life lessons – Yanny's Journey

Dreams are to be pursued, not told

Hello everybody! Do you know those moments when you have big dreams? Like when you feel that you can conquer the world? Well, today is about dreams.

Since I was a kid, I had lots of dreams…so many plans and dreams, that I was so happy to tell others about. Until one point. Until the day I realized that not everyone who calls themselves a friend, actually is. You can never be sure of the true intentions of anyone. Family, friends, lovers, coworkers, no one can truly guarantee that they are true to you.

If I can give you a piece of advice, stop telling people your moves. Stop telling them every single dream of you. Instead, work for it. In silence. You will fail, multiple times. Life is not a win-win game. But at least you will know that it was all your fault. What do I mean by this? Well, let me tell you a story. One of my dear people, someone who I truly trusted and loved, seemed to always be so “protective and loving”. Little did I know she was just jealous. Every time I was telling her about a new project or interview she behaved really happy for me until the day that the event was supposed to happen. On that day, every single time, she was finding a reason to put me down; either that “maybe” I am not qualified or good enough, maybe I am just losing time for nothing, and so on. And although I knew what I can do, mentally she was draining me so much, that I was blocking myself, which made me lose not only jobs but also give up on dreams that I really wanted to pursue.

And this continued until one day when I completely stopped telling people about my life. Not even a word. And believe me, that there was a huge difference. Because I was showing them the new me. Nothing else. I went from failure to failure, until I got the chance to do what I want. Until I found my way. Don’t wait for validation from others. Look inside you and see what you are capable of. No one knows you better than yourself.

And never forget: the sky is the limit. Love you all and have a fantastic weekend!!!

When past returns

It is one of the saddest and dangerous things. It can either bring you down or make you happy that you moved on. But what if you are in between?

Let’s start with the beginning. You broke up, suffered as hell but eventually decided to start the healing process. There are still nights when you still cry to sleep remembering the good moments, or days when you crave that person like crazy, but get over the need to contact them. You work on yourself, on healing and becoming a better version and somewhere hoping that they will be back.

However, there comes a time when you become confused about wanting them back and realize that maybe you moved on. And then it hits you: you see them in public with someone else or see a social media story with them giving hints about being taken. And boom you are down again. Somewhere deep inside you, there was a hope, that after a period separated, you will be back together. And now they are taken. Your soul goes into pieces and the pain is back again. Everything you achieved so far in the healing process seems worthless now.

WAIT A DAMN MINUTE!!! But why?? Why there is always someone who must suffer for both. If they left you and moved on, do the same thing. You have 1 life. As much as this hurts, they weren’t for you. Nope. Let them be with whoever they want. No one is better than you. And rest assured that somewhere in this world, your person is praying to find you. I waited for 2 years a person!!! 2 years hoping that he will come back and finally see my worth. He did see…someone else’s as he got married after 3 months of the relationship. And I was the one broken. Did it matter?? For me yes…for him absolutely not. So go live your life. If they’re meant for you, they will find their way back. Stop waiting for someone who is living his best life, while you are crying like a baby seeing him happy. Let him and the pain behind. The best is yet to come.

Have a great Sunday!!:) Yanny’s journey continues!

Death is just around the corner

Hello everybody! I hope you are all safe and sound. Today’s post is a story about life and death and how can incompetency take innocent lives. I was born in a small city called Onesti. This city was always a quiet, peaceful city mainly known for the national and international stars like Nadia Comaneci who were born here.

However, 3 days ago, death attacked horribly. One of the cruelest attacks I have ever heard about in this city. 2 streets away from my parents’ home. For 5 hours, two handcuffed young workers begged for their lives, while the authorities were doing nothing. No one moved a finger to help them escape that monster. Nope. They just waited…God knows for what. In the end, that criminal took their lives. For a reason that had nothing to do with them. They were innocents. Just doing their job. Nothing else. He was claiming the flat that he lost 12 years ago and on that cursed day, they were there working. The news channels went mental with this. 3 days later, the city is still in shock. The atmosphere is painful. People are angry with the authorities and scared for their lives.

Life is unfair…and this should be a wake-up call for everyone. Death is just around the corner..waiting for the right moment to get its prize. The only thing guaranteed is just the actual moment. The authorities and police have shown too many times that they are clueless, heartless and their incompetency is above the sky. This was just the last experience. There are too many human-faced monsters among us. You don’t know who to trust anymore. This pandemic only managed to enrage us more and take the worst out of us.

