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Days such as these: reminiscence of a pandemic
I have originally published this poem in Macedonian on my facebook profile and since I got quite some positive feedback about it – partially in comments and shares and partially in private messages – I thought that I can try to translate it in English and post it here. This is a new experience for me: I usually write my poetry either in English or in Macedonian and keep it as such, fearing that much of the tone could be lost in the translation. Nevertheless, I have now decided to conduct this experiment and see how the English translation would sound. The original is, after all, some hybrid of prose…
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What has 2020 taught me about work, love, family and myself
With increasing data to support the idea that the pandemic aftermath will be as bitter as the pandemic itself, we have to ask ourselves where do we go from here. Not only as a world and society, but also personally. Setting our priorities right; taking care of our physical and mental health; developing the mindset that will enable us to deal with the post-pandemic crisis that will follow in 2021, or possibly in 2022, are the habits that will determine whether we will not only adapt, but also thrive.
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The Paranal observatory in Chile: Dr. Johanna Hartke takes us to the frontier of astronomical observations
21st of December 2020 is an extremely interesting astronomical day, so in order to celebrate it, I have interviewed Dr. Johanna Hartke – an outstanding astronomer who works for the European Southern Observatory at the Paranal observatory in Chile. What makes 21st of December so special? In addition to the winter solstice – when we mark the shortest day in the year and the official start of the winter - this year we also enjoy two other exciting astronomical events: the peak of the Ursids meteor shower and the so-called “great conjunction” of Jupiter and Saturn.
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Fake positivity is doing us more harm, than good
The first step is simply saying: it is fine to struggle. It is fine to feel pain, anger, disappointment, sadness and three billion other spectra of negative emotions. Moreover, embracing these emotions, together with the good ones, and anything in between, is what helps us build the emotional intelligence and emotional agility that can carry us through life in the healthiest possible way.
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Help vulnerable families during the COVID-19 pandemic
Dear all, today with you I want to share something that I do not usually share on my blog. However, it is something that is rather close to home and it is for a good cause. The stories that I am about to share with you have genuinely touched me and I have decided to reach out to you in the hopes that some of you would might also empathize the way I have. The COVID-19 pandemics hit Macedonia – my home country – very seriously. In addition to the completely-filled hospitals, high infection and mortality rates, many people have also lost their job, or have lost the financial help…
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Lise Meitner: yes to nuclear fission, no to an atomic bomb!
Lise Meitner: a physicist who never lost her humanity. This is the inscription of Lise Meitner’s headstone and quite rightfully so. I am not sure if any other Physicist showed more dedication and humanity while searching for the ultimate truth than Meitner; yet, despite 19 nominations for the Nobel Prize in chemistry, and 29 nominations for the Nobel Prize in physics, for many people Meitner still remains an unknown name! What makes Lise Meitner especially prominent and inspiring physicist in my eyes is not only her brilliant mind; the World of physics has seen many of those. Instead, is her integrity, her accountability and her scientific ethics. Unlike some of…
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What makes a good psychologist: an analysis of a reader’s experience
A good mental-health professional takes the time to understand where you stand. You probably will need to spend quite some time telling your story before they provide some feedback for you. However, this does not mean that they need to stay quiet. Instead, they should encourage you, make you feel safe and appreciated, and above all - understood. They can do this not only by asking you more questions, but also formulating their opinions and explanations of your symptoms in a language that makes sense to you. Simply put, a good psychologist shows you their warmth, care, and empathy for you through their words.
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Workism and how we forgot that we are more than our job
Remember: you are more than your job. The damaging idea "to hustle" - that work-obsessed millennials nowadays support even more strongly with hashtags, "inspirational" posts and quotes, and seemingly overbooked calendars - is quickly creating a lonely youth with poor life-to-work balance, which in its strong desire to be authentic and unique, is achieving exactly the opposite. Remember: you are more than your work. Your uniqueness lies within you, not within your CV or office.
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Unconventional self-care techniques worth your time
The most crucial aspect of every self-care ritual is understanding the influence it has on you. Pay attention whether you are experiencing only a momentarily spur of joy; or, if you are truly benefiting from what you are doing. A well-developed and consistent self-care routine for me is two dimensional and it consists of: a) momentary self-care - it addresses current stress and helps us calm down, unwind, or relax after particularly tough period; and b) long-term self-care: it addresses our distorted thoughts, certain character traits, and bad habits that we would like to change. So, without any further due, let us look at some self-care techniques that I love.
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Reader’s submission: My battle with anxiety, depression, and depersonalization-derealization disorder
It felt like I was constantly just floating in the air. I was moving, but it was like I don’t feel or control my legs at all and that I will trip over any second. In order to actually ‘feel’ my legs, I would rub my feet. Once I did this so intensely that I even managed to tare up my left sneaker. Most of the time, I couldn’t tell whether I was dreaming or if something was really happening. My memory and concentration were awful. Yet, the worst part of it all was that this disorder, combined with my anxiety, was stopping me from living my life to the…
Ideas that matter: read, think, learn
