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!

Cry me a river, its ok!

My mother used to say, when I was a kid that it was as if "I had tears in my pocket". I wasn't a drama queen, but I was and still getting emotional very, very easily. I might cry from happiness, sadness, empathy, injustice, anger, tiredness... I can be a crying machine 😂 and I even weep to social events like my son's play at school, from proudness of others achievements, or from being sympathetic to a friends story that shares at a café. I am definitely not ashamed about me crying in front of others!  For some crying is a weak thing to do, embarrassing, uncomfortable, not for adults and especially not for men -yes still is considered a handicapped. Other people they just cannot cry, which I find dangerous, mostly for their own health. For me crying has been as much comforting and cathartic, as laughter has been. So crying and laughter in my world are holding hands.

A hymn for Greek people

Reaching for the light through a cave in Chios island

Philoxenia means Hospitality and is a Greek term. A concept that Greek people always had in their lives. Since ancient times Greeks were welcoming the foreign, the new (my name Neofili, means friend of the new actually!) Greece has always been the oasis for the people from North and from colder climates. The place where they plan their honeymoon, the country that trust for beautiful holidays, the most sacred time of everyone's life. The place where they go because they now they will find big smiles, open arms and a lot of great food and sceneries. But Greece proved lately that it is there at dark times also. At times that people need a helping hand, a lifesaver literally and metaphorically. Times that nobody wants to witness. Greek people in the refugee crisis became the lighthouse, the hope and the road to a new life.

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.

2017 health resolution: Go to an Osteopath!

When I was back in Greece and working for the media sector, I was at one point specialized to write and report for alternative medicine and therapies. I was also keen to find new super foods, the next big effective diet and therapy or technique, anything new, interesting and different.  So for example I knew about the Alexander technique (great therapy for dancers and people with problem with their posture), but for one reason i never came across osteopathy, although it is not a new therapy since it was founded in the late 1800s by physician and surgeon Andrew Taylor from Missouri, USA. I knew physiotherapy and the work of a chiropractor, but osteopathy was never one of those techniques and therapies that fallen under my attention. Not until I moved to the Netherlands. And funny enough the first encounter was for my baby boy, and not for me!