TIME – priceless in every way

The most extraordinary feature of time is its fantastic preciousness – its value is unfathomable, its power is truly inestimable, and its potential is something which we cannot even begin calculating. We’ve all noticed often that a minute is enough to win a victory, a second could be enough to make you the richest man in the world, and a fraction of a sec­ond can make a difference between life and death.

As we go through life, we realise for ourselves that, if there is anything in the world which will never come back, it is time; once time crosses into the threshold of the past, it never again returns to the ‘present’. Those who have realised this basic truth of life, never allow time to pass away unused.

Until and unless we set up a time-table for ourselves and make a general division of time for the various tasks and jobs at our hand, time will keep slipping away with its golden opportunities unnoticed...unplanned living is the surest way to waste it….

For your enjoyment, here are few thoughts received from a dear friend, worth sharing further….pleasant reading, dear ones!

“Canon in D Major” – by Pachelbel (classical music)

PERCEPTION...

“In the last Quarter of Life”

“A lot of us are in the last quarter of life and I share without politics, religion, race cards. Just gentle thoughts: You know, time has a way of catching you off-guard about how quickly it travels.

It feels like just yesterday that I was young and ready to start adult-life. And in a way it feels like eons ago, and I wonder where the years have gone.

I know I lived them all. I remember all my hopes and dreams. I remember the plans I made.

And suddenly, here I am in the last quarter.

How did I get here so fast? Where have the years gone and where did my youth go?

I can recall looking at older people, thinking how long it will take for me to get where they are. That I am still in my youth, that I have many years ahead. At that time I could not even think of being where I am now. And yet, here I am.

My friends are retired, they all have grey hair, they move much slower than they did and when I look at them, I see older people. Some are in a better and some a worse condition than me. But I see the big difference. They are no longer the youthful, carefree, full-of-life friends.

Just like me, age shows. And we are now the older people we used to look at and thought it was still a long way off.

I find that these days, taking a shower takes its toll on my breath and energy levels. And an afternoon nap is not just a treat, it’s become a necessity. And if I don’t, I find myself sleeping in the same chair I started reading or watching television in.

Now I have entered this new season of my life, totally unprepared for the discomfort, aches and pains, loss of energy and strength and ability to do what I could, yet sometimes didn’t. At least I know that, even though I am in the last quarter and I have no idea how long this quarter will be, when my time on earth is over, a new adventure awaits too. Yes, I do have things I wish I I had never done. Yet so thankful for those I did. It is all in a lifetime.

And if you are not in the last quarter yet, I want to remind you that it comes faster than you could anticipate. Do the things you still want to do as soon as possible. Do not procrastinate. Life runs on fast legs. Do today what you can. There is no promise that we will all see the seasons of life. Live for today. For now.

Say the words to the ones you love. Often. Hopefully some will appreciate the things you did for them. And if they don’t, it is also okay.

Life is truly a gift. Just be happy. It is after all your choice. And remember that health is a treasure, not wealth, gold and silver, property or your bank balance.

You may think that going out is the best, but believe me – coming home is much better. 
You may forget names and that is okay, because some have already forgotten that they knew you.

The things you cared about previously, you may lose interest in. If you fall asleep in your favourite chair, stay there.

Growing older is wonderful. It is comfortable. It is loaded with memories that you never grow tired of. It is an absolute treasure. Look after yourself.”

“Living in the present is a sign of practical wisdom!”

June 1, 2024 – INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN's Day

 Let’s celebrate the children of every age and race, while ensuring that every child has a smile on their face…Happy International Children’s Day!

Lumea copiilor este una fantasticã, uimitoare, unde imposibilul devine posibil! La mulți ani, tuturor copiilor - mici & mari!

My previous greetings on the same theme:  INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN's Day – 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019

Alice’s Book Club – SPRING session of 2024

With much joy, on Friday (May 31, 2024) I organized the second Book Club session of our Circle for the current year, and the chosen theme was Mental Wellbeing.

To everybody’s delight, this time I've invited 2 interesting guest speakers, who had a lot to say on the subject and who are very dear to me: a medical field representative, Mihai S. and a Counselling Psychotherapist, Luciana Susan.

As I often do in such circumstances, prior to our meeting, I gave my confirmed guests few reading materials about the topic (mental wellbeing), in order to spice up even more the group conversation, while adding more depth to personal perspectives.

Needless to say that my special guests of the evening were absolutely amazing, both delivering extremely interesting presentations, while offering many important details that we each could benefit from in our daily lives.

With much grace and professionalism, both of them answered questions, such as: - What is "Mental Health"? / - How can we self-evaluate and help ourselves when needed? / - When is it appropriate to seek specialized help?  / - What natural remedies are available to help us maintain our mental health, in a society where daily stress is increasing?, etc.

By now, most of you know that in my public briefings the confidentially of the personal matters discussed is paramount, but because I truly believe in sharing the knowledge far and wide, here are few key concepts of general interest that might be of some sort of assistance to you…

– Mental wellbeing constitutes a foundational pillar of human resilience and personal flourishing; it shapes how individuals perceive, engage with, and respond to the complex challenges of life

– Scientific inquiry consistently underscores the link between mental wellbeing and holistic health: stress moderation, restorative sleep, social connection, purposeful work and balanced lifestyle choices interact synergistically to sustain psychological equilibrium

– Mental resilience is strengthened through intentional engagement with meaningful narratives and pursuits that contribute to a coherent sense of self and purpose

– Communities thrive when their members are psychologically supported, empathetically engaged, and equipped to navigate adversity

– Cultivating mental health is both a personal & collective responsibility, requiring deliberate attention, informed choices & the courage to seek support when needed.

In essence, mental wellbeing is not a destination but an ongoing scholarly and existential pursuit…one that demands reflection, deliberate practice, and the unwavering acknowledgment that nurturing the mind enriches every dimension of human life.

The group conversations were truly warm, open, inspiring, deeply pleasing, as well as heart and mind nourishing, facts which again made us all completely forget the time, of course, in a flattering manner.

Concluding my briefing here, my sincere appreciation to the guests of the evening who honored my invitation, while I’m wishing them only the best!

Warm regards,

Alice

“What mental health needs is more sunlight, more candor and more honest conversations.”