Carmen Monica Oprea

There comes a time in everyone’s life when difficulties gang up, and when this happens—when life gets hard—you must look for a creative way to handle things.

The first try not to struggle and fret, trying not to strain or complain, but do everything you can about things and put everything in God’s hands, trusting him to fix it. Then, you must pray for guidance and believe in the advice, depend on it, because it won’t fail you. Practice a calm attitude. All disturbing things will remain troubling as long as you are disturbed. When you become peaceful, situations will iron themselves out. No one can think creatively when the mind is upset. You must saturate your consciousness with faith, a creative faith that things will turn out right.

You must remind yourself one great truth: hard experiences will pass away because they can be changed. There is always a light in the darkness, and you must look for that light which is the love of God. Trust in your own strength and wisdom to handle any problem successfully and never forget that you are loved. Everyone experiences troubles, but they all fade with the passage of time.

Life is easier than you think and all you have to do is accept the impossible, bear the intolerable, do without the indispensable and be able to smile at everything. Growing is a lifetime job, and you grow most when you’re down in the valley. You can go through painful trials, or you can grow through them. It is okay to admit you’re suffering and hurting, but then you go on to make the most of this particular moment. Give it all you can and see what you can learn from this pain. All you have to remember is that you are going to get over this, and when you climb over it and then look back, you will realize that you’ve reached new gains and new values. You have grown as a person.

Love,

Carmen Monica

Life it is about finding balance. If you add a little of this and a little of that, you can put together a great recipe for happiness. Then, you throw a little bit of abandon to the mix, and you will reach success. The reason of going to the beach is to find and bring balance to our lives, balance from stress, work and responsibilities. When you feel overwhelmed, a beach vacation becomes a great escape composed of magic, fun, beauty, sun, sand and ocean. 

If we are in control of our thoughts, we are in control of our lives. Once, a friend of mine said that one tree can start a forest, as much as one smile can begin a friendship. She also said that o…

Source: The Power of One

If we are in control of our thoughts, we are in control of our lives. Once, a friend of mine said that one tree can start a forest, as much as one smile can begin a friendship. She also said that one stroke is enough to lift a soul. One tap on a shoulder can change the direction of that day.

Sometimes, we need to hear the right word so that we frame a goal in our minds, giving purpose to our existence. We have to remember that one candle can wipe out darkness, as much as one laugh can conquer gloom, and one hope can raise our spirits.

Life goes on regardless of my choice. We can choose to move on and take a chance on the unknown, or we can decide to stay behind, locked in the past and thinking of what it could have been.

One choice can change our lives.

Traducere

Daca suntem in controlul gandurilor noastre, suntem in controlul vietilor noastre. Odata, o prietena a spus ca un copac poate sa inceapa o padure, la fel de mult cum un zambet poate sa inceapa o prietenie. A mai spus ca o mangaiere este suficienta sa-ti inalte sufletul. O bataie pe umar poate sa schimbe directia acelei zile.

Uneori, avem nevoie sa auzim cuvantul potrivit ca sa formam un gol in mintile noastre, sa dam un scop existentei noastre. Trebuie sa ne amintim ca o singura lumanare poate alunga intunericul, la fel de mult cum un raset poate cuceri tristetea si cum o speranta poate sa ne ridice spiritele.

Viata continua in ciuda alegerii pe care am facut-o. Putem sa alegem sa mergem mai departe si sa ne asumam riscul in necunoscut, sau putem decide sa ramanem incuiati in trecut, gandindu-ne la ceea ce ar fi putut sa fie.

 

We spend a lot of energy, time and emotions to resist change because we assume growth must be painful. Sometimes personal growth is uncomfortable, especially learning to set boundaries in relationships. Only when we commit to our authentic self, those surrounding us start to notice that changes are taking place. People grow gradually, just like the plants in a garden. And the day comes when remaining tight in a bud is more painful than blossoming. It is the moment when we decide to follow our call, our deepest desire, when we choose to spread our wings and simply fly.

