Life with Nena

How are you?   Now that I’ve written a bit about all the main topics constantly spinning around in my brain like a broken record, it’s starting to look like a puzzle coming together. To be honest, I feel a bit… empty. Like I’m doing everything and finishing nothing. Yep. That’s exactly it. And no, I'm not writing this to get sympathy from anyone. I just want to share it. To put it out there. I know how to be a workaholic. Trust me, I live in that 80% zone. The other 20%? That’s reserved for complete, unapologetic laziness. And guess what, I’ve finally learned, the hard way of course, that when your body and mind are screaming for rest, you have to listen. You either rest or you break. No in-between. So this post… it’s about everything and nothing. Or maybe it is something. We’ll see. People are often surprised or disappointed by how others behave. But you know what? I’ve stopped expecting anything from anyone. At all. Somewhere along the way, people became so hollow, so detached ...

 Your body, your choice, your voice This post has lived in me from the very beginning. I always knew I wanted to use my words to create something more than just content. I wanted to build a space where people feel seen, comforted, and less alone. A space that offers hope, even in the darkest moments. That’s why I write: to give strength, to share pain that’s often too heavy to carry alone, and to remind someone out there you matter. And when it comes to sexual assault, one of the most painful, personal, and silenced topics, this message feels more important than ever. Sexual assault doesn’t just mean rape. It includes every unwanted touch, no matter how “minor” someone tries to make it sound. It’s manipulation. Coercion. It’s when someone uses guilt or love as a weapon to make you do things you never agreed to. It’s threats. It’s pressure. It’s that dirty look. That vulgar comment. That hand that lingers too long. It's doing something you didn’t want to do just so you wouldn’t lose...

 Born with a Gift, Burdened with a Purpose “What's my talent?” – a question that sounds simple, yet echoes through our lives with the weight of purpose, identity, and potential. Talent is a relative term, yet undeniably real. Some people are born with such clear direction that it almost feels like their talent found them before they could even form words. Think of Mozart, composing at the age of five. It’s as if certain individuals are gently pulled by something deep inside, a quiet force that urges them toward their gift. These are the rare ones, the ones whose passion speaks so loudly that it becomes impossible to ignore. But for the rest of us, talent often feels like something hidden in the fog, something that only reveals itself after we’ve walked blindly for miles. Most people discover what they’re good at later, as their mind and personality mature, as life challenges them, inspires them, and stretches their limits. Our environments matter deeply. A child could be an extraor...

 Movement as Medicine In my opinion, the most powerful ways to express ourselves are through art, language, and of course, the body. This time, I want to talk about something I’ve never really explored before: dance and body language as forms of self-expression. I was never seriously into dancing until this year, although I’ve always found it beautiful and captivating. Recently, I started exploring different dance styles, mainly Latin dances like bachata and salsa, and later on, belly dance. Besides being an amazing cardio workout, dancing has become a way for me to release stress and let go of negativity. I’m still just a beginner, maybe even below average. Maybe I lack rhythm, or maybe it’s something else, but I keep trying. And little by little, it’s getting better, and I’m starting to enjoy it more. I’ve stopped focusing on whether I’m doing it perfectly and started focusing on how it makes me feel. Take salsa, for example. It’s such an impulsive, high-energy dance. It’s imposs...

 Thriving Where Others Freeze I’ve talked before on my blog about being a workaholic. It’s just how I’m wired. While that word sometimes carries a negative connotation, for me, it’s simply a reflection of how I function best: in motion, under pressure, and surrounded by chaos. Now, I know that not everyone is built this way, and that’s completely okay. Some people simply don’t thrive under pressure, and I genuinely believe it’s not something they can change. As I like to say, they’re just not "coded" for that kind of environment, and there’s no shame in that. It’s important to understand and respect how differently we all respond to stress and responsibility. But then, there are the rare few who seem like they were born ready for chaos. I can spot them instantly. Throw them into a whirlwind with no clear exit, and they somehow manage to handle it all calmly, without yelling, without panic. Just action. I find that energy incredibly powerful and familiar. As for me, I’ve notic...

 The Beauty of Unread Pages There’s something sacred about writing when you know no one will ever read it. That kind of writing, raw, chaotic, unapologetically emotional, is often the purest version of yourself you’ll ever meet. So often, writing becomes the only way I can let go of everything that’s been weighing me down. The overthinking, the sleepless nights, the storms inside me that have no name. Sometimes, I wake up in the early hours of the morning, shaken from a dream I don’t even fully remember, and words just pour out. I don’t plan them. I don’t even think. It’s as if the emotions take over and guide my hand. And the strange thing is, it always feels the most powerful when I assume that no one will ever read what I’m writing. There’s a freedom in that. A complete lack of fear. No pressure to sound clever. No need to impress. It’s like flying fast and recklessly in one direction without thinking about how hard the landing will be. There’s no audience. No judgment. Just me,...

