Home. Where the grass is NOT greener.
In fact, right now there is no grass at all.
It’s -30 C.
Surgut. Siberia.
It’s been 6 years since I was there last time.
Today. January 1st, 2016.
I spent my new year feeling homesick.
I could have spent it with people I just met.
Interesting people. Interesting places. Didn’t feel like seeing anyone but my family, old friends.
Was chatting with an old friend of mine at midnight.
Got a proposal.
…
Some things don’t change. Real, true feelings don’t go away. No matter how much time passes. No matter what the distance is. I guess I was flattered. And surprised.
…
I’ve been around the world.
I’ve seen many many amazing beautiful fascinating places, cultures, things.
I’ve met lots of great people. Kind and loving, and not so much. Mind-blowing and boring.
I made beautiful connections that will stay with me forever.
I’ve been lucky. Very much so. Blue eyes and blond hair definitely helped.
I’ve learned a lot. Really a lot.
I’m a completely different person now.
I want to think wiser, mature, smarter.
Crazier.
I mastered most important arts of life:
The art of not giving a fuck — that’s a treasure.
The art of letting go feeling light and happy, knowing something better is always coming.
The art of being present. Alive. Awake.
The art of embracing the moment.
The art of laughing at myself.
The art of still having fun when challenged.
The art of making a fool out of myself and having fun doing that.
The art of improvised sign language (got lazy learning languages).
The art of smiling at and talking to strangers without feeling silly, insecure, or maybe just not giving a fuck.
The art of not taking things personal, even when they were meant so.
The art of wishing someone well, even when they didn’t treat me the way I wanted.
The art of expecting nothing.
The art of being grateful for everything that comes my way, trusting it’s all for my benefit. Like a kid drinking a stinking medicine from the hand of a loving parent, knowing it’s for your benefit.
The art of seeing a positive spin no matter what the situation is.
The art of practical pessimism.
The art of fast packing and unpacking.
The art of functional wardrobe (Try living a few years with just a suitcase of things — it’s everything you own — and still looking good and stylish).
The art of airport yoga.
The art of staying healthy and super lean and fit anywhere in the world — there is really no excuses when you are committed to eating and living healthy.
The art owing your story and NOT being sorry for who you are.
The art saying yes.
The art of saying no.
The art of random acts of kindness.
The art of serving the moment.
The art of living without a plan, letting the life make one for me.
The art of being ok with not knowing, embracing the daily uncertainty.
The art of knowing how to make a choice in a world with unlimited choices.
The art of being pulled vs pushing.
The art of committing but being flexible.
The art of effortless living.
The art of feeling the fear and acting fearless.
Live. Learn. Laugh. Love. AND Lift.
January 1st. 2016. 366 days ahead.
It’s definitely feels like a new beginning.
Sometimes before going forward you got to go back. Finish unfinished business. Tie the loose ends.
Sometimes the future needs the past.
Future me needs to embrace past me. The one not that perfect, not that smart, not that wise, not that kind and loving, not that honest, not that open.
My mind wants to go to million different places, where the grass is greener. My soul just needs home. Where the grass is NOT green. No grass at all. -30C.