Searching for Wisdom

I have many faces… I have become many different things to many different people… I like that. Variety is definitely the spice of my life.

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Through the years, with my changing faces, I am a changing person.

I write to empty myself, to break myself into pieces which I can understand and then put back together as I wish.

Integrity is important to me.

Don’t worry so much about your self-esteem. Worry more about your character. Integrity is its own reward.

Laura Schlessinger

Love is important to me.

We are not the same persons this year as last; nor are those we love. It is a happy chance if we, changing, continue to love a changed person.

W. Somerset Maugham

We do better not if we hold on tightly but if we allow things to sit in the palm of our hand. Allow people to choose whether to stay or go. Allow yourself to let go. Allow change, not chains.

You could say hands are my fetish. It’s almost always the first thing I notice about a person. I read their character in their hands.

Other things I notice in people:

• Whether someone looks me in the eye when they speak to me.
• Whether they overuse the words ‘I’ or ‘me’ in their general speech.
• Whether someone’s smile reaches their eyes.

I LOVE TO REAAAAAD!!!! If you want to make me happy – give me a book.. and a hug.

Click here for a list-challenge of some of my most memorable reads —-> http://www.listchallenges.com/sapphiellies-preferred-reading-material

Click here if you want to challenge my To-Read list —–> http://www.listchallenges.com/a-very-long-to-read-list

For anyone that doesn’t know about list-challenges… it’s an awesome way to waste time. (And see just how many films you’ve watched, books you’ve read or places you’ve been.)

I’ve been writing lists since I could use a pencil – just ask my mum. I feel it brings the chaos of my mind into nice, manageable, tidy lines for me to work through. Sometimes I need that.

I’m almost trilingual – Not including universal sign language 😉 Still working on the Italian. Other two languages are English & Greek.

I’ve learnt how to stick-up for myself, for what I want in life. It’s been the hardest lesson so far.. therefore the most rewarding. Don’t let people push you into things you don’t want to do. Use universal sign language if necessary.

Be yourself. Don’t apologise. But – Learn what that means, to be yourself.

ΓΝΩΘΙ ΣΕΑΥΤΟΝ – KNOW THYSELF.

Acknowledge your weaknesses before somebody else can. Then no-one can use them against you. Know your strengths and when they are needed. Listen when they are not needed and learn all you can from everybody else. And try to be better, always. NEVER STOP TRYING.

If I had a mantra, it would be this:

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I collect ticket stubs of all kinds. I make lots of photo albums/collages/cards. I have a photo album OF ticket stubs. I own so many notebooks & diaries I’ve lost count. I dream of having a library in my future house. The music in my itunes can play for a month without repeating a song. I buy puzzle books and won’t throw them away until every puzzle is done – I’ve got quite a few as you can imagine. NAMES are very important to me – I like to know the etymology of everything, names in particular have a certain power. I have a bucket list of 100 items.

I miss certain people from my life in a deep, thorough way that makes me feel weak and worthless sometimes.

I suffer with insomnia.. I have so many dreams when I do sleep.. I struggle to get out of bed in the morning if there’s not something specific I have to do. Winter is my least favourite time of year.

I write to deal with all of that. Letters, lyrics, poetry, philosophy, ramblings and real life. I remember that loving is not weakness and sensitivity goes hand in hand with pain.

And the other thing I do to deal with it all, is DANCE.

But more on that another time…

 And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music

– Frederich Nietzsche

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Travel has become a part of my life which, although I did not foresee, is now inextricably bound up with my character. There is so much to see, so much to learn. How could I stay in one place when I know that? Well, I couldn’t. I’ve lived in 3 different countries and thrice as many cities. England, Greece & Italy. London, Winchester, Florence, Athens, Kalamos, Thassos, Bergamo & Nardo’.  I aspire to live in at least one more country on a long-term basis and visit the rest on shorter terms. Milan & Turkey are already in my plans this year…

I adore discovery of all kinds. It gets my blood pumping.

People, places, music, motion, theories, theatre, words, wonders.. this world has so much to offer.  And there’ll never be a better time than now… so for me there really is no choice but to use the time that is given me.

By the way, on your own travels, don’t forget to look up. It’s glorious. As a writer I adore once said –

We are all in the gutter but some of us are looking at the stars.

Oscar Wilde

Those stars can really make a difference. As can a sunset or sunrise, a storm rolling in or clouds that look like butterflies and dinosaurs….

Until next time. Baci. Kisses. Filakia.

Sophia ❤