George Bernard Shaw said that the people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for circumstances they want.”

We are in charge of our destiny. We must realize that life is too short for compromises and for accepting anything less than the best in everything.

Traducere

O multime de energie, timp si emotii este petrecut rezistand unei cresteri pe care o consideram dureroasa. Uneori, dezvoltarea personala nu este comfortabila, in special impunerea unor limite in relatii. Numai atunci cand ne dedicam propriului nostru ‘eu’, cei din jur vor incepe sa observe schimbarile care iau loc. Oamenii cresc treptat,intocmai ca si plantele din gradina. Si vine o zi cand realizezi ca a ramane constrans intr-un boboc este mult mai dureros dacat a inflori. Este acel moment cand decizi sa-ti urmezi propria chemare, cea mai ardenta dorinta a ta, cand decizi sa iti intinzi aripile si sa zbori.

George Bernard Shaw a spus ca oamenii care reusesc in aceasta lume sunt aceeia care se ridica si cauta circumstantele pe care le vreau.

Suntem in controlul propriului nostru destin. Trebuie sa realizam ca viata este prea scurta pentru compromisuri si pentru acceptarea a ceea ce este mai putin decat cel mai bun.

Love,

Carmen Monica

 

 

 

Shirley Conran said that “If you don’t dare, you are doomed to dullness.”

I love colors—the stronger they are, the more energy I receive from them. My favorite one is red, like the blood running through my veins, filled with life and warmth. Red takes my breath away, causes a chain reaction in my body. Every cell starts working overtime when I wrap myself in red. I follow my instincts most of the time, and the results are stunning, which is often the case when I seek and find authenticity.

Being original is what makes us special. Red transforms my entire attitude toward the people and the events surrounding my existence.

My home is not painted in red since I believe that I will drive my family to extreme (but I have a sofa with red pillows and a red blanket in my office and curtains with red flowers). My walls are painted in a peach color so that I always feel that I am inside of a beautiful garden instead of a home. Although not very enthusiast, in the beginning, my husband was carried away by my own fervor, and now the entire family loves our peach living room.

The colors I wear aren’t the same colors I love, or I live with. I like to wear white and blue, pink and black, strong, creative, and dramatic colors, but I prefer living with soothing pastels for comfort and joy. There are multiple ways to express my authentic self just as a diamond has multiple facets, and I use colors to show my moods.

I look around and think of the colors I love. Am I surrounded by them? Am I wearing them? I always search for ways to come alive with colors, but too many of us are afraid of experimenting with color. The trick is to allow you to be carried away by colorful impulses.

The English critic John Ruskin said that “The purest and thoughtful minds are those who love the color the most.”

We should let our love for colors express the many hues and shades of our vibrant, authentic self.

Translation in Romanian

Shirley Conran a spus ca “Daca nu indraznesti, esti condamnat la stagnare.”

Iubesc culorile—cu cat sunt mai puternice, cu atat primesc mai multa energie de la ele. Culoarea mea preferata este rosul, ca sangele care-mi curge prin vene, plin the viata si caldura. Rosul imi taie respiratia, produce o reactie in sir in corpul meu. Fiecare celula incepe sa lucreze ore suplimentare cand ma imbrac in rosu. In cea mai mare parte a timpului imi urmez instinctele, iar rezultatele sunt uimitoare, mai ales atunci cand caut si gasesc autenticitatea.

Suntem speciali atunci cand suntem originali. Rosul imi transforma intreaga atitudine fata de oamenii si fata de evenimentele din jur.

Casa mea nu este vopsita in rosu deoarece cred ca mi-ar duce familia la extreme (dar am o canapea cu perne rosii si o patura rosie in biroul meu, iar perdele au flori rosii).  Peretii sunt vopsiti in culoarea piersicii, asa incat ma simt intotdeauna ca intr-o gradina, si nu ca intr-o casa. Desi nu a fost prea entuziast la inceput, sotul meu s-a lasat purtat de entuziasmul meu, si astazi intreaga familie iubeste camera de zi de culoarea piersicii.

