When happiness becomes a duty
Read article„Smile, it`ll get better! Think positive! Everything happens for a reason!“ Have you ever heard that before? Do you say it to yourself? But what if not every pain needs to be instantly covered up with a smile? What if it`s okay not to be okay? Toxic positivity teaches us that we must be happy no matter what. But sometimes, that is the biggest mistake. How do we break free from the pressure to always be happy and allow ourselves feel real emotions?
Burnout: When Passion Turns to Ash
Read articleFor years, I was running at full speed. A job in marketing, constant projects, events, kids, divorce, shared custody, a mortgage. Every day packed with tasks, every evening feeling like I hadn’t done enough. And then one day, everything exploded. After years of pushing through, I wasn’t just facing financial trouble—I had a bigger problem. My own mind had betrayed me.
A World on Edge: How to Navigate the Information Overload and Find Inner Peace
Read articleWar in Ukraine, geopolitical tensions between big nations, economic uncertainty—our world seems to be in a constant state of chaos. How can we avoid being consumed by fear, manage anxiety, and find our inner peace? Here are some strategies to help maintain mental balance.
Mental Health in the Modern World: Why Is It So Hard to Ask for Help?
Read articleThese days, everyone talks about the importance of mental health. But I’ll be honest—I didn’t know how to take care of mine for a long time. I carried it all inside, telling myself, “You can handle this.” And yet, deep down, I wished someone would see that I wasn’t okay. Why is it still so hard to say, “I need help”? And why does asking sometimes feel even harder than the struggle itself?
How to create a bedtime story for kids?
Read articleVery often, when I talk to my friends about whether they tell bedtime stories or fairytales to their kids, I hear their disagreements. Yeah, sure, you have such a great imagination, you can come up with that stuff. I’ve never made anything like that up, I just can’t, I’m not good at it, and I kind of go around in circles.
What Happens When the Leaves on the Trees Rustle?
Read articleI remember when I was a little boy, about ten years old, we had a forest behind our cottage in South Bohemia called Pavlovka. It was named after the village or district of Pavlov, where our cottage stood. And that forest rustled.
The Story of the Forest Pond, or a Swimming Pool for Elves in the Middle of the Forest
Read articleEveryone who goes mushroom picking in the forest has their special spots where they’re sure to find a mushroom or two. Our family has such a forest in the Lužické Mountains, between the villages of Kytlice and Krásné Pole. A mixed forest where you can find just about every type of tree and shrub.
The First Fairy Tale, or How Misa Lost Her Little Thumb
Read articleThree words, what is that? Three words is my favorite activity. Ever since my kids were little, I’ve been telling them stories. I wasn’t really into reading the classic ones, and since I didn’t want to change them into funny or different versions, I started making up my own fairy tales for them. Every evening, we’d turn off the lamp, and the kids would come up with three words. Just three, so I could quickly put them together into a meaningful little story or fairy tale.
The Story of the Happy Blueberry Elf
Read articleI love blueberries. Their sweet taste that melts on your tongue when you bite into one of those crispy little berries. You do too, right? Who wouldn’t love them? I think when nature was creating these forest-blue delicious fruits, it must have been feeling a little soft-hearted. It woke up to a beautiful sunny morning and thought, “Hmmm... I’m feeling so great today, I think I’ll make something special for the world, something sweet.” And so, it created blueberries. Just like that, poof, and they were here.