I feel bad for not writing about perfume for so long. But that will come too.
What I want to write about today is life.
The last three years of my life have been difficult. I don’t want to go into details but the fact remains I went through many downs and not so many ups – in the end getting here where I am now.
At no time have I felt mad at god/destiny/people around me, I just went with it all being part of life. In these years I also feel I have been rewarded for my perseverance. Possibly not in the same amount as I feel I suffered, but still rewarded.
And then today it all seems to have coalesced into the idea of life.
My day today has been not so very different from many I’ve had in these three years. But it feels like the trying times might have come to an end.
I laughed from the heart, completely carefree today and I was aware of it. I don’t remember the last 
time I felt so carefree.
Today was also the first time I went on a ride on a motorbike with my boyfriend this season. The night and the smell of spring in the air are, in my opinion, the best perfume in the world.
I also cried today when I saw the picture of the boy killed in the Boston marathon bombing. I am also aware of the fact that there are many tragedies like that happening all over the world that we are not aware of. I try and not get depressed each time I remember that. But my heart weeps regularly.
I found true pleasure in opening the packages awaiting me today, decants from a great friend, a romance book I won and a swap package containing perfumes I never tried.
In spending some quality time with my parents.
Having a glass of wine with friends.
Laughing carefree with all of them even though I know they all have serious problems they are dealing with at the moment.
Life will give you the bad (and the worst) but if you take notice, it will also give you the best and the fulfilling. And you have to take it all. The only choice you have here is how you approach both.
I can’t say I am grateful for the bad, but I do know I wouldn’t appreciate the good so much otherwise. It’s life.
P.S. And yes, I did have enough wine to warrant a post like this. 😉
Tagged: I've been thinking, wine
All I am - a redhead 
What a lovely post — with lessons that we can all learn from and should be reminded of. I’m very happy for you. I’ve experienced something similar after going through a phase where, truly, almost everything seemed like a “down” and a struggle. Perseverance, age and perhaps just (finally) a true appreciation of just how important the small things are contributed to the change, I think. It’s not as though I settled for less, but more as if I realised that the seemingly “smaller” things were actually pretty damn “big.” It seems you have reached the same stage. 🙂 I’m sorry you went through a lot of difficulty beforehand to get there, though. May things continue to be fulfilling, joyful, and filled with laughter.
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Thank you Kafkaesque.
I’m sorry to hear you went through a down phase but unfortunately, those are part of life too. And I’m not fooling myself into believing there won’t be more of them. But for the time being, I enjoy the fact that one of them is over for me. 🙂
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It’s funny; your last sentence was almost almost my exact words to a friend the other day.
It sounds like all the parcels arrived with immaculate timing- I find they have a tendency to do so:-)
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I no longer get surprised with the synchronicity happening in the perfume world. Or between us. 😉
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Another wonderful post, dear Ines. I try to always stay open and receptive to the joy of the “small” things that make life enjoyable and help you through difficulty. I’m glad you have experienced some joy lately 🙂
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Thank you James.
I find I am immensely enjoying the small things. Happiness is a choice after all. 🙂
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Heya Ines,
I love it when you post other than perfume, am glad you took the time to tell us an UP story and also that you can see the end to some of your woes. Congratulations and welcome to life.
Portia xxx
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Thank you Portia! 🙂
One of the things making me happy lately is that I seem to have more time to read the blogs. I’ve been missing that a lot.
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Dear Ines,
It was so nice to read your thoughts. I agree with you completely. And I want to hope that, at least for a while, in your life there will be more “ups” than “downs”: you’re experienced enough to value former without latter 😉
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True! I agree completely. 😀
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You might not think you’re writing about perfume, Ines, but in this post you wrote the perfume of Life, in all its sweet and sad and bitter notes – and like all great perfumes, the tenderly sweet, nectarous notes floated above the rest to sing the clearest. Beautiful. ❤
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Dear Suzanne, thank you. ❤
I hope you are writing these days because your comment reads full of writing inspiration.
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Sweet, genuine, and true.
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🙂
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So good to read that you feel like you’ve turned a corner, Ines. It may be a case of two steps forward, one step back, but as long as you’re going in the right direction that’s the main thing.
I don’t go along with “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” because I know I for one am more fragile these days, but I can protect myself better now and take the time to smell the roses. You’re so right about being better able to appreciate the good things in life.
Hugs!
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Tara I am glad to hear you can appreciate better now the good things in life.
As for “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”, I think I only understand that in retrospect, after seeing I successfully went through something that was scary or difficult. So then I know I can do it again in the future.
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The year promised to be a catharsis from its very beginning! And all your wrote, Ines, oh, that’s all so true about me, as well!!! Could it be we are somehow connected? Zodiac signs, ascendents, past life? Nevermind, glad you made it, glad you appreciate it and glad you are up and going further!!! We should not be blind for the people’s missfortune and we should help in any way! The good thoughts and deeds always come back to you – carma! Read, sniff, laugh and hug!
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Lyubov, your comment certainly put a smile on my face. 🙂
I agree, it’s time to enthusiastically embrace life.
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It looks as though, along with nature, “you” have also awoken this Spring.
May your days be filled with light, warmth and love, and spread these feelings to the people around you, dear Ines.
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Thank you very much Marianthi. 🙂
Spring is usually a good time for me, when I feel I have more energy and can take up whatever I feel like.
I just hope it lasts. 😉
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Sending you a bear hug Ines! Life can be so rough at times. Enjoy the time now- three years is a long time. You made it through and you can enjoy spring properly.
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Thank you Sandra! ❤
Enjoying spring in every way I can. 😉
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You have such a beautiful perspective, Ines. I join with others in hoping that now is your time for a share of more ups than downs. Hugs
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I can’t help but think with what I have planned for this year, it should have more ups than downs. 🙂
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I’m glad you’re getting out of your funk! Maybe the Vienna race helped a bit. I too haven’t had a phenomenal few years. Here’s to the next few years being at least as good as the last ones were bad!
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Dear Joan, I do hope your life is set on a phenomenal streak as of now. 🙂
And yes, the Vienna race did help. They usually do. 😉
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Ines-
this was beautiful….one of my favorite inspirational writers says “change the way you look at things and the things you look at change” . Sounds like you have done just that 😀 !!
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Brie, I completely agree with that quote. 🙂
No true change happens from the outside and I try explaining that to people but then again understanding comes from acceptance and that is hard for many people to accept (the truth about themselves).
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Hi Ines,
What a moving post – I am so glad to hear you have got your mojo back and are feeling so light and happy, and enjoying the small pleasures of life. As you say, contrast is all part of life and makes you appreciate the good parts when they return. It sounds as though it will just keep getting better from here.
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Vanessa, I still get my usual bouts of laziness that in turn lead to guilt but I’m working on that too. There is no point in forcing yourself to do everything you planned when obviously it will just make you feel more stressed and tired at the end of the day.
So, I took 10 days off from running (did feel guilt over that) but it finally feels like I got my energy levels under control and now can return to my usual routine.
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Ines, thank you for sharing. I am, glad things are looking up for you. It helps to know other people go through similar ups and downs. I always get a boost when I can read a new post from you. Cheers Rosie
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Thank you so much rosie! 🙂
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