Читать книгу Road To Success - Zhanna - Страница 2

It was not an easy year in the economy of the country. Many people, in fear to lose their job, were stick to an employer to guarantee clarity of their living for tomorrow. I was lucky not to fall in this case: I loved my job. It was undoubted pleasure to come there daily, to cope with people, to see the results and face new challenges. The “luck” to get there was not a chance. I’m sure it was given by the fate as award for multiple efforts, a kind of exam that you pass in life in intent and patience. Later on, I would learn a proper word for this – “consistency”, a reliable drive for success in business strategy. I was working in an international company with global brand, reputed history and the team of extraordinary friendly culture. It was remedy for any kind of sadness and permanent subject of corporate proud. Day by day, it became a part of my life, a piece of my character, and what is called after years of marriage – a member of my family. I had in mind to stay in the company for very long and happy years, but as the old saying goes “if you want to amuse God, tell him about your plans”.

By summer 2015, I celebrated the 4^th anniversary of working in the company. Efficient daily activity generated lots of satisfaction together with a feeling insinuating a need for further development. It was common practice for employees to travel between departments, and this enticed me to look through the areas for potential application. I used to share my ideas at company’s regular staff assessment process. Actually, I was supported, however never found with an appropriate opportunity.

Meanwhile, the company submerged into the wave of crisis. With loss in sales and amended strategy to keep the market share, we lived through a range of structural changes, saving costs and optimizing operational processes. I was given some additional duties which were necessary to be redistributed. Much more administrative than engaging brain activity, I took them still as refresh in my area, understanding the real need of the company. They were good to be set on the new track and very experiential to understand how true you can slide away from aspiration to business solutions. From life perspective, it resembled an additional kick-off to revise the trend of your life and stop sidetracking. It’s hard. How is it possible to freeze and regain yourself whereas you have love to the brand and the people you cope with? It is. By gratitude to the past and faith in the future. Mature and emotions-free, I took decision to leave.

“I cannot say that I like your decision, – said the boss of the company and my side-to-side guidance for the last 4 years, – but I do respect it,” – his words were always a treasure statement for me, for any other person – an example to follow. My honor was to be personal assistant to one of the strongest managers of the automotive industry, who brought the brand to the top of premium segment in the country and increased its rating within the company on a global scale. For business network, his leadership was taken as a benchmark.

To relieve anxiety of the stated, our dialogue turned into disclosure of the coming corporate change, yet highly confidential: my boss was also to leave the office. By appeal from headquarters, a team of professionals had been collected to be sent into a country generating sensitive part of the overall budget. Task force was to support the emerging market under high risk of operations. Instantly, the focus of my news was drawn to the one of the company. It became evident we were facing an important stage in the local story of the brand and our input would be fundamental in the layout for its future. We discussed and kindly agreed to finalize the duties simultaneously as they had been started 4 years before. Within the following two months our regular meetings were inspired by preparation to the change, with a touch of sadness, setting up activities for the last days of operations.

The final round was to unite the Annual Dealer Conference for Business Owners and MDs with the Grand Opening of Experience Centre that had been recognized as outstanding project ever constructed on the market. Launching promising opportunities in the country, it was also to become a landmark for the global family of the brand. By this occasion, we anticipated the visit of VIP guests from headquarters who would emphasize the significance of events and commemorate the news in the international area. We had never had Agendas with so many activities in parallel, performed by sharp and intense timing, split through several locations and outlined by key messages to the press, the team, and the network. These were unprecedented dates in the history of the brand finalizing a range of events and communication by gala dinner with our dealers, the best and successful representatives of premium market in the country. Heads of 55 enterprises, they were filled with gratitude for long-term partnership, extended by initiative of accelerating development and now called upon to fuel the further drive with challenge and success.

