I'm delighted to share with you my first article in English published in a foreign magazine. The short icebreaking intro was not included in the edited version. It's my first standupish attempt in content writing and I thought it would be fun to keep it in my blog version.

"Hello, women of the ERA. My name is Paula Vasile and I’m Romanian. Our countries are very far from each other on the map, but I’m sure I can find some warming up things that we have in common. Let me think ... I know! Both Romania and Australia sound feminine. And quite melodious, I might add. 

I’ve always thought that talent is a sparkling quality of the human spirit that creates exceptional things. An innate ability to render reshaped realities in an extraordinary way.

It seems that I’m embarrassingly old-fashioned, and so are most classic dictionary definitions still in use. The latest trends and standards in content writing pay more and more attention to readability software.

People from around the world dream about visiting this fabulous city at least once in a lifetime. Some are embarking on romantic getaways, while others are seeking the adrenaline rushes of ultimate cultural experiences. I belong to the latter group, and a few years and a couple of wrinkles ago, I had the chance to finally indulge myself with a perfectly flavored cup of coffee in Piazza San Marco.

Have you noticed how during the winter holidays we think more about Santa than about Christ? It’s like we’re celebrating Clausmas, not Christmas. I love Santa, don’t get me wrong. I love all the glitter and abundance in our homes. And yet ....

I have the feeling that we let ourselves distracted in all that pressure to do something special for Christmas.

We all read Robinson Crusoe when we were kids and still remember this amazing story of survival and quest. But have you ever wondered, as grown-ups, what it would be like to find yourself shipwrecked on a deserted island? 

Let’s develop this scenario a little bit, in a friendly manner. The motorboat you hired broke down very close to the shore. How convenient, I know. My blog is called Azure, so what would you expect? Besides, I have zero experience in boating, so I’ll skip the juicy narrative and focus on the setting of this soft and sketchy scenario.

I had been so busy that week, with so much work to do and so little time for walks and fun with my son. It was Sunday and I needed a really good book to put us on the right track.

The plan was great, except that my son was in the mood for science. As I was sitting on the sofa, wisely refining my reading strategy, I heard him shout:

"I want to check your teeth, mom!"

Yesterday, I finally got over the darth vader feeling I had when wearing a mask outdoors. My midday walk along the calm alleys in the neighborhood was quite a treat. Glowing honey leaves filtering the autumn light. Chirps and buzzes, and a lazy meow of an alley cat in the distance.

Seven autumns ago, in my pre-kid era, while roaming free along the high bank of the Vedea River, I met my first hedgehog. Riciu. The one in the photo, so cute and friendly! I actually touched him and he didn’t move an inch! Which might have been a big problem, as I realized after the first few seconds of euphoria.

My son is so verbal that … No, wait, it’s not one of those jokes. I wish I were that funny … I'm kind of complaining here. My 5-year-old son is so verbal that when he doesn’t speak, he sings. And when he doesn’t speak or sing, he utters half-melodious strings of gibberish talk. With an accent, a different one for any of his improvs.

Life is too short to stay stuck in half measures and compromise. 

There’s always a further – if not better – version of yourself. You only need to know your core and make it grow.