Happiness goals 2015

Budgi.nl wrote an artikel which inspireert me. An article about happiness and things you should or shoud not do to try and reacht it. Being happy is not self-evident. Especially if you had to deal with many setbacks and perhaps still must endure. No matter how hard you try to lead a positive and happy life, nothing seems to work and it may seem like you are cursed. I have felt like that some times. Wondering why life threw at me what it has thrown at me. Budgi says we are not cursed but we shouldn't want that much. This lies in our personality which is something only you can change. Being happy and having carefree life, always starts with yourself. These things can help is with that.

1. Quit wanting to be right
Is it wordt the trouble of jeoperdizing your relationship with someone just because you (feel you) are right? Always aks yourself this question. You night find the answer is 'no' once in a while. 

2. The need for controle.
Don't be a controlefreak and be prepared to let go of the need to controle everything and everyone. Let people be who they are and accept that.

3. Negativity
Don't get caught up in negativity. Belive in yourself, create and seize your chances and don't always think the worst about yourself.

4. Limits

Stop to impose limits to what you can or cannot achieve. Spread your wings and fly as high as you can without thinking about limits.

5. Complaining
Don't complain about everyone and everything. Nothing or nobody can make you unhappy if you don't allow it. So, don't allow it and be positive.

6. Criticism
Stop criticizing others. People are unique, but at the same time the same. We all want to be happy, to love and to be loved. Criticism is obsolete.

7. Impressing
Don't try so hard to be some you are not. People are impressed and o attracted to you when you show them the real you.

8. Embrace change
The only constant in life is change. Change is good and is the only thing which gets you from A to B. Resisting change is the worst thing you can do.

9. Labels
Stop sticking a label on everything and everyone who is different from you. Your mind only works when it is open to new things.

10. Fear
Fear is an illusion. It doesn't really exist, you are the one who creates it.

11. The Past
Letting go of the past isn't easy. Especially when the past seems so nice compared to the present, and you're afraid of the future. But the present is all you have got. Stop living in the past and live in the present with everything you do, with an eye to the future. Just so you can enjoy life.

12. Ties
Learn to let go. Do not give up what you love, but let go of the things that unconsciously limit you in what you can and can not achieve.

13. Don't live to the expectations of others
Your life is yours and yours alone. Too many people live as if their life belongs to others. They live by the values, norms and expectations of their parents, friends, enemies, teachers, government and media. But not you, you should listen to what your inner voice says. You need to discover what makes you happy and pursue that at all costs. You only have one life. Use it to do what you, and not others, considers important.

Love and kisses. We celebrated Christmas and even though we carry you in our hearts, we were not complete. 

Ciao!

Ixis

1 day till Christmas

It is just one more day until it is Christmas. But it will be a sad one this year as the family is not complete. We miss our beloved Tinky. A beautiful cat to cuddle. Unless she let you know it was enough. She joined us at Christmas dinner together with her son, our other cat. They had their own scratching post which was also used a some sort of chair. This year there will only be one instead of two. I believe it was the right thing to do. Our little thing was really sick as the vet told us. But you always wonder if there was something more you could do. Or well, if there was something you could do which was not so intense for the poor thing. You don't want her to cause more trouble for a few months / years just for our own pleasure. No I want what's best for her. Well, I wanted what's for her. Tiny I love you. Rest in peace my love.

If love could have kept you here, you would have lived forever. 

Ciao!

Ixis

Rest in Peace my love Tinky

Today I had to say goodbye to one of my loves in life, Tinky. Our cat who was with us for 16 years. The love. She was familiar with kidney trouble, but the last week things got worse. So we made the terrible decision to help her die to safe here the suffering. To be honest I am devastated. She was just so lovely. I've had her since I was 10 years old. So I've had her most of my life. I am going to miss her terribly, but I will never forget her! Tiny God bless you. I hope you now longer feel sick. I so at the moment but I will be better. I love you.

Ciao!
Ixis

3 days til Christmas

Only 3 days til Christmas. 2 until Christmas eve. Last week we had a christmas drink at work. While there I was told my contract will be prolonged until the end of 2015. So that is nice! At least a stable period around our trip to Indonesia. It is nice to have that bit of financial security and vacationdays for 6 more months. So we will see what it will bring after that. Enjoying the Christmas holiday now!