Culorile pe care le port nu sunt intotdeauna cele pe care le iubesc sau cele care ma inconjoara. Imi place sa port alb si albastru, roz si negru, culori puternice, creative si dramatice, dar prefer sa traiesc inconjurata de pasteluri linistitoare pentru comfortul si bucuria mea.Sunt multe feluri in care iti poti exprima autenticitatea, la fel cum un diamante are multe fete, si  folosesc culorile ca sa imi arat starile sufletesti.

Privesc in jur, gandindu-ma la culorile care imi plac. Sunt inconjurata de ele? Le port? Intotdeauna caut metode de a trai prin culori, dar prea multi dintre noi sunt speriati sa experimenteze prin culoare. Siretlicul este sa te lasi purtat de impulsuri colorate.

Criticul englez John Ruskin a spus ca “Cele mai pure si cugetatoare minti sunt cele care iubesc cel mai mult culorile.”

Ar trebui sa lasam dragostea noastra pentru culori sa exprime multitudinea de nuante si umbre ale autenticitatii noastre.

Love,

Carmen Monica

Today is my best friend’s birthday. We haven’t spoken in years, but she is still my best friend. We grew up together in a small city in Romania, shared ideas, books, talked about our boyfriends and mostly, we loved each other. My friend’s birthday is just one week ahead of mine, and through the years, she had made sure to remind me that she was older than I was by six full days, and thus she was wiser. My friend and I are separated by miles of land and water, but in our hearts, we have never separated. We might have aged for just a little— she probably aged more than I because of those six days. Perhaps, there is some silver touching her hair right now—I cover mine with a fresh dye as soon as I see any daring ones. Our kids grew— mine is a teenager, hers is still a child—and many of our goals are still in full bloom. She loves history, and books, and travel just as much as I do. We used to spend countless hours in the library among old pages or walking the path in the park. I especially loved the park in the fall when the leaves covered the ground with gold. I remember us debating for hours about everything, but mostly I enjoyed the times when we walked quietly next to each other and explored the few stores our city used to have. There are much more stores now and a few more parks than back then.

Today is your birthday, another one when I am not able to hug you, or share a glass of champagne and a slice of chocolate cake with you. Although my body is on one continent, my heart and my thoughts are with you, celebrating your special day now as I did growing up (there was no champagne back then, but some type of soda with flavor). I hope life has treated you kindly, protected you from all the harm, and mostly, I hope it will keep you safe until, once again, we’ll be together, celebrating our golden days.

Happy birthday, Gabriela!

Translation in Romanian

Asta este ziua de nastere a celei mai bune prietene. Desi nu am vorbit de mult, a ramas cea mai buna prietena a mea. Am crescut intr-un oras micut din Romania, am impartit idei si carti, am vorbit despre prietenii nostrii si, mai ales, ne-am iubit una pe alta. Ziua de nastere a prietenei mele este cu o saptamana inaintea zilei mele de nastere, si, de-a lungul anilor, mi-a  amintit ca este mai mare decat mine cu sase zile, si deci mai inteleapta decat mine. Astazi, suntem separate de mile de pamant si apa, dar in inimile noastre nu s-a schimbat nimic. Am mai imbatranit putin-ea mai mult decat mine din cauza celor sase zile. Probabil, ea are ceva argit in par- eu acoper firele de par care au indrazneala sa o faca cu o noua vopsea. Copiii nostrii au crecut—al meu e un adolescent, al ei este inca o copila,—si inca mai lucram la indeplinirea multora din aspiratiile noastre. Ei ii place istoria, cartile si calatoriile, la fel ca si mie. Obisnuiam sa petrecem nenumarate ore in biblioteca printre pagi vechi din carti sau plimbandu-ne in parc. Toamna  am iubit parcul cel mai mult, atunci cand frunzele acopereau pamantul cu aur. Imi amintesc de noi cum vorbeam ore in sir despre orice, dar mai ales, imi amintesc acele timpuri cand mergem tacute, una langa alta, si exploram putinele magazine din oras. Astazi sunt mult mai multe magazine si parcuri decat atunci.

