In Love with Life: December 2018

Have you ever looked into the stray cats or dogs eyes and wondered how can they still look so loving?

How can you still feel love and loyalty towards somebody that represents the group of the ones that abused you?

Every time I volunteer at the animal shelter I feel so grateful for the people who take these poor abused of life animals and give them loving home...

But let's start with a funny story.

When people tell me they mix socks in the morning, or confuse their babies at the hospital, it always makes me laugh. I love confused and clumsy people, they give such a laughter in this world. But I never considered myself to be one of them. Until the day I happened to mix Skyros island in Greece with Syros. And they are not even nearby!

So just picture this. I arrive late night at this tiny quiet island of Skyros. I wait 10 minutes-20-30 for my hosts to pick me up and then after half an hour of being polite and pretending not to be impatient I call them to find out where they are. Signal is bad, I try calling, can't reach them, they try calling me, they can't reach me. Typical story of the person that doesn't own a smartphone. Well, after 2 hours of walking alone in the darkness and cold we all realised I am on the wrong island! What the heck. Well, they say laugh when you are in trouble and things will be alright. When I say they, I mean myself. That's what I believe.

I found people who gave me a shelter for the night, they were calling their friends and relatives (it's a tiny island, finally something interesting is happening) telling how one confused lithuanian mixed the islands and were telling me that it's the sign and I must stay there instead. So for 3-4 days I managed to put myself around greeks, help with horses, learn few basic words and discover a beautiful island. Thanks Universe!

When I finally managed to get to the right island I got surrounded by such love and affection of beautiful Syros cats. I always considered myself more a dog person but here I happened to truly see beautiful personalities and fall in love with cats too.

Every day my animal gurus were teaching me how to appreciate each moment and fully experience it. How to adapt to each situation and don't dwell on the past or future. They also taught me love and affection.

I meowed a lot for the pats 3 weeks. I also met wonderful dedicated people who put animals first than themselves. Absolute respect to them. My heroes really.

I ate shit loads of feta and made sure I have my extra insulation for this coming winter and I even started rapping. Ha!

Don't worry I still had the days when I felt like I am not good enough or hated some things. I love rainbows but I love darkness too.

And I fell in love with Greece. The place in Europe where they still smoke in the post offices or other places while the law prohibits. The country where restrictions of our so called organised system is not there yet and I love that. I mean, check this out, while I was sitting in the bus, the bus driver suddenly stops on the random road, gets out of the bus, walks to the field and takes few pictures from his cellphone of the cute horse in the field, then comes back and drives on as nothing happened. Really?! That's how you celebrate life. In my opinion at least.

Next place-ski resort in France. You will find me snowboarding somewhere. Get in touch if you are around.

Love,

Ligita