Ciao!
Ixis

14 days till Christmas

Two weeks left until Christmas! Yesterday at work there was a mystery aggressor. Together with a colleague we arranged it and staged a scene of verbal violence, to create awareness. The company chief was in on it, and it was especially meant to create awareness amongst the department chiefs (so my boss). And it worked. Got some great compliments about it. But I also heard that the company chief is really strict in contracts and prolonging them permanently. So probably my temporary contract, which cannot be prolonged anymore by law, is most likely to end in about 6,5 months. So form January on I think I have to seriously start looking for another job. Not only because I keep murmuring about not knowing whether or not I want to keep doing this this for the rest of my life, but because I have to.

Ciao!

Ixis

16 days till Christmas

Only 16 days left in this years countdown ;) I got some very nice news this weekend. My niece is pregnant! As I don't have any brothers or sisters, this is the closest of a family pregnancy I got. How lovely! Next to that, the next day we heard a befriended couple is engaged and they will be getting married. Love is in the air! What do you expect this December month ;)

Ciao!
Ixis

23 days till Christmas

Let the countdown begin! ;) We already have some presents in the attic which can be given and unwrapped when it's Christmas. Only 23 days left!

I have been working full-time for a year now. It's okay, I am used to it by now. The salary is nice because of it. But I won't deny loving the 4 day work week. It has also been a year since I became the advisor of this new organization part. Eventhough there can, and will be a lot of sh*t going on, it is also really fun and challenging to do. Today I also had a chat with an upcoming head of the new social domain department. Just to get a better feel of what is going on there so it can help me choose my own career and make a career step in that direction. Because, let's face it. In about 7 months it might just be the case that I am looking for a new career then. In about 2 months, February, I am going to talk to my boss again about my contract. Because I need to give me some time in searching for a possible new job. It makes me nervous writing about it because it might just as well be reality. From the beginning they have told me it is a temporary position. With my new colleague starting the day after tomorrow there might me hands enough so they can let me go. I have to keep in mind that were one door closes another one opens. 

Ciao!

Ixis

Hello December!

                                    It's the last month of the year, make it count!

I have been lousy at writing blogposts lately. I just don't take the time for it. Which is too bad, because it is fun. It makes me think about stuff, or at least it makes me wright about stuff I think about. In my last blogpost I wrote about new people at work. Today our first new colleague started. A girl my age, she seems nice but I still have to get to know her. And this Thursday the second new colleague will start. Very nice to have some extra hands to help with all the work, but also worrying about what it might mean for me. As i probably have written before my contract will end by the end of June. It cannot be prolonged (only if we are going to be creative), but I am doubtful whether or not my colleagues and especially boss want to be creative like that. Yes I am insecure. Just last week I got some nice compliments. But then others stuff happens and just the tiniest thing makes me doubt myself again. Just like these new colleagues. Will they be better than me? Will they be nicer than me? In the eyes of others? It is not a question in my own eyes, I am sure they will. But apparently what others think (still) matters to me a great deal. 

The last month of the year. As the last few years, this one flew by as well. I am very much looking forward to christmas. I love that holiday, with the warmth it holds. Being with friends and family, having Christmas diner and give each others presents to show them how much you love them. 

Ciao!

Ixis

New people

There are going to be new people at work. They will become two direct colleagues. I am involved in finding one of them, my colleague in finding the other. Amongst the other candidates there is someone I know from the past. Like 10 to 12 years ago. High school. Yes high school. That time in your life when hormones are racing and you are busy impressing boys and making friends and enemies. Those groups at school you just don;t hang out with because you know you don't click. I wouldn't not say this person is/was my enemy, but she sure is someone I don't (didn't?) click with. She will be coming for an interview tomorrow. Will I see here? Will she still be the same? Am i still the same? I am definitely not looking forward to having her as my new colleague. But then, who knows, maybe we have changed in these past 10 years.

Ciao!

Ixis

Musical

Tomorrow my boyfriend and I are going to visit a Musical. I bought tickets for my boyfriends birthday in july, but now it is finally showtime. It's about a soldier of our country during World War II. I am not that big of a history fanatic and especially not about wars so at first I thought it wasn't the musical for me. But as it seems to be a spectacular event, even besides the story of the musical, I will give it a shot! We are making a weekend of it as we decided to spent the night at a hotel. Just the two of us enjoying the weekend. 

Ciao!

