you can’t change it, change makes me relaxed especialyour thinking about it. ly when meeting new people.
That’s it!
#3 Keep in close
touch with your
MY PERSONfamily:
AL TIPS HOW Family isn’t always easy, especially not when you live
TO BE MORE far away from them in your
own world; when you live in
CHILLAXED:
your own generation. I have
learned to let them go through
#1 Trust in yourtheir own phases, too and acself:
I’ve learned to trust myself. cept who and how they are.
I know that when life throws Sometimes, I had to remind
me a curve I can handle it. them that I’m a grown up and
I’m confident that whatever that I do not rely on them. I
will happen I’ll find a way to respect them a lot but I’m inmanage it. This is pure trust dependent and I feel equal to
in myself, in my emotional them. Thanks to the modern
intelligence, in my abilities. technology it is fantastic to
stay in touch with them and
to give them insight in my life.
#2 Build your soAlthough, I’m not living with
cial network:
To keep my important rela- them anymore for so many
tionships, my long friendships years, sharing experiences is
of which some are dated back crucial for a good relationship.
to my teenager and childhood
years makes me feel connect- #4 Don’t expect
ed. Those relationships offer too much from
me a great variety of life les- everyone and
son to learn through the eyes from everything:
of my friends. There are lots Trust yourself, backup yourof benefits having these close self but do not rely too much
friends. They are keeping on others to organise your
me calm in difficult times be- life, lifestyle, jobs and hobcause they are simply there. bies - independence is not
Understanding, non-judge- a burden; it is something you
mental. They allow me to need to work for constantly.
be 100% myself and show Independence is freedom. In
me my place in this world. huge cities like London where
I share my life with millions of
Trust them, accept them, don’t souls I have learned to not
judge them because one day, expect them to be like me.
when you quit your job they’re Reliability is lacking in many
the one who offer you a shel- sectors of our life nowadays
ter in case you need it. And but I don’t let that influence
having these friends shows me too much. Consequentme that I’m able to form and ly, I’m less disappointed and
keep relationships. That stressed out and I take ac-
tions to change it if I don't
want to accept it anymore.
That is easier said than done
- I agree. Still, I’m not a pessimist who doesn't trust in other’s reliability. I just stopped
comparing them to myself.
#5 Simplify:
Have one or two hobbies but
not five. Do you really have
time for that? Switch off and
really put your smartphone
and notebook away. You don’t
need to be available 24 hours
a day. I say NO more often.
I say no to things that don’t
feel right to do - let it be meeting up with an acquaintance
who just asks you out when
he or she is bored. I say no
to toxic environments. I say
no to everything that would
rather steel my time for creating art or working out than
inspiring or motivating me.
London was and is a
never-ending challenge for
me. The city offers so many
possibilities that it can easily
distract, of course entertain
but also overwhelm me. I
have learned to chose more
wisely. I had to learn to say
no, to avoid being booked for
weeks. I make sure I spend
the right amount of time with
me, getting my balance back,
working out, watching a nice
movie - staying simply in.
And you know what? I don’t
feel guilty and I know I’m not
missing out. I feel I’ve found my
balance and am more relaxed.
by Marie Janine
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