A treasure of wisdom

Sometimes I just come across these beautiful picture which are worth looking at and reading. Sometimes you need to be remembered of certain aspects in life to genuinely appreciate it once more. It's up to you how you deal with situation that are thrown onto your path of life (Wow, how philosophical do I sound right now...) When reading this Dutch Magazine 'Happinez', there was an article about wisdom in which short but powerful was summarized: knowledge + experience = wisdom. 7 insights were chosen in this article which can give you wisdom. But to reach it, you have to experience it. Each insight has an exercise to lead you to and through this experience and the corresponding wisdom. I intend to follow these exercises on the insights: giving, unity, love, trust, wealth, happiness and speech. A bit like the seven deadly sins, but than the other way around. I will post updates of every insight and exercise, just to  have an extra motivation to really go through with it.

Ciao!

Ixis

Live each day

Live life like everyday can be your last. Live life like there is no tomorrow. Quite a spiritual quote that came to me because of such harsh unpleasant event. I realised this once more last friday when I heard my grandmother was hospitalized. It's already several days later and she still isn't home yet. Some problems with the heart and longs so pretty serious. Events like this put you back on the earth with both feed and make you realize that everyday can be someone's last. Don't squander precious moments, but truly cherish them. This might be the 'docle far niente' I wrote the about earlier. And like I stated yesterday, I believe that everything happens for a reason. I don't believe my grandmother was hospitalized to teach me a leason, but tha fact that it did happen gives me an opportunity to realize that everyday can be your last. Don't just live your life in speed 3, but slow down and enoy those simple things in life. Enjoy the precious time you may spent with special people. They may be out of your life before you know it. It's so easy and obvious to write about this, but is another thing to actually do it. I should do it more! I should live more and be grateful for all those things I do have in my life, instead of moping about the things I don't.

Ciao!

Ixis

‘Dolce far niente’ part 2

Last week I wrote about ‘dolce far niente’ translated as ‘the sweetness of doing nothing’. This expression is also defined as an attitude, a mindset. The sweetness of doing nothing is about the capability to live your life freely and to enjoy the simple things that life has to offer. I tried it the other day, this ‘dolce far niente’. I took a seat in the garden to enjoy the sun and listen to the signing of the birds. Nothing else, just sitting there enjoying those simple things in life. I closed my eyes to feel the warmth of the sun on my face. I heard 2 children, coming back from school, passing by on their bikes. I also heard the cover of the waste bin closing with a bang, the neighbor busy talking to her husband, another neighbor, who is probably doing some rebuilding, constantly working with an electric saw, the closing of a car door, another neighbor talking on the phone about the tennis match of her son, and, far away somewhere, there are birds, singing…. Even though I physically wasn’t doing anything, my mind was making extra hours to keep track of all these ancillary matters. Anyway, the sweetness of doing nothing is about the mindset. Enjoying those simple things in life. Maybe I was supposed to enjoy those children passing by (even though they drowned the sound of the birds), enjoy the chattering neighbor and enjoy the noise of the electric saw (which all drowned the sound of the birds for which I got in the garden!). Well… I think I missed the purpose and meaning of the mindset in this first attempt. A little bit more practice is required.

Ciao!

Ixis

"Dolce far niente" the sweetness of doing nothing

Misschien zijn er mensen die deze uitdrukking al kenden, maar iedereen die de film 'eat pray love' gezien heeft, is er nu in ieder geval ook bekend mee. 'Dolce far niente' vertaald als 'het zalige nietsdoen'. Heerlijk lijkt me dat! Deze uitdrukking wordt ook wel omschreven als een houding, een mindset. Het zalige nietsdoen gaat om de mogelijkheid om het leven vrij te leven en te genieten van de simpele dingen welke het leven te bieden heeft. Dit klinkt zo mooi en ik wou dat ik het kon. Maar ik kan het niet! Ik kan gewoon niet in de tuin zitten en naar de vogels kijken, ik kan niet op de bank zitten om enkel muziek te luisteren, ik kan niet niets doen. Het lijkt me heerlijk om dat wel te kunnen.