ONCE UPON A TIME

I love fairy tales. They are my favourite kind of stories. Better than novels. Better than biographies. 

I've started working with children for some time now and children also love fairy tales?But why do they? Why did we love fairy tales as children?

Could it be the fusion between fantasy and reality? Yes, it makes the story surreal but it allows your imagination to run wild. Look at Cinderella for example: the reality was in the fact that she was an orphan maltreated by her step family. However, the surrealism is in the fact that there's a fairy godmother and animals that turn into people and all sorts of events that don't happen in real life.

I think the answer is much simpler: children, and we all did, love fairy tales, because in these stories, EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. Whatever you imagine and think, could be a reality. Possibilities are endless. 
Whatever is impossible, becomes possible. 

I am going to tell you a story. A raw story. It's a story of pain, trouble, trials, love and grace and a final triumph. It's a story of transformation and self discovery. It's a story of love and rescue. It's my story. 

I don't think my story is better than others' we've come across. I am not extra special or better. This is actually really vulnerable for me because I'm like "Who will care?" But I want to share it because the One who wrote my story is worth knowing about. 

Stay tuned. 

Anna x 

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Happy New Year people!

I know I am quite late but it is still January so I feel like it is still ok. :)
How was everybody's Christmas? I went home to Italy and had a great time. Had loads of time to learn and reflect about 2016. I am very grateful to God for allowing me to see 2017. I faced a lot of health complications last year and if I  am here writing, it's only a miracle. TRUST ME. BUT, on with better things :)

I do not believe in resolutions cos I always fail at them. Every year. But I believe in self-development and moving forward. The main focus for me this year is GETTING ORGANISED. To do that, I needed a diary, a planner where I write where I need to be, when, why and with who. So I went into Paperchase and got myself this cute diary.

Among the different things, it's very colourful and at the beginning of every month there is some sort of encouragement which is very nice. (Like "Stop Worrying" or "You're Pure Gold")

Someone said that a dream without a plan is just a wish. I am tired of living by wishes. I'm not a little girl anymore and need to realise that life doesn't just happen. So I was gifted with this journal which I LOVE.

It has all my dreams and things I know I can achieve. Plans of action. Questions. Fears. Suggestions and some answers.

What is one way you really want to improve this year? Let me know in the comments below. We can journey this together. Nobody is perfect. ;)

Love,

Anna.


- You can get the planner and different ones as well here:
   https://www.bando.com/collections/agendas

- You can get the journal here:
   https://www.eccololtd.com/eccolo-journals/

SUPERHUMAN

Hi everybody.

Hope everyone is doing well. I would love to begin a new journey with all of you. Various people have spoken to me about being open about this and I feel like it’s the right time.

So for 2 years now I have been suffering with Chronic Kidney Disease. It is a disease that affects the kidneys and causes them not to function properly. It can be caused from different things but in my case it is caused by high blood pressure.

It is a long story and I will tell of the stages that I have been through over time. All I can say is that this chapter of my story has changed my life.

My food for thought for today is: “Y O U    A R E    N O T    I N V I N C I B L E. 
YOU  ARE   ONLY   HUMAN”.

Nobody is. We are all humans. We get hurt. We get sick. We make mistakes. And if there is one things this condition has taught me is to learn to be human. For years I thought I was invincible and after 24 years of my life I realised I AM NOT SUPERHUMAN.

Embrace your fallibility as a human being and learn to live and love your weaknesses. This messed up society forces us to live up to a standard that NO ONE can attain to.

The successful people in this world (success as the world deems it) know full well what their weaknesses are and also have the ability to deal with them as they face them.

Failing to deal with them in private will eventually force you to deal with them in public and that’s when you will be under everybody’s scrutiny and opinions. Not worth it.

Everything you are, God made and therefore IT IS GOOD.

There is much more I could say but I will end it here for now. I’ll leave you with this quote:

Are you guys facing a smilar situation? Or do you know someone who is and you are journeying with them? Please let me know in the comments below. 

x Princess Anna x

BACK FOR GOOD!

Hi everybody!

I hope you're all doing well. I know I have been away for a VERY LONG TIME. As time goes by I will unfold all the crazy things that happened to me.

BIG NEWS: I finished my year internship program at church :D The graduation ceremony was on Sunday and it was a great celebration! It was honestly so amazing and surreal and I honestly want to thank God for my life because as my life right now is a product of a miracle.

There are so many people I'm grateful that made my year extra special and one day, when I write my book, I'll mention each one of these fantastic people. For now, I will say a big THANK YOU.

My summer has now OFFICIALLY begun! :D



What are you guys plans for the summer? What have you been up to or what are you still planning to do?

Let me know in the comments below! Ciao!


P.S. Here are some of the pictures from the day with some of the people that made my year extra special.

x Princess Anna x

It's definitely NOT HOT in here

For a nice #sentimentalsaturday post, I would like to throw it back to a place of sunshine and bliss Italia. Today is literally 2 degrees and it is snowing. And despite the fact that it can be really cute if you are indoors, I can't help but cast my mind to somewhere sunny and warm. :(

I am trying my best to enjoy the present but I still want everyone to know that my afro-italian body is not made for cold. :/

So wrap up, enjoy lots of herbal teas, get in bed, fill up a hot water bottle and enjoy your favorite movie. :)

Here are a few snaps from those glorious days. Have a great weekend! :D

Princess Leona xxx