Dear friends, at this time of the year, I wish you would enjoy the spirit of Christmas, which is Peace; the gladness of Christmas, which is Hope; and the heart of Christmas, which is Love. MERRY CHRISTMAS, dear ones!
Friday, December 25, 2020
Tuesday, December 22, 2020
Socializing: Pre-CHRISTMAS Reunion 2020
As we are nearing the completion of this very different and tumultuous 2020, tonight (Tuesday - December 22'20) we had our usual year-end gathering...it was the perfect time to speak about some old seasonal customs, to sing few traditional Christmas carols, to recite several dear poems appropriate for the occasion & to simply share a number of unforgettable childhood stories...without any doubt, a peaceful instance to bring each other joy, to bond, to reconnect & to create new memories.
Once again, dear friends - THANK YOU SO MUCH for your ongoing, loving, support, which is deeply appreciated!
I hope that the distinct peace and joy of this very special season would stay with you throughout the year ahead! 
Monday, December 21, 2020
December 21, 2020: WINTER Solstice
Winter solstice marks the arrival of winter in our Northern Hemisphere, so at this time of the year I'm wishing you all a safe and pleasant season!
"When life gives you snow, make snow angels."
The year of 2020 will end with a very interesting astronomical occurrence...the closest great conjunction of two different planets is happening, when Jupiter and Saturn will almost touch in the sky.
● Additional references:
> Jupiter and Saturn converging in the night sky, shown in weekly intervals. This simulation is for New York (USA), but the great conjunction on December 21, 2020, can be seen all over the world.
> Excerpts:
- "On 12.21.2020 (the December solstice), Jupiter and Saturn will align so closely in the nigh sky that they will create a radiant point of light, some call 'Solstice Star', 'Star of Bethlehem', or the 'Christmas Star', said an expert."
- "Alignments between these two planets are rather rare because of how close the planets will appear to be to one another", said Patrick Hartigan, an astronomer at Rice University. "You would have to go all the way back to just before dawn on March 4, 1226 (nearly 800 ago), to see a closer alignment between these objects visible in the night sky", said astronomer Hartigan.
> ARTICLE: "For the First Time in 800 Years, a 'Christmas Star' Will Illuminate the Skies This Month"
> ARTICLE: "The December 2020 Great Conjunction"
> ARTICLE (via "The Globe and Mail" / Canada): "How to see and photograph the great conjunction of 2020"
> ARTICLE (via "CBC News"): "Christmas Star 2020: Jupiter, Saturn to meet in rare <great conjunction>"
> ARTICLE (via "The Sun"): "Great Conjunction 2020 LIVE: Watch Jupiter & Saturn 'nearly touch' TONIGHT on winter solstice plus meteor shower"
> ARTICLE (via "International Business Times" / Science section): "Is 'Christmas Star' Visible on Winter Solstice 2020? How to Watch Great Conjunction"
Friday, December 18, 2020
December 2020: A charitable gesture
Astronomically speaking, winter is around the corner, but before it arrives, on Thursday (December 17'20) I was able to organize a charitable gesture, this time helping the shelter of women and children affected by domestic violence.
With a handful of modest donations collected from several supporters of "ALICE & Friends Circle" as well as my family contribution this charity gesture could take place. On this matter, after my discussions with the manager in charge of the facility, in order to have a better understanding of their most stringent needs, I was able to purchase a number of items for these unfortunate women and children. Needless to say that our rather shy helping hand was sincerely appreciated by all!
We trust that those souls won't lose faith in humanity and would keep alive their hope for good.
Also, while at this page, I would like to share that the charity work my family does is private (as we don't need to show off), but the purpose of this briefing is to continue to exemplify (from a community stand point) that if you really want to do good in this world it is possible and you don't have to be extremely rich, but you have to be willing to care!
Once again, many thanks to my loyal friends and to my beautiful family for always being by my side and supporting all these heart driven projects - I consider myself truly blessed to have you all part of my life!
Wednesday, December 16, 2020
KINDNESS – a noble virtue
Over time, it has been observed by many that kindness is an essential ability, a noble virtue, a universal quality, a valuable interpersonal skill, based on altruism and empathy.
Personally, I believe that kindness is a way to change the world for better, as well as a wonderful way (for each of us) to become better for the world. Different acts of kindness (from small to big, from minor to significant) are always heart-warming.
For instance, kindness towards nature, towards animals and towards any other people definitively could transform the world and make it a better place to live, but this won't be complete if it doesn't include yourself. Kindness towards yourself is also crucial for one's personal journey and it starts at home; basically, it is about living with integrity, it is about being fully aware of what it is right or wrong, and by having a solid ethical foundation, based on which you could continually build upon.