– May I afford one private question? – asked me one of the dealers and a friend of mine who became a very welcome contact for the years of cooperation. The Vice-President of a major holding, almost a legend, he stands out at the origins of car retail business and keeps decades for multi-branded enterprise on track of development. Being respected for survival under most difficult times of the country, he had been invited to reveal success at one of our annual conferences. The only dealer to speak on stage for the history of the importer! Couple of jokes, bare numbers, and a target striking message. I remember his speech was great! Now, it was pleasure to communicate at this event especially for me, in the last days of this position.

– A private question? – I replied and got triggered with curiosity, – Of course, – his eyes were always flavored with diplomacy, hiding any idea on the subject to follow.

– You’re not married, – he stated with intent to remind his awareness of the background.

– Nope, – was my reply.

– You’ve got your son and some liability behind.

– That’s true, – I said with commitment.

– And you leave the company in the nation-wide crisis to determine yourself and the way you go.

– Yeah, I do it, – my replies were still unflinching.

– At least you’ve got a partner? – was his guess.

– Actually not, – followed my shy reply already waiting for the verdict.

– You’re a risky woman I must say…

And we burst in laugh with kindness and respect to decisions being made in trust to their future. A crafty life is that mixes uncertainty with hopes.

October 16, 2015

Strategic Dealer Conference Moscow, Russia

My first week of job-free status was endorsed by the trip to Germany. It didn’t work for ages that I could put enough time to my own health. I was doing something occasionally during a year but with no particular result. Other “priorities” imposed all the time above these subjects shifting the main one on a disregarded shelf labeled “Outstanding”. It would never end until you imperatively stop it. Shame on me. I bought the ticket and pushed myself out of the country with a single thought “just go and do what is possible”. Sometimes, or even always, you are enough to start the engine to see immediately how things can arrange themselves. With a bunch of diagnostics on hand, names of the clinics, and honestly no appointment yet being done, I launched the journey with the vision to investigate everything on spot.

In the plane, already boarding, I gave a short call to a doctor which contact had been occasionally provided to me in the office. Striking would be later to understand by whom and when it did happen. The person, I’ve been introduced just couple of days before the trip, made it by pure kindness in sympathy to the case. I said I am flying in the country and looking for opportunities which might be arranged, and he generously offered me a contact. At the airport time was just for a cold call, and the outcome was amazing. The doctor on the line treated very friendly and made an easy suggestion to send something for a quick look. Happily there were attachments in my box that had been earlier sent here and there, that gave me the grounds within the next 30 seconds to rush on their search and forward to the address just received on my mobile while the plane being towed to the runway. It happened even quicker than they finished instructions to fasten the belts and switch off electronic device, like this: the plane takes off just at the moment when the mail shows confirmation of being sent. I could hopefully breathe. By the moment I land in Berlin, the answer was already waiting: “Nice to meet you, Zhanna. Documents well received. I try to get a feedback for you soon”.

It’s Deutschland.

The following days I stayed in the capital: explored the city, found a nice restaurant for lunch in traditional German style and joined its live atmosphere where people were sitting at long tables in rows, chatting in between, with a glass of home brewed beer. Sometimes they looked even not knowing each other but enjoying the talk, very friendly and easy-going. Stäv Rheinland, the name of the place, turned out to be a famous branch loved by the locals. STÄNDIGE VERTRETUNG, a logo image of an owl welcomed guests through several cities of the country: Berlin Bremen Hannover Köln. I ordered a meal and looked around while I was waiting. The walls were full of old photographs reminding the story of the place and walking visitors through the journey of national history. Very soon I had my savoury meal arrived. Delicious and edged by salt, it longed for a glass of Goffel Kölsch. Even I was not a big bear-drinker, I ordered. Here mattered the taste of the country and I was enthusiastic to try.