Ixis

Hello November

Hello November! If you are this warm and sunny the entire month, I am going to love you. about 20 degrees Celsius and lot's of sun. Love it! You don't expect that in November. Waauw, it has been a very quit October. Only one post. About a week and a half ago my friends and I went to see a stand up comedian in Tilburg. We all took the afternoon of this particular wednesday off and headed off to the theater. We enjoyed the city for a bit, grabbed some nice dinner and saw the show. I had a blast! As a dutch saying goes 'I have gotten a good taste of it' and now I want some more. So my boyfriend and I are looking for some shows in the near future from other comedians. We also have some new holiday plans! Considering Indonesia as our next travel location. Together with a friend who has an Indonesian girlfriend. Thinking about going there September/October 2015. Hopefully I still have a job by then, or have found a new one. Because my contract will presumably end July 2015.

Let's see what November will bring. Going to the end of the year. Hope the winter will be soft as last year. Christmas is around the corner. Although, with this weather you wouldn't say so. 

Ciao!

Ixis

One year ago

Another milestone. One year ago my life was turned upside down when my father ended up in the hospital with a serious heart condition. CPR, 'induced' coma and a cooling down procedure where necessary to help my dad recover. All this started exactly 366 days ago, October 18th 2013. Now, October 19th 2014 he stood here today helping to coordinate how my boyfriend and I cleaned our tetras roof. I am just so blessed that things ended the way they did. First of all because of the strength of my mom, who despite all her worries started CPR gave the doctors a chance to perform surgery. So my mom did saved my dad's life. Just incredible how she did that. My mom and dad just came back from their holiday. I so hope they can enjoy so much more holiday's together. I hope they can enjoy their grandchildren in a few years time. I hope that this has made them stronger a team together and they will each be happy. I love them so much. These are the things that matter in life. You need to realize that in times when just everyday things seem to take over.

Ciao!

Ixis

Tagged along with a colleague

About a week and a half ago I tagged along with a colleague who is working in the field of social support in the community. Most of her job is about applying the social support act with the 'needy / invalid' civilians (if that is the right translation). I tagged along because I think this might a field in which I am interested. I did enjoy this afternoon very much. It helped me widen my view on the field and to better understand it. It was very interesting. There is also adjacent field of social support about the 'work and social assistance act' (correct translation?) which I think I might also be interested in. So I am planning to ask another colleague if I could tag along with here as well. This all in my job- and my self-development search. Because I more and more feel there has to change something. I imposed a milestone upon myself to reach the two years at this employer (february 2015), because I am not a quitter. I can learn a lot from being in this position (both job-wise and self-development wise). It is almost October and I made a deal with myself to go and start tot do some serious job hunting in around January 2015. Not only because I want to work in the field of Public Health but also because my contract will most likely end in July 2015.

Ciao!

Ixis

sleepover part 2

Last year we had our first sleepovers at grandma's. This year the family again divided some days the spent the night at grandma's while the two uncles are on holiday. Last night was my turn. Together with mom there were 3 generations of girls there. It was fun. My grandma can be a little baggy sometimes, but I hope she enjoyed having us. Hopefully we can still do it next year :)

Ciao!

Ixis

A week off - tagging along with a colleague

Next week (including this friday) I am having the week off. So time for relaxing, some 'me-time' and doing fun stuff. I have promised myself to go shopping, to bake, to finish my photo book from our holiday last year and all that sort of stuff. 

Next to that I have asked a colleague if I could tag along one time. This is a colleague in a field of expertise which I think I am interested in as well. As I wrote about it earlier here in 2011 and here in 2012. That is how time flies. Wauw.  

My colleague's job is about social support in the community, public health. So much more oriented towards my master's degree at the university. As I work at a government organization we have HR as well as the social domain.Next thursday I am allowed to tag along with her for an appointment. I am very curious to see how this goes and if this does cover my interests. If so, I can start moulding my career in that direction. 

Ciao!

Ixis

Saying Goodbye

Today my friends and I went bowling en had some dinner. Kind of special today as a friend goes to Australia for sic months to a year and she is leaving this wednesday. Wonderful to imagine how she is going to explore the world for such a period of time. She is really looking forward to it, as this has been kind off her dream for a while now. But naturally she is a bit nervous. She is saying goodbye to lots of people now these past few days. Weird to imagine that it is (almost) september already. She told us her plans on New Years day when she stayed the night after New Years Eve. Well she had the plans, but they were becoming more concrete. And now only 3 days before she goed on her big trip. I wish her the most beautiful experience in travel, meeting friendly people and just have a wonderful time. 

Ciao!

Ixis

Quote

Quote - Friday

Quote - Thursday

Quote - Wednesday

Quote - Tuesday

Quote - Monday

This one made me laugh. Kind of feel the same way about monday. We rocked the first day of the week, four to go ;)

1,5 year milestone, clearance in what I want?

