete)

The theory of Mind, Soul and Instinct

Some weeks ago, on my trip back home I discovered a new theory. :):) Yes, yes, laugh how much you want…after all, they are my theories. Even if somebody else discovered them before, I cannot believe until I “discover” the theories on my own. Right?

OK, so for at least a year I was thinking of me and the people around me from 2 perspectives: soul/feelings and mind/reason. I even remember having several discussions with my closest friends about how you can easily control and understand your reason, but you can hardly control and understand your soul. And how the successes on the emotional/personal level are so much more valuable for me because there are so much harder to obtain and to keep. How most of the times the words don’t help you but actually makes it harder to transmit what you feel…

Anyway, as I sad this theory with 2 parts of the human being it’s a bit wrong. Because there are actually three parts as I said in the title: reason, soul and instinct. And, as the soul is less known and controlled by us, so is instinct from my point of view. OK, most of the times reason wins over instinct…but you are not conscious about it. You just act as the society, education or...I don't know what constraints you to do.

Cool, and what it’s with these 3 dimensions of the human being then? Well, I have two main points to make about them:

1. In order to “grow up” you need to understand yourself in all three dimensions. To understand your soul, mind and instincts, how do they lead you in the decisions, what they “tell” you all the time? To learn to listen to each of them and all of them.

2. To be in equilibrium I think you have to use all three dimensions in your everyday life, to put them to consensus. Generally if one of them would “disagree” about one of your actions ask why, dig deep on the reasons, listen. Maybe you should not take that decision. And the simplest example that comes into my mind :))))) - you will laugh is: cheating on your partner.

Don’t ask me how I chose this example. I think it’s actually how I developed the theory in the first place. :)))) So: let’s say that you want to cheat on your boyfriend/girlfriend, because you meet a super attractive person. The instinct tells you to do it, to sleep with that person. Then, the question is what the soul and the mind say. If you are truly in love with your partner your soul should tell you not to do it. And if you are not in love then at least your reason should tell you not to do it because is not moral, or because it will create a lot of future problems, or something :)).

The ideal case would be to use all your 3 “beings” at least for the important decisions in life. To get to understand them, to listen to them.

….but hmm, you wanna know if I manage to use them? Well the truth is that I don’t know myself that well in order to hear my instinct especially. I think with the soul I’m pretty ok, and still have work to do with the reason because I seem to be too analytical in order to choose between the multitude of options opened. So, I know them, I listen to them but I’m not fully able to put them to consensus.

Of course there are some books involved in this creation process of mine. It would be nice to remember all of them but I can’t. I can tell you about one: "Authentic : How to Make a Living By Being Yourself" by Neil Crofts. The book is actually about something else, I didn’t like it that much ( I just found some interesting things about education there) but it just triggered my mind as reading usually does for me…

As about what happens in my life now…just look at the post I put before from Alexi Murdoch. His words are much better than mine…and I’m still there – with those feelings.

Sinking

Sitting quietly, watching the ticking on the wall
She sits patiently she thinks maybe the world will fall
She says "I feel sometimes like I had nearly lost it all"
But the world is in her eyes

"Waiting" she said, "is the hardest thing to do
Don’t feel like somebody else and u don’t feel like u
Sometimes the light around me has the strangest hew
And I wonder what I’m going trough"

And
She’s on fire and the whole world is burning
Yeah, she’s on fire and you feel like the whole world just keeps turning
She says, "I’m so full of doubt, I don’t know if I’ll ever find a way out
Feels like something I read in a book somewhere

I’ve been thinking, u know I’ve been thinking
“Thought” myself into the ground
I’ve been thinking that I’m sinking"

Only half day trough and her mind begins to stroll
She talk to anyone so it’s anyone she told
There’s an empty chair at the end of an empty hall
And she feels small
Faces smile, she’s moving trough the crowd
The sun is shining but is higher in the clouds
She laughs from time to time but she feels a little loud
And she would cry but she’s too proud

And
She’s on fire and the whole world is burning
Yeah, she’s on fire and you feel like the whole world keeps turning
She says, "I’m so full of doubt, I don’t know if I’ll ever find a way out
Feels like something I read in a book somewhere

