1 Year Anniversary of ALICE & FRIENDS CIRCLE™

                        Romanian literary evening featuring 1^st year anniversary of ALICE & Friends Circle™

On Friday (May 3’19) I was very happy to gather with a group of dear friends at a public library to celebrate the current spring time as well as the 1^st Year Anniversary of ALICE & Friends Circle™.

Our evening together began with a round of brief introductions around the circle, as new friends are joining us. Also, we all were pleased to have with us again two guests of honor – Dr. Ovidiu Grecea together with his wife. Dr. Grecea is Consul General – Head of Mission and Plenipotentiary Minister of Romania, and he brought us a renewed message, re-emphasizing the importance of effective communication and co-operation, reminding as well that the good we do now will benefit the next generation/s to come. Heart-warming indeed!

Further, our program continued with a number of presentations featuring the current spring season. Additionally, each of my guests that evening shared with the group the relevance of our gatherings; in essence, what does it mean for each of them to put aside few hours, once in a while, to meet with the group to discuss subjects that are not necessarily part of the everyday talks, such as poetry, literature, biographies, arts, cultural trends, personal life changing experiences & much more. All the thoughts my friends shared openly that evening really made my heart sing, realizing once again how blessed we are to be able to have genuine heart to heart conversations & brain to brain discussions, in this consumerist world, when a significant number of people are focusing more on ‘having’ rather than ‘being’.
Subsequently, our conversations were followed by a traditional Romanian song (called 'La multi ani!'), time when we raised our glasses with (non-alcoholic) champagne, toasting for togetherness, happiness, good health, prosperity and peaceful longevity!

After that I was truly honoured to receive from Dr. Grecea the Romania’s 100 anniversary medal for my continuous community work, which reminded me that 

coming together is a beginning, keeping together is a progress and working together is a success.

While at this page, I would like to say that the success of “Alice & Friends” initiative is something I’m happy to share with my loyal and supportive friends who are part of this circle…my success is their success and their success is my success. Unity is strength.

Then we continued our evening together with another Romanian traditional custom, called ‘egg tapping' (aka 'egg knocking') since the May 3’19 is also known as the ‘Bright Friday' (being the next week after the Orthodox Easter)…again, another joyful occasion to honor our roots, our traditions and our ancestors. 
Last but not least, we also commented on two coming local holidays – Mother’s Day (on May 12'19) & Father’s Day (on June 16'19) extending our greetings. 

As usual, we concluded our evening together with a large variety of light refreshments we each brought for the occasion, good camaraderie, as well as prolonged conversations among beautiful friends, with good hearts, whose common denominator is the passion for arts, culture as well as heritage and ancestral traditions. 
We all had a great time together and once again, I would like to express my most sincere appreciation to all these dear friends, who at the end of another long week they each took the time to join the group for few hours to share thoughts and to enjoy the companionship of each other, which I find truly heart touching.

Until our paths will meet again on this wavelength, I’m sending along a new bunch of best wishes to each of my friends for a wonderful rest of spring!
Sincerely,
Alice

Mesaj primit înspre publicare din partea Domnului Dr. Ovidiu Grecea* şi al Doamnei Liliana Grecea

Draga Alice, La Mulți Ani, încă o data, pentru acest destoinic și interesant proiect pe care l-ai gândit, muncit și transpus în practică, împreună cu niște personalități adevărate și reprezentative ale comunității românilor-canadieni din Vancouver. A fost o reală plăcere pentru mine și soția mea Liliana, nu neapărat ca oficiali de la consulat, ci ca niște oameni normali, cu simț românesc și dragoste de țara lor, cu respect față de țara care i-a primit și în care muncesc dar mai ales, față de aceste minunate doamne și minunați domni care se străduiesc să păstreze filonul indestructibil al ființei românești, pe aceste meleaguri canadiene. Interesant este faptul că, “Alice & Friends” nu este un grup strict elitist sau închis, azi ne-am bucurat că tânăra generație s-a arătat interesată și participativă, la atât de sincerul, frumosul și dătătorul de speranțe, subiect/tematică din această seară minunată, “primăvara” în sufletele, percepția, amintirile și exprimările celor prezenți iar “pruncul” de 1 an, botezat “Alice & Friends” a început să meargă pe propriile-i picioare, să reușească a se exprima și impune, ca un viitor pilon existențional și reprezentativ al comunității, al iubitorilor de cultura, de reflexie și de respect față de România și Canada. Noi încercăm să transmitem un mesaj cât mai direct și profund, cu condescendența și dorința de bine față de românii-canadieni din provincia British Columbia, de a se regăsi, reevalua și iniția formulele organizatorice și de manifestare propice, ca o comunitate puternică, unită, cu adânci tradiții în Canada și care în multiculturalismul și oportunitățile de afirmare de pe aceste meleaguri, să-și regăsească chintesența funcțională și adevăratul nivel de reprezentativitate, față de celelalte comunități integrate în societatea canadiană. Comunitatea românilor-canadieni are un potențial enorm și valori deosebite, de necontestat, important este ca acestea să se adune și să acționeze pragmatic, concret și eficient pentru binele comunității și al tinerei generații. Felicitări, mulțumiri, mult succes și cu speranțe de bine, te îmbrățișăm cu drag, Liliana și Ovidiu Grecea

*Domnul Ovidiu Grecea este Consul General şi Ministru Plenipotenţiar al României la Vancouver

Time is not measured by clocks, but by special moments.

