“Every night I used to pray that I’d find my people. And finally I did, on the open road. We had nothing to lose, nothing to gain, nothing we desired anymore. Except to make our lives into a work of art. Live fast, die young, be wild and have fun. I believe in the country America used to be. I’ll believe in the person I want to become. I believe in the freedom of the open road. And my motto is the same as ever. I believe in the kindness in strangers. And when I’m at war with myself, I ride. I just ride. Who are you? Are in touch with all of your darkest fantasies? Have you created a life for yourself, where you can experience them? I have. I am fucking crazy. But I am free.”

Lana Del Rey (“Ride”)

 

Tips for setting and achieving your dream(s)

1. Protect your dream: work hard on it and work towards it. Dreams don’t work unless you do. Create an strategic plan of action and be patient (“Rome wasn’t built in a day”).

2. Impossible is nothing: challenge your limits. You can go as far as your mind lets you. Believe in yourself and keep a never-quit mentality.

3. Don’t fear: don’t be afraid to fail. How can you know how far you can go if you never try?

4. Be strong: you will probably encounter people who will try to put you down or have something negative to say about your dream. Don’t let anyone discourage you. Don’t ever let people try to limit you (go back to #2: impossible is nothing).

5. Perseverance: secret of all triumphs (Victor Hugo).

6. Get enthusiastic: ignite your enthusiasm by loving what you do. Make your love grow deeper and stronger by feeding your dream and nurturing every bit of it. Like humans and plants, dreams need love to grow. Fall in love with your dream every day and don’t forget to take good care of your ‘baby’.

7. Visualize: I personally think visualization is extremely powerful. If you really, really want to achieve your dream, put your mind to work by imagining ‘what’ you want and ‘how’ to get there. See the dream in your mind. Feel it, touch it, smell it. Then believe that you have already achieved it. In other words, visualize your dream in advance by creating mental pictures of it. Train your mind. Visualization will help you take your dream from imagination to reality.

And remember:

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

Picture: Barcelona, Diagonal  #barcelonamenamora

On the Road

“The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars.”

Jack Kerouac, On the Road

On the Road: an American vision of freedom and hope, the bible of the Beat Generation and one of my favourite books of all time.

Playing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QT5eGHCJdE

It’s a wired world

It’s a weird world. It’s a wired world. Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, WhatsApp, Line, Telegram, Instagram… Since the options for communication are expansive, we can always be connected with everyone around us. However, is technology helping us build meaningful relationships?

Why do some people text while walking across busy streets? Why do some kids surf the net instead of listening to their teacher? Why do some people talk to you while writing WhatsApp messages to someone else? And why do they keep their eyes on their phone instead of looking at you? Enough. It is undeniable that modern society has been strongly affected by technological change.

Finding a long-lost friend through Facebook and being able to reconnect is wonderful. But the 600 friends you have on Facebook won’t be there when darkness falls. How many of these “friends” actually care about you?

In my opinion, technology has made the world more distant. We seem to be alone together. The question arises as to whether technology is improving communication or hindering it. The way I see it, the quantity of technology is affecting the quality of our relationships. Human interaction, face-to-face communication – what’s that? People are often too busy on their devices. Plus, many people feel more comfortable texting someone than talking to them. Morever, technology can sometimes lead people to misunderstand each other, since you can’t see how someone feels without looking into their eyes or hearing their tone of voice.

In conclusion, technology is a double-edged sword. It is a powerful tool which can be very positive provided it is used wisely. Otherwise, it can turn into a powerful weapon that can destroy real human relationships, because while it brings us closer together, it seems to keep pushing us further apart too.

Take control of your life. Don’t let technology do that for you.

 

Picture: Jane Eyre and Edward Rochester

∞

I witnessed a magical situation just the other day.

 

Two souls of light encountered each other again on the bumpy road of life. By the look in her eyes I can tell her heart was racing. She appeared to be awakening from a long slumber. A thousand thoughts seemed to be running through her head.

 

He let a small smile come across his face. She couldn’t help but smile back at him.

 

She stepped closer and kissed him on the cheek.

 

The world was spinning around them but time had stopped still. It was a vision of two souls dancing in perfect harmony.

 

“I am delighted to see you. I have missed you all this time,” he whispered.

 

“I…I have mi…,” she was speechless.

 

“Shh… No words are necessary between two loving hearts,” he said softly. I told myself not to think of you, but thoughts of you keep haunting me in dreams every night. I have been sinking in the midst of a turbulent sea since you left, walking barefoot along sands of nostalgia. The ground beneath my feet was cold and rough. But now you are here and my heart feels at home. Kiss my scars, unlock my fears. Heal me. You know you are my refuge […].”

 

She bit her bottom lip, almost timidly. All of a sudden he had the urge to kiss her. He pulled her closer and kissed her fiercely.

 

Her body trembled with emotion as he moved to her ear and whispered… “I love you”.

 

She was flying without wings, shocked by the blistering impact of that beautiful, unexpected kiss. Her body shivered as his fingers gently brushed her cheek. He loved how smooth her skin was. He kissed her long and deep like a starving man. Her heart beat so fiercely she feared it might burst from her chest.

 

“Your eyes sparkle like diamonds. I am blinded by your light.

 

Do you love me too?” he inquired softly.

 

“Always have and always will.” she replied.

 

∞

 

Because some people are meant to fall in love with each other, but not meant to be together. But people who are meant to be together will always find the way back to each other.

 

∞

 

“Love isn’t a decision. It’s a feeling. If we could decide who we loved, it would be much simpler, but much less magical.”