I’ve been thinking, u know I’ve been thinking
“Thought” myself into the ground
I’ve been thinking that I’m sinking"

And u wanna tell her that she’s gonna be fine
And u wanna tell her that the light hearts when you’ve been blind
She says "all I see stretching out before me is time"
She says "all I see stretching out before me is time"

Oh, so you wanna tell her that she’s gonna be fine
Oh woman, you’re drinking your soda like wine

Ohhh, woman don’t you know that you gonna be fine
Don’t you know that you gonna be fine

(Sinking - Alexi Murdoch)

My five strengths

Recently I took a test developed by Gallup, after reading a book called “Now discover your strengths”. This book is written by Marcus Buckingham the co-author of “First Break all the Rules” , another great book.

Here are my five areas of talent, as they result from the test. Funny or not I somehow find myself in those descriptions :)







Intellection

You like to think. You like mental activity. You like exercising the "muscles" of your brain, stretching them in multiple directions. This need for mental activity may be focused; for example, you may be trying to solve a problem or develop an idea or understand another person's feelings. The exact focus will depend on your other strengths. On the other hand, this mental activity may very well lack focus. The theme of Intellection does not dictate what you are thinking about; it simply describes that you like to think.

You are the kind of person who enjoys your time alone because it is your time for musing and reflection. You are introspective. In a sense you are your own best companion, as you pose yourself questions and try out answers on yourself to see how they sound. This introspection may lead you to a slight sense of discontent as you compare what you are actually doing with all the thoughts and ideas that your mind conceives. Or this introspection may tend toward more pragmatic matters such as the events of the day or a conversation that you plan to have later. Wherever it leads you, this mental hum is one of the constants of your life.

Restorative

You love to solve problems. Whereas some are dismayed when they encounter yet another breakdown, you can be energized by it. You enjoy the challenge of analyzing the symptoms, identifying what is wrong, and finding the solution. You may prefer practical problems or conceptual ones or personal ones. You may seek out specific kinds of problems that you have met many times before and that you are confident you can fix. Or you may feel the greatest push when faced with complex and unfamiliar problems.

Your exact preferences are determined by your other themes and experiences. But what is certain is that you enjoy bringing things back to life. It is a wonderful feeling to identify the undermining factor(s), eradicate them, and restore something to its true glory. Intuitively, you know that without your intervention, this thing-this machine, this technique, this person, this company-might have ceased to function. You fixed it, resuscitated it, and rekindled its vitality. Phrasing it the way you might, you saved it.

Input

You are inquisitive. You collect things. You might collect information-words, facts, books, and quotations-or you might collect tangible objects such as butterflies, baseball cards, porcelain dolls, or sepia photographs. Whatever you collect, you collect it because it interests you. And yours is the kind of mind that finds so many things interesting. The world is exciting precisely because of its infinite variety and complexity.

If you read a great deal, it is not necessarily to refine your theories but, rather, to add more information to your archives. If you like to travel, it is because each new location offers novel artifacts and facts. These can be acquired and then stored away. Why are they worth storing? At the time of storing it is often hard to say exactly when or why you might need them, but who knows when they might become useful? With all those possible uses in mind, you really don't feel comfortable throwing anything away. So you keep acquiring and compiling and filing stuff away. It's interesting. It keeps your mind fresh. And perhaps one day some of it will prove valuable.

Belief

If you possess a strong Belief theme, you have certain core values that are enduring. These values vary from one person to another, but ordinarily your Belief theme causes you to be family-oriented, altruistic, even spiritual, and to value responsibility and high ethics-both in yourself and others.

These core values affect your behavior in many ways. They give your life meaning and satisfaction; in your view, success is more than money and prestige. They provide you with direction, guiding you through the temptations and distractions of life toward a consistent set of priorities. This consistency is the foundation for all your relationships. Your friends call you dependable. "I know where you stand," they say. Your Belief makes you easy to trust. It also demands that you find work that meshes with your values. Your work must be meaningful; it must matter to you. And guided by your Belief theme it will matter only if it gives you a chance to live out your values.