After lunch the plan was to call on Charité Hospital, location nearby from the hotel. I found it and met some students at the entrance. I understood that studies were taken at the same place where patients being treated: Distinctive feature of university clinics: science and practice walk close to each other. I learnt that international department was closed, and occasionally dropped in an office where a very pleasant woman offered directions how to reach ophthalmological centre. It was located in another campus of the city. Campus Virchow-Klinikum. Good discovery. It made my plan for the next morning journey. In the evening I communicated to a clinic in Duisburg and my spirit felt to be on a good track. I spent overnight in a single bedded room with half-horses sculptures placed on top part of the walls. Almost under the ceiling, painted red, it brightened the contrast of the blue walls to the yellow blankets on the bed. It was very distinctive: I was staying at the Art hotel. Feeling satisfied with the choice, I had a very good sleep that night.

In the morning my space enlightened with a sunshine inviting to take couple of pictures right out of the window. The room was on the second floor viewing into the courtyard, a small and cozy corner with green ivy on the walls. It was embracing the old building along the inner sides knitting soft and vivid carpet. I walked down the stairs. Abscised leaves rustle underfoot. It was a lovely attire of a golden autumn. I deeply inhaled and walked out.

The metro station was not far from the hotel and in half an hour I was already up to the second campus of Charite Hospital. It had a vast territory and a map at the entrance was a helpful advice how to get to the necessary building. I made a tour. Not many people going around, quite calm and medical atmosphere, some ambulances at the doors of the centers. I approached the right one and walked up the stairs. There now, it was much more busy. At the ground floor there was registration office for the patients, various cabinets and major part elder people getting the service upon social programs. My doctor’s office was on the upper floor. Few people in the reception. A plate on the door. The doctor was an eye-surgeon, I had introduction discussion with the secretary to whom I explained the case and the occasion I was with in Berlin. She took my documents and looked at the schedule of the doctor. There was not a slot for an appointment within the current week. The nearest option would be nearly in a month which would doubt I had to revisit this place once again. And I felt a relief. During the visit I honestly didn’t feel that my eye examination should be proceeded here. Just by intuition. You get this feeling only when you come at place. It was good, but not mine. A great value for decision making. The remainder of the day passed in sight-seeing of the city.

Upon return to hotel, I checked my mails. Gladly was waiting a letter from the doctor I wrote before the flight. He came back with reply and suggested a date to come and see Professor of one university clinics he knew very well. He mentioned the web-site of the clinics, the doctor’s background and offered his personal assistance at the visit. It was great news and I was happy to confirm. They were located in Munich and I understood that my task for Berlin stay had completed its mission. Next hour I bought a ticket for train to Bavaria.

I had still one day left, and it could be spent for leisure with a clear conscience. I took a sight-seeing tour to Potsdam. The weather was fantastic. I found an individual guide with whom we agreed to meet at the station and right from there my excursion started. We visited Cecilienhof, the venue of the famous Potsdam Conference, then the Bridge of Spies, the place of great history and meaning, and then the Sans Souci Palace, a bright example of treasures and heritage of the country. Enriched with history and culture, I returned home through an Italian restaurant. It will be remembered for amazing pasta which unexpectedly turned to be spicy and further rescued by a glass of milk through attentive care of personnel.

The train to Munich took 6.11 hours.

I shortly found the way to hotel and took some time to explore the area: a good Bavarian pub, some local shops for inhabitants, very few tourists and a picturesque park to jog in the morning. I planned to stay here for 1 night and for the next one to change closer to central station. My idea was to live in various parts of the city, and for the day of doctor appointment to be easy reachable for pick up. In the evening I admired the magnificent cathedral in the heart of the city and the next morning after jogging, packed up for further move.

– How did you get in this location? – asked Michael when arrived to meet me at the hotel.

– I was told there is a nice quarter near the train station of Munich, – was my shy reply.

– Yeah. It is. But right opposite the other side, – he smiled at me while driving his brand-new Audi away from unintentional adventures.

The place I stayed in for the second night turned out to be really a hot spot. The quarter concentrated all kind of cabarets, night clubs and entertainment. My hotel looked safe and gave me a cordial welcome. I was okay to stay there for diversity of experience. However the next day I moved to Nymphenburgh.

