Hit 100 posts:

Today marks a hundred post and I’m excited! I didn’t think I would keep writing every week on a schedule. I’m not going to say it was easy, it took a lot to keep track of every post, making sure I was doing good. A hundred… Not that much, when you think about it, but to me, it’s a little accomplishment.  For the very first time, I can say, “I’m proud of myself for not giving up on not so popular blog.”

Takes a lot to be able to continue writing even if you know that you aren’t making many audiences, but it’s what I love… Writing is what I love doing  so why to give up completely and not fight for my passion?! 

Hitting 100 posts is exciting! Can’t deny how happy I am to be able to say I actually keep a blog. 

Daily schedule? No, I keep a fixed schedule, indeed, but it’s not daily. I try my best to post every Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and sometimes once or twice during the weekend.

Where do you get your inspiration? I don’t really have a specific place, but I do love to go to a certain spot. My inspiration usually comes along when I’m busy doing something when I can’t write my thoughts down. Quite annoying if you ask me. Not my cup of tea!

Do you care if you aren’t getting anything out of it?  When I first thoughts weren’t, “It will be my source of income” or “ I will end up inspiring others.” It was about having a way to express myself through writing for others to read. I don’t care much about getting income out of it! It would be like a YouTuber, they get paid for posting videos, but initially it wasn’t about the money! 

How long do you plan on writing this blog? To be completely honest here… I haven’t thought about it. For now, the only preoccupation is to keep writing each week, keep that schedule going, maybe change the days if I have to, but for now the present first, the future later. Are you going to write another blog? I wanted to write another blog, but it’s already hard to keep track of one blog and doing so much at the same time so starting another blog sounds like too much at the moment. I do want to write more, get my ideas or just what I read on a separate blog though just not at the moment. It will take a bit, let’s get this blog going first, then we’ll talk about a next one! 

Are you currently writing other things? I am in fact writing more, finishing up a novel and started to jot some notes down for the next novel. 

Have you always knew you were into writing? I did not know I was into writing at all! I learned to read and write around five years of age, went back at school and got bored in class because I knew everything already so I was already loving writing and reading. I just never imagine about a blog or a novel. I don’t think you will hear many kids say “ I want to write books.”

Are you proud of what you are doing? I wouldn’t say “proud” but I’m impressed by the ability to keep writing every week! I’m slightly proud if you really want to use this word! 

Hopefully, I will keep writing more and hit another hundred, or three and that you are enjoying your reading time here. 

“Making others happy, interested and at the same time helping out in my own ways is all I ask for. If I can do that, I succeeded on at least one thing.”

~Bella

Places I go...

I guess it is time for me to reveal where I started working a few weeks ago, not that it does matter, but I rather quite enjoy working there! It's not as stressful as it may seem...

Le Macaron, French pastries. Sweet place, amazing bosses, and to be fairly honest, the customers aren't half way bad! It's common to have the annoying ones, but not as many as you may think! 

I'm sure I'll have plenty stories to write about when I get more into the work, for now, it's being rather easy, already learned pretty much everything that I needed to know, obviously, there are still a few things that I need to check up and learn.
It's been nice to have some type of employment, somewhere I can also write whenever I'm alone and not busy!
Get a few conversations on with people that approach me for various reasons. The last one was a woman who was sitting down on little sofas, where I sit by in front of the GameStop. We were both on the phone, so instead of joining the little spot, I waited on both of our calls to end before I asked if I could sit down next to her. Nicely enough, she joked about the sofas being all of hers. Made me laugh quite a bit, and we started conversing. Got her card with her information, now I've got to text! She was really enjoyable to talk to, funny and intelligent! It changes from people I see around and talk to.

