iina - V - Sivu 2 14:stä - FIN-US-ES-UK! Loving sports, coffee & positivity. Enjoy!

6.4.2018 iinavalto

World of planners

Hey all!

Hands up for who has a calendar/planner! Not just a phone, an iPad or a laptop but an honest paper calendar that you write down things to take care of and all the important plans.

I haven’t had a calendar for a while. First of all, I’ve never been excited about buying a one, I’ve solely trusted to get a calendar as a christmas gift (fam tradition’s). The last Christmases I have spent in US so no tradition continuing for me – I had to shop my own calendars heh. First I got a pink but way too small one; I got annoyed when I couldn’t fit in all my things. Then I got a yellow but pretty boring one. After finishing up being boring I searched different websites and stores where to buy the coolest one. I realized none of them were appealing to me and after six months without a calendar it hit me: calendars make me stressed. I stopped doing the endless to-do lists (you feel me here right – you could always add one more thing to do when you cross one over?!) and planning weeks ahead. What I started doing, without noticing, was living more in the moment. I started listening myself. I am busy and I keep busy so surely I occasionally write notes to my phone’s calendar but I know and remember the things I need to do, where to be and what time. Small note here, I used to be a calendar freak – I wrote down work stuff, my workouts, plans with family & friends, birthdays.. Basically I wrote down everything that was happening and yes, absolutely I used different colors as well.

Maybe one day I’ll get a calendar again. However right now, I am very good without one, I focus more on the present and I’m calmer. For some people a calendar brings structure and peace of mind – we are all so very different. Nonethless, I do think the culture of calendars and planners reflect our current world; do this and that, don’t forget this, fill the blank, just go go go.. I believe quality wins over quantity. I believe the lists overrule listening yourself.

Some thoughts for your Friday.. What do you think?

Granada, Spain 2018

Avainsanat: #calendars#Planners#kalenteri#aikataulut#aika

Suhteet Oma elämä Mieli Työ

19.3.2018 iinavalto

Destination unknown

Today is March 19th 2018. It has been a few months since I even opened my blog.

Straight to the point, I was denied for H1B visa meaning that my journey in the U.S ended, at least for now. I was and still am convinced that change is good, it is never easy but it is a good thing. However, I have to admit I did not think it would be this hard. I stayed home in Finland for two weeks and then moved to Spain for coaching. People were so excited for me but I could not feel the same. I realized I didn’t let myself process all the things happening, I was just repeating the same things to everyone: change is good, I am so excite… I had the feeling ’somehing needs to change’ for a while and I needed the extreme push for that to happen, but this extreme? No. And yes. I did not want to leave my home but I was ready for the next journey.

Spain and coaching synchronized – and figure skating plus executing physique / off ice – training to the skaters has been awesome. My first weeks were rocky for sure as it included dealing with all the emotions from leaving U.S. but everything is starting to be okay now. I am very grateful and happy to be here, I get to do something that I can say I’m passionate about.

I have a lot to say about diving into new adventures. (And about immigration too heh.) But for now, I want to keep it light and write about those topics little by little. The start of this year, 2018, have been all about looking into the mirror and thinking what will I find for myself. And only for myself. I made a major mistake living from a visa to another one after I graduated. When the other one was not approved I was left with multiple ???. Those question marks are opportunities yet mostly unknown ones.

…Stay tuned, this year will be full of adventures.

First meal in Spain, this is a coffee lover’s paradise!!

I have always wanted to live somewhere that has palm trees. Done and done =)

Suhteet Oma elämä Matkat Työ