This event has been delivered in Romanian Language, featuring Romanian culture. 

April 22, 2019: INTERNATIONAL EARTH Day

International Earth Day  is celebrated across the entire globe today (April 22), and the purpose of this is to raise awareness among people in regards to environmental issues which surround the world today.

Now, what is your ‘green’ inspiration to keep the Earth clean? A good example could be: REDUCE, RE-USE, RECYCLE, so you could make 'Earth Day' every day.
Also, I believe that teaching our children how to live green is the best way to change the world.

April 2019: Happy EASTER!

EASTER (Pascha) – a symbol of hope, revival & new life…wishing you a blessed time with your loved ones!

Also, at this time, early greetings to all my Romanian friends who will celebrate this holiday a week later.  
💮 HAPPY EASTER! 💮 PAŞTE FERICIT! 💮 FROHE OSTERN! 💮 ΠΆΣΧΑ! 💮 JOYEUSES PÂQUES! 💮 BUONA PASQUA! 💮

Brief reflections on VIRTUES

By many cultures around the world and consecrated traditions, virtues are valued characteristics which are growing with each individual since conception and generally speaking can’t be imposed because they should be the ‘fruits’ of the spirit! 

Over time, life has shown us that all virtues are actually the best ‘helpers’ which could assist with the challenges encountered as a person walks the path of life – at times, it is absolutely amazing to notice how well they serve as ‘teachers’ during the journey until a particular lesson is fully learned, otherwise the lesson will keep repeating itself until one will deeply understand and practice a specific virtue, not just envisioning it. 

In short, summarizing here my rather brief points I've shared with you on this subject, I would like to say that basically virtues form the essence of a person’s character, which in fact could have the potential to determine one’s destiny. Pondering a bit longer on this, without any doubt we could imply that the more people truly recognize and fully understand the major impact of practicing virtues could have on their daily life, the more their lives would open up to bigger possibilities, to brighter horizons, to deeper  joy, to superior delight and to a greater fulfillment. The choice is yours, and while at this page it is worth remembering that your life is the sum of all your choices.

All good virtues and goodness itself will gradually find their true home in the heart in which love dwells.

Few virtues to aim for: Honesty, Compassion, Justice, Patience, Kindness, Faith, Courage, Hope, Charity, Humility, Loyalty, Trust, Morality, Fortitude, Prudence…

Several deliberations about PROJECTIONS

As time goes by often it has been observed that in life people have the tendency to make assumptions, process also known as “psychological projection” or sometimes called the “Freudian projection”.
The well known theory of psychological projection was developed by Sigmund Freud, also known as the “father of psychoanalysis.”  According to him, when such projections are made, a great deal of human emotions are projected onto other people so they become the carriers of our personal feelings, which through emotional displacement makes it easier on us.  

As a result of externalizing our emotions and perceiving them in others, we continue with life, often creating an image which is not a real reflection of the true self.
Psychological projection is one of many defense mechanisms people engage in on a regular basis.
An instance of projection that most people can relate to is when they come across someone they don’t like, but they are forced by circumstances to interact with on a somewhat-polite level.
Covering up our feelings or emotions instead of coming to terms with them is unhealthy and could impact many aspects of life.
Examining in a very objective manner all the negative relationships one would have and clearly determining where it all began could bring along a great deal of understanding. Once you detach from it you can better see it; once you see it, once you understand it then you can apply a large array of modalities in order to bring upon all involved waves of lasting peace.  
Further on this topic, recently I came across this interesting article, which I find worth sharing further, so please enjoy the reading below!

ARTICLE:
~ Few excerpts ~

About personal accountability

What are personal boundaries and what is projection?

The definition of personal boundaries: “Everything I think, feel, say or do belongs to me. I am responsible for all of it.”

Now, with this understanding of personal boundaries, basically projection is this: If I am feeling a negative (or positive) emotion and try to blame you for what I’m feeling, thinking, saying or doing, then I am projecting my “stuff” onto you.