With this new little job, I need to become social, almost the opposite of what I usually do. Being talkative can be hard enough that I sometimes wish I didn't have to talk to customers. It makes me have a filter on what I should say and not say. Giving me the opportunity to grow up on the talkative side of me, letting me become a woman who knows when to not be honest in certain cases, just in case I don't hurt others in the process. Quite hard when you are used to be sarcastic enough to come out brutally honest. This little job as little as it may be helps me a lot more than anything before. I get to write whenever I have free time, I get to make customers smile at times, and the best part is that it actually helps me realize that I can get tips from not been too honest and smiling. It's the first time I'm actually going to work happy. There is even a British man who I see each time I work, sitting down with his book. Last time at work, I went to him with samples, offered him some macaron, and went on my way. He now looks at me through the door of the shop and says hello with= a wave of his hat. Making friends is always fun!

When people say, "Find a job that makes you smile by just waking up in the morning. A job that you enjoy doing every time you go." I think I discovered the pleasure of going to work, getting paid, making people smile, and waking up in the morning telling myself "It's going to be a good day!"
If you don't know me, you have to know I hate mornings, it's a nightmare to wake me up and emerge from my sleeping state. It's one of the rare times where I catch myself telling myself such a thing. I'm quite a negative person in general, and this time, I'm catching myself feel different about the situation!


Little plus of working is I get to wake up early so my mum drops me off at the same time as my brothers. I walk to a coffee shop and get that writing on! Getting that breakfast on as well, making myself eat a little before I have a long day at work. 

Going to work may be an enjoyable thing for me, but it's mostly for my mum that I do it all. She needs support, help, whatever she can get and honestly, it is hard to deal with but it's family... Can't just run away from duties!

"Working hard is important. But there is something that matters even more: Believing in yourself." - Harry Potter.

~Bella 

Psych 101... Hierarchy of Needs

In 1943, Abraham Maslow first introduced the world to his hierarchy of needs, which is most often expressed as a pyramid. According to Maslow, needs play an important role in motivating a person to behave a certain way. The more basic a need is, the lower it is in the pyramid; and the more complex a need is, the higher it is on the pyramid. Needs towards the bottom of the pyramid are more physical and needs towards the top become more psychological and social. In order to move up the pyramid, the levels must be completed from the bottom up. The needs are as follows:

Physiological
The physiological needs are the needs that are most basic and vital to survival. All other needs are secondary unless the needs in this category are met. These include the need for food, water, air, sleep, homeostasis, and sexual reproduction.

Safety
The safety and security needs are needs that are also important for survival but are not as crucial as the physiological needs. This level of the model includes needs like personal security- such as a home and a safe neighborhood- financial security, health, and some form of safety net to protect against accidents, like insurance.

Love and Belonging
The love and belonging needs, also known as social needs, include a desire to belong, be loved, feel accepted, and not be lonely. These needs are less basic than the first two levels, and these needs can be met through friendships, romantic relationships, and family, as well as by being involved in religious, social, or community groups and organizations. 

Esteem
Everyone has a need to be respected, valued by other people, and have a sense that they are contributing to the world. Having high self-esteem and the respect of others can lead to confidence, while low self-esteem and lack of respect from others can lead to feelings of inferiority. One way people can feel valued and have high self-esteem is by participating in professional activities, athletic teams, and hobbies, and through their academic accomplishments. 

Self-Actualization
At the top of Maslow's model is the need for self-actualization, or the need to realize one's full potential. In other words, a person must become everything that they are capable of becoming. All other levels of Maslow's model must be completed before one can reach this level. While the needs for self-actualization is broad, it is applied very specifically. For example, a person could desire to be the best possible painter, or to be an ideal father.

Different Types of Needs

Maslow identified different varieties of needs, as well as different levels. Deficiency needs, or D-needs, are needs that arise out of deprivation (such as security needs, social needs, esteem needs, and physiological needs). These needs are lower-level needs, and must be satisfied in order to avoid feelings or consequences that are unpleasant. Growth needs, also known as Being-needs or B-needs, are needs that arise out of a desire to grow as a human being. Growth needs are not the result of deprivation. 

CRITICISMS OF MASLOW'S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS

Maslow's hierarchy of needs has met its fair share of criticism. Most importantly, the method in which Maslow went about determining the characteristics of self-actualization has been brought into question. Maslow used biographical analysis, a qualitative method whereby he searched through biographies and writings of twenty-one people that he determined were self-actualized, and then from this specific group created his list of qualities.

