7 am. Some wake up to work, some to survive, some in order to love. Mr. Higgings didn't wake up for any of these reasons. Mr. Higgins woke up in order to smile. By 8 am a butterfly flew around his bike. By 8.15 he stopped to hear the sounds of the highway. At 9 am he started to smile. Mr. Higgings sat at a bench. It was the same bench that he sat on every single morning for the past 4 years or so. When most people rushed by, only seeing a list of groceries in front of them, Higgins saw within. Nobody had noticed the white bench he sat on either. It was there, among everything like a little reminder for people to sit down and breathe, yet it was easier to keep walking than to stop. What if you stop once and suddenly you can't move forwards anymore? Higgings knew that once you stop, your world slows down and then you first begin to understand life. The speed of life distracts us from reaching understanding, sometimes even happiness. Of course Higgings understood what running felt like. Running in the rain in order to kiss Dorothy goodbye. Running away from the mean kids in the neighbourhood. Running on the beach with his dog. Running was wonderful, but running was so often away to not think. Once Higgings first sat on that bench he understood something important. Some people can't run. They lack that one thing you need in order to keep moving forward: love.

So Higgings started to smile. He smiled to everyone who walked by. He smiled to those who did not notice, those who noticed but looked surprised, those who noticed but looked judgemental, those who smiled first. Hours went by. Higgings got up at 6 pm. Now he had completed his day of work he thought. That was until he saw a stranger approach the bench. A young man sat down on Mr. Higgings bench. He drank dark roasted coffee and smoked one cigarette each day. He wore red converse and dark shades. He pretended to read The New York Times while he probably listened to The Smiths. But Mr. Higgings only saw a person who had noticed the bench, nothing else.

-  Hello there young man! I see that you've noticed the bench. Mr. Higgings said proudly.
The young man pretended not to hear.
- So you read! That's good, that is excellent. You know my wife Dorothy got me into reading. Before her I never noticed the importance of words, I only saw what was in front of me. The young man continued to stare into The New York Times. But inside his shades, a tear was falling down.
- You know I'm happy that you found my bench. It means you see things. I like people who see in feelings. The young man looked up and started laughing.
- Hey old man, you know I get that you have some stories inside you that you wish to share, but this is just a bench. We give it its meaning, other than that it's just a bench. Today I saw it and I thought that I should sit on it and that is it, just another bench.
Mr. Higgings took a deep breath.

-Young man. I'll tell you something. Not because I wish to share my experience but because you need to hear it. I used to run through my entire life. Everything just happened because I did everything in my power to have the kind of life we all strive to have. But maintaining it was a struggle. I had to pay the price. The price was to keep moving no matter what. If I would start to think or care I could not live the so called dream life. I didn't notice people. People didn't notice me. We just kept running. Until one day when I was searching for a smile. I was walking slowly among all those who ran. My world was slowing down. I felt how old I was getting. It's like I aged 20 years during that one day. I stopped running. My wife had just left me. In the world of runners she was a walker and she could not stand us runners. Running towards success. So I had to stop. I stopped so much that I quit my job. I stopped so much that I stopped pleasing other people or prentending to like something I didn't. I stopped so much that I had difficulty getting up in the morning.

-What happened then? The young man asked. I mean you're here now. Something must have helped you.
-Hmm..helped me? Like you did today young man I sat on this very bench filled with feelings I could not share. And on this bench beside me sat an older man than myself. He was just smiling openly and so I asked him why he was smiling, and he told me that it was his job. He told me what an awful person he had been when he was younger, and that he wanted to spend the rest of his life doing real work. Real work I wondered. Then he told me that a smile is worth more than any money or success in ones career. A smile can save lives, a smile can heal those who feel broken inside. He called it the happiness company this very bench that we are sitting on right now. The happiness company only had one owner and worker and it was that one old man. 4 years ago he left the city for some wonderful reason I guess, but I felt like I needed to take over the company. So this is my workplace.
-Then what do you do? The young man wondered.
- I just smile.
The old man walked away and young man felt warmth inside him and suddenly he started to smile and he could not stop smiling after that.

The healing power of the 4 elements: Fire

Hello 🔥 people!