Astazi este ziua ta, inca o zi cand nu pot sa te imbratisez, sa beau un pahar de sampanie cu tine sau sa mananc o felie de tort cu ciocolata. Desi corpul imi este pe un alt continent, inima mea si gandurile mele sunt cu tine, celebrand acesta zi speciala asa cum am facut cand eram impreuna(nu aveam sampanie aunci, ci un fel the suc cu  aroma). Sper ca viata te-a tratat cu blandete, te-a protejat de orice rau,si, mai ales, sper sa te tina in siguranta pana cand vom fi impreuna, sarbatorind anii nostrii de aur.

La multi ani, Gabriela!

Love,

Carmen Monica

 

Florence Scovel Shinn said that “Intuition is a spiritual faculty, and does not explain, but simply points the way.”

I call intuition the sixth sense, that capacity to know something without evidence that proves it to be so. Intuition is like a radio, transmitting information that people need. Intuition is a sense that helps us drive safely out of a maze called life. We should stop for a minute and think of the wild animals that rely only on their intuition to stay alive.

I rely on mine to thrive because I know that only if I follow my deepest instinct, I can live an abundant life. This is the reason why I don’t allow my fear of consequences to prevent me from following my deep instinct. If I do, then I am condemned to live a safe but thin life.

Intuition communicates in inventive ways I call educated gut, which slaps me to pay attention by triggering a physical reaction in my body. Intuition is a revelation, an inner knowledge that helps me arrive at the right place at the right time. It takes a leap of faith to trust intuition, but if used every day, this sixth sense will flourish and enhance my life just the same way the other five sense do.

Translation in Romanian

Intuitia

Florence Scovel Shinn a spus:

“Intuitia este o facultate spirituala care nu explica, ci iti arata drumul.”

Intuitia este al saselea sens, acea calitate de a sti ceva fara sa ai evidenta care sa ateste ceea ce stii. Intuitia este ca un radio care transmite informatii atunci cand oamenii au nevoie de ele. Este un simt care ne ajuta sa iesim din labirintul pe care il numim viata. Ar trebui sa ne oprim un minut si sa ne gandim la animalele salbatice care se bizuie numai pe intuitie ca sa ramana in viata.

La fel si eu ma bazez pe intuitie ca sa-mi mearga bine deoarece sunt convinsa ca numai asa pot sa traiesc o viata imbelsugata. Acesta este motivul pentru care nu permit fricii de consecinte sa ma impiedice sa urmez ceea ce imi spune instinctul. Daca urmez fricii, atunci sunt condamnata sa traiesc o viata in siguranta dar lipsita de substanta.

Intuitia comunica prin instinct, producand o reactie fizica in organism si facandu-ma sa fiu atenta. Intuitia inseamna revelatie, o cunostinta interioara care ma ajuta sa ajung la locul potrivit in timpul potrivit. Este nevoie de un act de credinta ca sa te increzi in intuitie, dar folosit in fiecare zi,  acest al  saselea sens iti va inflori si imbogati viata la fel ca si celelalte cinci sensuri.

Love,

Carmen Monica

What I desire most in life is to live authentically, courageously, and for that, I realize that I have to look fear in the face. I am convinced that I will know dark moments, but I am trusting that a power greater than my own won’t leave or forsake me. The name of this power is love. Love changed and transformed my life in countless ways when I started on the path of authenticity. I think that my family and friends noticed the changes because miracles happen. Love dissolved all the fears by creating opportunities I couldn’t imagine before I began the search to discover and recover my authentic self.