Professor in medical science Peter Heidenkummer was the true Master of his Art. His clinics held impeccable reputation in ophthalmological surgery and I was grateful to the chance which brought me here. Michael introduced me to his wife, also a doctor and a very pleasant company. I was supported by her during the visit by spirit and in the language. We made few additional tests. The main data was introduced in the documents I had prepared for the trip. And they were of good value. It took Mr. Heidenkummer ten minutes to study my case and another two to measure what can be done or not. My sight was always a challenge for science and given it moves very fast ahead, I was wondering whether there might be new opportunities to do a change for the better. In response I received a strong and honest message: “Do not touch your eyes!” It went straight into my head making clear they always think on the impact which might be caused by intervention. “Even though there appear some sophisticated technologies?” – I was a naughty customer with a double check. “Do-not-touch-your-eyes! All technologies are still operated by a man’s hand” He was firm and friendly, releasing my excitement from a long-awaited advice. I drew a breath of relief and the next day, took a guided trip to Bavarian Castles.

The journey flavored fairy submergence to the past. We visited the lacy Linderhof and the foggy Neunschwanstein, so interesting to listen and all to see. Excursion passed us through beautiful parks and lakesides, calling at local villages, showing wonderful mountain landscapes. Inspired by narration of our guide, we climbed the hill and saw the famous fantasy castle. We queued a bit to make the tour and had good time for pictures. We walked down after the visit remaining time to random in the area and shortly drop for souvenirs. On the way back to hotel our bus kept silence of pleasant weariness of the day.

My farewell dinner passed in amazing atmosphere of traditional Bavarian restaurant. I released the ticket from Berlin and bought a new one directly from Munich. The early morning before going to airport I took time for a jog through Nymphenburgh palace. It was foggy and looked magnificent. The gardens were framing beautiful lakes and tree alleys traced geometry for pleasure of a visitor. It was a nice glimpse of the area. The journey marked a kind sense of being successful. My check-out was a charm. I discovered a cupboard in the reception area full of Bavarian bears in the traditional skirting, hats and lovely occupations. I chose one and left for the airport. Here below is my short summary of the journey.

Oct 26 – arrival Berlin, Charite International Department

Oct 27 – Charite Campus Virchow. Confirmation for Munich

Oct 28 – full day in Potsdam

Oct 29 – train Berlin-Munich

Oct 30 – visit to Professor

Oct 31 – guided tour to Castles of Bavaria

Nov 1 – departure home

Upon return from Germany I sat down to determine priorities which would frame my activity in three directions. According to my account, this concrete number tends to be the most appropriate to reach saturated development with stable focus on each of the areas. Such a mixture happens rarer when your goals are set in different scope. For example, a one-task focus leads to sublimation, which is good for record achievements but not healthy for broad-minded vision. It holds a risk of creation a gap between the field you perform in excellence and the others which might sag due to lack of attention. Number “two” will deliver a good result in both occupations, however has the underlying meaning of doing things between “either or”. Unlike gambling where this limited choice fits well for decision making, in real life it resembles sublimation with alternative solution. “Further after four” would slacken concentration into diluted focus and transform work on yourself into multiple spheres of just being busy. This approach is also great to the living but then no expectations for a breakthrough result. Thus, my preference goes for three, the everlasting triangle that gives opportunity to combine turns without getting bored and remain focused for aspiration to results. My best and most productive split got outlined as follows: my-self, my sport, my son.

By “my-self” were determined the areas for personal development saturating myself as a woman, a person, and a mother. A series of books helped me to source some additional knowledge and discover new professions I got interested in. Training seminars guided through reboot of significant values and facilitated a clear vision on some life regularities. By a choice of documentaries I extended my baggage for hobby areas refreshing the ones I felt a bit faded. No TV or time-consuming leisure. For personal record, I kept a diary of main achievements and events. It grew naturally into a habit. A good reference to track results and stay on the move. Some true moments cried out to be noted down as well: they looked very nice of having occurred in life and being proud to be reminded later.