Take care guys and enjoy every single moment of your life. Be grateful for the people you love and appreciate them more. Appreciate life more. You never know when the clock will stop ticking.

Pay attention who don’t clap when you win

Hello everybody!! I hope you are ok. As I finished the first month of the challenge with myself, I wanted to write about something that I started to see clearer during this month, and that is to pay attention to those “who don’t clap when you win”. Today is about friends.

In this life, we get to know a lot of people. Some are a lesson, some a season and some come to stay with you no matter what. Well, the last category should be kept at all costs.

Not everyone who says it’s your friend, it truly is. Some are friends as long as they can benefit from you. Or until you try to become a better person and they feel threatened by this. Then they show their true colors.

In my opinion, there are 3 types of friends that you may get to know:

The so-called “friend” :That type of person who claims to be your friend but gets frustrated when you achieve something. The one whose problems are always more important than yours and for who you must be available but is never willing to help or support you when needed. The person who plays a great role in the front of you, but behind your back is a totally different one. It usually ends with them disappearing as soon as they find someone or something better
Drama queen friend: If they can’t do something, no one else can either. The type of person who doesn’t have a dream, aspirations, anything, but who thinks that is “allowed” to control everyone’s life. If they are miserable, you must be too. They constantly need assurance and attention from you and get jealous or make a crisis as soon as they don’t receive it. Tbh, this is the most toxic type of friend, as there are 2 choices: they either make you be like them, or you finally realize how toxic they are and for your own sake, leave them.
A lifetime friend: Now this is the best type. Is that friend that you grow up with. You learn from, share ideas and aspirations, develop a healthy friendship based on mutual respect and support. Although you may not communicate daily, you know that they are there through thick and thin. Is that person who makes your life better. And happier.

No one said that it’s easy to create and maintain a good friendship. And sometimes you may fail, but remember something. The easiest way to see the real face of somebody is either when you are down or when you achieve something big. Someone who can’t be there for you when you struggle or truly be happy when you succeed, can’t be called a friend. Have a great day, everybody! 🙂

A challenge to change

Hello! My last post was a kind of a wake-up call. Something was completely wrong. So a call to action was required. For 30 days I challenge myself to change. I was on a webinar with Michael Beckwith a while ago and he said something like: ” your biggest enemy is the control. The moment that you understand that the only thing you can control is yourself, then your life will improve.”.

With or without realizing it, every day we are trying to gain control over things, people, events, anything. Well, guess what. This is just a fake assumption. I had a period when I was a control freak. You can’t imagine how much I was fighting to control every single little thing of my life until, in the end, I failed. And then I understood that I have to surrender and give it up. Because, in reality, you can’t control anything more than your mind and body. My last post was somehow trying to show that when you try to control/influence someone’s life, the only outcome you can get is losing that person or causing huge damage for nothing. For example, I want that person back, but this doesn’t mean that I can make him come or decide on his feelings.

This challenge is just the beginning. The warming. But for 30 days, I will put myself first and start to work on every aspect of my life, starting with the most important: mental health and wellbeing. If 2020 was the year of mental transformation, 2021 is the year of personal development. So bring it on!

“My childhood is a nightmare”

Hello!! I hope you are all well and safe. Since I was a teenager I volunteered for children from poor families. But since the pandemic started, I choose to extend it to children from normal families and teenagers who need advice or just someone who listens to them.

And there is a little boy, very well behaved but who always seems sad and uncomfortable. And before the holidays, I asked him to write a letter about how he feels about being a 9 years old child. And what he wrote left me speechless. From phrases like:” I just want a normal childhood cause mine is a nightmare”, to “my parents don’t let me play because they think my education is more important” or ” when my friends are going on trips or spending fun time together, I have to go to my piano and dance courses, which I hate”. And one of the things that shocked me the most was:” I truly want a pet, but my parents won’t even let me touch an animal, because they think it is a hazard for my health and safety”. Really?