Connectedness

Things happen for a reason. You are sure of it. You are sure of it because in your soul you know that we are all connected. Yes, we are individuals, responsible for our own judgments and in possession of our own free will, but nonetheless we are part of something larger. Some may call it the collective unconscious. Others may label it spirit or life force. But whatever your word of choice, you gain confidence from knowing that we are not isolated from one another or from the earth and the life on it.

This feeling of Connectedness implies certain responsibilities. If we are all part of a larger picture, then we must not harm others because we will be harming ourselves. We must not exploit because we will be exploiting ourselves. Your awareness of these responsibilities creates your value system. You are considerate, caring, and accepting. Certain of the unity of humankind, you are a bridge builder for people of different cultures. Sensitive to the invisible hand, you can give others comfort that there is a purpose beyond our humdrum lives. The exact articles of your faith will depend on your upbringing and your culture, but your faith is strong. It sustains you and your close friends in the face of life's mysteries.

Yeap ...these 5 traits that "they" tell I have seem well known to me :)

The ART of BEING YOU

…a post written at the end of March :). Sometimes it takes time to actually post it…

...........................................................................................................................................................................
Yes, I know, another basic and simple subject to talk about. I noticed that this is how I feel every time when I talk about some subject here. That the subject actually is something really simple and maybe basic and stupid/childish for many people. Now, when I look at my former postings I think I started at least half of them with this affirmation…:):):). Funny, ha?

Yep, every time I discover something about myself I also discover that it can be summarized in simple words and it seems an obvious thing to do.

Let’s take for example what I re-learned in the last weeks about me, and maybe – a little bit pompous said – about life: it’s very hard to be yourself. Ok, ok – I know who I am and what I stand for, I know what is my core self and all that stuff – but am I able to act “upon” myself every day?

…oh, yes…I feel and think it is a true ART to be able to BE YOURSELF…

Firstly is difficult to remain true to yourself if society/ friends/ people around you appreciate and praise something else.

Secondly, if you manage to remain true to your beliefs, to be the natural you how do you make sure that this is not:
A. hurting someone or even
B. interpreted as being bad/ judged by the others.

Taking the first “hard thing to do” – being you when society recognizes and appreciates something else maybe you’ll say that is a question of being natural. Well, I agree. On the other side, Maslow says in one of his theories – Maslow Pyramid that one of the needs that we have is the "the need of recognition” or something similar to this. This makes some people act in such a way that they will be praised all the time. Even if actually those ways of doing things are not “their own”. I don’t know if you ever did that, but I made this mistake: i acted different than who I am. But I stopped. It was not me.

So I decided that as long as I don’t do bad things I should just be myself even if other like it or not. Maybe “the society” in which you live asks something else than your talents. Than…change “the society” and find one that “suits you” or try to show to those with whom you are your true face. Maybe they’ll like it even more than the other common things.

Just don’t betray yourself. It’s hurtful, confusing…without any purpose.


Now, going further, if you manage to “resist” to the demands of the outside world that may transform you in other person – how do you make sure that people around you are not hurt by your way of being or judge you. The last part with judgement is somehow in the same category with “resistance to society” – only that you have to see the bad parts also. It is again necessary to be very strong as a person and to understand how actually nobody is allowed to judge anybody. Because each of us has its own reality, background, education, needs that make us act…so we start from the beginning on different levels. Nobody can judge because nobody truly and fully understands you. I think in the “personal life” where you deal with feelings is not a matter of right or wrong as long as is not against GOOD.

Is more difficult to make sure that being yourself, you don’t hurt anybody else. For example….let’s talk about ME. Hahahaha :):):):) Why not? Is always cool to talk about you :):):).

I was saying above that in the personal life I think someone cannot impose his/her opinion. Ok, on the other side, when I am in the office I’ve been told that I act in a totally different way: I tend to impose my point of view. Because, I believe that most often in the office you work with facts and information and you have to take the best decision. Is about intellect not about feelings. But it seems that is just my opinion…because THE WAY I AM HURTS THE OTHER people involved.