Generally, when we don't accept personal accountability for our feelings we judge others for doing things that we felt shame of doing in our past. We project our feelings of shame onto the other person and try to identify THEM as “bad” or “wrong” in a futile attempt to shield ourselves from our own shame and pain.

Sometimes we project our good feelings too

Another way we commonly project is to mistakenly believe that another person is the source of love and wellbeing for us. […] This happens quite frequently in the “honeymoon” phase of a romantic relationship. We meet someone who “sees” us and they shine their attention on us and it feels great! We feel special and desirable. This can produce a “high” like no other drug on earth. However, what goes up eventually comes down. Another person can’t keep that kind of attention going for us 24/7 and then we feel withdrawal from the drug when they withdraw it. The only way we can receive ongoing, deep and true love is to take personal accountability for our own connection to the true root of happiness. [...] Once we do that we feel and see it reflected everywhere and in everyone, whether someone else is directing attention toward us or not.

How we hurt ourselves when we give up personal accountability for our feelings

If I don't accept personal accountability for my own feelings and project them onto you, I deny myself access to a precious opportunity for healing my own unconscious wounds that are covered up by the projection. You may have TRIGGERED an emotional response from me, but I am responsible for owning and healing the place in me that was triggered by what you said or did. So, personal accountability sounds pretty clear and straightforward, right? It is, until we are triggered. Then, when our hurts and wounds are running the show it is really easy to lose sight of this and blame another person for what we feel. When we decline personal accountability and project, we not only miss an opportunity for our own healing, but we wreak all kinds of havoc with our relationships.

How do we project?

We give up personal accountability and play the blame game of projection in very creative ways, by:

• Attacking the other person. When our wounds are triggered, WE feel attacked and it can feel like attacking back is justified.

• Pretending to not be angry and trying to convince the other person that THEY are the ones who are angry.

• Admitting to the other person we are angry, but blaming them as the CAUSE of our anger.

• Trying to “fix” or change the other person so that we won’t have to feel the pain of our own wound.

• Shaming the other person so we don’t have to feel our own shame that comes from believing an erroneous self-concept of ourselves.

• Withdrawing from the other person while blaming them for our upset.

• Depending on another person for our own wellbeing and attributing our experience of love to them.

Why do we project?

• It is what most of us have been “trained” to do. Generally, it was what was modeled for us as acceptable behavior when we were children.

• At the core of all projection is an intense fear that we are unconsciously or consciously trying to avoid. As children, many of us experienced ridicule, ostracism, shame or sometimes punished for whatever our caregivers labeled as “wrong.” Therefore, instinctively we think we are wrong or “bad” when negative feelings arise. And because there is a conscious or unconscious fear of being punished, this part of our psyche gives up personal accountability and says, “No way I’m going to admit to having a problem over here. Quick… Let’s blame it on the other guy!”

• Projection is a denial mechanism. When we focus on the “other” person, it is a (usually unconscious) attempt to keep us from feeling the intensity of our own wounds.

Healing can only happen when we take individual responsibility for our feelings

If we decline to follow the ingrained blame game habit to fix, judge, blame or attack someone else and consciously take personal accountability for what we're experiencing, it brings our attention back to ourselves, where we most need it.

Personal boundaries and “processing”

Remember the previous description of personal boundaries: I am responsible for my thoughts, feelings, words, and actions, and you are responsible for your thoughts, feelings, words, and actions.

When we’re triggered by an experience with another person, our healing and wellbeing doesn’t lie in processing with the other person about their behavior and our reaction to it. Whatever we’re feeling is our individual responsibility. We must accept personal accountability for all of it. This is a powerful truth to let in and work with.  This could quite possibly be a lifelong learning for us all.

When your emotional pain is triggered by someone else, what would be most valuable to you is to FIRST be with yourself, make space within for what you are feeling and start the emotional healing process for personal accountability.

All relationships are mirrors

As we practice personal accountability for our own feelings, we discover that we love others exactly the way we love ourselves. If I’m judging, blaming and attacking you, it is because I’m judging, blaming and attacking myself. If I’m struggling to love you, then I’m having a hard time loving the part of me that you reflect to me.

Unwinding the blame game with personal accountability for our emotional healing

- When you notice you’re feeling “off,” identify your judgments of the other person.

- Forgive yourself for having the judgment.

- Realize that ALL judgments are inaccurate and subjective.

- Take responsibility for the judgment by realizing it is about yourself, not the other person.

- Realize that your judgment about yourself isn’t true either, just as it wasn’t true about the other person.

- Feel the core fear behind the self-judgment.

- Bring love, compassion, understanding and forgiveness to the fear / hurt child within yourself.

- Thank the other person (either face-to-face or silently within) for bringing your wound to your attention so that you can heal it. Be willing to forgive them.

Don’t take anything personally, because what other say or do is only a projection of their own perception.