Have been working at the company for 1,5 years now, another milestone. 2 weeks ago I received my 'new contract', it is prolonged until July 1th 2015. So if all goes well I will at least make the 2-year mark and almost the 2,5 year mark. At least that kind of helps from not being a job hopper. Last week for the first time I felt it was becoming a bit more concrete what it is I want to do, but especially why. I feel like I want to be socially involved in the first line. Ok, this is probably going to sound a bit weird in English, but I'll try to explain. Because it helps me when I have to explain it to a future employer. I have an advisory job now. And most of what I do is advise some else to do something in a certain way. I feel like I want to be the person doing the actual work. Advising makes it feel to much from a distance. Besides I feel like I want to really mean something and be able to see it. So to be directly involved in everything. I want to feel my job has meaning. Help people who really need it. I experience these feel ins second hand now while advising. I want to feel them first hand. Besides, I think I can be of much more help when doing something actually socially involved. Not just finding a way to lots of bureaucracy in side conditions.

Ciao!
Ixis

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Summer feeling

Even though my summer holiday has been behind me for 2 months now, the weather just keeps me in the summer feeling. Nice warm temperatures, lots of sun and some occasional summer rain, all part of the deal. I live from weekend to weekend now as that is the time to be able to enjoy the sun. Have been working fulltime for 8 months now, so my wednesday afternoons of relaxing have been over for some time. I switched them for the friday afternoons, but I have to spent them doing some household chores. But with this lovely weather I make some time. Sun first, it's is not as common as the household chores. They will still be after a couple of hours. The sun might not be. 

Ciao!

Ixis

My boyfriend turned 30

Yesterday, July 20th, is my boyfriends birthday. This year he turned 30! A milestone, a new 'semester' in life. In your thirties people are settling in careers, houses and go start a family. But then, I am still four years away from turning 30 :) Everything will come when the time is right. My boyfriend is the first in our group to reach the age of 30. The rest will follow in the upcoming years. Hopefully it is going to be a lot of memorable birthday parties. Of course you should celebrate each birthday, but especially these special one. No more ' twenty-someting' from now on, the next 10 years will be 'thirty'-something'. Waauw he is getting old ;)

Of course we had to celebrate his birthday, so saturday july 19th we invites family and friends to join us in the celebration birthday party. With some cool beer and other drinks we held a garden party as the whether was about 34 degrees Celcius. Had a wonderful time which started in the late afternoon when our friends came to decorate our front yard! Also the back of the house and our garden were decorated all in style. We had a really fun evening and went to bed around 04.00 am. Thanks everyone for the amazing party! Also on behave of my boyfriend.

Ciao!

Ixis

Survival mode

This saturday I went into survival mode! Not really, but just for fun. With several friends we had our first official friendsday (our second if you count the girls and boys weekend last year). Three of our friends organized this day as a surprise to the others. Last saturday we were expected at 9.30 hrs at 'the' outdoor terrain in the neighborhood. It turns out we were going on a treasure hunt!

I had to overcome some fears in the speleo (is that and English word?) Some underground corridors in which it was pitch black and very narrow. I was a little scared to be honest, but with 9 people we dug in and came out! We also crossed a robe several feet of the ground and did some archery. After a GPS route we had one last rafting assignment after which we cracked the code and earned us a local drink! It was very fun! 

The day continued with a lunch and some games at a friends house. In the evening we cooked tapas together and watched the soccer match. Unfortunatly the Netherlands lost through penalties from Argentina so the had the match of the consolation final (fourth and third place) against Brasil. The dutch won! So in the end they are third best of the world! An achievement to be proud of!

Next year I will be on the organization committee, so together with a friend (and maybe a third party) we get to think of a nice day to spent with our friends

Ciao!
Ixis

300 post! (now 301) - Mantra

Waauw, Just just realized I wrote my 300 post! 300 little posts in a little over 2 years mostly about nothing really. More of a online little diary as I sometimes look back a month, a year or 2 years to see what I did then. Because in  intention of starting a blog I really haven't come up with a solid theme to write about. I can't find my passion.

That's my problem a bit. I am restless like that. My mind as well. I did start my own mantra to help my mind relax at night or at times of stress. Been doing it for a couple of weeks now and I feel like it helps. While repeating my mantra it helps me relax a little. My mantra goes like 'rest, relaxation, I am powerful'. Just last week I repeated it while driving from one work location to the other and I felt my muscles relax. it helped my mind to settle a bit. It just goes on and on and on. Especially in bed it tires me, but not in the good sleepy way. Keeping it occupied with the mantra helps. Even though I have to consciously keep repeating it or my mind will start to wander again.

