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Christmas means gratitude and forgiveness
It's said that during the Holidays, people feel more pressure of having a caring family or being loved and important. When that is not the case, or financial problems prevent someone from buying gifts and all, the matters get worse. Then people become more miserable or suicidal than every other time of the year.
My sister passed away a couple of years ago. She was 49. It's not been easy for my family all these years. However, instead of focusing on the loss, I've chosen to focus on the fond memories, on how she would roll her eyes in disapproval, on her energy that is still here with me. I never avoid referring to her if something relevant comes up, I think of her while I'm decorating the Christmas tree, I imagine some remarks of her when I'm window-shopping, and some hippy shoes catch my attention. No loss can erase the gift of life. I missed my sister but as I am grateful for all the memories of her, I feel it right to be happy as if she were alive, appreciative of the time I have left to love and be loved.
I've been thinking that the most important person craving recognition and attention is myself. It took me long to realize that I would treat myself the same way I'd been treated as a child and I always complained about. What if I don't have a stable income or an easy life? Shouldn't I be grateful for the items I've already had? Gratitude is not just a word. It is the base we should build our lives on to lead them as we wish. Forgiveness doesn't mean compromise. It means the willingness to turn the page and write a new chapter. It means that you appreciate all the bad and good things make you what you are before you move on. So I took the step. I forgive everyone, including myself, but I did it with all my heart not just in my mind. Instead of worries, I chose to put trust in life and what it has in store for me. I revel in being alive, in being mentally and physically healthy, in having good friends, in being able to walk and other simple things we tend to take for granted.
We all deserve wealth in every aspect of our lives. I really believe that whatever the soul desires, there is in abundance. We just need to find a way to get there. Meanwhile, as I have no money to spend on buying Christmas gifts this year, I'm planning on giving love boxes. Boxes with favors I'm going to do or return, with help I'm going to give, with smiles I'm going to spread around, with visits I'm going to pay. What does Christmas mean after all if not love and compassion?
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How I’m training my brain
We are usually unaware of how food and physical activities can affect the way that we feel and perform. Sunlight, working out, and learning new things constitute a vital source of fuel for the brain and boost alertness, awareness, creativity, and productivity.
The brain functions like a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it becomes. However, doing things the same way, day after day, makes me feel like I lose brainpower. That’s why I take any chance to meet new people, to learn a foreign language, to rearrange my schedules and take different routes from time to time, or to provoke challenging discussions and succumb to adventurous vacations. There are endless choices.
There are days I’m trying to dig into a topic I know very little about. I pick one that seems interesting to me and choose some books or articles on that topic. When I’ve learned what I need, I go on to choose something else. It could be some crosswords for a change. I like them a lot, despite the hard time the English ones usually give me. By turning this behavior into a habit, I manage to maintain a healthy memory and cultivate good judgment. Something else I like to do is to spend a day exploring some areas of my town that I am not so familiar with. The risk of getting lost, the new sights, people, sounds and smells, all mean a healthy wake-up call for my brain.
What I don’t like to do at all, let alone to overdo it, is the multitasking thing. I need so much to focus on one thing at a time. And I run lots of errands and stuff during the day. It’s just that I don’t try to cook, check my emails, talk to people, and make my bed at the same time. The idea that multitasking saves you time is a myth. You end up finishing fewer chores than you’re supposed to. Plus, it’s scientifically proven that people carrying out many tasks at the same time definitely harm their brain. So, you’d better pay more attention to yourself and the people around you. Give anything and any one time. It’s healthier and more effective than you think.
As for the best superfood ever, it’s called sunlight and it’s free and delicious. I’m really blessed to have been born in Greece, so I can enjoy many sunny days throughout the year. I love to wake up early in the morning and meditate outside as the sun is rising or to go out for a walk in the afternoon. Although climate change has affected Greece too, which makes me moody some days, the sun will be out there sooner or later to cheer me up. It always pays off.
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Why someone would learn Greek?
I've been teaching modern Greek to a native Brit for almost two years. John is a great student and basically my friend. He gives talks on flowers or birds in England and in doing so he loves throwing in some stories from Greek Mythology. The Greek language is one of the hardest in the world. It’s not a coincidence that the well-known expression “it’s all Greek to me” (it’s all Chinese to me, in Greek, “αυτά είναι Κινέζικα”) is used to show a total confusion. My friend is a polyglot and a lifelong learner which would explain why he took up a new language to learn. Why Greek, tho'? I couldn't help but ask. The Greek language, he said, is a fascinating trainer for your brain so it keeps functioning well; plus, you can make yourself crystal clear without saying more than the necessary. The truth is that the variety of Greek words and grammar forms for specific cases let us articulate our exact feelings and thoughts.
These days, unfortunately, we tend to simplify our language to the extent that it’s losing all precision and magic. As a Greek tutor, I prompt everyone to use some old expressions here and there. For example, I suggest they use the expression “Εις το επανιδείν” (see you later) instead of “τα λέμε,” which is a kind of slang. By using expressions that share the same verb I can help my students see how Greek and English are associated with one another. In the word επαν-ιδείν, the prefix επαν means again and the suffix ιδείν derives from the verb ορώ that means see. Once the learner sees the similarity, it’s easier to remember the expression and dig deeper into the Greek language.
John is far from perfect as a Greek learner, but he is a good one, despite his poor listening skills. He truly enjoys the learning journey and he’s managed to make himself clear by writing or speaking in Greek. Who is perfect anyway? Either as teachers or learners, we are all striving for improvement, not perfection. Day after day we are becoming more and more confident and comfortable talking to anyone at any time. We’re stepping outside our comfort zone and facing our fears. We’re coming closer to different people and cultures just to realize how much we’re alike. As a genuine learner, I always take any chance I am given to learn something new and make the life better for myself and people around. Einstein once said that when you stop learning you start dying. It’s an inspiring motto, don’t you think?
21 Kasım 2018
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