Book review: How to Stay Sane by Philippa Perry

How to Stay Sane by Philippa Perry
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A lovely read for those in need of instruction (ain't we all?) on how to observe your own feelings, actions, and work on personal growth by becoming more aware of yourself and others around you.
All very positive; in addition to the theory on self-reflection, stress, observing and recognizing own behavioral patterns, working on self-control, relationships, and other human interactions, the book includes case studies of personal change and a few exercises of self-development.

However, I will admit that I couldn't shake off the knowledge of who the author is married to while reading the book. That biographical fact was introduced in first lines of the book, probably as a selling point, but in my opinion, it did a disservice to authors own standing as a talented independent writer with her own thoughts and knowledge to share.

Not a life-changing book, but a little something to read on a bus or think of while having a walk on a snowy day.


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Review: How to Develop Emotional Health (School of Life) by Oliver James

How to Develop Emotional Health by Oliver James
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
A very healthy read.
Instead of focusing on happiness, the author suggests ways to work on emotional health: insightfulness, a strong sense of self, fluid relationships, authenticity and playfulness in one's approach to life. Not a life-changer, not exactly a self-help book, and not all case studies equally relatable. But it is a good afternoon read, a short reminder to keep working on building oneself up and enjoying the process.

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RIP Hitch

Life is a terrible thing to waste. 

So I hope I haven’t wasted too much of it. 

- Christopher Hitchens

Christopher Hitchens has passed away. I thought I would write this post as soon as I heard the news, but too many thoughts crossed my mind at that moment, so I had to give myself few moments, few days I should say, to sort it out in my head before writing this little obituary.

Was he a socialist in some point of his life? - Yes.
Did he express very right-wing ideas on different times of his life? - Yes.
Did he contradicted himself more than once? - YES
Did I agree on everything he said? - No. Did it make me think and provoked my mind? - YES, and this is the best compliment I could ever tell to anyone.
And YES, he was not only a polemicist on the outside, he seemed to be one in the inside too, which is why I will always respect him, as it shows a life-long growth, a state of mind in constant search of a new argument, not only strong in its meaning but also brilliantly phrased, struggling with everyone who stands in the way of principle, even if that someone was Hitchens himself.

Not so many people are brave enough to be themselves, to admit that their job was their life and that it all was worth it after-all:

"It’s not for everybody. Not everyone wants to always be an outcast or out of step or against the stream. But if you do feel that the consensus doesn’t speak for you, if there’s something about you that makes you feel that it would be worth being unpopular or marginal for the chance to lead your own life and have a life instead of a career or a job, then I can promise you it is worthwhile, yes."

 - Hitchens on my favorite interview on summing up his life - on Charlie Rose show - http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/11168

Thank you, Christopher Hitchens, for reminding me that not everyone has to grow out of youthful maximalism during very confusing times in my life when I almost chose an easy way.

Rest in peace, Hitch', I really hope you are not in heaven now, but just in case you are, I hope you're at least enjoying the argument with God about the fact he does not exist.

Golden autumn. Petersburg. Life.

It's been a while since my last personal post on this blog and sorry to all my followers for that (one of them even wrote me an e-mail, asking if I've ever post anything again :))) ) but recent month was a real rollacoaster in my personal and professional life, and I don't even know where to start and where to stop to tell a story about it. 


So as I'm sitting in front of a window in my hometown Vilnius and see few golden trees in front of me shivering a word 'autumn autumn' already, so its about time to do some retro/introspective thinking. And those thoughts for me now starts with thinking on dearests friends, and a concept of friendship itself. It seems that recently it finally took a shape for me - sometimes it takes me a while - I don't want any random people near me, honestly, I've learned few hard lessons recently and made my conclusions: no more effort from me to to anyone who never puts any effort into the friendship, no feeling uncanny or even guilty when talking about my plans (of ruling the world!!!) in front of anyone who puts me down every time or takes that as dry careerism and an insult to their own indifference and lack of dreams. I'm done with people who take others success as something that make themselves look worse, I'm done with that and I wish I could say it breaks my heart, but it really doesn't when 'friendships' with people like that end.

----

Well anyway, did I mention that there was an European Basketball championship (Eurobasket 2011) just held here in my home-country Lithuania? It was and it seems a country passed the test with A+ except of the fact we didn't win any medals :))) But somehow even with no medals it felt as a big celebration over here and of course there were few more tourists than normally in September, which was not bad for my 'Lithuania' t-shirt and other souvenir-stuff sales. Plus: now I have my second favored basketball team in Europe (the most favorite of course is Lithianian national team) - so the second place in my personal ranking goooooessss toooooo.... ----- Macedonia! Well done, guys, I wish you've won your bronze, cause you really were worth of it.


So after those dramatic games I needed a break and is there a better place than St.Petersburg for that? Long walks even on a rainy day are worth doing there, not mentioning an improvised visit to the concert by Nina Karlsson or a Graphic Novel festival, great food in Petersburg's cafes, great people, beautiful old-town architecture and great atmosphere hanging in the air, and there is just nothing bad to say about that place, one of my most-loved train-destinations in the whole world.

train station where train from Vilnius comes. Nice architecture, especially when its the first thing you see in Petersburg at 6 o'clock in the morning

a wonderful drawing from the exhibition by Kojiro AKAGI

At the Graphic Novel festival (this was just the entrance, much more ofcourse was hidden inside the building and also scattered all around Petersburg

At the concert of Nina Karlsson

"Demand for: croissants and sandwiches"

Well, thats it for this time, fellows, sorry for a long delay, just needed to put my thoughts together, to sit in the corner of a room hidden in my bathrobe with earphones and sun-glasses on. Now I'm done with it and back to my previous life with few stones taken out of my pockets. Life gets easier every-day. 


P.S. I think this band 'BrassBastardz' made of few Lithuanian musicians will be a soundtrack of my autumn2011 - check them out (at http://brassbastardz.bandcamp.com/ or their Facebook page) they just won few 'The People's Music Awards' in the UK and I don't think there is anything that could stop them now.