This means that Maslow's definition of self-actualization is based completely on his subjective vision of self-actualization and that the definition he provides does not have to be accepted as a scientifically proven fact.

Another criticism that has been raised concerning the hierarchy of needs in Maslow's stance that the lower needs must be satisfied before someone has the ability to reach self-actualization. People who live in poverty, for example, are still capable of love or belonging, even though- according to Maslow - this should not be the case. Despite criticisms, there is no denying how important and significant Abraham Maslow was to modern psychology. He shifted attention away from abnormal behavior and made psychology focus on the positive aspects of human nature, mental health, and human potential.

"What you want and what you need aren't always the same. Be willing to delay short-term GRATIFICATION for long-term GREATNESS." - Mandy Hale

~Bella

Is that body art?

When someone refers a tattoo by a body art, I know that they somewhat either have some themselves or love them! When you mention body art to someone they look at you like you are an alien or they just ignore the fact of your mentioning tattoos. These situations are rather common from what I can see. 
Two men were talking behind where I was sitting, taking notes, minding my own business. I happen to have ears that love to be curious so I didn't control what I heard and what I didn't. The conversation was around two adults about one of their teenagers, don't ask me if it was a teenage boy or girl, I have no clue! One the man was very frustrated almost looked worried while the other was confident, seemed more relaxed than the other! The calm guy mentioned "body arts" while the other was staring at him in an odd way. I looked at them both wondering who had tattoos and who didn't... Surprise, surprise, the one that said "body arts" had two sleeves while the other didn't have any visible ones. 

Before I had tattoos myself, I didn't pay attention to people that had them or didn't even bothered listening to how people view them. I always liked tattoos, always thought it was some type of art, but it wasn't such a big deal at the time. Now, I have three, planning more and I cannot stop looking at everyone's tattoos! It's becoming an addiction that grows stronger each time. I've gotten ADDICTED! When people say the pain that tattoos cause is addicting, you better believe them! You will never see a person with just one tattoo, it's either two or more!

My first one is on my wrist, two zodiac signs, love them to bits, have to get them touch up, eventually, but.... Not right now! I was a real disaster when I got it, the pain wasn't as bad as everyone would say, but the noise made me jumpy, almost screamed "bloody murder", poor tattoo artist!
The second one is a bit more special... It's a quote, one I wrote myself, translated by my really amazing Italian friend in Italian (so if there is a mistake it's his fault ha-ha), with a feather pen at the end! I'm a writer, I love Italian, so I just had to, it's me. Want to know the quote on the back of my right shoulder... Ask me.
My third one isn't entirely a mistake, at the time it meant a lot! Still, means a lot , it proved me how much and how far I can go with someone I love. It's a name, and I am indeed thinking of covering it up because it is painful to live with it especially if you want to move on. Lucky me, I love the name, I can deal with the fact that is it on my chest. 

So to get this chest tattoo covered up I was thinking about symbols from where I'm from! Yes, I'm Celtic meaning I've got Irish blood in me for sure! Brittany is a region in France, but it is the little Ireland of France, more Celtic than anything else. I highly prefer saying I'm Bretonne (people from Brittany) than French. A shamrock (the Irish symbol) and have another symbol to represent Brittany a little more to end with an Irish Gaelic word. I'm still looking for the right word to put on my chest as it is indeed a part of my body that gets to be seen more as I do wear tank tops. It's difficult to find the correct tattoo as it is permanent. One mistake is enough! 
I thought about removing it, but it will cost a lot, it will hurt more, and I want that name to be a reminder of certain things like don't make the same "mistake". Once is enough! Next time I put names on my body, it will be my kids' names as a bracelet.

Tattoos are a way to express our feelings, where we are from, what we did. It tells a story, at least my tattoos do. Many of us decide to get them as a reminder of a special event or a family culture... I actually have my friend's roommate who have his country tattooed on his back shoulder, Hawaii. An Island yes, but it is a country and he has it on him. I personally love it! People who have meaningful tattoos have amazing stories behind them as short as the story may be, they are still amazing to me! 