Ciao!
Ixis

World Championship Soccer

The past few weeks Brasil is the home town to the world championships of soccer. The Netherlands made it to the last 4 and this wednesday they will play in the semi final against Argentina.

The last few matches were so tense! Against Mexico they just scored in the final 10 minutes, and last saturday against Costa Rica they won through penalties. But, being at the party of friends, it was great to look at with everyone. When we knew they had won we were very exited. You should have seen our faces, I bet it was great fun to look at our reactions! Hopefully the match is't going to cause so much tension this wednesday. We will see. Perhaps they (we) can take revenge for the lost championship final of 2010. (They already did that a little by kicking Spain's but with 5-1 ;) ).

Ciao!
Ixis

Rainbow Run

Had a very colorful saturday last week! I participated in a rainbow run (color run) to raise money for research for ALS disease. Together with some friends we went dressed up in some old clothes, and received some white t-shirts. We were going to get colorful dirty! While running (or walking) you came accross several 'checkpoints' which all consisted of one color. The people there just through these colored poeders on all the participants. In the end, we were green, red, orange, blue, purper an what not. It was so much fun! Especially the color explosion at the end. We all got some bags with colored powder to through in the air and on each other. And then, when the music reached its climax, we all threw the powder in the air! It was so much fun and for a good cause. I beleive we raised about €100.000 for research against ALS disease.

Ciao!

Ixis

Quotes

I just found an incredible inspiring website/Facebook page. It is called 'Simple Reminders'. They just have the most beautiful pictures combined with some very touching quotes. A little selection from their work:

House owners for 2 years - Happy fathersday

As of today my boyfriend and I have been house owners for 2 years. Exeactly 2 years ago, junu 15th 2012, we went to the notary and recieved the keus to our home. Two years later we stil live ere ery happily. I wrote it warriger, but in some parts of my life time really flies. I am curious were we will be two years from now? What (amazing?) trips have we made? Do I have a new job? One that in feel happy in? Ot what about marriage and kids? More and more people I know are becoming mom and dad. It is nice to fantasise about it.

Today is fathersday in the Netherlands. For me it is a special one this year. Who would have thought last october, we were able to celebrate fathersday with our family. But we can! I am very grateful for that! So later today I am going over to mom and dad and give my dad a little something to show him how much I love him.

Ciao!
Ixis.

New car

Our clothes have just been washed and the holiday pictures have just been sorted, and we moved on to the next 'item on our list'. We bought a new car. A beautiful Opel Astra J. I am not much of a car specialist. I just pay attention the exthetics. You know, like the shape and the color and everything. Here is a picture of one just like ours.

It does cost some money, but then you've got something (or is that just a Dutch expression). I  am happy with it. I like the way it looks, especially chrome edges by the windows. We were thinking about buying a new car for some time now. I think since the beginning of 2014. But with our USA trip coming up we at least wanted to wait a bit and save some more. So, we were thinking about buying one towards the end of this year. But then this opportunity came along. A pretty good deal, so we made it. 

Now we can start saving for our next item on the list, what will it be? A new computer? A next holiday? A new kitchen? Well, we will see.

Ciao!

Ixis

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Back home

Waauw! What an amazing trip!! This morning we returned safely back home after there weeks in the USA. Time flew by, but while there it did feel like a wonderfull long trip. I think beceause of the different cities we visited. New York, Washington, Orlando, Sanibel Island, Key West and last but not least Miami! It was truly wonderfull and defintaly a trip I will never forget!

Ciao!
Ixis

Sanibel Island - Key West - Miami

An update from the sunshine state Florida! After New York we went to Washinton DC by train. After a few days we flew to Orlando from where we got our rental. Tomorrow we continue our trip from Sanibel Island to Key West. Some long driving ahead of us. It is really wonderfull here. It is deffinately a very memorable trip. But as the end of the holiday is coming in sight. Some stress about (going back to) my job pops up again. I think I know I need to make peace with the thoughts that this isn't my kind of job and I have to start doing something about it. Well yeah...

Ciao!
Ixis

New york city baby!

A little update from the thriving New York City! Waauw! We have been here for almost 6 days. So much to see! I love it! Had to get used to the crowdiness at first but now I just go with the flow!