“My sport” got allocated in a separate field of attention as, distinct from the content, was responsible for the shape of the living. By putting your physics in discipline, you develop the spirit to move forward and pace the right speed to the actions carried out by the first priority. It is important that your exercise gets regular. “Maintain but not regain” is a good rule to follow in case life chaises you with doubtful concerns. It is a tool to recover if you fail or fall off-track. So handle it and keep going. I visited fitness 4 times a week for 3—4 hours in average where my personal mix of trainings was elaborated: fruitful combination in jogging, bodybalance, yoga, and ballet. Each of the disciplines carried out its own particular sense:

– Jogging – for clearance of common thoughts; the power to extract while running the true decisions from the depth of consciousness.

– Bodyballance – the world popular class combining yoga, stretching and tai chi; my pure pleasure of penetrating music through body in the flow of practice;

– Yoga – wide topic for observation and balance body, mind with spirit;

– Ballet – taken as an outstanding dream from childhood; the beauty of the art is reached by cost of superhuman efforts.

By regular practice I found the origin meaning of internal sources. They do exist and their power is eternal. To manage them is an art that is not difficult to learn but grants you with exciting affection to life. Try it. Sport really helps to endure

“My son”. Finally, I’ve got this precious time to dedicate it to mothering of my kid. For the years of working, I admit being a full-scale parent just in the evenings. Meanwhile, even that piece of time was spent wisely. Our communication got naturally structured in “learning-developing-entertaining”, and now we could afford much more time on those activities. As example of our achievements, we learnt the names of Months and Seasons. We did it by drawing a poster-size pie with “planting” a Christmas tree on top and two flags of “start” and “finish” on both sides of the mark. Setting up the track, the year was rounded in the favorite color and further on cut in pieces, “exactly like a pizza” upon the words of my son. I am absolutely sure that the best tool to memorize new knowledge for a kid is to pull out of his or her mind associations on the subject and play it following their own created story. We cut the pie in two, in four and further on in 12, remembering holidays and birthdays of friends and family members. It became a be-loved calendar to refer afterwards as was bright in gifts, balloons and shining flowers. We passed the way through seasons to the months. My son did well at his 5 years old. We launched tradition to rule one more calendar, to work monthly on numbers and days of the week, also treated as a fun. We did origami aircrafts, sculpted snowmen in the yards. We visited Planetarium to discover the space, created a tag play to learn English. One week we participated in educational program “Through museums without a leash” aimed to introduce many aspects of life to young generations and inculcate fun of world discover. All activities were inspired by listening to interests of the kid, and thus he enjoyed them very much. He won the 4th place in his first chess competition. And I was really happy to be behind him at this time.

For the key message of this start, I took the words of Brian Tracey, a world-known business facilitator and to my opinion a great coach in personal development. “The way you consider yourself important is determined by the quality of your life, – he says, – Be not afraid to fail! Strong and self-confident people do not like to fail, but they’re not afraid of it. 95% of how you feel is determined by how you talk to yourself. Think positive! If you’re success – continue. If you fail – learn, become smarter, try again. Never give up! When you fail and you quit, you develop the habit of quitted. But if you fail and you persist, your habit becomes persistent”. That was a good conclusion of the month to step into the following with a commitment: “To Do What You Wanted To Do, but Not What You Think You Have To”. This initiative meant that the actions I took were taken from internal need and interest rather more than dictated by a social obligation. And it was started by a Mandala Dance.

I was told about this kind of dance on several occasions and the most bizarre is that from various sources of my contacts. Coincidences come always with a purpose. I googled the topic and found it very spiritual. Insightful dance. It talks on sense of woman’s nature. Soft, sensual and flowing, it spreads the energy of tenderness. I did honestly like it. I selected the right music and danced it at home, free to mind, raising magic, nenlightening movements with enchanting beauty. May I to say that it would be an exciting performance if one be taken on a stage.