 

 

 

The epitome of sophistication

She was haunted by the smell of his alluring essence, delicate and fine like a petal rose, yet burning and fierce like a wild flower. That particular blend of aromas flickered in the air in perfect synchronicity, while exuding a trace of deeply captivating mystery.

His perfume was indeed the epitome of sophistication.

“Songspiration”

Nietzsche said: “Without music, life would be a mistake”.

I think he was absolutely right. As far back as I can remember, I have always had a strong passion for music.

I often find inspiration in music, particularly when it comes to writing. While some people say that music often disrupts the rythm of your writing, I personally think it enhances your creativity and sets you in the zone. However, it is always important to choose the right songs to get you in the “writing mood” and help you focus on what you want to express. Therefore, creating your personalized music playlists can be pretty useful (otherwise a catchy disco song might suddenly pop out and make you want to dance or sing along).

I personally use music to get into the mood of the story and also to block out the world around me. However, I can only listen to certain music when writing (or else I’ll get easily distracted).

That being said, I like good music regardless of the genre, so I can listen to pretty much all music genres. Although my taste in music is very broad, here are some of the songs I usually listen to while writing:

“Moonlight Sonata” by Beethoven
“All Of Me” by John Legend
“Adagio” by Lara Fabian
“She’s Like The Wind” by Patrick Swayze
“Talking To The Moon” by Bruno Mars
“Sway” by Dean Martin
“Say Something” by A Great Big World
“Kiss From A Rose” by Seal
“Hope There’s Someone” by Anthony And The Johnsons
“Adagio For Strings” by Samuel Barber
“Your Body Is A Wonderland” by John Mayer
“Read All About It” by Emeli Sande
“Until The End Of Time” by Justin Timberlake
“Maps” by Cary Brothers
“Wonderful Tonight” by Eric Clapton
“Radioactive” by Imagine Dragons
“Youth” by Daughter
“Roads” by Portishead
“What A Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong
“Going To A Town” by Rufus Wainwright
“Wires” by Athlete
“Needle” by Born Ruffians
“Angels” By The XX
“Elegy for Dunkirk” by Dario Marianelli
“Fields of Gold” by Sting
“Primavera” by Ludovico Einaudi
“Dust Bowl Dance” by Mumford And Sons
“Creep” by Radiohead
“Misread” by Kings Of Convenience
“Iris” by Goo Goo Dolls
“Naked As We Came” by Iron And Wine
“Ain’t No Sunshine” by Lighthouse Family
“I’m Yours” by The Script
“Never Let Me Go” by Florence And The Machine
“Mykonos” by Fleet Floxes
“The Funeral” by Band Of Horses
“(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” by Blue Oyster Cult
“Wind Of Change” by Scorpions
“I Believe I Can Fly” by R Kelly
“Shelter” by Birdy
“After Tonight” by Mariah Carey
“You Don’t Miss Your Water” by Craig David
“Unintended” by Muse
“Love Song” by Adele
“Breathe Me” by Sia
“Ready For Love” by India Arie
“The Blower’s Daughter” by Damien Rice
“Come Home” by One Republic
“Unbreak My Heart” by Toni Braxton

Things I love (in no particular order)

Being alive. Waking up feeling fresh. Spending quality time with my family and friends. My weekend breakfast. Dim lights. Old clocks. Flipping my pillow over so I can feel the cold side. Treasuring moments. The wind blowing through my hair. Law. Literature. Postcards. Music that makes my heart stir. Reading a good book. Going to bookstores. Learning a new language. Taekwondo. The sound of silence. The smell of old books. The smell of a good perfume. Mystery. Strategy games. Poetry. Philosophy. Nietzsche. Sunsets. Instrumental music. Scuba diving. Challenging myself. My job. Writing. Belly dancing. Watches. Cinema and Theatre. Black and white photography. Being at peace. Being in love. Interior decorating. Visiting museums and art galleries. Jogging. Dogs. Stargazing. Freedom. Vintage things. Unexpected things. Aromatherapy. Taking risks. Meditation. Surprises. Observing nature. Colours. Fireworks. The smell of petrol. Strong mint chewing gums. Fresh orange juice. Candles. Bubble baths. Fluffy pillows. Cozy scarves. Starry nights. Inspirational quotes. Passion. Tenderness. Singing. Thinking. Being analytical. Getting lost in my thoughts. Thinking positive. Enthusiasm. Love. Feeling bliss. Planet Earth. Getting to know new places and cultures. Learning new things. Honest people. Beautiful hearts. Looking at the sky. Sitting in the sun. Swimming in the sea. Going to the seaside. Sitting alone on the beach. Barcelona. Chocolate. Hot coffee. English Tea. Rainy days. The sound of rain on the roof. Rainbows. Mediterranean cuisine. Taking good pictures. Fashion. Sunglasses. Being creative. Art. Drawing. Smiling. Laughing until I cry. Looking people in the eye. Random acts of kindness. Dancing like no one is watching. Listening to my elders.  Volunteering. Trying to make the world a better place. Dreaming big. Pursuing my dreams. Envisioning my future. Doing ordinary things in an extraordinary way. Striving for excellence.

 

Every day is a Blessing

I’ve learnt that life always offers you a second chance. It’s called ‘tomorrow’. You can’t change the past, but every morning brings a chance for you to start again and make a new ending. Celebrate life. Live passionately and cherish every single moment. See the beauty surrounding you every day. Breathe. You will never live this moment again. Open your eyes and start afresh. Embrace life. It’s up to you to find beauty in the ugliest days. Dream big and keep challenging yourself every day of your life. Push yourself to new limits by trying things you have never done before. Easy is boring. Step out of your comfort zone and unlock your inner potential. You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don’t try.