Ciao!
Ixis

Less than 1 week to go

Ok, getting nervous a little bit. For the flight and everything. Going to one hell of a big city and country. Started packing a bit. Towels, bikini, underwear and stuff. Just a few more days of work.

Ciao!
Ixis

Countdown 2 weeks to go

Only 2 weeks left. I can almost start packing. For me that is part of the holiday. Looking forward to it and preparing for it. It helps me come in the mood! So one of these days I am going to get my suitcase so I can start putting some clothes, shoes, towels, bikini's and all that stuff, in it. Yeah :D

Today it is Kings day in the Netherlands. For the past 30 years we celebrated the Queens birthday on april 30th. Well, the past Queens birthday, as our latest Queens has her birthday the end of January. But as of this year it will be April 27th. Except this year beceause that would be a sunday. So this year it is today. Holland turns Orange, and the Royal family visites 2 cities. Not much to do in the neigbourhood where I live. And to be honest for me it feeds like Amy other saturday. But for those celebrating, happy Kingsday! In the meantime, I am Looking forward to our trip.

Ciao!

Ixis

Happy Easter!

Christian holiday about chocolate, eggs and the easterbunny. Well that is ofcourse what society has made of it through the years when it helped the consumption and thus the cash flow of supermarkets. But nontheless, I am having trouble to define the real meaning of easter. It tells the story about the crusification of Jesus on white thursday and the ressurection with Easter. But at least the eggs and the other food that comes with it. How society manipulates all of us. Just like with Christmas.

Ciao!
Ixis

6 months ago my life stopped for a moment

April 18th, friday the 18th. Exactly 6 months ago my dad was struck by a severe heart attack. It was my mom who performed CPR and saved him. So today, like every other day after October 18th, has been kind of special. It was very close or my dad wasn't around anymore. Last wednesday I took a course of CPR. In doing so I realised even more what mom did when I my dad had his heart attack. I have so much admiration for her which I just can't express enough. So today, 6 monts later I stil have my dad in my life. Thanks to a lot of people but especially my mom in these first, vital(!) moments! It is just unbelieveble what she performed! So cherish those loved ones you have in your life, beceause you never know when they won't be there anymore.

Ciao!

Ixis

Quote

Life can be a puzzle. It is a puzzle for most of us. You can go on day by day on what feels like an automatic pilot. But what do we do it for? And does it make us really happy? For that is what I think we should seek. We should seek out that what makes us happy. Not in a selfish way, but in finding what it is that makes you care about the world and about others. I don't know if my computer work and desk job make me happy for the rest of my life (Yes, it comes back to my job a lot, but that is a big part of who I am now. And it sure claims a lot of space in my life because I think it is not that what makes me happy). If I find that, I can start giving in return. Because when you find what gives you energy. You don't have to seek anymore and you can focus on other stuff. At least that is the way I think it should be or can be. Or am I just also controlled and brainwashed by society and is it just utopia?

Ciao!

Ixis

Countdown 4 weeks to go

Getting closer! 4 weeks left to our big trip. It is exiting! Last week I had a performance evaluation at work. Good to hear my boss is positive about the things I do. We also talked about the future. Do I have one? As my contract ends the end of August? My boss thinks so. Well that is nice, but I believe it when I see it. First I was thinking about asking about my contract after the holiday. But maybe I would like to know it before I go, so I know whether or not I have to keep my eyes even more open for a new job.

Ciao!

Ixis

A little break - weekend at sea part 2

This weekend me and my boyfriend went on a trip together with my parents and my in-laws. Spent a nice few days by the sea, just like last year. This time we enjoyed Leiden, Noordwijk, Katwijk and Lisse. We saw some nice flower fields. Which is very common for the area. All the flowers are grown for their bulbs. Which is one of the great export products of the Netherlands. And due the the soft winter and early spring all the flowers and fields were in bloom. A lovely sight! Of course days like these fly by and before you know it, it is time to come home again. This evening we are going to have a final diner together as the conclusion of the weekend. 

Ciao!
Ixis

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Countdown 6 weeks to go

Only six more weeks to go before the big trip to the USA. Spring is progressing and hopefully the same goes for the status and we will have nice temperatures. Loving the esrly spring this year. Especially after last year when we stil had snow in the midst of march. This year I mowed the kwam yesterday. On march 28th! How nice.

Ciao!
Ixis

10 Good Reminders for Stressful Times

There are lots of things in life which can cause stressful moments. Your job, your social life, all kinds of obligations to friends, family, colleagues, sports and so on and so on. There are times when you just get caught up in it. It is good to keep seeing things in perspective. While surfing I encountered 10 things to think about when life delivers a dose of difficulty and stress.  