Being much fascinated, my curiosity went further to explore. It found an international event gathering people of similar spirit, who love, practice or want to come for yoga, dance or music, in all-one state of mind or even beyond. Bali Spirit Festival had the dates on 29.03—03.04.2016. I even applied as volunteer to join the event management team that might become a memorable experience, so open and inspiring. However, the chance took differently and I didn’t receive any feedback. I took it obediently. No regrets. It was good knowledge even barring me this trip. My yoga classes continued. And that month I received a fantastic substance for the Festival there: an occasion to try even more amazing experience – a first-class training in hammock. They called it AntiGravity, and gave outstanding perception of weightlessness and fine stretching. I really enjoyed and went further.

Saturation came through the Theatre HD, a global project broadcasting performances in the cinemas of your city. It gained popularity as initiative to acquaint people with international art, which gave them the opportunity to attend world premiers not leaving the home country. “Hamlet. Cumberbatch” was on my wish list, a strong and thrilling play with magic of adorable English. I was hunting its performance through variety of dates and cinemas, and stayed enthralled after its visiting. Similar happened in January with the film “Macbeth”, a true history of Scotland, recorded the grief of times in dauntless courage of warriors. Just issued on the screens, I watched it alone, in pure pleasure of the language, which took my breath and played it in tune to the music. Permeating to the soul of nation. I felt it very native. Mysterious and wordless.

Were the lectures of one recommended business trainer. A wide-scale meaning “Context” raised a topical question: “Why do people stay inactive for the wishes they have?” He builds his message on analysis of 3 life-leading statements: “I want, I must. It’s needed.” and believes that none of those determines the true sense of whether you do something or not. The choice of your actions is based on definition “important – not important”. If anything gets done by you, it means it’s been important at that particular moment. If not – then the importance is only in theory and will keep you for ages in “wishing”, but not acting. Actually, you do not need any motivation for the things which are important for you, because you will do them in any case. However, actions may be also held by a benefit that hides behind of not doing something. It’s being revealed and described by another coach I was following after, Mr. John DeMartini, a referee for true people’s values and a great speaker. Following that line, I was slowly approaching to my field of harmony when I was doing the things that purely my soul wanted. It was really saturating.

I remember other impressions of this month. Those were nice chatters with different people, a Christmas market and an ambulance help for one of my friends to whom I came with mustard plasters to treat from sneezing cold she got. I notified some good results in sport.

My fitness announced the 71st release of Bodyballance program, and I liked it sincerely. It looked like a joy for my body to shift from familiar sets into new movements making the challenge quite habitual: you see – you break, you learn – you train, you succeed – and you enjoy.

It’s the last training for this year. Ballet. The Dance of Flowers from the Nutcracker. I close my eyes and get seized by a whirl of music… What used to be achieved with an effort, now grows in a faint smile and feeling of the dance. There is still a lot to improve. We seemed to have mastered only a hundredth part of what is rightly to be called a ballet. But it doesn’t really matter. Important is the pleasure you get from all these tiptoes, stretching legs, the heels upturned, and back so straight. It’s physically hard, very true. Especially to part from barre and hold position on the toes. Today I was success to separate up to 3 seconds – I breathe. In conclusion of the class is stretching. My teacher lowered, no, laid me down in a split. My breath tangled in defiance of load for muscles. And only the perfectly set reflection in the mirror inhaled the might to relax and ground the floor. Is beautiful. One finalizing trait – a port de bras and a bow. The hands float in the air like Christmas snowflakes. I thank the world for being so beautiful and write to others!

And the New Year Eve arrived calm and full-fledged.

