Call me CLO

You see CLO and you probably think Chief Learning Officer, right?
Well, that could be an option, but no -  I have not changed the job. I did something even better: I got a proposal to become a Chief Lego Officer for one day, and I accepted that offer with a great pleasure and big smile!

And here's how the story goes...
One day my friend Neli asks me if I would like to play as a support in one of her Good Morning Creativity's projects: a creativity room at the Station F - an amazing "nest" for innovative start-ups in Paris. I replied: of course! I'd love to! (actually I very rarely say "no" to Neli...). So I took a day off on 9th June and there I was!

And... it was awesome!
We were 5 in total: motivated, energetic and dreamy people, willing to create something for others, build it for all the generations of people who will be working in this place in the next years. We just wanted to have an impact, as simple as that.
Each of us had a different role, different tasks assigned - that's how Dream Teams work!
I helped arranging the furniture, I worked with wood (I didn't know how skilled I can be before that day!), and brought some good humour and positive attitude. But what I liked most of all was making sure all the Lego pieces are in their place and well organized in the room. Lego elements which would then facilitate the creative process & work of the teams. And I had soooo much fun!!!

By the way, did you know that you can even have Lego money??

All in all, what I wanted to say is: it is important to have some side projects in life. Your job is important, it pays your rent, your bills and makes sure your fridge is not empty. But... leaving the office for a day or two from time to time - it can only do you good. Whether you get out of the city, or help your friends with their projects, or even better - if you have some projects on your own - just do it! Life's too short to hesitate to do something cool ;)

Enjoy your life!!!

A Letter to Myself

Have you ever tried writing a letter to yourself? I have. And  not only tried, but today I did it already for the second time. I know it might seem completely crazy to you, the way it sounds, but believe me - it's not, it's actually nice to read the words you wrote to your Future Self a few years back.

Yes, that's exactly what I do - I write letters to myself "from the future". I started that in 2009, when I was 25 and I wrote a letter to myself which I was supposed to open only when I get 30. And today I wrote the second one - which I will open on the day of my 35th birthday (I cannot wait!).

Now you should ask: "So what are you actually writing in those letters?" Well, first I tend to say a bit about my present life, what has happened and what is still happening in the year when I am writing it. I share my general thoughts about life, about how I see my future in 5 years (I try to write these letters every 5 years). Then I make some wishes to the "Anna from the Future", basing on what I do and feel right now. I also mention my Friends and my Family. I talk about work, travels, dreams... Wishing that the Future Anna will have realized them by the time she reads that letter.

And what happens in the moment of actually reading that letter from Anna from the Past? I smile, sometimes even laugh, I get shocked, surprised, satisfied or disappointed. But overall this is a very happy and inspiring moment, after your yet another birthday party is over. It's a bit like making a revision of your 5-year resolutions. You can see what you succeeded at, where you failed and what is still to be accomplished in your life. And those are the things you can still put in your next letter, so you have another 5 years to make it come true!

One advice though: once it's written, remember to put it in a place where it will be easy to find 5 years from now. And then... don't forget to read it when the time comes :)