Five Things I Know for Sure

Thank god for clutches with cheery message on this clutch, because I currently don't feel like I'm killing it at all.

I always assumed that that when I graduated, there would be a job waiting for me. I realize now how silly it was to think that a university degree would open the doors to employment nice and wide. When reading job offers I always feel like I'm missing something: experience, training, the right degree. I studied literature out of passion and interest, I now see that a career needs to be as carefully plotted as thriller and that spontaneity is out of the picture. A career should be like a group travel itinerary where you know exactly where to stop and for how long and where you'll go next. I feel like I should have started university already planning for a future job, doing internships to acquire experience, networking and all that jazz. And maybe I'm just plain stupid for not realizing that sooner, but, honestly, who has the next six years planned at nineteen? 

As a multi-passionate, I like following my interests and keeping my options open. Studying literature was a way for me to study various subject, while developing critical and analytical skills. It saddens me to see that so little companies actually value the versatility of this education.

I am thus currently in a really strange place full of contradictory emotions. On one hand, I feel like spending six and a half years on a literary master was useless and that I should have done like everybody else and studied something that pays. On the other hand, I think passion should always be the motor and that intelligence, curiosity and industry can outperform any degree and are way more useful tools when it comes to "killing it". It also feels like now is the time to follow my interests, since I have very little obligations. But the unemployment blues kills my motivation like nothing else and I find myself paralyzed by the anxiety of not having a job. Wearing motivational items of clothing might not solve this crisis, but it sure is a fun way to remind ourselves that there's always more for us to go and get.

In the midst of all of this career chaos, here are five things I know for sure:

1) Mistakes are great teachers.

2) Tiny steps can take you far away.

3) One action is often worth a thousand thoughts

4) I'll never stop learning.

5) Time and dedication make everything possible. 

Jacket and dress - La Redoute
Clutch - Studio DIY
Shoes - Secondhand
Belt - Naf Naf

Pictures by Romain Keller

One Minute Bliss: I weigh

Among the many responses to Kim K's sponsored Instagram post for appetite suppressant lollipops, I was delighted to find Jameela Jamil's (who is brilliant in The Good Place BTW) I weigh account, which encourages people to value what they actually are instead of how much they weigh. It such an empowering thing to put out on social media, and provides a nice dose of objectivity in the midst of all of this photoshopped perfection that we scroll through everyday. 

If you have a minute to spare today, why not go on social media to look at something realistic and yet very inspiring! 

One Minute Bliss is a blog post series where every Monday I share one small thing that brings me joy. You can find the other posts here.

A Game Changing Nail Product

These's something empowering about neatly painted nail. As if you're life might be falling appart, but as long as your tips look polished you can still pretend you're holding it together. On the same note, there's nothing like chipped nails to make me feel like a hot mess. However, my manicures tend not to be spotless for more than 3 or 4 days and the lazy girl that I am can't be arsed to to apply two coats of varnish, plus base and top coat, two times a week. 

Things changed recently when, noticing that my claws were breaking more frequently, I decided to pick up a nail strengthener. The most popular one is probably OPI's Nail Envy, but the hefty price tag made me take a look at more affordable options. The Maybelline Express Manicure caught my attention as it promised to strengthen as wear as prolong the wear of your polish. Plus it had a subtle blue shimmer running through it, which made me think it could look pretty worn alone.

As you may have guessed from the title of this post, it was a success. It made my nail job last for an entire week without any chipping and it even withstood an intense cleaning session involving a wire sponge. I am now a happy sloth who can paint her tips every Sunday and not bother about it during the week!

5 life lessons from The Lord of the rings

We all need a bit of escapism once in a while, to get away from worries, to relax after a tough day or just to feed our imagination. I find that The Lord of the rings trilogy fits the bill perfectly. Tolkien built a world with so much diversity that it's such a treat for the mind to get lost in it. I think it's the where power of attraction of books such as Harry Potter, Star Wars or The Lord of the Rings comes from. Their creators invented a universe in which stories intersect and overlap. A delight for the hungry readers in need of distraction, but also a work full of wisdom. Here's 5 life lessons from Middle Earth to reflect upon.

1) Embrace the hobbit lifestyle. Living close to nature and its rhythm, being part of a small united community, enjoying the little things, living in a comfy hole... Even though the hobbits might sometimes seem a bit close-minded, their lifestyle is full of common sense and I definitely want to draw inspiration from them.

2) Courage can take you further away than anything else. You don't need to be a wizard or a powerful lord to accomplish something and change the world, you just need to be willing to face your fears.

3) Cultivate deep, meaningful friendships. Sam's devotion to Frodo is remarkable and incredibly moving. It's love in its purest form.

4) Connections are key. Gandalf's strategic alliances are also noteworthy. They're almost Middle Earth's equivalent of networking. He knows all the right people and is friend with seemingly insignificant species that eventually turn out to be key allies like the Ents or the Eagles. I think Gandalf's intelligence and strength comes partly from his connections.

5) Hit the road! One in a while, we're all tempted to pack our bag and go on an adventure. It's hard to leave but you'll only enjoy your comfy little home more once you're back.

One Minute Bliss: It's never too late to start

Picture by designedbyjess on Pixabay 

One Minute Bliss is a blog post series where every Monday I share one small thing that brings me joy. You can find the other posts here.

This post is totally last minute, but I just stumbled upon a video by the amazing Marie Forleo and it is too good and inspirational not to share. It simply proves that there is no such thing as "the prime of life" and that just because you didn't start young doesn't mean that you can't start now, whatever your age is.

May Goals

April didn't quite go according to plan. I'm still on the hunt for a job and I haven't worked out much. Tomorrow will be day 30 of The 100 Day Project and I've already missed 10 days. However last year I gave up around day 20, so I guess the fact that I'm still going is a victory in itself. On a more positive note I have managed to give up refined sugar, gluten and dairy for the past three weeks, which definitely makes me feel better in my own skin. 

Since April was a so-so month, here's the plan for May:

• Spend time with friends and socialize. I am the biggest homebody and I really have to push myself to make plans and go out with friends, but I'm so happy once I've done it. I also want to start a book club...
• Write. I want to to do more creative writing and become a better and more consistent writer.
• Spend time outside and enjoy Spring as much as possible. (And maybe practice photography at the same time. Why not!) 
• Have a more structured morning routine inspired by the "s.a.v.e.r.s." method invented by Hal Elrod. I'm not going to wake up at 5:30 am anytime soon, but I like the idea of starting your day with meditation, goal setting and visualizing, a little bit of exercise (I'm currently planking for one minute and adding whatever bodyweight exercises I feel like doing, whether it's squats, lunges, abs or dips...), reading and journaling. I don't necessarily do all of these steps and I sometimes switch the order, but I think having a routine can really be beneficial, especially if you "work" from home. It's so easy to fall into the trap of watching just one episode of Friends or one Youtube video while you eat breakfast and then one more and another one, and to end up destroying your productivity for the day. 

What are your goals for May?