On the other hand, sometimes people do confuse "being kind" with "being nice", but there is a difference: "being kind" is based on your personal beliefs, values and ethics, as opposed to "being nice" which refers to the way other people perceive you. Being aware of this, many people deeply realize that true kindness is essential to our daily lives as well as an excellent avenue to happiness.
Random or planned acts of kindness always had and will continue to fill the world with good. Many times, just a simple smile could change your day, shifting your feelings from anxiety to calmness, from anger to peace...the choice is yours; it might not be easy or simple, but definitively truly satisfying!
"Kind words can be short and easy, but their echoes are truly endless."
Tuesday, December 1, 2020
2020: Honoring together Romania's National Day
~ A yearly Romanian socio-cultural evening filled with poetry, history & good cheer, featuring Romania's National Day ~
On December 1st is Romania's National Day, and despite the fact that the current year is so much different than all what we have experienced before, on Tuesday (December 1'20) I was happy to organize a video-conference having each guest connecting virtually from the comfort of their own living-room.
Also, at this time, I would like to extend a warm "Welcome!" to the new friends who are joining my circle, bringing so much joy to my heart.
At this event I was glad to have with us again a guest of honor - Dr. Ovidiu Grecea, who is the General Consul of Romania and the Head of the Romanian Diplomatic Mission in Vancouver, as well as Plenipotentiary Minister of Romania in Canada.
This time, Consul Grecea brought along a renewed message of peace, re-iterating the significance of a productive collaboration, effective communication as well as the importance of unity. He also stressed that the generations to come are the ones that would take further in time the Romanian pride. Consul Grecea, as a Romanian official as well as a Romanian fellow, comes often to my Romanian literary evenings, and I appreciate his presence each time he could join the group, because he represents for all of us the country we each left behind.
As I've mentioned a number of times before, I would like to refresh again that by commemorating our roots, implicitly we honor our ancestors and cultural traditions, helping us remember our dear parents & grandparents, most of whom are gone today, but whose memory will be eternal, no matter where in the world we each are.
This time, Consul Grecea brought along a renewed message of peace, re-iterating the significance of a productive collaboration, effective communication as well as the importance of unity. He also stressed that the generations to come are the ones that would take further in time the Romanian pride. Consul Grecea, as a Romanian official as well as a Romanian fellow, comes often to my Romanian literary evenings, and I appreciate his presence each time he could join the group, because he represents for all of us the country we each left behind.
As I've mentioned a number of times before, I would like to refresh again that by commemorating our roots, implicitly we honor our ancestors and cultural traditions, helping us remember our dear parents & grandparents, most of whom are gone today, but whose memory will be eternal, no matter where in the world we each are.
My program continued with a number of interesting presentations, evoking famous Romanians, reciting poems, recalling dear traditions, sharing personal perspectives, or reminding important pages of Romanian history, and here I will give you only a very brief synopsis:
- Our dear friend Dorina Aldea opened the presentations cycle with few fragments from an article she wrote (her article was published by "Observatorul" from Toronto, and with Dorina's permision, also published in comments section) and then shared few personal remarks about the historic event in itself
- This time, I was truly happy to have with us our friend Luminita Aldea (joining the group straight from Romania for a little while), who recited for all a brief prayer and sent us for publication a poem she wrote (with Luminita's permission, the entire poem is published in comments section)
- Then, Teodor T. continued with a summary sharing few historic facts, following with a personal poem & an original song, both referring to "December 1".
- Our dear friend Dorina Aldea opened the presentations cycle with few fragments from an article she wrote (her article was published by "Observatorul" from Toronto, and with Dorina's permision, also published in comments section) and then shared few personal remarks about the historic event in itself
- This time, I was truly happy to have with us our friend Luminita Aldea (joining the group straight from Romania for a little while), who recited for all a brief prayer and sent us for publication a poem she wrote (with Luminita's permission, the entire poem is published in comments section)
- Then, Teodor T. continued with a summary sharing few historic facts, following with a personal poem & an original song, both referring to "December 1".
- Further, our dear friend Sandu O. brought to our attention a number of 6 contemporary names of successful Romanians.
After all the announced presentations were delivered, the famous Romanian patriotic song "Treceti batalioane Romane Carpatii" ("Romanian Troops, Cross The Carpathian Mountains") was referred to, followed by a lively group tribute (as we each, from the comfort of our house, were accompanied by a glass of champagne or wine)....we all toasted unanimously: "TRAIASCA ROMANIA MARE!" ("LONGLIVE THE GREATER ROMANIA").
At this point, I would also like to briefly refer to another theme related song, many Romanians enjoy, called: "Tara noastra-i tara noastra".
At this point, I would also like to briefly refer to another theme related song, many Romanians enjoy, called: "Tara noastra-i tara noastra".