Obviously, they are people that have tattoos just for the fun of it. I was talking to someone over the phone last time and the guy told me he saw two girls have Pokemon on their body. Now, PokemonGo has been the addiction that everyone gets addicted to, but to tattoo your body with that... What are you going to tell your future kids? The funny thing was that apparently, they didn't even know how the Pokemon evolved or anything about it for that matter. You could at least know the name of your Pokemon tattoo. Idiotic, but can't judge, I've got an idiot side as well. I just wouldn't want to have a Charmander on my ankle!
Be careful on what you choose, don't regret anything, if you make a "mistake" just learn from it, tell it to people from experience and be sure you get what you think will last forever or else you are stuck with it, have to cover it up or erase them with the laser. 

For my part, I want that cover up tattoo, then an anchor with the letter "S" and "E" incorporated inside for my mum, Sonia and both of my brothers, Emilian and Enzo! The anchor is from Brittany as it is close to the sea, so it will remind me of how scared I am of water and how much I get seasick in boats. I actually just realize that when I'm typing this post. Smart me... 
Then I'm thinking about getting a simple plane on my left forearm as I do love to travel to places I love, and because planes have been impacting my life in many different ways. I want a souvenir of how much the experiences affected my personality, made me stronger as a person even if it's just a plane to people to me it has meanings. Finally, I would love to get a yin yang on my ankle. I've always been fascinated by it, the good and the evil, the light and the dark, the feminine and the masculine... It's also a reminder of how life and people are. My father isn't a good person whatsoever, but when I look at a yin yang, the dark side also has a bit of light, so if my father is awfully terrible, I know he has some good in him, hiding away, hopefully. Never give up on hope!

If you have ideas on what that Irish word should be, please tell me, I'm interested! I may have really amazing ideas, but we can't have enough of them!

"Tattoos have meanings even the ones you just find pretty! They are on your body for a reason. Art has stories so does tattoos!" 

~Bella

That many friends? Are you sure?

Do you believe you need a thousand friends?

 We as human, need friends, people to converse with because we are social creatures! Can't change that, sorry! We need others to survive, without anyone around, we may lose our mind, and that my friend isn't good news!
Studies have shown that we are at our best when we have friends. True friends!

There is a dark side of having these so-called friends, though it's typically the opposite! As you know, we don't exactly really know someone by heart, we would like to think so, but let's be real, we don't! Humans are capable of a lot of different things, murdering someone, rape, stabbing someone close in the back with words, rat you out to a teacher because you cheated on a test... We don't know people! Anything can happen, our brain is a powerful tool, it controls your moves, it will go from happy you, to jealous and destructive you in a matter of seconds. A situation can change someone's perspective on an issue or life decisions. One day, you'll be the happiest person alive with amazing friends who got your back and the next day nobody is behind you because of something you said or did. Life has obstacles, life is difficult, life is challenging! We, humans, don't fully understand how we work, but I can say that no matter what having friends has its advantages if we are careful enough about the people we let in our lives. 

Real friends will try their best to make you smile over the phone, will try to ease your hard day with a good movie and pizza, they will spend five minutes to take their phones and text you just to see if you are doing okay! Real friends are the ones that will be honest, won't be scared to tell you the horrible truth about you to your face. They won't care if you are sick at home, they will call you or come to you directly. Real friends don't forget you, no matter what, they will always have your back! 

A friend of mine went through a rough path, I couldn't get a hold of him for about a month, I texted him, called him, left voicemails... I went crazy on him! Told him that I was worried, no news means bad news, so I thought he only disappeared on me as what guys tend to do (at least in my case). My experience with guys disappearing on me is getting old, and to be fair, I'm sure not every guy is like that, but somehow I attract these guys! Why would it have been different for my friend? To be exact, he didn't disappear, he was at the hospital with no access to his cell phone. The anger was enormous, I couldn't believe it! He texted a few weeks ago, telling me what was going on, and I felt terrible for being so mad at him. The first thing he said was that he was happy to know that I was still caring even without receiving any messages back. I was still trying to get a hold of him, and it did kind of make him cry. 
It's called friendship even from far, you can always show your support and how much you care about them! My friend was at the hospital, I didn't know anything about it, I was angry at him for not replying, I told him, felt bad afterwards, but I continued to show that I was still there on the phone trying to care and support him. If I can do that, so can you! 
This works for relationships as well... Two people in love with one another, they will do anything for the person, wait patiently, start over to redo something wrong, they will listen to each other's issues, they will be there to support! That again if you are careful enough to know who to trust and not to trust! Some people show a mask, a double personality to hide who they truly are for different reasons like they are afraid the other won't like them for who they are so they pretend to like the same thing, play the same sport, go to the same library... 

