Perfection is OVERRATED

Perfectionism can be an amazing advantage but it can also be your downfall.

I used to want to be perfect. I used to look at celebrities and hate myself because I didn't look like them, because I wasn't as talented or simply because my life wasn't like theirs. 
I'm sure you can guess that I was very miserable. So miserable that it eventually ended up in an eating disorder that I'm still struggling with even today.
 
I won't go into long details, but I felt compelled to write this blog post as encouragement to anyone out there that might be feeling like they're not good enough. Too often do we pick ourselves apart and over criticize ourselves. Society has set its standards so high that they're pretty much unattainable.
 
Everyone has flaws. Those flaws are what help to add to our uniqueness. In fact, it's often that what we think our biggest flaw is, may be the thing that someone else really adores about us. That's why embracing them is important. Another important thing to realize is that not everyone's definition and interpretation of perfection is going to be the same. Which makes it even harder to be exactly that; perfect. 

I'm not saying that perfection is a bad thing. I just feel like instead of striving to be something that is pretty much impossible, we should strive to the best that we can be. Your most perfect self, if you want. People will probably disagree, but I think that striving for perfection in any aspect is basically setting ourselves up for failure. There are SO many people out there that are damn near to killing themselves to look like a distorted image of a celebrity that we see on TV. Kids getting bullied because they don't have the top name brand clothes or just don't fit into the other children's closed-minded idea of what's "normal".
 
At the end of the day, no one is perfect because perfection is an illusion. So if you feel like you need to be perfect, do it on your own terms. Be your own version of it. Not what someone else tells you it is. Be who you are. Own your flaws. Flaunt them. Don't apologize for being yourself. And don't ever be ashamed to be you because guess what? There's no one else on the planet that can do it better!

xx ♡ Micky 

The dilemma of the dreamer who woke up to the real world

There are people that don't dream at all, 
there are people that dream, wake up, get over it and live their lives,
then there are people that dream but can't remember their dreams once they wake up
and then there are the dreamers that never actually quite wake up.

Arriving at a new place and quickly noticing you don’t belong there can be grueling and scary, especially if you’ve already been looking forward living in this place for a while.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I still love the city of my university. It’s a wonderful place, full of wonderful people and potential adventures awaiting but I didn’t expect being told right after arrival that they were going to kick me out of my temporary home after only two nights which didn’t exactly leave me a lot of time and room to still look for something permanent to live. Yet, I still decided to give it a try and spend hours over hours looking through the websites of estate agencies and accommodations for rent – unfortunately though, all, literally ALL, of the results I had gotten were either way too far, unfurnished, didn’t have any bills included or totally out of my budget.
So I sat back reflecting for a while and came to the conclusion that it eventually was going to be best to just go on a gap year for now, especially since this study year was initially thought of as a time filler until I could apply to another university for an entirely different course that I had only missed the deadline for. I thought to myself:  “Of what avail is this one year insight into a BA in business going to be to me if I am going to be homeless (because, yes, I can afford my tuition fees but, let's be really honest here, I can certainly not afford paying 1000GBP or even more for my accommodation only in addition to that)?!
I’m a spontaneous person, hard to get down, but it did frustrate and hurt me having to scrap the idea of studying this course for a year – especially because rejecting an idea once it has taken a hold of me is not usually something that would ever come to my mind.
It’s not actually frustrating and hurtful because I feel sad since I obviously won’t get the chance to study this course, it’s frustrating and hurtful because this experience has made me feel so weak and immature, not capable of managing my life and getting over any obstacles on my own – simply, not ready for adult life. 
It completely casted the delusional image I have had of myself as the “independent and always secure and extremely emotionally stable 19-year-old” out of the window while the actual me stayed behind staring into the chaotic and stormy ocean aka. "adult life" watching the wind carry it away until it got out of sight.
Let me tell you, when you spend almost your entire lifetime imagining yourself in a certain position, as a certain person at a certain age and then learn that whatever you have imagined yourself to be isn’t the actual you, then that can be extremely challenging and stressful! And that is the exact situation I’m in at the moment. Right now, I’m actually rather frustrated but once that feeling is gone, I suppose all that will be left is going to be fear of the future. What is gonna happen if the very center, the protagonist, of all your plans, concepts and ideas is suddenly gone? That changes everything. It’s like you’ll have to completely redefine yourself.
I felt like an adult, independent and free, after graduating from high school, leaving the protected environment I've studied in to conquer the world (aka. starting university) and all that suddenly vanished and left the scary actual image of myself: an insecure, naive teenager, totally helpless and with no plans of how actual life works.
See, that’s the big issue if you’ve been pampered all your life because at some point people are gonna stop offering their support, being concerned with your problems and taking care of you 24/7 and that’s when the shock, the realization that the real world is not at all the place where you’ve been living so far, hits you and it hits you with an incredibly relentless brutality leaving no room and time for dreams or castles in the air anymore – Now the problem with this is, no room for dreams also means no room for dreamers and no room for dreamers means no room for me. 
So for the coming months, until my actual course at my actual university is going to start it will be my job to “find myself” because, as stupid as this might sound, I’m finally understanding the importance of all this and what people actually mean when they talk about this stuff now!
In a way, I’m even glad I’ve made the experience at this point in time, as there is still time for me to change and find out who and what I actually am. 

