Alice’s Book Club – AUTUMN session of 2019

Special edition – live session with author Pavel Corutz

The autumnal session of my book club was happening this Friday (November 29’19) at a public library, making for a very special edition as we had with us directly from Romania, the well-known writer, Pavel Corutz.

Before I will give you the usual briefing, once again, I would like to express my most sincere appreciation to our good friend Sandu Oprea, who (to begin with) was very kind to introduce us the author Pavel Corutz this summer, when he brought along, at one of our gatherings, the book called “Towards the heights of successes” (written by Pavel Corutz).

Also, while at this page, it is important to mention that Sandu translated from Romanian language to English the entire book, and personally I consider his gesture a genuine sign of profound respect from a mentee for his mentor. In addition, Sandu offered a TV interview on this very book, which (with Sandu’s permission) you can listen to, by following this link.

In brief about the author: Pavel Corutz is a prolific Romanian author, who wrote more than 140 books, with themes ranging from fantasy novels to life-guiding volumes, having a sharp focus on applied psychology. 
For your convenience, below is the short synopsis of the book in discussion ("Towards the heights of successes - The Happiness Formula"), as circulated by “Goodreads”. 

“This is a simple book about the art of success, thus that to be easy reading and understanding for the persons that does not know psychology and doesn't have time (or desire) to study it. A book with information and clear rules together with many useful examples for life. A book for you to learn at least few rules that are applicable in your field, any field would be that one. A book able to reach the last village, schools and universities, small entrepreneurs, and retirement's people who could still be active but they do not know how. In this book, we will talk only about rules and sure information that will help you to climb toward the heights of successes. I guarantee that each person who learns this book will obtain successes in one or more than one fields, according to his training and his mobilization, and also according to political-economic and social situation from the country. Everybody is able to succeed in a field or another one.” 

Further, I will share with you, in a concise manner, how our evening unfolded.

Because Sandu knows the book in and out, before we began our live conversation with the author, he gave the group a brief refresher, even though each participant read it. The conversation that ensued was ‘seasoned’ with lots of questions, which were saved for the author.

Our special guest, the author Pavel Corutz, joined us straight from Romania, via modern technology means; given the time zone difference, in order to be with us for our scheduled 6 pm (PST) gathering, the author had to wake up at 4 am (EET), so we could have the book related conversation. The entire audience found his gesture really heart touching.
The book in discussion is quite vast, but for the purpose of our session we approached only the personal development aspect, and how a person could apply an array of positive changes (as suggested in the book) to the daily routine in order to improve many aspects of personal life.

Then the dialogue began, while each participant was taking turns in expressing the appreciation for the opportunity, while sharing the impact this book left on reader, as well as asking the author different subsequent questions, and here are just few concepts that were touched on that evening:
- In essence, what is the conscious and the subconscious mind?
- How one could mobilize the force of the conscious mind?

- What were the sources of inspiration for this book?

- How can a person use positive suggestion/s?
- How to select and pursue thoughts and wishes?
- What we can do to become better parents?
- How we can better understand and communicate with our children?
- How we can stay away from negativity?
- Analysis and synthesis are complementary operations of the logical thinking and how can we better use them both to improve our lives?
- Specification and generalizations are antagonist and closely related actions taken by the logical thinking and how by mastering these we could become better in whatever we do?. …and so on…..

Here I will also share few inspiring concepts from the many that are discussed in his book:

- Hopes are “blooming” and they develop when they meet helpful opportunities for their fulfillment

- The right to hope supposes to be assessed by moral in a society, because hopes & faiths connected to them are building together a healthy work & life environment

- It’s strictly forbidden to affect somebody’s hopes with direct or indirect negative suggestions
- Have hopes, learn, and work to transform your dreams into reality!

All my guests that evening had many questions or comments for the author, who was so very kind to answer each of them. By the end of the conversation, the author Pavel Corutz recited for us, with such a touching tone of voice, few poems he composed that gave us all prominent goosebumps. In closing, he wished us all the best, passing along his warmest greetings, as on December 1^st it is Romania’s National Day. As a result, we all felt the room filling with such a profound sense of togetherness, unity and national joy, which again gave us all new goosebumps. After we waved good bye to our special guest, we spent a little while digesting the experience that just happened, which can’t be put properly into words, but nonetheless, extraordinary in every way. 

Then we continued our evening together with the usual light refreshments and peaceful talks. Time was passing by very fast, but we all managed to mark this evening as very distinctive. Once again, my genuine gratitude to all my friends who were able to honor my invitation for this very special edition of my seasonal book club.
Until next time, my best regards to each of you for a satisfying rest of autumn!