Being real in this time period is quite difficult, challenging if I may say! We believe what we see on social media, rumors, what the press say about the pop star who had a diet so you do the same... Society, today, is becoming a complete nightmare! We see all these beautiful people on magazines and try to be like them, to act like them for what exactly? So we can be liked by other people? 
Friends don't care how you dress, how you comb your hair, what type of perfume or makeup you wear. They are your friends because of what you do, say, give, and project. It's about what's in your brain and heart, not what you pretend to be. 

Do we need that many friends to survive? 
In my opinion, I don't think so! Real friends aren't discovered in every household! You can have friends that are more acquaintance than your best friend. You can have hundreds of friends, sure, but how many of them can you count on if you are in big trouble? Who will come to rescue you from danger, who would take a bullet for you?  I always believed that your boyfriend or girlfriend should be a best friend as well... Don't ask me why I'm sure you get the point! 

Choose your friend carefully, your partner carefully! If you find and believe in one person even if it's the wrong time to become friends or lovers, don't give up on them, no matter what happens! These people deserve you, deserve your care and support as well as your love! Don't let the people that check up on you to see if you are holding up slip away from you! Start becoming determined, real friends, real partners are rare nowadays! Don't miss out on anything, we don't know what may happen tomorrow!

"My life is good because I am not passive about it. I invest in what is real. Like real people, to do real things, for the real me." - Gwyneth Paltrow.

~Bella

Settled in...

Alright...

Finally moved out and settled in the new place. Smaller but can't complain!

It's been a big change, odd feelings, and the most annoying couple days you could imagine! 

I got my own room (again), and I'm starting to let go of certain feelings that were existing. 

The good news is, my job is going amazingly well, can't complain about the hours, can't complain about my bosses because honestly, I love it! I'm sure I will be talking about my experiences soon enough! Be prepared for little stories...

This past week was rather tough, the whole month was, but this week was beyond explanation. I learned so much in so little time! For one, don't expect a "Thank you" from anyone especially the ones you trusted. It is a waste of your time and feelings. You will get disappointed by many people in your life. I just started mine, I'm already done with trusting people, giving out everything I have. One more person blew it up for others. 
I don't want to go ahead and complain so I'm going to make it short... Don't give up on people, they are some great ones out there but do NOT trust too easily, don't give in when it comes to temptations, and importantly do NOT give yourself completely (keep having walls, bubble, boundaries) so you don't get too hurt! 

Like I've said in a recent post, autumn means a new start, new love, new everything. You can say goodbye to the past, to the old you and you become a better person for yourself! Strange way to look at a season if you ask me, but this is how I view it. 
I started a new job, thinking of writing more, stop trusting people, not fall in love quickly, and most importantly try to actually spend time for myself even if that means saying "No" to people when they need me. Everyone will survive even if I'm not here for all of them! 

The sun seems perfect, the temperature seems to finally get lower, the wind blows, and the trees become golden. The first day you realize that you need to wear that scarf, sweater maybe a beanie in the morning... It is the season where everyone seems to be happy, to fall in love. Everything becomes a painting, a photo, a new adventure. You fall in love with one another, with the idea of soft scarfs covering your cold neck, protecting you from the little breeze. You fall in love with these amazingly warm blankets, the hot chocolate filled with whipped cream. 

Each year I feel new, I feel in love with myself, I feel like everything is starting to be alright... 
Each year something emotional has to happen, making me stronger...
Each year autumn makes me see who I can have in my life and who should leave...
Each year it becomes better and better...