I think this is a state most dreamers will find themselves in at some point of their lives, it's scary to suddenly 'wake up', not knowing if or when you'll ever be able to dream again, but although this might a gloomy time, it is certainly not a time to throw in the towel! I'm a firm believer that situations like this are supposed to teach us a lesson, and more importantly, that they, like the entire journey we call 'life', are supposed to be made the best out of. 

My intention is not to scare any of you who are still about to graduate and start university with this post. All I wanted was to simply tell you my story and recent experiences so that you won’t make the same mistake and wake up one day finding yourself in the same quandary that I’m in at the moment. 
So before you start your course/job (or whatever you are going to do after you graduate from high school or college), do some serious self reflection – this might sound ridiculous – but seriously, if you’re not 100% sure of how you are going to manage, live, afford things, arrange your time wisely, etc., think about a way to be 100% sure of all those things. Plan everything in advance, and in addition to that, maybe even develop a plan B just in case so you’ll be prepared if things don’t run as smoothly as you expect them to straight after the motto: "Hope for the best, prepare for the worst."
And then, even in the unlikely case of you getting into a situation similar to mine, always keep in mind: 

xx ♡ Micky

Feeling down? Here's 5 ways to use body language to make yourself feel great!

We all have those days, when you just feel like staying in bed all day with internet connection and food. Social interactions? No, thanks! You feel way too low to even fake the happiness and there's absolutely nothing you could do to change the way you feel today.. Wait - What? The title of this post is about how to make yourself feel better inaspects as simple as body language? Yes! And trust me, it's really simple! 

Need a quick pick-me-up? Skip the coffee, and instead, stand straighter, 
smile and even try imitating a cheerful walk to lift your spirits. 

So here are 5 easy ways to transform a 'using-bad-mood-as-an-opportunity-to-be-a-hermit' kind of day into a 'I-really-feel-like-going-out-today' kind of day! 

taken from:http://thespiritscience.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/happiness-is-a-butterfly.jpg

#1 

Increase Your Body Space

When you’re feeling nervous, uncertain and or afraid, you may find yourself crossing your arms or legs or may be putting your hands in front of our face or mouth. That’s called “body blocking,” and it’s a universal sign of discomfort, Carter says. To feel better, he advises flinging your limbs out and taking up more space. Making yourself and your space bigger conveys confidence, not just to those around you, but also to your brain.

#2
Walk like you mean it

Scientists at Canada’s Institute for Advanced Research had two groups of study participants walk on a treadmill, one with their shoulders slumped and with a slow gait, and the other in a more cheerful fashion. As they walked, the test subjects were shown a list of positive and negative words.
The depressed walkers recalled more negative words, while the cheerful walkers remembered the upbeat words on the list, suggesting that their body language during the test had affected their moods and memory. The lesson here? Lift your head and stand tall, and you may just see your spirits look up as well.  


#3
Flash those pearl whites!

You know the saying “If you fake it you can make it”? Well, it’s actually true when it comes to smiling. Since the 1970s, research has shown that even a manipulated smile can boost your mood. A genuine smile - one that involves both the mouth and the eyes - does all kinds of great things for you, like releasing endorphins into your bloodstream and boosting your immune system.
What’s more, researchers at the University of Kansas found that people who smile have better heart recovery rates after stressful events. So, if you find yourself in a stressful situation, a smile could just be what the doctor ordered.