Can someone please explain to me when society changed so much? I am 28, but I still can’t keep up with these changes. Like since when tablets, phones, and all the personal development courses replaced the actual childhood? My little cousin is only four years old and he is only interested in his tablet. Ask him to play like a normal child, and he gets lost. He is in his virtual world. What about that old childhood with games, friendships, and stuff? Since when it is normal to be scared of a pet instead of loving it just because your parents claim it is a health and safety hazard?

Let the children discover, explore, live their childhood. I understand that times changed, but we were children too. I was allowed to stay and play as long as I kept in mind that education was a priority. I was raised with animals (all type of animals), just because my parents and grandparents thought that it was important to develop my skills in any situation. I have bruises, scars, and memories for a lifetime. And friends from my childhood too. But I don’t regret a second, as I would do it all over again. Listen more to your kids’ dreams and necessities. Their childhood is not coming back. And they will grow up with frustrations and regrets for the lost time.

Have a fantastic Tuesday 🙂

Top 5 lessons of 2020

Hellooo! As the year is over, I was thinking of pointing out the top 5 lessons of 2020 and how this year pushed our limits, broke the wall, and obliged us to change. So let’s start:

You can do anything you want: How many times weren’t you unsure about doing a certain thing or what will people think about it? Well, DO IT. It’s your life, not theirs. Learn, read, do a course, develop yourself. Anything that can help you improve your life and you as a person. Stop telling people about your dreams, work for them, and show the results afterwards.
Life changes in a second: Life doesn’t wait for us to decide if we are ready to do something or not. Sometimes it forces us to do so. How? Who knows? For example, I always wanted to work in hotels. And I did until the pandemic when everything closed. I am sure that things for hotels will not be back to normal soon, so I had to change the direction of my career. I learned about subjects that I never thought of as a possible money maker. From a duty manager in hotels before the pandemic, I ended up being a writer and content creator. And I am still learning to increase my chances in this new domain. So don’t take anything for granted
Put yourself first: Who you truly are? What are your dreams? What do you want from life? Stop seeking validation and have expectations from others. Look in the mirror and see who you are not who others think you are. Stop putting yourself last and others first. Show yourself more love and care and you will see the difference.
People always show their true colors: Even if you want or not. Some people will appear in your life for a reason, a season or to be by your side no matter what. Although the last category is extremely rare nowadays, they do exist. But the first category is the worst: are those people who turn up in your life for getting what they can from you and afterward disappear. The type of people who have absolutely nothing to give, only to receive. If someone wants to leave your life, open the door. Don’t force/beg anyone to stay. Who is supposed to stay will do without you asking for it. Last year I was thanking God for bringing in my life people that I thought were the best for me , while in reality, they were worse than enemies. So pay attention to who are you calling lovers, friends, family, and so on. Not always they are who you think.
Be grateful, love, and live the moment: Be grateful for who you are and what you have. Love as much as you can, show love to people who need it the most. Be nicer and help whenever you can. You never know what the person next to you is going through. Live the moment: stop waiting for tomorrow, a week, month, or year to be happy. Happiness comes from inside, not outside. If you are not happy with yourself, you won’t be able to make or be happy with anyone else.

Happy Sunday everybody!! 🙂

Expectations vs reality

Hello!! I hope you are all well and enjoying this time. As we have 5 days left this year, I wanted to share a lesson with you. How expectations create a toxic environment and affect our lives.

How many times in this life you didn’t expect someone to do something? It doesn’t matter if personally or professionally, but it is in our human nature to do so. What we don’t understand is that expectations are seriously affecting our mental health as most of them are not achievable. The worst part comes when you are in a relationship, and you expect so many things from your partner that you forget to differentiate imaginary from reality.

Just because you are kind to people, or show care and love, it doesn’t mean that they feel the same. Unfortunately, nowadays, people are nice to you as long as they can get what they want from you. After, they will treat you as you never existed in their lives. Stop believing that expecting something from someone will automatically become reality. People behave as they want, regardless of how you feel about it. However, in the long term run, you may suffer a lot. More than you can believe. When you stop expecting, you start realizing a person’s true colors. You want to be good and help? Go ahead. But don’t expect something in return. Some people have absolutely nothing to give(and I am not talking about financial stuff). Some know only to receive, never to give.