I learn many different things, but they always make me feel at my best! 

What does autumn teach you? 

"Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile." - William Cullen Bryant

~Bella

What Would Jane Do? (4)

Did you look yourself in the mirror this morning? Did you take a good look? This coming chapter is for everyone! Don't always look at the word "women", if you are a guy and reading this, please take it for yourself as well!

Chapter IV. Check Yourself, Dear

It is very often nothing but our own vanity that deceives us. Women fancy admiration means more than it does. - Pride and Prejudice (1813)
A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves; vanity, to what we would have others think of us. - Pride and Prejudice (1813)
I make no apologies for my heroine's vanity. If there are young ladies in the world at her time of life more dull of fancy and more careless of pleasing, I know them not. - Sanditon (1817)
Such squeamish youths as cannot bear to be connected with a little absurdity are not worth a regret. - Pride and Prejudice (1813)
Where youth and diffidence are united, it requires uncommon steadiness of reason to resist the attraction of being called the most charming girl in the world. - Northanger Abbey (1817)
But that is one great difference between us. Compliments always take you by surprise, and me never. - Pride and Prejudice (1813)
One is apt, I believe, to connect assurance of manner with coquetry, and to expect that an impudent address will naturally attend an impudent mind.- Lady Susan (1794)
Vanity working on a weak head produces every sort of mischief. - Emma (1815)
Pictures of perfection as you know, make me sick and wicked. - Letters
Seldom, very seldom, does complete truth belong to any human disclosure; seldom can it happen that something is not a little disguised or a little mistaken. - Emma (1815)
Sense will always have attractions for me. - Sense and Sensibility (1811)
I cannot speak well enough to be unintelligible.- Northanger Abbey (1817)
Better be without sense than misapply it as you do. - Emma (1815)
Wisdom is better than wit, and in the long run, will certainly have the laugh on her side.- Letters
[She] is one of those young ladies who seek to recommend themselves to the other sex by undervaluing their own... But, in my opinion, it is a paltry device, a very mean art. - Pride and Prejudice (1813)
Next to being married, a girl likes to be crossed in love a little now and then. It is something to think of, and give her a sort of distinction among her companions. - Pride and Prejudice (1813)
All the privilege I claim for my own sex... Is that of loving longest, when existence or when hope is gone. - Persuasion (1817)
Her character depends on upon those she is with, but in good hands, she will turn out a valuable woman. - Emma (1815)
In nine cases out of ten, a woman had better show more affection than she feels. - Pride and Prejudice (1813)
She denied none of it aloud and agreed to none of it in private. - Emma (1815)

I hate to hear you talking... As if women were all fine ladies instead of rational creatures. We none of us expect to be in smooth water all our days. - Persuasion (1817)
A lady's imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony in a moment. - Pride and Prejudice (1813)
A lady, without a family, was the very best preserver of furniture in the world.- Persuasion (1817)
It sometimes happens that a woman is more handsome at twenty-nine than she was ten years before. - Persuasion (1817)
The woman is fine for her own satisfaction alone. No man will admire her the more, no woman will like her the better for it. - Northanger Abbey (1817)
Give a girl an education and introduction her properly into the world, and ten to one but she has the means of settling well, without further expense to anybody. - Mansfield Park (1814)
She was sensible and clever but eager in everything; her sorrow, her joys, could have no moderation. - Sense and Sensibility (1811)
She was determined, as she felt it be her duty, to try to overcome all that was excessive. -Mansfield Park (1814)
She felt that she could so much more depend on upon the sincerity of those who sometimes looked or said a careless or a hasty thing, than of those whose presence of mind never varied, whose tongue never slipped. - Persuasion (1817)
Do not consider me now as an elegant female intending to plague you but as a rational creature speaking the truth from her heart. -Pride and Prejudice (1813)
The enthusiasm of a woman's love is even beyond the biographer's. - Mansfield Park (1814)

See you next chapter... Which seems to be more for women, sorry, but please come and read! 


"Life seems but a quick succession of busy nothings." - 

~Bella