Sometimes doubt, despair, and denial threaten to dismantle my dreams, but love rears up in my protection. When I feel frightened and fragile, I stand very still. One of the hardest lessons I learned was accepting that all fear came from within regardless how extreme the real life’s circumstances.The closer I get to share my dream with the world, the fiercer the struggle to bring it forth because I will be changed and my life will never be the same.

I consider that courage is the fear that has said her prayers and dreams are gifts meant to alter us. The power that gifted me with my dream knows how to help me make it come true in the end.

Emily Bronte said:

“I’ve dreamt in my life dreams that have stayed with me ever after, and changed my ideas. They’ve gone through and through me, like wine through water, and altered the color of my mind.”

Traducere in romaneste:

Ceea ce imi doresc mai mult in viata este sa traiesc autentic, curajos si pentru asta am realizat ca trebuie sa apuc taurul de coarne. Sunt convinsa ca voi intampina momente grele, dar am incredere ca o putere mai mare decat a mea nu ma va lasa sau uita. Numele acestei puteri e iubirea. Iubirea mi-a schimbat si transformat viata in nenumarate feluri cand am pornit-o pe calea autenticitatii. Cred ca familia si prietenii mei au observat schimbarile deoarece miracolele sunt adevarate. Iubirea disolva toate temerile creind oportunitati pe cale nu mi le-am imaginat inainte de a incerca sa descopar si sa-mi recuperez originalitatea.

Uneori neincrederea, disperarea si indoiala ameninta sa darame visele, dar iubirea imi vine in aparare. Cand ma simt infricosata sau delicata, stau nemiscata. Una dintre cele mai grele lectii pe care le-am invatat a fost sa accept ca toata frica vine dinauntrul meu in ciuda situatiilor extreme din viata. Cu cat ma apropii mai mult de a-mi impartasi visul cu intreaga lume, cu atat lupta de a produce este mai indarjita deoarece ma voi schimba si viata mea nu va mai fi la fel.

Curajul este un fel the teama care si-a spus deja rugaciunile iar visele sunt daruri menite sa ne schimbe. Puterea care mi-a dat mie darul stie cum sa ma ajute sa il realizez in cele din urma.

Emily Bronte a spus:

In viata mea am visat vise care au stat cu mine intotdeauna, si care mi-au schimbat ideile. Au trecut prin mine ca vinul prin apa, si mi-au schimbat modul de a gandi.”

Love,

Carmen Monica

 

Death, like birth, is part of life. That which is born has to die. It is not easy, and it won’t get easier. Memories buried somewhere among other memories surface, and you wonder why you haven’t thought of that particular moment until you faced death. I lost a parent, a grandmother and a grandfather. Each experience was unique and the feelings terrifying. It only certified that one day I would die too.

My son thinks I will live forever, and that silver won’t touch my hair or that my skin won’t wrinkle. I smile and kiss his eyes. I was in his shoes and thought that I wouldn’t lose the people I loved. First, I was in shock, and then I became furious with the order of things. Finally, I realized that I have to accept it and move on.

Before dying, my mother said that it would get easier in time. I know she meant well, trying to soften the emptiness I would feel after her death. But it didn’t get easier but harder with each passing day. I began missing all the things we used to do together. I panicked when I realized that I couldn’t remember the sound of her voice. I closed my eyes and emptied my mind, and slowly, it came back to me. I remembered the way she used to smile, to smell or to feel when I touched her.

I remembered how grandpa used to make jokes, and how delicious were the sweets grandma used to bake. I used to believe that grandparents and fairy tales belong together. (I still read fairy tales when I want to escape the ugliness in our world.) When I lost my grandparents it felt as if  every tie with my childhood was severed forever. I realized how precious my life was and that I took many things for granted.

Life is truly a gift.Life is about accepting the changes, moving on, and fighting each day to become a better version of the person you were the day before. Life doesn’t come with guarantees or give you everything you wish. You go out there, and put one step in front of the other, and tell yourself that each second is priceless. You will never get back the moment you’ve lost, and if you are very, very lucky, you may get a second chance to right the wrongs you’ve done along the way.