#4
Pose it up

Try a power pose to restore your confidence. Either raise your arms in the victory pose or put your hands on your hips like Superman, and then hold for a few moments. “Power posing” can help reduce cortisol (stress hormone) levels while increasing feel-good hormones.


#5

Laughter really is the best medicine

Laughter is a great mood booster—it allows your muscles to relax, improves blood sugar, and raises and then beneficially lowers blood pressure levels, according to the Mayo Clinic. Because laughing is a social thing (you’re 30 percent more likely to laugh with others than alone), it decreases isolation. But that laughter better be the real thing: It turns out that the brain can easily detect the difference between real and fake laughter.

You might find that some of these tips might work better than others on you but I can promise that you'll feel at least a little better if you try to integrate some of them in your daily routine. :)  

Keep smiling, it makes you look beautiful! 

xx  ♡ Micky

My personal Top 10 foods for healthy eating!

Recently, I have become more health conscious and decided to introduce new and healthier foods into my diet. Not because I'm trying to lose weight or anything, but because I want to take better care of my body, as a whole. There are some foods I have found to be very healthy, make me feel good, and taste good too. So, here are my top 10 foods for healthy eating.

1. Dark Leafy Greens

Leafy green vegetables tend to be low in fat, high in dietary fiber, and rich in folic acid, vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin A, potassium, magnesium, iron, and calcium. This can help promote heart and bone health. I'm not a huge fan of green vegetables but I love taking leafy greens and incorporating them into smoothies with ice, some water, and fruit. It's healthy and simply tastes like whichever fruit I chose to use (such as bananas or strawberries).

2. Nuts

Natural, unsalted almonds and walnuts for instance make a great snack. Nuts are rich in vitamin E, calcium, magnesium and potassium. They can be great for weight maintenance. The fiber, protein and fat content of nuts means it only takes a handful to keep you feeling full so you won't have the urge to overeat. 

3. Watermelon

Watermelon is a perfect snack for those of you that are maintaining a 'calorie'-oriented diet since they are very low in calories and are even said to be "negative in calories" which basically means the body burns off more calories digesting them then they actually provide. And of course they are also perfect to keep you hydrated throughout the day.
I love to add some salt when I have them since this usually, believe it or not, adds to their sweet taste.  


4. Berries

Blueberries, strawberries, rasberries, and blackberries are delicious and they're also good for you. Berries are packed with antioxidants which can help protect your hair, skin, and prevent certain diseases.

5. Yogurt

Plain yogurt can be a very healthy snack. It contains probiotics which can aid in gastrointestinal health. It may even boost your immune system. I particularly like mine with some oats, fruit and syrup as a natural sweetener. 

6. Fish

Fish are high in protein and low in fats. However, some types of fish are high in Omega-3's which is known as the "good" fats. Omega-3 fatty acids can help maintain cardiovascular and neurological health. These types of fish would include salmon, sardines, tila pila, rainbow trout, or albacore tuna.

7. Pomegranate Seeds

These sweet seeds are loaded with Fiber, key vitamins and and minerals such as Potassium and Vitamin K and can even help your skin to look better and aid in overall making you look prettier and more refreshed! They are also high in phytochemicals that can help to prevent cancer and promote heart health.

8. Avocados

Avocados are rich in satisfied fats and are proven in one study to lower cholesterol levels by about 22%! Like pomegranate they can also help to dramatically reduce the risk for heart diseases.
Avocados are a food that I just love to eat pure - just cut them in half, remove the core, add some salt, pepper and lemon juice and eat the soft inside of the avocado with a spoon. Yum!
But for those of you who don't like them pure I have also found them to be very tasty with bread (I use wholegrain), for breakfast or brunch, for instance, or in a salad.

9. Oatmeal

Oatmeal is full of fiber which can be very beneficial to our health. Oatmeal can help in lowering "bad" cholesterol levels as well. This is one of my favourite food when I need an energy boost right after I get up. I love having them for breakfast, simply add milk and syrup, pop them in the microwave and put bananas (or berries) and or some nuts on top when it's ready. 

10. Dark Chocolate

I know, chocolate is typically not seen as a healthy food. However, this is one of those things where moderation is important. Natural, unrefined, and high quality dark chocolate in small amounts can actually be quite healthy. It's loaded with minerals and packed with antioxidants which can be very beneficial to the body.


Are you hungry, yet?  
These were my personal favourites for healthy eating and some yummy snack ideas. 
What are some foods you like to eat to stay healthy or give yourself an energy boost? 

xx ♡ Micky 

Long time no see!

