Relaxing getaway

After Chtistmas holidays, full of many lunches and dinners, we all need a relaxing weekend, a romantic getaway!

I'm now trying to plan the best weekend ever but I'm also experiencing the hardness in doing that!

First I would like to find a cheap but chic place;
Second I would like a place easy to reach on Friday night after a long day at work;
Third...I would like to be sure that I'm not going to make any mistakes...

One good thing of being italian and living here is that wherever I go I'm sure to see beautiful cities and fantastic landscapes...That's already a good start!!!
Florence or Siena with the "sweet Chianti hills", Pisa with the magic pendant tower, Venice with the lagoon and, above all, arts and history everywhere!

Maybe to really enjoy my weekend I shouldn't plan it...I mean I should leave it in "Destiny's hands"...or in my husband's hands!!!

Anyway planning or not planning it I'm sure it will be great and relaxing...no work to do, no dogs to look after, no house to clean...I will be spoilt like a princess!

GBN

Philosophizing...

It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell.
Buddha

The Latins used to say "Nosce te ipsum", in english it could sound like "know yourself" and it means "learn who you are and where your limits are" but it also means "find where the truth is" because what is real is inside yourself...

I know it can sound a little bit confused but after years of yoga and my academic studies I believe it!
If I am in peace with myself I can be the strongest person of the world but I will be in peace only when I will have found myself, my happiness and the right direction. I know I have the age to say "I finally know where I'm going" but life keep going and we keep searching...it doesn't mean we will never be in peace, it just means we will have more awareness in what we are doing!


I Latini usavano dire "Nosce te ipsum", in italiano potremmo tradurlo come "Conosci te stesso" e significa "impara chi sei e dove sono i tuoi limiti" ma anche "trova dove risiede la verità" poichè ciò che è reale è dentro di te...

Lo so che può suonare leggermente confuso ma, dopo anni di yoga e di studi accademici, io ci credo!
Se sono in pace con me stessa posso essere la persona più forte del mondo ma, allo stesso tempo, sarò in pace solo quando avrò trovato me stessa, la mia felicità e la giusta direzione. Lo so che alla mia età dovrei già dire "Ok, finalmente so dove sto andando" ma la vita continua ad andare e noi continuiamo a cercare...non significa che non saremo mai in pace, significa solo che avremo più consapevolezza di ciò che stiamo facendo!

GBN

"Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win".
Sun-tzu (~400 BC), The Art of War. Strategic Assessments


It's all about winning or losing something...My 2012 best resolution is to be a winner in my life! I know it means a lot and it's a big thing to say but I want to achieve all I deserve and I have worked hard for!

Please let me know what your new year resolution is!

FIRE TO PURIFY - FUOCO PURIFICATORE

2012 is nearly here and we are getting ready for a new year's eve party to spend with few good friends and family.

I'm thinking to start a new tradition...during the longest night of the year, just before midnight, I will ask my friends to write on a piece of paper what they want to forget/cancel of 2011...Then we will burn these pieces of paper hoping to burn all the things that hurt us during this nearly finished year!!!
In many religious/magic traditions fire is the element used to purify, it is also associated with life and passion...We will use the fire to clean the past and give the future new lymph!!!

Il 2012 è alle porte e ci stiamo preparando ad accoglierlo con un po' di buoni amici e famigliari.

Per quest'anno stavo pensando di intraprendere una nuova tradizione, durante la notte più lunga dell'anno, appena prima della mezzanotte, chiederò ai miei ospiti di scrivere su dei pezzi di carta ciò che intendono dimenticare/cancellare dell'anno che sta per finire...Poi bruceremo questi foglietti sperando di bruciare tutte quelle cose che ci hanno fatto star male durante il 2011!!!
In molte tradizioni religiose/macighe il fuoco è l'elemento usato per purificare ed è anche associato con la vita e la passione...Dunque useremo il fuoco per ripulire il passato e dare nuova linfa al futuro!!!

GBN

Expectations

What we have been waiting for 365 days just ended...We have now new toys, new clothes, new accessories for our phones or computer...and, for sure, new kilos to carry on after 3 days of food and drinks!!!

I really hope we had time to hear from people we can't see so often or time to think about who is not here anymore...or just time to think about what Christmas means for us...time for a warm hug...time to stare in each other's eyes...time for a long kiss...time to fight (if it means you are going to make love after)...time for your best friend...time for your family...time for your lover...

Another countdown is now on, in few days we will say bye-bye to 2011 and we will welcome a new year...So it's now time for good purposes and new expectations...please leave a note about yours, it will be fun to know what everyone, around the world is waiting for...

GBN

Pensiero n. 2 - a different Christmas

L'albero è spento
non c'è fuoco nel camino
ne' neve in giardino.

E' un Natale triste
senza musica
senza gioia
senza doni

Ce ne saranno altri
bisogna solo saper aspettare.




The lights are off
the fireplace too
no snow in the garden.

It's a sad Christmas
no music
no joy
no gifts

Next time will be different
we just need to wait for.

Gio.B.N

...we should be stronger...

‎"Ours is essentially a tragic age, so we refuse to take it tragically. The cataclysm has happened, we are among the ruins, we start to build up new little habitats, to have new little hopes. It is rather hard work: there is now no smooth road into the future: but we go round, or scramble over the obstacles. We’ve got to live, no matter how many skies have fallen."
— D.H. Lawrence (Lady Chatterley's Lover)