When I was showering I got this idea (surprise, business people should start showering before brainstorming! ) that I could write a series on the 4 elements. Not from an astrological or philosophical perspective, but from a healing perspective. Each element brings us closer to nature and each element is neccessary for us, in order to maintain life here on Planet Earth. The water we use for washing and manufacturing, drinking and swimming. The air that we breathe. The earth itself, the ground we walk on could be seen as the floor in the house of existence. And fire. Fire, fire, fire. Without fire, we would not be here. Without fire, we could not have been able to prepare our food that made our brains develop, that made us build the complex construction of society that protects us and makes it possible for us to live for more, than just the maintenance of our basic needs.

And here we are me and you. Creatures of the complex world that we've built, one person writing and the other person behind their own screen, reading. The elements are a source of joy, vitality and relaxation. A part of me, let's call it intuition, feels that the elements could be a source of deeper happiness because they bring out our senses, the human side within us which is easy to forget when life wants you to behave and act perfectly which is as far as you can get from being human. Therefore, we will take this opportunity and explore the healing power behind each of the four elements, together! As always I'm open for comments and discussion either here or in private. I also wish this would make some of you 90's kids nostalgic because for some reason, we grew up with series that revolved around the four elements such as W.I.T.C.H and H2O Just Add Water. But let's start shall we? The first element in this little series will be fire, the magical and somewhat dangerous element that keeps us warm and afraid at the same time.

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What is fire?

Fire is a chemical reaction or to be more exact the result of a chemical reaction called combustion. During the combustion process flames are formed. This stage of combustion is called the ignition point. Flames mainly consist of nitrogen, water vapor, oxygen and carbon dioxide.

What do we commonly associate fire with?

Warmth is probably the most common association but so is a certain cautiousness towards the possible dangers of fire. In other words we both fear it and love it.

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Fire is very comforting. In fact the Danish hygge includes it as a factor in achieving a sense of wellbeing and relaxation. Sitting around a campfire at night and telling stories, perhaps someone even brings out the guitar and plays a few beautiful tunes. I bet enjoying a campfire is something that most of us are naturally very good at. A more everyday way to use fire is lighting candles, something that is also considered very hygge. Food or drink that has been prepared over a fire is also a pretty wonderful and comforting process. It almost tastes better when prepared over fire. Maybe that's the famous umami or maybe fire just brings out the human within us, that savage side we always make an effort to hide. But why do we fear fire? And why do we keep using it as a way to enrich our language? Fire can be viewed as something unpredictable, something we may loose control over and therefore it is also a very good metaphor for the unpredictable parts of life.

Fondest memory

We had taken the train from Olomouc to explore other towns and cities in Czech Republic. We got aboard this old Russian styled train that was very noisy and full of atmosphere. I thought of Anna Karenina. We played a game of cards and just like that we were at our final destination. Our destination was a Nature Preservation Center. We were told to work in groups during a teambuildning exercise they organized for us. My group went outside and we must have only taken a few steps when I saw it: a campfire! We sat down on some rocks and brewed tea over the fire together. Unfortnately I don't remember what type of tea it was but what I do remember is how wonderful that moment was. Even if I wasn't home it felt like home among those strangers and in front of the campfire.

How to use fire for healing

Candlelight replacing the light of your phone

Remember when your history teacher told you how people used to sit around the fire telling eachother stories? What will our teachers tell our kids after 50 years? "A typical activity for humans is that a group of people called family pretend to spend some time together but instead they are all looking at their phones". What if we would put our phones away and talk to eachother in front of a campfire or fireplace? I think this is a great way to use fire for mindfulness and healing. It can truly help us to live in the present moment.

Fireplace for audio relaxation

The crackling sound of a campfire or fireplace is amongst our favorite sounds. Sound can have a very calming and healing effect. Fortunately you don't even need real fire to enjoy the sounds of it! There are many great recordings of fire that one can listen too while enjoy a warm beverage on a rainy day for example.

Staring deeply into a campfire

A personal favorite of mine. Fire makes us modern humans just as hypnotized as it did when we first discovered it. If you are a overthinker then I highly recommend that you'll just sit down for a moment and watch the fire. I'm almost certain that it forces you into a calmer state of mind.

