The pursuit...

Chasing ephemeral things such as perfection, and forevers...Sometimes, not even knowing what we are really after. Are you so worried with the destination that you forget about enjoying the journey? Or are you so worried about being cautious in your journey that you may never reach your destination, losing the path blinded by fear? Why live in pursuit of a metaphor?

“Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, champagne in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming “WOO HOO what a ride!”

Antidepressants- to take or not to take, that is the question

Historically speaking, it was only in 1988, that Ray Fuller invented Prozac. Nonetheless, the existence of this "happy pill" was not quite known until the publication of Elizabeth Wurtzel's "Prozac Nation", a bestseller, and a biography of one of the first people who took it. Not so long ago, maybe a couple of decades, just the mentioning of the word "antidepressants", would cause bewildered glances, and cautious "lets keep our distance" insinuations. Nowadays, it seems that depression has become as "ordinary" as flu, and many people started taking these pills as carelessly as vitamin C.

You can even find the definition of Prozac in the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary, according to which, "someone lively and excited may safely be described as 'on Prozac'". For example, "Critics compared the actress's performance to Bette Davis on Prozac." http://dictionary.cambridge.org

Furthermore, Prozac's seemed to become the "it-drug", a pharmaceutical Chanel-bag because of the vast number of celebrities that used it, and told all about it to the media. While celebrities of the past, who apparently had more class and dignity, took effort in hiding their depression (Audrey Hepburn, and Marilyn Monroe, for instance), the Prozac generation seemed to erase the stigma; depression became a part of the professional designation - celebrities are expected to be miserable, and talk about it (Winona Ryder), or become front-page news after returning from clinics for antidepressant addiction (Robbie Williams).

Yet, it's not all attention, sunshine and daisies. Althought your doctor may give you some BS (Pardon my French) about how "it may be because it's not the right person", it is clinically proven that antidepressants diminish the libido, more furtherly, you may become unable to reach the big O. Worse than that, you may lose your ability to feel anything at all, you become a kind of a zombie, whose preferred company becomes his/ hers own apathy. It can feel convenient at the beginning (I mean the not falling in love part, not the lack of libido, of course), but afterwards it becomes plain boring, and worrying, especially if you're the artistic type, who needs emotions for inspiration.

Fashion bloggers -WHY?!

Dear fashion Blargh-gers bloggers, have you ever considered getting a (different) hobby, one that wouldn't involve narcisism...? I know that you have a crowd of douche-bags wannabes that make you think you're saving the world from ugliness...But, seriously, how many combinations can you make with your metallic plaid skirt & fake Gucci shoes, and most importantly, how much more can you write about it? From what I've learned, from you:

1. If you want to look like a fashion blogger, you have to go around to every possible social event with media, dressing like this saying "yeah, I'm an it girl, that's hot", oh and don't forget to put your fake huge glasses so you look exquisitely dumb smart...And the peace sign pose, because you know, "that's hot":




2. Whatever this is, kill it before it lays eggs (Ok, Perez, sometimes you're even funny, but...WHY?!):



3. Sooooomewhere over the rainbow...this could be... elegant? chic? logical?



4. Ops... You became a victim of your stylist, who gave you a bad-hair day month because he was rolling on too many diet pills aka ampethamines with drank too much champagne...? No worries, darling, just put it in your blog- "le brand new trend!"- it's going to be automatically "in", who will dare to suspect it was initially a salon-disaster.



5. If celebrities wear it, it's socially acceptable (I wonder, do you get paid for dressing like that, like them?)...



Don't get me wrong, I'm not against frivolity, for "deep down I'm pretty superficial"... ;-P

I believe!

I believe that there are good people left in the world. I believe that saying "thank you" and "I am sorry" can make a huge difference & save relationships. I believe that we can make someone's day with the simple but great gift of a smile or a kind word. I believe that one little drop can make a significant difference, for it takes one drop to make a glass overflow. I believe that crying is not something shameful, but something that's good for the soul, because it's something that shows that you're human. I believe that turning the other cheek is neither humiliating nor retaliation. It is rather a response of strength that says, “I will not seek revenge because I am stronger than that”. It also says, I will not respond in shame because I have dignity and compassion for the ones in need of light. My dignity is not found in if I can hit them back and hurt them. I believe that it is better to always try than to live on wondering "what if". I believe in showing our feelings & telling others how much we care because we never know when is going to be the last day we'll see them, you never know what can happen tomorrow. I believe that dancing & singing is the best therapy. I believe in second chances, miracles, dogs, kids, and that many things can be solved with a good, hearty laugh. I believe in happy endings.
And last, but not least... I believe in love. ♡

no expectation = no motivation

Some people say that if you don't expect anything you will not be disappointed... After giving it a lot of thought, I came to think about this belief as mediocre & pessimist. It's an oxymoron, because when you're trying to avoid expectations to protect yourself, it's because subconsciously you're expecting the worst possible outcome in every situation. Makes sense?

