I have slipped out of routine and neglected my blog for a while so have decided to do Share Your World this week.  Soon we will be off on another adventure and internet connections will be erratic so my blogging may once again be put on hold for a month or two.  This post is to reassure everybody that I am still here!

I love this week’s questions and I’m answering them before reading anybody else’s.

What’s the first thing you notice about a person?

I’m not too sure – it’s not hands, eyes, body shape or anything like that.  I think the first thing I notice is more subtle – friendliness, enthusiasm, personality – or some sort of connection I feel toward the particular person.

What three habits do you feel would improve someone’s life?

Weeeellllll that is a difficult one –  What’s good for the gander might not be good for the goose but this is what I think might help!

• Start the day fresh, with a positive attitude that things will go well
• Drink a cup of hot, strong, coffee – preferably freshly ground espresso, Americana, filter cappuccino -whatever floats your boat.
• Do some yoga exercises.

The first I’ve tried all my life – even if the previous day was awful – I would try to start with a positive attitude the following day – Sure things would go wrong but I would deal with them and then start fresh again the next day.

The second might be met with horror from those who think coffee is not healthy!  It is!  It’s an essential food for any working person or when there’s stress in your life.  But the coffee must be good!  Currently I am drinking an excellent blend, brewed in an Italian Coffee Pot.  I take it hot, strong and black!

The Third – Is something new in my life.   I have always had some sort of exercise routine but after retirement I neglected all kinds of routine.  But recently I started Yoga. It’s just me and my new teacher/friend.  We do it every week day morning at 6:30 and it’s both challenging and calming.  I am loving it and becoming so much more ‘mindful’!

What takes up too much of your time?   Would you stop that if you could?

In my current life, time is my friend.  I can do what I want when I want.   I spent enough years being selfless and splitting my time among all those who needed my attention – not that I regret one moment – I always made time for myself!   BUT now the only other person I have to consider is my darling husband – and that’s just not a problem!

I spend an indecent amount of time on the computer – NOT GAMING!   I Blog and learn languages.  I started Italian on Duolingo in May 2016  – Conosco un sacco di parole, ma non posso avere una conversazione.  (I know lots of words but cant have a conversation)  I’ve probably worded that incorrectly in Italian – but there you are – I can construct a sentence!

My ancestry is both Italian and Greek – and I have just started learning my father’s language – Greek!  I learned about 20 words when I was a child but never the alphabet.  I’ve mastered that now – and wow – it’s awesome to learn another language in a strange script!   I doubt I’ll ever be fluent in either of my new languages but it’s fun trying.  It’s an awesome way to keep Alzheimer’s at bay.      Γεια σου ειμαι Ελενη  και αγαπω τη ζωη   Hello My name is Helen and I love life.

So that’s what takes most of my time – The Earl thinks I’m crazy – but he’ll thank me when I can at least read the street signs in Greek on our travels!  Did I mention we’re boarding an Italian ship for a 28 day cruise in a week’s time?  It leave from Mauritius and ends in Venice – stopping in at Seychelles, Oman, Israel, Jordan, Cyprus, Crete, The Greek Islands, Croatia and Italy!  Who knows when I might need my smattering of foreign vocab.

Those of you who South Africa Afrikaners reading this – don’t worry – I haven’t neglected my Second Language – Ek kan nog Die Taal praat.    It’s just the indigenous languages that I have not yet attempted!  They’re unfortunately, not on Duolingo! But I do have a daughter and grandkids who can make themselves understood in Xhosa.  To quote Nelson Mandela – If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.

Would I stop if I could?  Sure – but why should I?

Cookies (biscuits to those elsewhere), pastries, pie or cake?   If not, what does your sweet tooth crave?

It is most definitely another essential food group no matter what diet you’re on!   I can say chocolate I want chocolate in three  languages other than English! Ek wil sjokolade hê,  Voglio cioccolato, θελω σοκολατα

Gratitude?  Are You Happy?  If so, why?  If not, why not?

Yes I am happy.   BUT Happiness is a state of mind.   I don’t believe other people can make you happy.  I do believe other people can make you unhappy at times but it’s up to you choose happiness as a state of mind.  Now for some people this is not easy and perhaps not even possible.  If your circumstances are dire or you suffer from anxiety, depression, paranoia or any kind of mental illness it’s a constant struggle to just hang in there.  There are people out there who have no reason to be miserable but something in their make-up prevents them from emerging from the doldrums.   Those of us fortunate enough to choose to be happy can’t judge them.  But we can help.  We can accept them the way they are and help them to deal with whatever it is that makes them struggle with their demons.

The rest of us need to sort our our attitudes.  I have met people who are going through the toughest of times, yet remain happy within themselves.  I know it’s a cliche but tough times make you stronger – it’s how you handle it that counts.   Also I do believe you can be sad, concerned, worried, angry while deep down, you have peace and contentment.

I was not always a chirpy little soul – specially not in my childhood. It’s taken work to deal with stuff that I thought was making my life such a drag.  Now I’m very happy.   “Even the bad times are good!” I’m grateful for the good times and the tough times.  And I’ve chosen to BE HAPPY.   Of course sometimes things happen to “spoil” things and I get mad and want to slap or kill someone but after a while I just ‘deal with it’  and “move on.”  Now I know and understand that NOT EVERYBODY is able to do that.  I’m not judging nor saying PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER.  If we know somebody’s story we start to understand and love them in spite of everything.

I HAVE been through tough times.  I have had to deal with stuff but seriously, it’s all been worth it and I am now determined to MOVE ON and ENJOY my old age and have as much fun as I can.  I feel  irritated when people who have pretty good lives and are probably twice as privileged as I am simply don’t appreciate it and will find something to complain about.  These are the ones who will say, “You’re so lucky.  You have this perfect, wonderful life.”  I don’t disagree with them because nothing I say will change their attitude – that’s up to them – and maybe I don’t know their story.   I simply reply, “YES!  I KNOW – Aren’t I lucky! – Perfect husband, wonderful kids, fabulous grandchildren, stunning health!  What more could I ask for –  what’s not to make me happy!”  It really annoys them – hee! hee!

A few years ago at work, I bounced into the teachers’ lounge and cheerily greeted a colleague.  She replied, “Stop being so chirpy – It’s irritating!”   So if this post has been too chirpy – I apologise most sincerely!