Quotes about 🔥:

There may be a great fire in our hearts, yet no one ever comes to warm himself at it, and the passers-by see only a wisp of smoke.

Vincent Van Gogh

The instruction we find in books is like fire. We fetch it from our neighbours, kindle it at home, communicate it to others, and it becomes the property of all.

Voltaire

I was the first woman to burn my bra - it took the fire department four days to put it out.

Dolly Parton

If I read a book and it makes my whole body so cold no fire can ever warm me, I know that is poetry.

Emily Dickinson

I hope you feel warm and cosy right now 😌

Hugs,
Rebecka

Hello, hi and hey! 😊

I thought it would be interesting to have a "facts about me" type of post but I'm pretty much the same person since the last time I did one, so no new facts about me are needed. Instead I thought it would be fun to describe my work/studying habits. I hope other writes will use this as a base too and if you could be so kind : don't copy my posts without giving the idea credit first. I support people who openly share ideas with eachother and inspire eachother but I don't support copycat behaviour (imitation). I'm sorry if I sound rude and thank you for respecting other content creators ❤️ (as you may know it's never easy to come up with a new idea especially during writer's block)

How often do you work?

I work a little bit everyday but my tasks are different every single day. One day I study and the other I'm at my job or working on a creative project at home. I also tend to work in spurts which is both a good and a bad thing. If I feel like it, I can work for hours but if I don't feel like it, it's very difficult to force me to do anything at all. Important causes motivate me to tackle new projects.

What kind of environment do you prefer to work in?

I prefer to change my working environment as much as possible. I appreciate an environment that inspires me. Fortunately inspiration can be found anywhere with the correct attitude. Problematic situations are my biggest source of motivation.

Work alone or working together with others?

Both. Working with others is an amazing opportunity to meet new people and connect with them through work. Working alone however, gives you the opportunity to have control over your own schedule which is something I strive for.

Working early in the morning or late at night?

Early in the morning. When I was a teenager I was quite the nightowl! Always staying up to at least 2 am no matter how early I needed to wake up the next day. Somehow everything shifted when I turned 20. Suddenly it was easier for me to wake up at 5 am than it was to stay up until 5 am. My concentration is a its peek 30 minutes - 2 hours after waking up so waking up early equals to getting the job done.

Do you prefer practical jobs or jobs that focus on theory/academic subject?

I prefer to study the theory behind a subject but turning it into something practical and useful. For example in my opinion philosophy becomes most useful to people when it's written down.

Work for money or work for happiness?

If you need the money then work to earn it but don't, I repeat don't stay at a job you hate for the rest of your life just because it's easy. A job is much more than a way to earn an income. Think about it for a second; if you are going to do something everyday then it might as well be something you feel is worth spending all your time doing, am I right?

First ever job?

My first ever job was at the age of 14 as a teaching assitant on a local art camp for kids.

The crazy dream job?

I've always felt drawn to a circus kind of lifestyle and all of it's ups and downs. I guess it would be fun to experience traveling around with a circus and documenting the life of the preformers. I also dreamt of becoming a doctor but that would be crazy due to the fact that I'm the biggest hypochondriac out there.

The more realistic dream job?

Special education teacher & Entrepeneur.

Learning something new through work or doing the same thing over and over again until you learn to do it perfectly?

I would lie if I were to say that I don't fear failure. I like to ensure that I do things the right way but I'd rather be working and learning something new along the way rather than letting my anxiety over perfection take over too much.

Working from home or never having to bring your work home?

Both. I've tried both and I like both. But both have their positive and negative sides. Working from home can be more comfortable but it can also be difficult to work at an environment designed for relaxation. Never having to bring your work home can help you achieve a better balance between work and freetime but sometimes you still bring your work home in your thoughts if you didn't get everything done during your workday.

Would you rather have a job that pays well but bad relationships with the people you work with or excellent friendships at work but a terrible salary? 

I'd rather get along with the people I work with. What do I do with that much money anyway when I'm not the type of person who desires the luxury lifestyle? Me and my workmates can be rich in spirit instead!

Have a great week at work! 😊

/Rebecka