1. Happiness is never constant, and it’s not supposed to be. – You have to fight through some bad days to earn the best days of your life.  To believe that you can reach a state of happiness and stay there forever, is like the tide believing she can reach for the shoreline and remain there forever; or like a fruit tree believing that if she only holds on tighter, she can keep her fruit from dropping to the ground.  Happiness is simply a series of moments that come and go and add sweetness to our lives.  Learn to accept this, and the more happy moments you will have.  
2. Failures are temporary situations that teach us necessary lessons. – Life’s best lessons are usually learned at the worst times and from the worst mistakes.  So yes, you will fail sometimes.  The faster you accept this, the faster you can get on with being brilliant. You’ll never be 100% sure it will work, but you can always be 100% sure doing nothing won’t work.  Doing something and getting it wrong is at least ten times more productive than doing nothing.  So get out there and try!  Either you succeed or you learn a vital lesson.  Win – Win.
3. Even if you can’t see it now, you are making progress. – You may not be where you want to be yet, but if you think about it, you’re no longer where you once were either.  You have good reason to believe that you can trust yourself going forward.  Not because you’ve always made the right choices, but because you survived the bad ones, and taken small steps in the right direction.  So cry for a moment if you have to, and get it out of your system.  Crying doesn’t indicate that you’re weak; since birth, it has always been a sign that you’re alive and full of potential.  Once you’re done, keep going!  You’re undoubtedly getting closer to where you want to be.
4. How you feel when you’re stressed is not a true measure of reality. – Just because you’re afraid, doesn’t mean you’re in danger.  Just because you feel alone, doesn’t mean nobody loves you.  Just because you think you might fail, doesn’t mean you will.  Look beyond your doubts and keep searching for the truth.  Be aware of your mental self-talk.  We all talk silently to ourselves in our heads, but we aren’t always conscious of what we’re saying or how it’s affecting us.  The way to overcome negative thoughts and destructive emotions is to develop opposing, positive emotions that are stronger and more powerful.  Listen to your self-talk and replace negative thoughts with positive ones.  The sun is always shining on some part of your life.  
5. You cannot change what you refuse to confront. – You can learn great things from your failures and mistakes when you aren’t busy denying them.  If you’ve been asking the same questions for months or even years, yet are still stuck, it’s probably not that you haven’t been given the answers, but that you don’t like the answers you were given.  It takes a lot of courage to admit that something needs to change, and a lot more courage still, to accept the responsibility for actually changing it.  The most important step forward is taking the first step.  The simple act of getting started and doing something will give you the momentum you need, and soon you’ll find yourself in a positive spiral of positive changes – one building on the other.
6. You are not what happened to you in the past. – No matter how chaotic the past has been, the future is a clean, fresh, wide open slate. You are not your past habits. You are not your past failures. You are not how others have at one time treated you. You are only who you think you are right now in this moment. You are only what you do right now in this moment.  
7. Not getting what you want can be a blessing. – Not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of good luck, because it forces you to reevaluate things, opening new doors to opportunities and information you would have otherwise overlooked.  Remember, some things in life fall apart so that better things can fall together.
8. Being a ‘work in progress’ is a great state to be in. – Stop berating yourself for being a work in progress.  Start embracing it!  Because being a work in progress doesn’t mean you’re not good enough today; it means you want a better tomorrow, and you wish to love yourself completely, so you can live your life fully.  It means you’re determined to heal your heart, expand your mind and cultivate the gifts you know you’re meant to share.  May we all be works in progress forever, and celebrate the fact that we are!
9. Nobody else can do it for you. – Keep doing what you know in your heart is right for YOU.  Let your dreams be bigger than your fears and your actions louder than your words.  Live by choice, not by chance.  Make changes, not excuses.  Be motivated, not manipulated. Work to excel, not compete.  Choose to listen to your inner voice, not the jumbled opinions of everyone else.  It’s your road, and yours alone.  Others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you.
10. Life is not easy, but it’s worth it. – If you expect it to be, you will perpetually disappointed yourself.  Achieving anything worthwhile in life takes effort.  So start every morning ready to run farther than you did yesterday and fight harder than you ever have before.  Above all, make sure you properly align your efforts with your goals.  It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it in the end.