The group discussions of our evening together were lengthy, fervent, animated by lots of comments and different personal remarks, jokes, perspectives (some of them quite controversial), dear memories, making us feel that time was passing by much, much faster. Without any doubt, we all had a refreshing and cheerful time!
Aside of that, while at this page, I would like to express my profound gratitude to those who were able and willing to join this gathering, when we all got the chance to fondly talk about our homeland - Romania.
Until we meet again, dear friends, my best wishes to each of you for a peaceful rest of the year!
Alice
Aside of that, while at this page, I would like to express my profound gratitude to those who were able and willing to join this gathering, when we all got the chance to fondly talk about our homeland - Romania.
Until we meet again, dear friends, my best wishes to each of you for a peaceful rest of the year!
Alice
Mesaj personal din partea lui Alice, adresat în limba română, la ceas aniversar:
Dragii mei,Şi pe această cale, doresc să vă transmit sincera mea apreciere pentru prezenţa, susţinerea şi participarea la întâlnirea noastră de grup, având ca tematică "Ziua Naţională a României".
Cu această ocazie am avut posibilitatea să aducem un aport omagial ţării de baştină, onorându-ne rădăcinile, străbunii, părinţii şi dascălii care au pus o piatră de temelie la fundaţia formării noastre ca oameni şi profesionişti.
Am petrecut împreună nişte momente absolut speciale în care bucuria de a fi român s-a împletit într-un mod armonios, cu sincera dorinţă de communicare şi relaţionare.
Calde mulţumiri!
Alice
“Let the beauty of what you love be what you do.” AliceFriendsCircle.blogspot.com
"Once you understand and appreciate other people's cultural background then you would connect more with them."
This event has been delivered in Romanian Language, featuring Romanian culture.
NOTE: Dear readers, please be advised that on this website each of the previous postings, pertaining to the recurrent annual themes, portray a different perspective of the subject/s presented (same theme/s, but a different outlook without duplication due to the cultural richness of the specific topic/s discussed).
December 1, 2020: Romania’s National Day
Every year, on December 1st, Romania celebrates its National Day (also known as "The Great Union Day"),
which is an event of a major historical significance, marking the unification of Transylvania, Bessarabia and Bukovina with the Romanian Kingdom, in 1918.
Dear Romanian fellows, near and far, together with my family, we wish you peace, good health, prosperity and joyful moments together with your loved ones!
● My previous greetings on the same theme: ROMANIA's NATIONAL Day – 2019, 2018
Dear Romanian fellows, near and far, together with my family, we wish you peace, good health, prosperity and joyful moments together with your loved ones!
Wednesday, November 11, 2020
November 11, 2020: REMEMBRANCE Day
On November 11 is 'Memorial Day'...the perfect time of the year to remember and honor our veterans since they gave their tomorrows so we could have our today...lest we forget...
● A previous post on the same theme: REMEMBRANCE Day – 2019
Monday, November 9, 2020
The ’art’ of WELLBEING
All seems to be pretty straight forward, but when it comes to the practical aspect of it, so many people stumble badly, and the big question is why? Hard to draw a general conclusion because every person is different and the subject in itself is truly vast, but here, I will list very few concepts from classics, which I find worth sharing further:
- In life, moving toward a greater sense of well-being is an ongoing journey, made of many small steps
- For a well-being seeker it is recommended to constantly be active, be positive, be social and be mindful
- Have every day a clear sense of purpose and sound resilience
- Create for yourself a healthy mindset (remember, a positive mindset is an investment on your overall well-being)
- Stop blaming others for your life failure/s (also known as 'the victim syndrome' or 'the victim mentality'), analyze yourself (in a mature & objective manner) and then take full responsibility for your behavior and actions
- Stay connected with people through meaningful relationships (in other words, be a good friend...if you don't know how, grab a book and learn the skill)
- Be grateful (appreciate every moment, every sunset, nature, and everything which surrounds you)
- Keep learning new things and smile every day
Generally speaking, when people think or speak about well-being, they are tempted to consider that only big things in life could make a big difference, but more often than not, the many little things, done consistently, with a bright smile on the face, have the biggest impact on one's life
So, as I wrap up my brief comments here, I'm glad to leave you with an excerpt, helpful to meditate upon...enjoy!
"Never forget that the skin wrinkles, the hair turns gray and the days turn into years...but what it is important remains: your strength and determination are ageless. It is your spirit that removes the spider webs. Beyond any point of arrival is one of departure, beyond any success is another attempt. As long as you live, you feel alive. If you miss what you've been doing, do that again. Don't get lost among the photos yellowed by time...carry on, especially when everybody expects you to renounce. Don't let your strength perish and by doing so, instead of pity, you command respect. When you can't run anymore, take a trot; when you can't do that either, walk, and when you can't walk freely any longer, take a cane, but never give up." (Mother Teresa)
