How to love: a guide to understanding life

Knowledge is important. Understanding the way our physical bodies and our minds work is powerful, as it explains the way we feel. And what is life but being in touch with how we perceive our surroundings and the functioning of our internal organs? Many of us reach adulthood without major health complications. We tend to forget about the toothaches or the ear infections of our early years. After all, many of us were fortunate to have caring parents who would make sure we would get over our illnesses.   Growing up in post-war economies with booming opportunities for professional training, set the conditions to aspire to meet the happy endings. Climbing up the corporate ladder or creating an expansive business were breeding ground for believing that a successful career was automatically paired with good health, a beautiful family and a loving home. I could personally fit school and music demanding activities until my late teens, as I made very conscious use of every minute of every day. E

In Spanish we say: "Lo único seguro en la vida es la muerte", the only certainty in life is death.  As we age, we hopefully become wiser. We gain wisdom as we overcome the challenges of ageing. An older body is a challenge in itself. We might get heavier, develop food intolerances, chronic conditions, need surgery and then there's the image in the mirror and in the photos. "Is that really me?", "I look tired".  Any body above 45 has been working for over forty five years. Just let that sink for a moment. Your heart has been beating, non-stop, for all that time. Your bones and joints hold the weight of your muscles, other organs and the extra fat you might have accumulated around your waist. It is difficult to appreciate how fortunate we are to be able to live: to move, to sense, to smile... So many friends have left too soon. Those who have gone before us have reminded us of our own mortality. It makes us accept that that will be the end of life as we

As we approach the end of the pandemic (hopefully), it seems fit to ponder for a minute or two, what a difficult year we've been through. Travelling restrictions, closed family businesses, online lessons, homeschooling, zoom meetings for work, and the losses of loved ones for many, the fear of infection for those who were more vulnerable, like those living with chronic conditions. These are just some of the difficulties we were faced with since March 2020.  Covid-19 has affected people from all age groups. Preschoolers couldn't run and play freely with their peers, nor could they be helped to wear their coat before leaving the school. Others had to stay at home under unprecedented conditions of parents having to follow work commitments from a home that was not necessarily adapted for several people working and being taught online.   There was extra pressure on everyone. Life changed for schoolers and for young adults who struggled to find work experience opportunities in an env

The tiny retrovirus from Wuhan managed to attack my body cells. I’m just nearing two weeks since my body has been facing this parasitic structure and it’s been foggy, tiring and sleepy. It has forced me to just be present in the moment. With SARS-CoV-2 you have to surrender and redirect all your energy towards your immune system.  Recovering from Covid-19 has given me plenty of time for introspection. I am again appreciating being able to do the things I enjoy the most. Today I played the piano after a long period of not being motivated to do so. I have the impression I had fallen in the trap I once so clearly escaped from. The trap of social appreciation.  I was starting to become uneasy with the reality of being unemployed and disconnected in this geographical isolation where my home is placed. Living in a small island, in a tiny rural village comes with its own challenges. After so many years, it is not easy to relocate or reinsert yourself in the workforce.  Yet there is no point i

Welcome to my new blog about LOVING, the fuel that keeps us going, day in and day out.  Regardless of where you are in life, whether in your teens or late fifties, you have somehow come across the notion of love. Romantic love dominates interpersonal relationships of which we will have only a few worth remembering as we age. Parental love is also present in most people's lives. There is also love for nature, for our pets, communities, our jobs and our hobbies.  In this first post, I'd like to introduce some ideas about love that I have gathered in fifty years of memories. Please, read carefully and share with those you think might need to find out these truths. The earlier in life, the better.  The toxic fairy tale: romantic love So many of us have been poisoned with the notion that there is a " special person " who is our perfect match and will take all our troubles away once we make them part of our life. We long for the day we will meet "the one", assumin