How life as an Expat can prepare you for difficult times, like Covid19

Let's be honest, nobody was prepared for what we are living globally the last few months. Not even the most wild mastermind would have thought such an extreme plot for a Hollywood movie. Although to be honest scientists had predict it... This Covid-19 or better invisible terrorist, that have made billions of people #Stayhome for weeks! Huge health, physical, and psychological challenges for every age, every nation, every religion and every financial status. A virus that equalized the world, maybe something that happened for the first time ever, since the existence of civilization? No one knew, and lets face it still do not know, how to deal with this. But there is maybe a group of people that are a little bit more trained and resilience on a physiological level at least, than the rest of the world, and these are the Expats*. The world nomads, the people that have to restart their lives in new horizons. The people that have to start from scratch, over and over again. The people that know how is to be isolated, with no friends, with some restrictions, far from loved ones, and yes, who know how is to feel lonely. 

Is "Finding Happiness" the next new trend?

If we could only wake up one day and say "I am happy! I am really happy!" How possible this is? How easy is to switch mindset? How easy is to stop unhappy noises in your head and around you? How easy is to stop accusing other factors, people or situations for your own un-happiness? You will have probably think: This is how I am, I was born  seeing the glass half-empty." So with all these questions in mind, and more, i started looking for answers. My search land me to an online course. The subject: "The science of Well-being" by professor Laurie Santos. Well, apparently finding happiness is in the bucket list of million people, that they are in the hunt of how to touch, feel, achieve it, because by now almost 2.5 million have sign up to this course! Making it the most popular course in the history of Yale university!  And there is a reason apart from the "Stay at home" orders .This course is the best start you can make if you are in the look out for ways to achieve happiness! And keeps on giving you more than the answers you are looking for...

Self-care is not selfish, is vital

☆Self care had never been my first priority. Although I was always interesting in reading and researching about this topic, and after I would go and suggest to my friends and love ones ways to love and taking care of them selves, I wouldn't actually applying to myself what I was preaching. That sounds like a fraud, right? But so many people do the same. They put themselves last on the list sometimes forever and sometimes until the red flags are so profound that they can't escape and it is time to face the problem right in the eyes.

Our trip to Disney World - How to survive mentally, emotionally and physically

Disney world. How many kids have cried and screamed the lungs out, in front of the camera and then been watched on a you tube video from millions, when their parents were announcing to them: "WE ARE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!" How many people they have choose to go there for their honeymoon, birthdays, or graduations? The hot place to be on your school/college spring break. Disney World is the land of our dreams. Is the place where everyone is allowed to feel as a kid. Where the adults are overwhelmed and some even emotional from meeting and hugging the famous Mouse and his gang. The place where all the family members can be happy. But is also the place where the word LINES and WAITING sometimes steal the limelight from the actual famous residents of the park. So if a visit there is on your bucket list of "things i want to do before i die" then keep some notes, and go prepared. Mentally, emotionally and physically. Ah and of course financially!

Our move No 6 and ..."The most wonderful time of the year!"

After 4 whole months i am back here on my blog! Just a week before the holidays, to report and give you a hint about our second round in the States. Our 6th move, second overseas, is now behind us and we are running to adjust to our new reality, new house, new neighborhood, new friends along with the old ones, and new school routines for our little one.

It was 4 very stressful months that i am slowly trying to overcome, and i am so thankful that Xmas is in the corner. This year it took us longer to be ready for the big holiday, but we made it!

Traveling with kids...

I still remember the time that my parents were getting ready for our summer holidays, loading our car until the wheels looked almost flat from the extreme weight of our stuff and me trying to squeeze myself on the back seat having to battle with the falling hats, beach chairs, umbrellas and other summer paraphernalia. Sandwiches and some cold drinks for the road, and for entertainment the scratchy music of the broken radio signal or from a favorite /boring cassette of my parents. Windows open, no AC at that time, and ready to roll to our destination. No planning ahead from my parents for what to bring to keep me happy, no worries if I am going to get bored in the car, no stress about how they will keep me entertain. Some books and magazines, dolls when I was younger, and maybe a Walkman (and for the younger audience Walkman means small portable cassette player similar (not) to cd player, to mp3 or the smartphones/iPad now) were the only options and of course actually looking out of the window to the scenery around me. But traveling with kids now is a total different story and sometimes if you are not well prepared can be scary and painful... for you and the others around you!

Positive people are rare, embrace them!

I am privileged to have some people in my life that by choice see the glass half full. No matter what life brings to them: health issues, money issues, personal matters, job issues, they manage to turn it to something positive and beneficial for them and for the others around them. These type of people are dreamers, are romantic by nature and they have a deep belief in others. They say I love you easily, a word that many people are scared even to think, and they mean it, because for them it means "I care for you", "I care for your wellbeing", "I want you to be happy", " I am here for you." What we don't understand is that these people are here and next to us so to protect us and our soul. To remind us that happiness sometimes is inside a very small box, that when you open it, it multiplies and spreads its wings like the butterfly when she is leaving her cocoon, and paints rainbows on the pavement and the walls and sheds warm light to our darkest corners, this powerful light that we all need so to survive. Positive and happy people are here to teach us to appreciate whatever we consider a given thing in our everyday life.