 The Infinite Garden of Knowledge Learning is one of the most immeasurable, powerful, and beautiful aspects of being human. But before I go deeper into why I love it, let’s clear one thing up: learning is not the same as studying. We've all been there, sitting in classrooms, forced to memorize endless facts and theories, many of which we may never use in our daily lives or careers. That’s studying, not learning in its true, soul-touching form. This isn’t meant to disrespect formal education. Foundational knowledge is essential. But I deeply believe that, alongside general subjects, children, and all of us, should be encouraged to follow curiosity. To dive into what fascinates us. Instead of being overwhelmed with information, we should be shown how to think, feel, and explore. Because real learning isn’t just about the brain, it’s about the soul. How many times have you heard someone say: “I hate studying,” ? Sadly, too often. And yet, how many times have you found yourself wishing...

  Timeless Messages There is something truly magical about receiving postcards and letters from across the world. Each piece of paper carries not only words but fragments of time, history, and emotions, unfolding stories that teach us valuable lessons about patience, waiting, and the passage of time. From a delicate postcard depicting an 18th-century bridge in China, revealing the unique architectural heritage and mentioning influential figures like Mao Zedong, to a heartfelt letter from a loved one reminding me that “life is full of ups and downs” and that seeing the world helps us realize we are never truly alone, every message carries its own weight and wisdom. A kind Norwegian lady sent me over ten postcards from the last century, some dating as far back as 1915. The handwriting itself feels like a portal to a different era, where untold love stories, untouched cultures, and forgotten garments come alive, teaching me the beauty of enduring connections despite the relentless flo...

 The Beauty of Thinking Differently Society teaches us to think small, to shrink ourselves, to aim for just enough. A “comfortable” life is often sold to us as the ultimate goal, a decent job, a safe routine, a steady path, and nothing more. We are trained to believe that wanting more is selfish, that questioning the norm is dangerous, and that stepping outside the accepted framework is something to fear. But I’ve never understood how people choose to stay small. How they willingly accept the narrow limits placed on their minds, their dreams, their potential. I’ve always felt there is more to life than just existing in safety. I’ve always wanted more — more knowledge, more growth, more life. I still do. I won’t stop, no matter how hard the world tries to convince me otherwise. The truth is, the system is not built to support greatness. It rewards obedience, not vision. It encourages sameness, not individuality. It will challenge you, shame you, isolate you, and push you until you e...

  The Quiet Battle No One Sees Balancing high productivity with deep inner emptiness is not easy. In fact, it is one of the most invisible struggles someone can face. People often say, "Try something new," as if novelty is the cure for heaviness. And maybe for some, it is. But the truth is much more complicated. Sometimes you try something new and it doesn’t help at all, not right away. Sometimes nothing helps. And when that happens, you begin to wonder if anything ever truly will. For me, I’ve slowly been trying to reconnect with myself. Who I am, what I love, what brings me peace. I’ve started that journey, but I haven’t stopped being a workaholic. That part of me is still very present. I keep going, I keep pushing, I keep producing. On the outside, it might look like everything is functioning well, but on the inside, I still feel lost sometimes, still hollow, still searching for something. And that’s the thing about high functioning people, most of the time, no one notices...

 The Hidden Weight Not all pain is loud. Some pain moves silently through the day, masked by smiles and small talk, hidden behind productivity and polite answers. There are people around us who laugh loudly, show up on time, check everything off their to-do lists—and still feel like they’re sinking inside. This is what high-functioning depression often looks like. It's quiet. It's calm on the outside. It doesn’t draw attention. It’s the kind of sadness that learns how to wear a smile, how to go unnoticed. And that’s what makes it so dangerous. Sometimes you just don't know anymore, you.. just want simply to dissapear.  So many are living like this every single day. People who seem perfectly fine, people you’d never suspect. And sometimes, even they don’t realize what’s happening to them, until they find themselves completely numb, completely detached from everything that once made them feel alive.  It creeps in slowly. You start to feel tired. Unmotivated. Heavy. Not in y...

  How to Choose the Right Language for You Before diving into learning a new language, it’s very helpful to do a little “test” for yourself. Spend about a week exploring the language—listen to it, try to learn a few words, and see how easy or difficult it feels. Pay attention to how your brain reacts when you hear the sounds and try to remember new words or phrases. Compare this experience with other languages you might be interested in. This simple exercise can give you insight into which languages suit your natural learning style and which might require more effort. It can save you time and frustration in the long run. In my school, we study two foreign languages, and I had the opportunity to learn Russian and English. Although I have been learning Russian for about six years, I must admit that most of what I really know now, I actually learned in the last two years. This experience taught me that language learning is not always a linear process — everyone has their own pace, and...