Day 538: New challenge - 52 books in 52 weeks

Life is mostly about challenges. So, at the beginning of this year I started this book challenge: reading 52 books in 52 weeks, it means a book a week for a year. Any kind of book is included, the average length is around 200 pages each. This morning, I finished reading "Curtain: Poirot's last case" and I've already started two more books.

Why this challenge? I love reading and I feel that every book I read makes me a better person. I feel much more positive and inspired, like getting a new life every time a new book starts. Sometimes I got lost within my busy schedule and at night I always wished I could have read more during that day. So, I decided to take on this challenge and hopefully inspire others to do the same. While my best score is around 30 books in a year (haven't counted them, just estimated the total books that "passed" in my Kindle and through my hands), since the beginning of this new year I decided to embrace the challenge and purposely read more books, counting them in a list to make things easier.

I don't have time for it. This is the answer I usually get from others while talking about my challenge. And it can be true: we all have very busy lives and other important things to do. Nobody has time, except the one who makes time for it. It's just a choice and even something more: for me it's a gift for myself. You can start small and at your own pace, but I think there is enough time for anybody. Commuting is one of my best time: that's why I always carry a book with me wherever I go, and you could do the same! Making this challenge is about perseverance and resolution: the side effects are improvements in these two attitudes in your everyday life.

Lots of reasons behind it. First of all, reading boosts my capacity to write, opens my mind, my heart and gives me new ideas and points of view. It increases my creativity and set my self-discipline. And it's a great source of inspiration, even though this works better with self-development books and biographies. Secondly, reading improves my relationship with other people. Not only when starting a conversation, but especially about making it deeper, talking more effectively and listening actively to others. In a nutshell, I believe reading is good not only for the time I spent by myself, but especially for the time I spend with others.   

On my way. I don't know if I'll get to accomplishing this challenge, but it's worth trying. To be honest, I'm a little behind my schedule, but the idea that makes me keep going is that there are still lots of wonderful books left to be read. I'm currently reading "Life lessons from the Monk who sold his Ferrari" and "Great speeches of our time". Probably, I'll give updates from time to time about it, but won't be posting much, as you know... I have books to read! :)

PS: Any book recommendation is welcome! 

Day 141: Health is Wealth

Health is wealth. "Health is one of those things we take for granted until we lose it". It's a quote from the book I'm reading. It made me think. It is strongly true. 

The same book suggests to just three things, very easy to accomplish.

1) Exercise regularly: those who don't make time for daily exercise, must eventually make time for daily illness. 

2) Avoid junk food: chemical treatments and meat contaminations are very dangerous for the health and they slow down our digestion and metabolism, making you sluggish and lazy.

3) Rest enough and get up early in the morning: sleeping at least six hours every night is fundamental to better work and enjoy the day. Waking up early in the morning (and going bed early in the night) gives you more energy and boosts your productivity, so you won't challenge every morning your watch and you'll be less stressed. 

Remember. If you lose your health, you lose everything because then your first aim will be reclaiming it again and you'll have less energy to focus on other important goals.

Young or old? "When we are young we sacrifice our health for wealth. But when we become old and wise, we become willing to sacrifice every bit of our wealth for just a day of good health" (R.S.).

Day 140: 20 weeks later...

Time flies. Today is exactly 20 weeks of London: 3360 hours, 201.600 minutes and 12.096.000 seconds. Now it really seems that I left Rome quite time ago. And I hardly realised it. Last time I wrote a post for this blog it was the end of January and now I've been thrown to the beginning of April. Lots of adventures, experiences, happy moments and even fearful instants.

February misadventure. Someone tried to mug me with a gun during one of my night walking around London. And he didn't except that I could react as I did, thanks to my Krav Maga skills learned in Italy. I sent him to the hospital: by now he should have learned that lesson.  All's well that ends well!

Second job. As I don't believe in God, I don't believe in coincidences, but sometimes opportunities are hidden where you least expect them. Thanks to English lessons through Meetup website, I got in touch with several people and I took the chance to start writing articles for a budding commercial website. Extra money is a good reason, brave new projects have always attracted me and last but not least in this way I won't lose my Italian writing skills. That's the way.

Rome break. At the end of February I went to Italy for a few days. It was great to see again my family and all my friends, but my impression was really negative. After more than three months away, Rome wasn't changed at all, in fact it was even worse. Same life, same shops, same people, same complaints: it was a distressing view. I was truly happy to leave again: that broad mood can drag everyone down and I was lucky to have the possibility to change. 

Cold spring. March went away very fast among long nights of work, great nights of fun and a really cold weather. It was sunny most of the days, but I didn't except this freezing cold in late March, so even during spring. Anyway, the weather is not a problem: after the first cocktail it's already gone! 

April is gonna be a tough month (and I even need to find a new room!)... 

Day 62: Two Months in London

Sorry. It passed a long time since the last time I wrote a post: I'm sorry, but I was not able to constantly update this blog till now. Time is money as businessmen say: it's not my case, but here in my new life in London the time is short and there are always plenty of things to do. However, from now on I will try to be more consistent: it is one of my good intentions for the coming months and for this new year! 

Changes. Since the last time I wrote (3 Dec. 2012), much changed. Just few days after that date, I found a room in the beautiful area of Wood Green, just 6 minutes from the tube station and within walking distance to all major shops, groceries stores and shopping centre.

Beautiful job. My Zara job goes on well and every day I love and I'm passionate about more and more. Organization and precision have always been two of my main skills and being able to practice them at work makes me excited: it's always nice to receive compliments for your work! Indeed, it's really appreciable the British habit of thanking those who work at the end of their shift, as the manager will always say "thank you for your time"... it's preferable not to think to the Italian comparison!

The new year began under a lucky star. I decided that, as I was in London, my new year would have to be absolutely original. So, putting aside my shyness, I went to a meetup with other 250 people in a traditional British pub in St. James's Park. Funny and amazing night: I drank good wine, I watched the fireworks on the Thames from a great spot, and above all, I talked to many people and take ​​contacts of some of them to meet them again in the future. A great experience.

My English is going better every day: movies, books and conversations with different people are helping me a lot to improve my vocabulary and my pronunciation. But it can never be enough! Indeed, one of the goals in the coming months is definitely to attend more meet-ups and meet as many people who speak English as possible, to attend an advanced class in writing and conversation and to get the IELTS Certificate with a good score. More effort and commitment in 2013.

Among many good intentions, the first one is to be more punctual. Too many times in the two past months here I've been late and for the British punctuality does really matter. I'm not talking about work, except for once when I made a mistake calculating the travel time from my new home to job place, but especially in interpersonal relationships. I have to learn to better manage my time within the next two months: this is my goal!

Two more. Finally, in addition to the previously stated goal of learning to iron shirts, there are two more good intentions related to each other: sleep less and make special every new day. Seven hours each night will be enough because sleeping more is a luxury. I'm in London, so I wish I could take the best of every day, every hour, every minute, making it special for me, thanking to still be here every time the sun rises.

Lots of ideas for the coming months. Once again, time is short, so now I need to get dressed and go out to attend the next meet-up, before it's too late.

Stay tuned! (I stole this beautiful expression to a dear friend of mine!)