Last week, I learned something about newsletters.

They are not blogs. As I kind of made it be.

Usually, newsletters contain at least 3 pieces of content (news, updates, curated content) - on different subjects.

Like a summary of the week's main ideas!

So, please bear with me, and my minimal viable newsletter.

I am still figuring it out!

​

Also, last week, there was no newsletter!

Here is why:

Being too tired to enjoy the moment

I had a very busy week.

And it made me think deeply about how important it is:

TO DO LESS

On Monday, I was asked last minute to give a presentation at a conference.

I stayed late that night and made the slides.

On Tuesday, I presented, had a lot of fun at the conference and in the evening went to the cinema to see Dune: Part Two!

I came home really late!

On Wednesday, I had a full day at work and in the evening, a pitch to investors.

All these events got me so tired that I couldn't talk anymore.

On Friday it was my birthday, so I flew to London.

My younger self would be so excited to see what an agenda I have.

But my current self was too tired to enjoy these moments.

My learning from this was strongly about:

Doing less to enjoy more.

What's the point of doing lots of things and not enjoying them?

​

Avoiding to celebrate my birthday

I noticed a pattern I do on my birthdays!

I go away to avoid putting in the effort to have a party.

On my 20th - I went to Iasi; on my 23rd - I went to Oxford; on my 24th - I went to Cambridge; on my 25th - wanted to go to Paris but it was Covid pandemic; on my 26th - my ex-boyfriend organised a party for me, and I found it so tiring; on my 27th - went to Istanbul; on my 28th - went to Bali, on my 29th - went to London.

And only this year - while being in London - it hit me.

Why do I avoid having a birthday party for myself?

The first thought that came to mind was: I don't want to get myself tired on my birthday.

But, rationally speaking, it shouldn't be that hard to invite close friends to a restaurant.

Looking back, I am repeating an unconscious pattern.

At the root, it's a dysfunctional belief about my birthday parties.

Curious, what are your beliefs about celebrating your birthdays?

I definitely need a new mindset here!

​

What makes a person unique?

In the context of my birthday, a question stayed in my mind!

What makes me, me?

What's unique about me?

I always thought that I was the most average person in the room.

There's nothing special about me!

But something in me craved to feel special.

My mature self understands that this is a normal need for a child (inner child).

And a way to calm it down is to define what's unique about me.

So, I took some "self-talk time" to understand what makes me unique.

My mind was blunt for a while.

And after - the answer came.

It's what I create that makes me unique.

We are unique through our creations! Be it the vibe at a party, children, a product, a service, a company, etc.

We are unique through what we materialise in the world.

I am sure there are other answers to this question.

Have you thought of what makes you unique?

I would love to hear your thoughts!

​

​

Till next week, all the best!

Elena

​

​

​