* * *

I felt into affection and was sure it was a gift from my fate, carefully prepared with no preliminary notice and right for my birthday. It struck my confidence of being business-oriented to show colorfully how creative I might be. It gave me a lot of music at this period. And what a beautiful state arose! I felt so sincerely happy that I could never even imagine. My perception of world was dictated by music. I did some occasional writing. Was not considering it seriously, but suddenly it started flowing, easy, simple, with humble vocabulary, but was so notable that I paid more attention to that. The subject deserved investigation. Since childhood I was considered to have mathematical set of mind, and my only poetry was done at school as part of our home task in the English language. I made the literary translation of William Henry Davies poem, Leisure, written by him in 1911, and it was good. The work was recognized as benchmark in the class and I was happy to receive the best grade. That’s it. By now, dopey, there came a whole mine to discover!

The first article I’ve read on the craft was “Eleven hints to starting writers”. Introduced by Steven King, it gave me a glimpse into profession. Revealing secrets of his productivity, I followed some interviews with him and took as benchmark the famous “6 pages of writing every day”. I was lively impressed by simplicity of his character together with the rich nature of his works. A Master of horror turned out to be a perfect coach on the craft.

My next digging was feminine success. I got drawn by personality of Elizabeth Gilbert, the famous writer of “Eat. Pray. Love” and a fascinating narrator on creativity in her recent work “Big Magic”. She talks very true on the meaning of writing. Her interviews are more like sharing attitude to life and human values. I got deeply engrossed by her words. “A butterfly of your dream becomes odd and bizarre in your hands, but in fact it is your own, made exceptionally by you and now being stated as physically true”. She contrasted reality with dreaming, inflaming energy to act, to overcome the fears and write – in regard to curiosity which should be 1% more your restraint to move forward.

Then I followed other articles in writing, creative schools, and workshops; listened to the trainings from Komarovsky and Kolmanovsky; and noted down the crucial.

Meanwhile I prepared ideas for my coming birthday. My wish list of activity designed so many suggestions to do that I could hardly fit them in one day of celebration. I made a choice of three: Art, Science, Active Leisure. I thought to share best initiatives with relatives and friends so they could also experience the things I would honestly enjoy myself. In order to release from obligation to match diaries, activities were split in time, locations and the interest. A special group had been created for communication on events. The guests were welcome at any of them or could happily join all three in a row. That was a matter of own preference and availability. Thus planned, designed, my celebration started.

For Art we made a visit to the State Art Gallery. At that time the chance was for a famous exhibition of the nationally be-loved and world-wide known painter, Valentin Serov. Four hours of acquaintance with his life and works flew in the stream of eagerness for discovery. Information nourished us fruitfully from various sources: Wikipedia, audioguide, exposition plates beside the pictures, short video reviews from the Tretyakov’s Gallery, collection of family photos, and magazine articles dated those times. The remarkable is that the knowledge tends to come until a certain point of filling. Then you stop learning and begin perceiving works as they are in nature: every piece, every character, every shade of a portrait. I felt the energy it was sending and the story behind. I started my notes to record faces of that age: writers, choreographers, ballet dancers, lawyers, historian, archeologist, Maecenas and industrialists, members of the family, royalties, and peasants. I saw my guests being touched by the beauty. Keeping silence. Thinking it through. The exposition came to its end, and we left the Gallery sharing impressions. It was the moment of esthetic saturation.

For outdoor activity we went, one of the days, skating. The central ice rink was still sparkling in New Year decorations. It was a great fun to skate on fresh air with Christmas music, inspired by the mood of wonders. The famous carols, some nice mulled wine and frosty breath endowed us with atmosphere of a holiday. We enjoyed a lot.

The third and final part of celebrations was a visit to a functioning Observatory. Occasionally read in the news, I learnt about a comet called Catalina that exactly on the day of my birthday was passing on the shortest distance to the Earth. The Space subject had been always my favorite for discovery. I got inspired with the idea to look at the two-tailed green luminary that was announced to be visible on a cloudless sky. It was an exciting occasion to time our event with the astronomy scenery and inflame my friends with the same passion. I made a search on Astronomical centers opened for star gazing at this season and found a “more than a real” scientific institute specialized in sky scanning and computing the data incoming from the space. I called them directly and asked whether we could come and have a look on the sky.

