My hope for today

September 11, 2025 / jonathan / Leave a comment

Walking down the street, I look at the people around me. They don’t look the same as they did twenty years ago. They feel less familiar. More serious. More angry. It’s as if they’re sleeping less, as if their minds can’t find any quiet. Those who talk, talk louder. Some stare at endless videos on their phones, right there in public, ignoring everyone nearby. A few finish a smoke or a snack and just throw it on the ground.

And yet—sometimes, one out of many offers kindness. A smile.
I hope I meet them today. I hope they’ll still be here tomorrow.

You don’t want to

July 9, 2023July 14, 2024 / jonathan / Leave a comment

Be too busy, but also to have too much time to think

Be too stressful, but also not have a reason to act

Be too tired, but also not to be too much in bed till you can’t sleep

You don’t want to be with many people, but also not to dwell in your inner world

You don’t want to be angry with your kids, but you are

You want to be kind to yourself, but it’s hard

You want to smile

You want to feel the breeze

You want to hear the music

You will

Here it comes again, grey, low

July 9, 2023July 14, 2024 / jonathan / Leave a comment

It’s cyclical. The feeling is well known. The energy is down. The anger is higher. The body is heavy or hurts. Something is missing, but it’s impossible to know what. Endless lists that were done in the past floats up again, without any new insight. You don’t even try to filter the reasons. You look at it from the inside and from the outside. Looking from the outside is a skill you developed in the countless times it felt like this in past. The meta look, the external look, was supposed to be a powerful tool, helping you pull yourself up, providing you with a clear fresh perspective. It does not help this time. Your friend is movement, alone time, and patient.

It’s grey. It will stay grey for some time. Don’t fight it, be it. And it will pass.

She looked at the sky through the window

June 1, 2023July 14, 2024 / jonathan / Leave a comment

She came from school and sat in the kitchen

She looked at the sky through the window

The blue skies opened her eyes, and white clouds expended her smile

A bird came and sat on the window, closing its eyes, enjoying the sun bath

A tear dropped

She was confused

The calmness and happiness of the moment opened her heart

Her open heart let the sadness come out

She felt tired, but in peace

She looked at the sky through the window

Be a part of something bigger

July 31, 2019July 14, 2024 / jonathan / Leave a comment

Be a part of something bigger than you.

Be proud of your parents and grandparents. Know their story.

No need to be strong all the time. It’s a long road. It started before you and will continue on.

You’re doing your best. You’re doing a good job. You are not alone.

What did your past generations deal with? what did they accomplish?

Your day to day, things that take you off track, impact your well-being – some of them are so small in this chain.

Remind yourself – you are a part of something bigger, something good. Be active and contribute. Be proud of your contribution to this chain.

Let’s air

July 18, 2019July 25, 2019 / jonathan / Leave a comment

Do you have stuff from your past you don’t like? Embarrassing moments or times where you were vulnerable. Moments we are not too proud of. I am not talking about “let’s blame my parents or teachers” party, in fact blame does not live in this building at all.

With time passing one might think we are over these moments. We might be thinking it because we usually avoid these situations or just deal with them a bit better.

Maybe it’s public speaking, or just being out there. Maybe it’s relationship or speaking up your opinion. Facing a strong person. Basically dealing with our fears and mistakes.

There are so many books, TED talks and coaches that built business models on that. And if your read thus far I am sure you consumed few of them. So where am I going with that you ask?

We need to air it. I tried fighting it and still do in some cases. I got aggressive, I blushed, felt bad inside. But from time to time, with the right conditions, I air it. And it makes me happy.

And here is my process. Yes I call it process but it’s not even best practices. Just thoughts. Hey, naming is important.

The right time – during days your energy level is actually high. It will run down your battery before it goes up again.
The right person – someone who is open to listening. I am still surprised how few people are. And don’t expect a response that is something special. It’s your process. An understating look is good enough. Counter sharing is rare. If you really want to go all in, share it with a person from the period it happened.
The right way – I like saying it as it was. No sarcasm. Some self humor can help.
Share that did it – be it in writing for yourself, a talk with a close friend or family. Just listed to your mind or voice saying that you shared it. You shared this not so fun stuff to share. And now you feel better [hopefully :)].

The next time something will trigger that memory, it will not cause this shameful response. It is something you already aired. It is something that built you to be you.