I learned this the hard way. I had expectations from people that I would have given me life for. Guess what? They turned up to be the worst people in my life. And people that I didn’t expect anything from, ended up being very important in my life. Do you want to expect something from someone? Then raise your expectations from yourself. Have more expectations from yourself as a person, professional, friend, everything. The biggest expectation that you should have in this life is to improve your life by believing more that you can do anything you want. Don’t expect changes or love or care or anything from others. Do it with yourself first. And you will see the difference. Love you all! 🙂

The story of an orange.

And nope, I am not crazy 🙂 Just wait for it. Today is a personal post, but it is a lesson that changed my personality.

I grew up in a family with strong values and traditions. But being the first baby in the family, everyone spoiled me. And it was good up to a point. I got used to receive what I wanted, and no matter what, everything was turning in my favor. And this made me an impossible child. A rude, selfish one. Until one day when my grandfather had enough and decided to give me a lesson. It was December 2001, and that year was awful. My grandfather died in January (my mom’s father) and I didn’t know how to cope with it. Everyone showed me so much love and care and satisfied all my needs that I lost control. I was 7 years old and that December was the first one without my father (who was abroad working) and my grandfather(who has been one of my favorite family members.

So, on Saint Nicholas day (on the night of 6th of December, we put our shoes and wait for sweets), I slept at my grandparents (father’s parents) place and waited for my presents. But guess what? I received only one ORANGE. And a letter. It said something like ” You must understand that love is not about how many or how expensive are things you receive. It is time for you to understand to be grateful for all the things you have and learn to share with others. You are loved and cared for. Happy holidays! “. I remember that I cried like a baby cause I was so disappointed. I got ready, went to the church with my grandparents, and there was a little girl. I remember like it was yesterday. A younger girl, poorly dressed, holding a dirty doll in her hand. And she asked for food. And as that day, everyone was giving food for the dead ones, my grandma had oranges and cookies and sweets with her too. So she asked me to give that girl a package. I swear that never in my life I saw someone being so happy for an orange. She ate it immediately with such happiness on her face.

I went home and looked at that orange that I received. And my grandpa told me:” As long as you have what to eat and someone who you can share with, you are blessed”. And since that year, every year I wait for my orange. I can receive anything, but an orange as a gift became a tradition.” Years later, I found out that my grandpa was the one who wrote the letter. And I loved him even more for that.

Be grateful for what you have. Someone may only dream about it. And if you have the chance to share it with anyone, do it. It may not change the world, but it makes you a better person and your soul a little happier :)Love you all!

A promise made to myself

Hello beautiful people!! I hope you’re all good and enjoying Sunday. As I am still in my weekend mood, I was thinking of sharing with you something that not only changed my life but myself too…completely.

Two years ago, I was a very different person. Mentally, spiritually, in any way, you could imagine. I was the one there for everyone, at any time, without expecting anything in return. A type of person who was a people pleaser, who was leaving her worth being defined by others opinion. I was afraid of pursuing my dreams because failure would have been a disaster for my family. (not my parents, my family). My parents have always been my biggest support but as stupid as I was, I was never listening to their pieces of advice, always putting others above them. But as karma proved that it is either my best friend or my worst enemy, gave me the lesson of my life.

Before starting the blog, I was at the edge of my life. Due to a toxic decision and being influenced by people with “goodwill” that I thought was caring for me, I almost lost everything: parents, friends, even myself. The 6th of December was the night that started my positive movement. For the first time in my life, no one knew my plans, my hopes, my moves, anything. Except for my parents. And my dog:)

On the 25th of December 2018, I suffered the worst disappointment of my life. And that night, the old me died. And guess what? The people who influenced me were either accusing me or disappearing totally. The only people who were by my side were my parents and some people that I would never think of, which in the meantime became my best friends. That was the moment when I made a promise to myself. No matter how hard things will be, as long as I have myself, my parents, my dog, and true friends, I can move mountains. And I did it. In 2 years I learned and developed myself more than I did in 26. I am in the happiest place of my life, surrounded by people who care and love me. People who are sharing my values, dreams, and hopes. Who are there not only when I am good, but also when I struggle. And the most important thing, I found myself. I learned how to love myself and put my needs first. To stop letting anyone else’s opinion affecting me as long as it is not constructive.

Two years taught me two crucial things: that family is not always blood, and if you really want something, then the sky is the limit. You can do whatever you want. Just believe in yourself and the magic of new beginnings.

Wishing you all a great Sunday:)