All the above make me think that it must be A TRUE ART TO BE YOURSELF. First to have the maturity and will to discover who you are, and the to use that wisely so it becomes truly significant for you and the others instead of bringing negative things to the world.

.........................................................................................................................................................................

Eu sunt un om pe niste scari...

În lumea plina de urmari, eu sînt un om pe niste scari.
În sus ce e? În jos nimic. În jos ce e? În sus nimic.

Vorbesc cu ceilalti care-au fost si-n sus si-n jos si unde zic,
Eu însumi spun de locurile pe unde-am fost nu e nimic.

Vecinul meu praseste ciori, vecina mea praseste farduri,
Eu sunt un om pe niste scari, si-un câine bulucind prin garduri.
Eu sunt un om pe niste scari, si-un câine bulucind prin garduri.

Daca de mai multe ori, caci ce pot fi aceste garduri,
Decât cazute foste scari, decât cazute foste garduri.
Decât cazute foste scari, decât cazute foste garduri.

Vecine, domnule, straine! nu înteleg ce-aveti cu mine,
Stiu, scarile ne sînt comune, dar trec atât de rar pe-aici,
Portarul însusi poate spune ca am ambitii foarte mici.
Portarul însusi poate spune ca am ambitii foarte mici.

Din când în când mai vin pe-acasa, de ce va suparati când vin?
Arare talpa mea apasa pe dalele cu pasi straini.
Arare talpa mea apasa pe dalele cu pasi straini.

Vecinul meu praseste ciori, vecina mea praseste farduri,
Abia m-am ridicat din garduri, si mârâind în joase salturi, eu sînt un om pe niste scari.
Si mârâind în joase salturi, eu sînt un om pe niste scari.

Si daca vreti sa fiu-n balada, si fiindca eu nu am o stea,
Accept, râvnesc, visez sa cada un corb nervos la moartea mea.
Accept, râvnesc, visez sa cada un corb nervos la moartea mea.

Si-acuma, va implor, zâmbiti, în lumea plina de urmari,
Voi care fard si ciori prasiti, întunecati si spalaciti, lasati-ma sa fiu pe scari.
Întunecati si spalaciti, lasati-ma sa fiu pe scari.

(Pasarea Colibri - Un om pe niste scari)

When you decide and when you don’t decide

Sometimes you don’t get to decide upon your future. In these moments I would describe my state of mind as a mix of energy with laughter, incapacity to concentrate and be coherent combined with deep thoughts and peace. Yes, it’s having emotions, being nervous, not being in control. At the beginning I even dream about the possibilities to be one way or another. I dream at night, I mean. Those kind of dreams that are absurd but in the same time have a beginning…some action happening and some end.

But now I feel peaceful. As Gabiza would say, Nicu Alifantis is singing in one of my ears :)…or if it is to be some international singer maybe Alexi Murdoch or Moby or De Phazz :):):). It’s kind of difficult when you want something really bad, to be calm and to get out of the process with your mind and soul intact.

At the beginning it was about being as prepared as I could, to give the best and the most sincere image of me. To be fully me. Then it was about controlling the emotions and to give the rapid, true, best answers. And then….it was about waiting. From this moment I felt that I don’t get to decide anymore. OK, so if I don’t get to decide then what am I supposed to do? To just wait? This is how I thought it should be. Because sometimes “YOU DON’T GET TO DECIDE”.
Well…this is what I believed deep down, in my soul, even though if you would have asked me, I would have answered as in Covey’s theory: “Between stimulus and answer is the response – ability. Your ability to choose how you want to answer.”

But in this process, of waiting and of feeling insecure about my future I managed somehow to GET TO DECIDE, and to feel peaceful. I designed an ALTERNATIVE FUTURE. For the first time, I designed an alternative future that I could really believe that seems realistic, that is fulfilling.

I found out that actually YOU ALWAYS GET TO DECIDE...

Life is standing in front of me asking me to play. I am gladly and peacefully taking the challenge.

...signed,
Geani...still growing up :)