Tag Archives: connecting

A Heart A Day #16

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Today I did some scribbling and doodling and I spoke about self-comapssion with friends. It’s interesting to see that so many people struggle with self-compassion! Why, people? Why is this so? However, I guess it’s good to know I’m not the only one coming a long way.

When I say I’m working hard to get more compassionate towards myself, I don’t mean I sit and meditate all day. Simple things help me focus on self-compassion and self-love during the day. For example focussing on what I would love to add to this world. I would love to create “tools” that help people develope a positive picture of themselves, that help developing self-compassion; and no kidding, I’m working on a book on this specific matter! Other “tools” I’m creating are gestures that you can give to other people to show you care – my cards for example. Doing this makes my heart skip and puts a smile on my face the moment I think about it. I can be my authentic self and that feels good! I love that feeling and slowly my self-love grows. Baby steps, but day by day it gets stronger.

Whilst scribling and doodling today I created a heart with one of my favourite quotes. Be the change you want to see in the world. From Gandhi. Speaking of meditation, writing a quote about 20 times is meditative! I added a picture of planet earth, for the extra drama ;-)

What change do you want to see in the world? And what steps are you taking towards it?

With love,
Tess

PS: Have you created or spotted a heart this week? Share it with me! Use #aheartaday and social media may overflow with hearts…

16

[I love love and I love hearts! But oh, this world needs more visible love. So let’s change that, step by step. Away with pessimism. Away with hate. Let’s fill this world with love. And hearts! To show compassion towards each other, towards the planet, towards ourselves. It proves to be difficult for so many of us. But instead of judging it’s more meaningful to show love, to respond with love, to act out of love. Say it with hearts.
So I’m sharing A Heart A Day. Every day I will draw, stitch, paint or otherwise create a heart and post it on this blog. Will you help me make love and hearts spread like a contagious but healthy disease?]

 

A Heart A Day #11

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Day #11. Today’s heart from me to you. Another rainbow coloured heart. Using pencils, fineliner and ruler.

What are your thoughts on self-compassion? Are you as kind to yourself as you are to others? The way your mind speaks to you, would you accept that from anyone else? Share your thoughts and – if you wish – create a heart or take a picture of a heart you found. Use #aheartaday.

With love,
Tess

12

 

[I love love and I love hearts! But oh, there’s too little of it, this world needs more love. So let’s change that, step by step. Away with pessimism. Away with hate. Let’s fill this world with love. And hearts. To show compassion towards each other, towards the planet, towards ourselves. It proves to be difficult for so many of us. But instead of judging it’s more meaningful to show love, to respond with love, to act out of love. Say it with hearts.

I’m sharing A Heart A Day. Homemade. Every day I will create a heart and post it on this blog. Will you help me make love and hearts spread like a contagious but healthy disease?]

A Heart A Day #9

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Heart #9 – Money heart, all in red.
I’m thankful for all the money coming my way. It might not be much, but I’m thankful for every tenner I can fold a heart from ;-) “Money can’t buy love” they say. However, to me money means the ability of taking care of me, the ability of treating and surprising others. I think that’s love, don’t you?

What is your heart made of today? Share your picture using #aheartaday and let’s fill this worldwideweb with love, compassion and self-made (or self-found) hearts!

9

[I love love and I love hearts! But oh, there’s too little of it, this world needs more love. So let’s change that, step by step. Away with pessimism. Away with hate. Let’s fill this world with love. And hearts. To show compassion towards each other, towards the planet, towards ourselves. It proves to be difficult for so many of us. But instead of judging it’s more meaningful to show love, to respond with love, to act out of love. Say it with hearts.

I’m sharing A Heart A Day. Homemade. Every day I will create a heart and post it on this blog. Will you help me make love and hearts spread like a contagious but healthy disease?]

A Heart A Day #8

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A chocolate-sprinkle heart today!
Be kind to yourself, you deserve a treat; this one life you, presumably, have…why be hateful to yourself and others, if all we are is human and we all have been given one life to live. Why not choose to spend time enjoying it, your life. It would be a waste to spend all your days being hard on yourself, judging others, comparing yourself to others. Why live a dissatisfied life if you could choose kindness? Treat yourself and others frequently; give away a smile, share your chocolate bar and do this consciously. You’ll get so much more in return.

8

[I love love and I love hearts! But oh, there’s too little of it, this world needs more love. So let’s change that, step by step. Away with pessimism. Away with hate. Let’s fill this world with love. And hearts. To show compassion towards each other, towards the planet, towards ourselves. It proves to be difficult for so many of us. But instead of judging it’s more meaningful to show love, to respond with love, to act out of love. Say it with hearts.

I’m sharing A Heart A Day. Homemade. Every day I will create a heart and post it on this blog. Will you help me make love and hearts spread like a contagious but healthy disease?]