I believe that expectations go hand in hand along with dreams & goals.

We enter competitions & contests because we expect to win. When we work, we expect to get paid, or to get a promotion. (Some) People expect to help others & expect to make a difference in the life of others & in the world. Doctors & scientists keep researching because they expect to find new cures & vaccines. We pray because we expect that our prayers will be answered. When times get tough, we get up, dust ourselves off & "keep walking", because we expect that things will get better, we know that we deserve a happy ending (don't we?), and thus we're going to get one. In the end of the tunnel, we expect a ray of light, and after the rain, we expect sunny days. When the night comes, we expect to see stars. Sure, we may get disappointed from time to time, c'est la vie, but if we don't expect anything from life, we'd lack ambition & motivation. To to get started we must have a destination.

Some synonyms for expectation are: belief, anticipation, confidence, hope, promise, intention, relience, trust. Wouldn't our lives feel empty & frustrating without all of these words &, most importantly, their meanings? Think about a kid with cancer. Remember Martin Luther's speech: "I have a dream!..." Mother Theresa, Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Winston Churchill... Remember Obama's "Yes we can!"... You think they had no expectations? Think again.

"Aim for the moon. If you miss, you may hit a star."

PS: Of course, you can't rely ONLY on expectations, you must DO something about them too! ;-)

Dubito ergo sum...?

Life consists of so many choices, decisions, & conclusions - sometimes resulting in faux pas & repentance, making us aprehensive & hesitant. . . While we succumb in indecision, we lose precious time & unique opportunities. So, what should we do, rush to seek advice?

"When in doubt, choose to live." (Terry Pratchett) -"When in doubt, play dead." (Anon)

"When in doubt, abstain." (Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina) -"When in doubt, drink" (Anon)

"When in doubt, lie." (B. Cloughley) -"When in doubt, tell the truth." (M. Twain)

“When in doubt, make a fool of yourself." (C. Heimel) -"When in doubt, look intelligent." (G. Keillor)

"When in doubt, mumble." (H. Boren) - “When in doubt, sing loud.” (R. Merrill)

“When in doubt, do it.” (H. Jackson) - “When in doubt, don't.” (B. Franklin)

...I say, when in doubt, don't ask others' opinion! (Unless, of course, you want to end up more confused & frustrated with the contradiction). . . Nobody knows "all the truth" about any situation, alas, what is truth? Whose truth? Cogito nimis ergo... (Vah! Denuone Latine loquebar? Me ineptum. Interdum modo elabitur...)

A time to every purpose

"There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven:
A time to give birth, & a time to die; A time to plant, & a time to uproot what is planted. A time to kill, & a time to heal; A time to tear down, & a time to build up. A time to weep, & a time to laugh; A time to mourn, & a time to dance. A time to throw stones, & a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, & a time to shun embracing. A time to search, & a time to give up as lost; A time to keep, & a time to throw away. A time to tear apart, & a time to sew together; A time to be silent, & a time to speak. A time to love, & a time to hate; A time for war, & a time for peace."

From great matters to frivolous things, we frequently feel overwhelmed by anxiety and/or frustration about the "wrong timing", delaying, or interruption of some eventualities. Unconsiously, we focus on the speed rather than the destination, for it is seldom that two things can be given equal attention. Ergo, if we don't hold our horses, they may take us in the wrong direction, and plausibly collide; we lose control of our thoughts, our actions, and, therefore, ourselves... Let's not forget, that those who can't master themselves, can't master anything, and when we are in our own power, then we're truly powerful.

It is not about conformity, but about acceptance - "omnia tempus habent et suis spatiis transeunt universa sub cælo" (Ecclesiastes 3)

After all, what do we know about the "fitting time"?