being yourself – On Life, Hope y todo lo demás…

How does it feel to be single again?

Someone asked me this recently and it took me a while to understand the question! Single? Oh! Yes, you must mean, how does it feel to be separated and leading a “single” life. Well, my answer was even more surprising to me since I hadn’t even given that a thought. “The same, I guess.” Meaning; […]

by Laura Basset Carbonell

What happens when you reach a certain age?

When you reach that certain age, middle age, or after, life changes, your outlook changes and you see every single thing in your life in a different light. It has its pros and cons, but life is just that, a series of continuous change, sometimes subtle and sometimes abrupt.

by Laura Basset Carbonell

Look into the abyss, shrug off your fears and jump!

At some point in life we all find ourselves looking down at the abyss and wondering whether we should back track to our comfort zone, or go ahead and jump. I’ve chosen to jump!

by Laura Basset Carbonell

On being grateful for the weirdest things.

Maybe not at the time did I feel grateful, especially while it was happening, but now in retrospect I can see how I dodged plenty a bullet and I’m able to thank, who knows who, for all those experiences that one might tag as unfortunate. I, on the other hand, see how those things had […]

by Laura Basset Carbonell

The need to seek solitude in the midst of the noise.

I know I’m often not in good company when, instead of solitude I experience loneliness. But both come and go and perhaps the latter is more deeply felt in the company of people. The former: solitude, is a place I need to go to, to gather my bearings, and as Henry Miller wrote in The […]

by Laura Basset Carbonell

The art of doing nothing: taking advantage of down time without feeling guilty.

I never knew how to do nothing. Sitting and staring into nothingness was not my thing. Until I learnt that instead of staring at nothing I could observe, think and appreciate what was around me without having to do anything about it, just take it in and start my own conversation which often leads to […]

by Laura Basset Carbonell

The freedom to be yourself.

I was 26 when this new acquaintance told me he had something to tell me when the time was right. It took a couple of weeks for him to finally tell me: “You care too much what people think of you.” I didn’t understand then but two decades later I understand only too well and […]

by Laura Basset Carbonell

At a job interview: be you.

Many people at job interviews lie or enhance attributes that they fall short of. Why lie when if you were to get the job, you’d be found out anyway? Not only that, a job is a relationship like any other in which if you are not yourself it might turn sour.

by Laura Basset Carbonell

Change sometimes just means accepting who you are.

I’ve spent a great deal of my life trying to change. Feeling like I was medium rare and not well done. Now, after five decades I’m finally the person I want to be.