Reflection notes to myself and the world
I've started last month with the idea to help others by raising money to help men, struggling with their physical and mental state. Also raised awareness by provoking conversations as I was growing a moustache and taking up the challenge of running 60km in one month.
I would like to thank Aoife Mooney, Isabelle Foisy, Ian Bruce, Karen Witcomb, Liz Stokes, Kevin Spiteri, Ivaylo Dimitrov and Lucy Labova for their generous donations. This money will go to someone in need and will bring light to the life of men! I greatly appreciate your generosity! You make part of about 50 million pounds raised all around the world!
What happened? Well, it happened a lot!
- I had some real fun growing my moustache :) The topic is controversial for many and I know there are different opinions, but I believe I have enjoyed it because I have followed the bright example of my grandfather Ivan, who proudly wore his moustache for many years until his final days. Here is a photo of him, 34 and me, 35. I have only seen him in photos but sometimes I have felt the strength of his personality. I have been told that he had been a very knowledgeable and respected person in his field of agronomy.
- I have challenged myself in a field that I have always wanted to improve - music. I felt music as something very special but because I have never considered it as a “productive” activity that will have some financial benefits from the time I have spent in reading music theory, trying to play different instruments, listening to music, reading music, practising rhythm and so on and so forth, I have always felt guilty of having “wasted” the time doing it. This month, I have accepted the challenge from Stanislava Valkova and I will be making a cover of the song “We are the champions” by Queen. In the process, I have learnt a lot. And I still am. Thanks to The Guitar Social and Mike New, the music theory has finally started to shape in my head. And I have also acknowledged my limitations. As I have actually started enjoying the practice and as I have felt the pressure of the days rolling, I have decided to enjoy the process a bit more. I will release the cover at some point in time. I hope it will be in January. I want to give the best I can and have fun a bit more :) The good things take time!
- That said I have been able to fully acknowledge being in “the gap” (check this video), where I am below the level of my personal expectations and it feels really frustrating!
- The joy of spending time on activities that make me happy actually made me more calm and relaxed and appreciate the concept of time. It has been a process but a huge piece of the puzzle has been put this month by spending time almost every day immersed in progressing in the music field. It brought me confidence that - good things need time to develop.
- On day 23 I didn’t feel like running but I ran. I had to do it. I felt I want to try and see what can happen. My body hurt. I felt the pain in my muscles, in my joints, in my bones. I thought that I am not doing something right and I was blaming myself for making a mistake that I could not realise what that mistake was. Luckily my brother Venko, who is an avid sportsperson, has noticed my results and I have shared my feelings about a mistake I might be doing. He asked me if I have done such an intense running schedule before. That was it. Yet again another thing that pointed me to the idea that it takes time to develop a routine. I gave myself a rest and after that, it went well :) I ran for 60km(63.91km in total) in November. That’s probably the distance I have covered running in the last 10-15 years, I don’t know. But I feel great. Last night was the best. I have found joy in running during the dark part of the day. I have only the light beam of my headlamp to guide me and to follow. No other stimuli to distract me. It was like meditation - me, the light spot from my torch on the ground running away from me, and my breathing.
- For the first time in my life. I have shaved for 45 consecutive days...and counting :) It has been an interesting relationship with my face and a good habit builder. I’ll see if I am going to keep it going. Time will tell.
- In general, I have learnt that things need time and energy to develop at their own pace. This was very nicely put by Daniel Troev in one of his posts. It came at a good time in my life and I have appreciated it!
At the end, and it is still not the end, I have learnt a lot about myself. And with the challenges that I undertook last month, I've grown a tad more. I am sure I will have more and more to realise in the days and months to come.
...and may everyone knows their challenge...