– Do you want to see the comet move? – was the question on the phone

– Oh, yes, we suppose it would be an exciting spectacle – I said in anticipation

– My apologies. Have you ever watched a telescope and have an idea on the principle it operates?

– Actually not, that would be our first experience.

– Then I need to let you know that catching a comet in the eye of the device would be the least realistic challenge for an astronomer. You can see it by human natural sight.

– Oh, really? is it?

– Yes, the scientific equipment is tuned to seize on far further distances that the path of Catalina. It is not even a flash that a telescope can catch at the instant she flies by. The moving objects are observed by different devices which will never be provided with an eye for live transmission. It is caught by highly-sophisticated computers and only then displayed in pictures for further study.

I felt a friendly smile on the line. It was a good customer approach. I listened. The interest grew even bantering. I inquired on the options.

– Why not make an excursion through the whole scientific centre to acknowledge with the field and see how it all happens? – suggested the lady on the phone. She introduced herself as employee of the Institute and organizer of excursions.

– The idea sounds very exciting, even more than the original one.

– My pleasure. Then we will arrange an individual tour for you once the sky gets virgin for the visit.

The plan sounded perfect. We agreed to keep in tough and hunt the days with pure visibility. Regular snow and cloudy, the days arrived just in the end of March. It was the nicest postponement of my birthday I had ever had.

Adam and Eve diaries. Amazing Audio. The Mark Twen’s dream to unite the one of Adam and the other of Eve.

I watch documentation on Scotland, a series of films on Russian Seasons and the Art of Ballet. I remind in memories the best classical composers. We do a lot with my son: studying primers to practice memory and thinking, playing chess and sea battles, enjoying a true winter animation “La guerre des tuques” and once we go spontaneously to the circus. We are lucky to catch the last performance in this season for winter Christmas celebrations and we like it very much.

I continue reading the key points in psychology of a child and note a true and worthwhile message: “Kids are able to help themselves when somebody is ready to listen to them and empathize. They do not need to have their feelings being agreed by the others. They want them to be recognized.” I learn building up the right communication.

A precious moment of life: I saw once my son playing chess with himself. It was one of the regular training games, but this time it performed in such an amazing scenery that I called it “the Waltz of chessmen”. Let him be so inspired also in the future!

This month I discover Kundalini. I found a club called the “Mint” and participated in a workshop dedicated to discovery of seven chakras of a human. By chance, the topic of the visited lesson was chakra number two, that gave me, without any expectation, the answers to many of my questions. It is incredible how you can explore your nature through experience of concentration, through conscious breathing, numbers and communication with the Master. It has such a great effect on your whole day and life ahead.

I started realize my separation.

It does happen that you face difficulties. You push to self-assure that they will obviously end, but for that particular moment you need to do something to handle. I created my own program “21 days of hugs”. Nice and helpful. Start it at the day when you feel crap, and should not finish until the days expire, even if the crap finishes earlier. For me, it was on March 13th. I took decision to practice hugs, whatever happens in my day, no matter how hard it might seem, despite unbalancing environment and upsetting failures, you hug your relatives at home, no reason or words for explanation, no discharge of bad emotions, just hugs and feeling of release. Initially, you tend still to be drawn by disarray. Indignation would still upset you, there stands temptation to slide towards judgments, anger or worst outcome – a quarrel. This road is bad. No go. Especially when it accumulates all in one pile, and results in becoming a mess. Solution is a hug. All the mess fades away.

At those moments, in support, life sends you incredible examples, multiple on my side: Katerine, the girl of enormous love to kids. We brought our sons for sports group of kudo one lesson and became good friends for the future. She is Director of her own kindergarten, psychologist with high degree from State University and the deepest vocation by nature. Outstanding charm, calmness, mind, she is very nice in communication, and to my great surprise and sorrow, same as me – divorced. Can’t take in mind why this happens now everywhere and so often, with positive intelligent people. I feel a bit ashamed and forceless. Meanwhile happy to know each other.