Alice   

“If anything can be done by somebody, it can be done by me.” (Pavel Corutz)

As life goes on…

Recently it came to me, stronger than ever, that indeed LIFE is an amazing process of accumulation and as time goes by the variety of experiences encountered could build up a better understanding of all what it is, the way it is. 

                       "Happiness is a good flow of life." (Zeno of Citium)

Aside of that, based on a number of diverse observations, I realize even more (with my heart while going beyond my logical mind) that if we truly and sincerely listen attentively (with an open mind & open heart, meanwhile holding the sincere intent of understanding, not just having the desire to retain only as a base to reply), if we pay close attention to life as it happens, if we stop projecting our feelings then it would be possible to reach a deeper state of understanding that could lead to a better quality of communication (which is the most important & effective way to express our thoughts, feelings & emotions). In this particular state, without any doubt, horizons would expand exponentially, while allowing life its authentic flow.  

"Communication works for those who work at it." (John Powell)

November 11, 2019: REMEMBRANCE Day

The time of the year to pay tribute – to reflect, to remember and to honor all the brave veterans who risked their lives in the past and in the present so we can live in peace, which reminds us that in fact freedom does have a price!

Red poppies are symbolizing our remembrance & white poppies are symbolizing a peaceful future.

Below is a briefing I wrote some time ago, which I find timely re-sharing.

Honoring a beloved grandfather

Each year, during the “Remembrance Day” (on November 11, in Canada) the picture of one of my beloved grandfathers, who was also a veteran of the Second World War & a scientist in his civilian life, comes to me so vividly, melting my heart more than ever!

My grandfather was a very kind and wise man, who had a tremendous respect for life. As I was growing up, often he was sharing with us kids extremely valuable stories featuring an enormous understanding and a profound respect for this precious gift called ‘life’ skillfully encompassing a multitude of facets.

It was autumn when he transitioned (many, many years ago) and my parents organized a funeral attended by all the notable and less notable names in the city at that time; for 3 days, our house was full of those people who kept coming to pay their last respects to him. At that time I was a teenager, but I still remember very clearly that on the second day of his funerals at the gates of our residence a significant group of beggars did show up, all of them crying and being in distress. Both my parents were quite concerned to see them there especially since nobody invited them and none of us knew who they are, but after my father approached them to see what is going on (I was shadowing my father very closely) to our surprise we’ve learned that they knew my grandfather (by his name to our further surprise) for a number of years because during his walks as a retired person each time he would’ve seen beggars on the street he either would’ve give them some money to eat, or would’ve take them to the closest restaurant to feed them, or would’ve have a good encouraging word for them or giving them some good advice for life, or would’ve take them with him to the closest pharmacy if they would’ve need to buy medicine and they didn’t have any money. I recall that my father spent a number of hours with those beggars hearing from each of them their story of how did they meet my grandfather. My mother was there too as well as the rest of the family. Beyond any doubt we all were extremely surprised as none of us knew all these things, because my grandfather never told us of how many people did he help; we all knew that he was a good man helping many people but we never knew that he was helping beggars and homeless people as well…we found out all these stories at his funerals, after he passed away and our hearts were deeply, deeply touched!

His entire life, my grandfather was a very humble person even though he was a known scientist in his circles. His modesty, his strong integrity, his dignity, the respect he always extended to each soul (no matter of the social status), his attitude of being of total unconditional service to each soul he would’ve met, his good deeds, his grace and more than anything else his deep respect for life in itself, offered him a special place in the hearts of all who knew him as he was always the embodiment of these virtues.

Many years after he transitioned, each time I went to visit him at his last resting place I always found at his monument new different bouquets with fresh flowers brought by people who knew him.
He was a beautiful soul, a brave veteran (he received a number of decorations for his bravery during the WWII, while saving many lives under harsh conditions), a wonderful grandfather, a loving father & a tender husband.
Even now, after so many years, his image and his voice are still resonating in my heart, while his timeless life teachings to me are truer than ever.

Love you, grandpa! Honor you, grandpa! Miss you deeply, grandpa!

"Silence" (video clip)

October 2019 – Message for THANKSGIVING Day

THANKSGIVING is such a special holiday which emphasizes the beauty of harvest time, the abundance of Earth, the celebration of work and peaceful life, as well as togetherness and gratitude…a blessed time of the year when one could easily realize the profound joy of ‘giving’ and ‘receiving’.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY, dear friends!