Falling apart is the new strong

A good friend recently asked me "Nely, what do you do when you feel low, and how do you recover?" The answer from me was clear. I see my life as a rollercoaster and so does my mood. I have my exciting peaks, and I have my terrible lows. I allow my self to have grey days, days with  inward discussions and thoughts or with just silence. These days are as much valuable as the good days. I have learned, and I have grown so much through out these days. On these days behind my "dark glasses" I will try to see clearer and figure out my life, my goals, my future. I will re-evaluate, appreciate and recognize the people and the situations around me. These are the days that have managed to make me stronger every time.

Εscape the b*tch Karma. Just be nice! (Me, being fed up!)

😀

Credits

Lately I am fed up with the social media and the world in general. So many people full of hostile, negative feelings, with luck of respect, manners and ethos. When rudeness became so popular and acceptable? Don't all these people know that their attitude will hit them back hard? That Karma is a b*tch and oh yeah will hit you on the head sooner or later?  BTW I need a karma button on  the FB ASAP 😂!- Why people choose to hide behind their little screen and throw up every bitter word they can found in their vocabulary? And now many of them have an excuse and even 'role models" like some people with power or fame that support, and encourages this virtual bullying. That means that these people have always been double-faced? Because I bet many of  them want dare to speak like that on face to face situations? Was there always so much underline hate and finally the social media offered and open mic for everyone to finally be themselves? So much hidden hypocrisy? Or is it cool nowadays to be "bad", nasty and full of insults? My motto is "if you haven't something nice to say, then don't say anything!" or as an ad was saying " sometimes its better to chew, than to talk! "

Get happier and healthier with music!

Music and emotions. Music is so vital for our mental wellbeing. Sad or happy, sick or well, old or young, listening to tunes will can only benefit us. Is the best work out for our brain and the balsam for our soul. I cannot even imagine my life without music. Since I was a kid it has been vital, like breathing. Music and dancing is a need. I will still put music on and with every opportunity I will dance alone or with my two boys. And they love it too, and makes me so happy. What a connection you can have this way? I will even try all the music apps are out there 😂 - probably embarrassing my older son-  with most recently the Musical.ly. And I am so happy for all these young people that are expressing themselves through music and dance. What a healthy way to say to the world what you are feeling!

What's your job? (pause) Stay-at-home mom/dad... Hmm

On my role as an entertainer!

In the years I have been traveling and meeting other moms like me, and by saying like me I mean stay-at- home moms (sorry didn't met any stay-at- home dads although i know they exist and are doing a great job), there was always a cloud over us when somebody was making the very logical and normal question: "Do you work?" The short answer was "no, I am a stay-at- home mom" but most of the times a "but" and "because" had to come after that answer so to defend ourselves that we are not those women, that you see in the American reality shows that are pampering and drinking wine all day. Believe me our lives have no glamour, sparkles (well maybe if you have little girls in the house) and we don't live in a pink fluffy cloud, although it sounds nice.

Home away from home

Merry Xmas everyone! A day like today celebrating away from Greece and most of our family and friends thoughts jumped in my head. "Home", one simple word that is very difficult to define when you are an expat or when you have just moved to a new place far away from home. Is home a place or a feeling? Can you feel at home in more than one places? Can home be something that you had and you were use too, or something that you can built and have to adjust? Is it the people you are surrounded or the things? Is it all of the above?

Groningen by...Saturday's!

Martini Tower @the main square of the city

I love Groningen!, It is a lively, busy and positive university town. There is always something fun to do, or to see, or in this case to eat. Food is big in Groningen, and Saturday's are the best days to indulge local or exotic food from one of the many food trucks that are around the town. Since is the hottest September after many years, everyone here is taking advantage of the good weather and celebrating the warm days by spending as much time outside, as it is possible, eating, drinking and shopping.

Soul searching

Navagio-Zakynthos

Water helps me be balanced. Year after year i realize that whenever i live in places that there are around lakes, oceans, rivers, canals, or the sea i feel happier and more connected to myself. For some reason water makes me think deeper, clearer and more pure. It feels like returning home, as they say. The waves give me answers to my questions, the reflections on the water are lighting my soul and my brain, the breeze clears my thoughts. My trip to Greece and my time next to the sea brought to me one more time, some serious soul searching....and a kind of a eureka moment...

People we meet for a reason

I realize more and more, that many times a new person comes into our life for a reason. Recently i had the opportunity to be around people that are open, spiritual, and positive. I really believe that you attract the people you need the most at a specific time in your life.

And finally men's behavior makes sense

Oooh, how many books, discussions, women's blogs and conversations with girlfriends that have as a subject: "Why men are sooo different from women?". All these hours of conspiracy between women on how can we change them, make them think more like us, alter their DNA and input a microchip to their brain so to get us! Hundreds of magazines have been writing countless tips about this matter, but still the question remains. "Why we don't get each other?"

Seize the moments

Living the moments

I love taking pictures. You can capture moments that will follow you forever and sometimes they may even have a huge impact to someones life. How many times have you gone back to those photo albums from your childhood, from your school years, your graduation day, holidays with friends and family, your wedding day, your first baby, second baby... and you have laughed, cried, comment, remembered, being surprised?

Say cheese!

Smile girl!

Do you feel that sometimes you forget to smile or laugh with all your heart? Seriously how often  do you have the chance to do it, lets say, the previous week?

A night out with some girlfriends came to me as a reminder, that yes, i am an adult, but still i have the right to laugh hard - don't i- laughing that brings tears in my eyes!

Really that night with the Oxford girls my cheekbones hurt so much from laughing, and we all agreed that this can only be a good sign... How often do you smile or laugh? Ask yourself and then read here some other very good reason why you should laugh your heart out.