Hello everybody, 

Phew, it's been a while.. But here we go again. Lot of things happened. Lot of travelling also, Amsterdam was amazing so I'm defo going to upload a blog post all about that soon! 

But first of all the most recent personal news, I finished all my exams and returned to Luxembourg for the summer. However I am still intending to do some work and travel during this time. I really wanna go to Canada or Australia since these are two countries I've always had an interest in and have never had the chance to go to.. 

It would be great to use the opportunities this summer gives me to travel 

and make some more great experiences living abroad. :) 

Another thing I really wanted to tell you that might be interesting for those of you with a tumblr account is, there's this really awesome website that offers free minimalist blog themes! They're awesome! I just updated my blog as well and this is what it looks like now: 

It just looks so much cleaner and organised (other than my life) now, I love it! 

The name of the website is Zen Themes & if you're also looking to 'minimalise' your tumblr you should definitely check them out! Hope this entry was helpful and keep looking forward my travel posts! 

xx ♡ Micky 

Back 'home'

It's already 2 weeks now since i'm back in the UK and a lot of things happened already.

The school is still the same but on the weekends 

me and my friends do lots of exciting and fun stuff. 

We go to the cinema quite a lot and also party of course! ^^

I stole this one from my friend..

The weather is really killing me tho..

Can you imagine that since i am back here i think there was only one day without rain?!

it is not even only the fact of rain but the fact of the depressing atmosphere - the grey sky, the cold and wet air, that is making me feel upset.

Some of my friends are getting bad headaches from the weather and others just go totally grumpy,  

I guess pretty much everyone has their only negative reaction to the weather.

It is simply so frustrating..

Other than that i have some quite surprising news - 

i started watching k-drama (= korean drama series)

I just started watching 'The Heirs' (상속자들 - 왕관을 쓰려는 자, 그 무게를 견뎌라 ) 

& love it already.

I think it's because i was kind of influenced by my best friend who's from Hong Kong and constantly watches korean drama when i'm at home. I've missed the voices and the melodies of the korean TV because i've got so used to it during the winter vacation. 

But maybe it's also because i simply miss my friend and that is something,

i can assossiate with him - dunno.. 

The only thing i'm sure about is that i really like it and it makes me feel happy. 

It's even interesting - the only thing that's a bit exhausting is reading the subtitles all the time in order to understant what they are saying.

However if you are a fan of korean drama and haven't watched 'The Heirs' yet, 

I can highly recommend you to do so..;)

Thank you for reading! :)

xoxo ♡ Micky

Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year! ~♡ ♡ ♡

So.. now it's all over again...

The annual christmas madness and the new year's binge drinkings.

I hope you've all had very nice ones. 

Since for me, it can still only get better each year.

I have to admit, I've enjoyed Christmas Parties back in England, Christmas Parties & - shopping in Luxembourg and Germany very much this year. 

And now it's almost time to go back to the UK already again.. 

Time this vacation really passed so fast for me 

and it just made me realise how much i really love my friends and family.

The more I'm gonna miss them when i'm back for studying I fear...

Well, here are some photos:

We've even met Santa on the EF Christmas Party! 

back home i've really enjoyed being reunited with my friends again (♥´◡｀♥)

especially my best friend Benny ! 

Besides Party I also went shopping on beautiful christmas markets quite a lot! (´･ω･`)

and here the beautiful christmas decoration on the streets, in the mall & at home! 

 

and what would christmas be without the tastiest traditional self-made christmas biscuits? ^.^

we even have a nutcracker, look! 

I wonder if he turns into a prince if i kiss him? *^^*

i've also received some beautiful christmas cards from my lovely friends in spain and japan!

And this was my New Year's Eve! 

(yup, i dyed my hair that day! ^^)

Well, that's how my vacation went so far & i loved it since i've had a pretty exciting one!

I hope you all had an amazing year 2013 as well,

but i also hope you'll have an even more amazing 2014 of course! 

xoxo ♡ Micky

Torquay Black & White

Today i've spend some time walking around taking black & white photographs of the town. 

Hope you like them & they give you a nive little view of my beautiful home 〜

Just have a look.. 

These photographs are all 100% how they came out of my camera and i didn't use filter or anything to edit them. 

For me photography is an art and it is a way of showing talent just to take beautiful photos straight away, not by editing them...

here a collage: 

xoxo ♡ Micky