See the beautiful in the world

With all the things we can complain about on a daily basis, there is also much beauty in the world. In the form of beautiful places, but also in friendship, nice gestures, blossoming nature and other little things. Since january I try on a daily basis to write down something I am grateful for that day, something that made me smile or just something I have seen which made me realise how beautiful the world can be. I put it in a little box and by the end of 2014 I will read my little notes to see which presents lifes gives me everyday. Just to keep a little positive feeling. For me it is easy to let the negative thoughts take over. Especially regarding work at which I think I am just not happy. But it pays the bills and it makes our planned trip to the USA possible. Enjoy your sunday!

Ciao!
Ixis

Counting Stars - One Republic

Countdown 8 weeks to go

I have always wanted to travel the world. Not a big fancy adventurous whish, but I do have it. Just curious about what else is out there. Besides Europe. In 8 weeks my first 'long distance' travel will start! A sort of road trip through the states! I am really looking forward to it. Starting with New York, the big apple. The centre of the world. Then Washington and going down further south to florida with a car ride towards the Keys. Just a few more weeks. I never did a semester abroad, or went to work abroad for a year after college. I am just this town girl who does everything as I am expected to. Just the everyday life. But life can be, and should be so much more! Today is a perfect day to start living your dreams. Everyday can be your last. But I am still figuring out my dreams life-wise. So just start with this one I know I want, which is seeing a bit of the world. 

Ciao!
Ixis

Making pic's

I have been on instagram for some time now. I like the idea to share my pictures, and in a way, memorise them on the internet. Went for sushi for the first time in my life. And it was a Good experience! Waauw what a lovely weather this sunday. It's only the nineth of march but it is around 20 degrees Celsius. Love it! Live spring! Hopefully it lasts and we won't get a period like last year were we got a winter period with snow and everything just halfway through march

Love the weekends

Beaceause you have time for sleeping-in and a homemade smoothie. Have a peek in my weekend with these 2 homemade pictures. 

It's my birthday

 Another year older, 26 as of today.

Stay positive they say

You can tell me anything, I will be here for you no matter what. Yeah right. The only feeling I feel is how wrong I am doing things. Nice. What karma is this? Am I that stupid a person? At work? At home. Why aren't I understood? What is it I  doing so terribly wrong?

Cupcake overload

   

Something that cheers me up is baking. And of course eating it afterwards. Had a couple of birthdays these last few weeks and relatives of my boyfriend brought some 'homemade' eggs of their chicken. As my parents-in-law now had lot's of eggs, they gave us some. But I also happened to have bought some new eggs last week, so now I had some extra eggs as well. And what can you do with eggs? baking :D If you have some butter of course. So, once I had butter, I decided to make a cake. Not a cupcake, just a regular, well tasting cake. With some whipped cream. Love it! To share this love with you, I have added some of the sweets pictures.

Ciao!

Ixis

Job insecurities

Ugh.. At the moment I am not so happy at my job. Since december I am sort of working part-time 2 jobs combined in one, and at the same employer. It's al very new and this second job is an organization in the build. It just started six months ago, so everything needs to be set up. My 'original'  job on the other hand continues. The pressure that comes with this is high. For a part challenging, but being at it for 3 months now I also see the debts of it. I feel like haven't got the time to do each job well. And on top of that I feel like I don't seem to fit in the team anymore. Don't know what it is exactly, but just these minor hints (well, in my eyes). Looking weird at me, not grasping what I am saying, making comments out on the hallway, asking me to think out of the box, but when I am asking certain questions, replying very much inside the box, and these sorts of things. it takes up a large part of my life. I like to go there every day with new confidence, but these last few weeks every day this renewed confidence is degraded by these little events. You probably know I am a very insecure person, so this sure doesn't help. It really does make me think about the content of the job. Because I get to do something I thought I liked. But know I am not sure. But has it to do with the job content? Or the circumstances which just make it difficult for me to do job properly. 

Ciao!

Ixis

Bucket list update

Two years ago I posted my bucket list. Let's see what has become of it in these two years which have passed. Can I already check some whishes? Add new ones? The ones I can check:

* living together
* buying a house and creating a home
* Climbing the Eiffel Tower

My remaining bucket list:

* building my/our won house
* having a job I truly love
* Being happy in my job (as it is for a long time of my life)
* Getting married
* Becoming a mother
* Writing a story book
* Writing a cook book
* Following a course for being a judge at gymnastics
* Teaching gymnastics to kids
* Visiting / traveling to the Caribbean, south America, Australia, Indonesia, north America.
* Beimg able to make beautiful decoraties for cakes and cupcakes
* .............

Ciao!
Ixis

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