This ain’t tree-hugging

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While I sat down to write you a new post, I realised yesterday marked 6 months of Tessie’s Projects. Hurrah! And before I’ll continue putting down today’s figments, I want to say a very big THANK YOU. To all of you, where ever you are, taking the time to sit down and read the weird stuff escaping my brain. I honestly appreciate it.

One of the reasons for me to write this blog is so I can share happy moments and contentment. I like to tell about such experiences, hoping they put smiles on other faces too. And by writing about it – I’ve noticed – I learn to appreciate it even more.
Every day I hope for tiny moments and gestures that brighten up my day. Well, it’s not really hoping – the more I’m open for it, the more they seem to happen. These moments, I’ve come to realise, give me an extra boost when caused by connecting to total strangers. No matter how short the moment or how small the gesture.

I wondered about it for a while, about the why, but I think I know now.

In this massive and individual world we live in, there’s hardly any room left for acts of kindness and simple but true contact with our fellow humans. Apart from friends and family. But greeting someone in the streets, making eye-contact, a smile when passing by. They are the tiniest things, yes. But they make my day, always. The other day, strolling around the park, me and an old man almost bumped into each other. You know the awkward moment, when you both move in the same direction and then again… Often, myself included, this causes frowns and some sighing. This time our eyes met and we both laughed out loud. I took a big step to the right, to let him pass. We greeted each other. And that was it. A small thing, yet a moment to put in the 2015 Jar. Something we tend to take for granted. A situation we often allow to cause irritation. But there’s no need for irritation, is there? These moments may take 3 seconds off our time. Grab it with both hands and you’ll gain a big smile from it. Live these 3 seconds to the fullest and you’ll actually see this other person: how rare is that, huh? A person who, just like you, lives on this planet, breathes – or at least, you hope they do –, has a heart just like you and the ability to smile. Just like you.

Try it and soon you’ll realise it’s pure bliss. These little moments of contact, sharing a smile – for free! No judgement, because that ain’t necessary. Just two fellow humans. Passing by. Being aware and sharing a little piece of their heart. That’s all. And it’s no tree-hugging stuff.

After the nearly-bumped-into moment, I made a heart out of paper. And turned it into confetti. Confetti is always a good idea. My opinion. A confetti heart is a heart filled with feast and joy. A confetti heart is one big heart divided into many pieces you can share with others.

Scatter your confetti heart

Our hearts are our own, but sharing pieces of it with others will only make it stronger.
Make your heart a confettied one and scatter freely – it’s good and you know it!

 

[ the confetti heart I made, now has a double meaning. it is a huge thanks, right from my heart, to all of you ]

Something old, something new

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A New Year. Like any proper New Year, 2015 demands some changes from me. Or better, I decided on some changes… have you noticed the two new pages I added to my blog? Starting 2015 I’ve decided to make life a bit more logic and easy for myself. I’m determined to continue writing this blog and developing my own little business, but I can use a bit more focus and funnelling instead of drifting. And here’s my first step.

If I were in London right now
You could say London is a project of mine. Or at least, writing about it. It’s a place on the planet that stole my heart and after having lived there in 2011 I started my first blog If I were in London right now, sharing my favourite places and hidden gems.

As of January 2015 If I were in London right now will be part of Tessie’s Projects. It makes sense to me. I love writing, I love going to London as often as I can. But right now, writing and maintaining two separate blogs is not what my body and mind need. The old blog will keep on existing. However, when I feel the urge to share some London-related stuff I will do so at Tessie’s Projects. It will be neatly categorised under If I were in London right now.

Expat meet Local
Moving on to the other new page. A page that might be interesting for you if you a) live in The Netherlands, b) are a local Dutchy living in The Netherlands who likes to meet other people or c) are an expat living in The Netherlands who likes to meet other (Dutch) people.

Expat meet Local was set up by me in June 2014. You may have guessed: it’s my intention to bring expats and locals together by organising little events. During Summer these events may be picnics, in Winter we go indoors. No sane Dutch person picnics during Winter.
Expats hang out with expats, locals hang out with locals. When you’re an expat you seek like-minded souls, when you’re a local you may just love your life as it is. Being a dreamer, I dreamed of changing this… wouldn’t it be just great to meet people with different backgrounds, from other countries and cultures? Then, from dreaming I moved on to realisation!
In 2015 I will continue bringing expats and locals together by organising little meet-ups. Knowing that people go home after an event with a new friend or squash-buddy, having learned and tasted something new. It brightens up my life. Simple as that!

So all you expats and Dutchies, all people dreaming of moving to The Netherlands or wanting to meet new (Dutch) people? Have a look at the new page for more information on Expat meet Local and be welcome to join us at our New Years reception Sunday the 11th of January.

Proost! E-flyer

 

Yes, a New Year. I hope you all will have a good one! And remember; most of the time you yourself can make your year as good as you want it to be. It’s in your hands, you are in charge. Most of the time…that is.