“Now is no time to think of what you do not have. Think of what you can do with what there is.” (Ernest Hemingway)

● A previous post on the same theme: THANKSGIVING Day – 2018

A literary autumnal evening featuring GRATITUDE

Friday (October 11’19) marked a beautiful warm and sunny day of autumn, when I was delighted to meet with a groups of good friends to share, ponder and discuss special life situations which emphasize gratitude, thankfulness and appreciation.

This time I’ve greeted my friends with a piece of classical music, called “Ode to Joy” (Romanian: "Oda bucuriei"), composed by Ludwig van Beethoven, which brought upon a relaxing wave of peace, totally appropriate for the occasion.

After we all settled in, our program continued with a number of life related stories my guests openly and candidly shared, which in essence I will list below:
- Firstly, our friend Dorina Aldea shared with the group an essay featuring the enormous gratitude she had in her heart when her first grandson was borne (13 years ago, on January 1^st), after a very challenging period of 10 hours of intense labour, where 2 lives were at risk, but saved by a very competent and devoted medical doctor on duty at that time. When the new baby came into this world, all the pain has been forgotten by everyone, being replaced by joy and gratitude. Nowadays Julian is a lovely, smart and athletic teenager who defines happiness as the time spent with family and the freedom to choose his favorite playing activities…through his eyes, both his grandparents (Dorina & Stefan) are wonderful heroes; at the same time, his grandparents are reaching every day higher and higher realms of sincere appreciation for all what life has to offer.
- After that, our dear Asiza D. shared with the entire group a significant chapter of her life, when after 30 (thirty) years she reunited with her tween sister. A life story which emphasizes courage, love, compassion, dignity, respect and above all gratitude. The entire audience was truly touched, while we all were listening to Asiza’s words in deep silence, with misty weeping eyes.
- Further, our friend John S., who is also a medical doctor in his professional life, graciously shared with the group how rewarding it is to be able to help people in need and how important it is to remain positive under harsh life circumstances. Also, he reminded that in life the true satisfaction is given by the dedication you put into your profession, rather than focusing on the secular aspect of it.

- Next, Sandu O. enumerated several modalities of how a person could reach and maintain a balanced state of happiness and content, mentioning that in fact the meaning of these two desired feelings are very different from person to person.

- Then, our dear Emilia approached the subject from a different angle wondering if happiness is really an option, especially if one is facing a controversial life situation; in other words, how far you need to push and when you need to let it go, without compromising gratitude (the subject of discussion) or hurting your feelings while staying true to yourself.     

- At this point, Anca P. reminded how important and challenging it could be at the same time to continue to remain happy and grateful about something when you can’t control the situation.

- Additionally, Camelia refreshed that life taught her that for each difficult situation (generally regarded as ‘insoluble’) there could be found at least two solutions if you are willing to change perspective. Also, she shared that in her experience, during the most challenging situations of her life a strong bonding between parties involved occurred, which lead to lasting unforgettable memories. 

- Furthermore, Ilena shared a number of old precious memories and then recited for the group the beautiful poem called “Autumn“, by Rainer Maria Rilke (which is published in comments section, both in English & Romanian languages). 

- Also, our dear friend Lidia reminded that we can create our own happiness by being simply grateful. To her, gratitude feels like a flame which grows the more you spread it, and the further it goes the bigger it gets.

- Subsequently, Mioara told us that after she moved to Canada she is still thinking of her home country (Romania), and how it is to live in between two worlds, but nonetheless grateful to be close to her two sons.

- After that, our friend Maria commented seemingly along the same lines, expressing her gratitude for Romania (the homeland where most of us were formed & reached a certain level of expertise in our professions), which she left with a suitcase (like most of us) and then moved to Canada (the adopted country, which is allowing us a continuous growth in a balanced climate of peace and respect). 

- Then, our dear friends Dana and Adrian S. , who just returned from a vacation in Romania share their recent experience in home land – an experience filled with lots of family memories when both further realized how time is changing people and perceptions; moments to ponder and be grateful for the present.

Our group conversations were open, genuine, lengthy and full of spark…as usual by now, we wrapped up the night with light refreshments brought for the occasion, good cheer and heartfelt greetings we extended to each other for the coming Thanksgiving Day!

While at the page of "giving", this time we also gathered few donations so in December we could put together a number of bags for homeless people, when the cold weather will strike. 

On the other hand, I feel it is important to refresh that the essence of "giving" could touch the core of every human being, while bringing along joy and peace, because generosity has the capability to create a stronger community and ultimately a happier society for everyone!

Without any doubt, we all had a rewarding evening, filled with a very special sense of togetherness, for which I’m sending along my sincere gratitude to each guest. 

Until we meet again, my best wishes to all for a pleasant rest of autumn!
Alice 

“For it is in giving that we receive.” (Francis of Assisi)

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