Favorites:
One of my favorite running newsletter. I read more than half of what’s linked in the latest issue.
I like this article about mental strength when facing discomfort. I forward it to Sofia.
Favorite songs lately: this music, this 10 min song from TS.
Favorite food: gigantic navel orange and cut out water melon. I cut one watermelon and store it in the fridge. Given its convenience and juiciness, we all grab a few pieces few times a day. Perfect after being in the sun snack.
Favorite before sunset spot: hammock with a book or nothing.
Thoughts:
I often misinterpret a text message over what was actually happening. I tend to make it appear worse than it actually is. Is it my tendency to negativity? Or is it common to always think the worst?! One example is when I received a message form Sofia saying that Lizzy didn’t get her a set of new team shirt. I mediately imagined Sofia being upset and mad at Lizzy. But then when they got home, they were laughing together and the uniform thing was just something she wanted me to know without emotional attachment.
I called my friend on her birthday, spontaneous without text asking if it was okay to call. She picked it up and we talked for a while, happy to get a birthday call. Then I ordered flower to surprise her. It marked delivered but I didn’t receive a text from her. I was wondering how odd and wondered if I left my name in the card. She just called me today and said I sent exactly what her soul needed yesterday because she was overwhelmed. She got the flower late and thought it was from her husband so she didn’t even look at the card. I’m so glad I went ahead and showed her my appreciation of her friendship. I should do this more. With friends, spouse, kids, colleagues, we don’t express what our heart feels about them enough.
Ikakei. Do you know what does it mean? I just learned about it from my coach. Only few of people gets to do what they are passion about, good at, paid for doing it.
I am thinking to find ways to do volunteer work with the girls, to give back, to connect to where I came from. Will have to find a way to make it work.
Do you find yourself different from what you think others find you? It’s interesting that we show different facets of us to different people given the context and period of our life. Then we change, but those that met us in a different context/period continues to think about us in the same way, never got an update. That was my experience with my BFF. While we talk often, sometimes I think she still sees me as before my transformation. I don’t blame her but thought it was interesting, which reminds me to keep open eyes when I meet new and old people.
Anything favorites to share? What made you smile this week?
Random thoughts:
I realize that I often misinterpret a text message over what was actually happening. I tended to make it sound worse than it actually is. Is it my tendency to negativity? Or is it common to always think the worse?! One example is when I received a message form Sofia saying that Lizzy didn’t get her a set of new team shirt. I i mediately imagined Sofia being upset and mad at Lizzy. But then when they got home, they were laughing together and the uniform thing was just something she wanted me to know without emotional attachement.
I called my friend on her birthday, spontaneous without text asking if it was okay to call. She picked it up and we talked for a while, happy to get thr hirthday call. Then I ordered flower to her place. It makes delivered but I didn’t receive a text from her. I was wondering how odd and wondered if I left my name in the card. She just called me and said I sent her exactly what her soul needed yesterday because she was overwhelmed. She got the flower late and thought it was from her husband so she didn’t even look at the card. I’m so glad I went ahead and showed her my appreciation of her friendship. I should do this more. With friends, spouse, kids, colleagues, we don’t express what our heart feels about them enough.
Ikakei. Do you know what does it mean? I just learned about it Ikakei. Do you know what does it mean? I just learned about it
Our New Journey 
Hmm, I don’t think I’m different from what people think. I feel like I am one of those Russian nesting dolls, with all sorts of versions of Nicole inside. Sometimes if people only knew one of those Nicoles, they would still sort of know me. Does this make sense, I have no idea. I’m going to leave this comment as-is and let you unravel it!
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I love this different perspective. It’s more inclusive.
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The story about the flowers is such a good reminder of how easily we can create an entire story in our heads, when reality is often completely different. And I love your point about expressing what we feel while we have the chance. I should do that more!
Ikigai: I find that the jobs that are REALLY fun often don’t pay very well! 😄 But you’re right, there are some people, football stars for example, who are lucky enough to get paid very well to do what they love.
And now I’m curious about your “transformation”! What changed you that makes you feel your BFF still sees your “old you”?
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I used to be the productivity optimizer, career driven, rational, rigid, and can’t relax kind of person always wanting to do more of “useful” things. Now I’m seeking to better balance of pursing my hobbies, enjoy time with thr family in a slow and mindful way, and really just enjoy more life.
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Ah, that makes sense! I can definitely see that second side of you in your blog. You still have a very analytical personality, but there’s so much more space now for enjoying the process and being spontaneous.
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I think I am exactly who people think I am. But I am kind of a ‘what you see is what you get’ person and am very pragmatic and try to be authentic in all settings. I have grown and matured and gotten more confident but my friends have all witnessed that happen over the years. My longest friendships are my college friends. I am very close to my cousin who grew up in the same small community, but she is the only person from my childhood that I am still in touch with. I think if the people I went to school with talked to me now, they would probably be surprised because I was such an insecure person in primary school/high school. But I didn’t really form any true friendships during that time of my life.
Something that made me smile today was going to the new Minion movie with the boys. We all laughed so much which felt good!!
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