Forget about everything. Russia

“Why do we always have to be strong? … It would be so nice to allow yourself to become a bit weaker, softer and maybe even less responsible. But life is a serious game. You better not allow yourself to lose it.”

Somehow this is a feeling I got from talking to Katya. She knows what life is about and values the real things in life. True happiness for her is in family and good friends. She calls it “having strong reward”.



“It is important that somewhere with somebody you can always be relaxed and even allow yourself to lose control without any risk.”

There is also a “little happiness” in life, which is about taking a moment for you, relax, have a break – life is full of stress. Sometimes it can be music, but the best and easiest thing is good food and / or sweets.

Talking about ice-cream makes her smile. Katya remembers a very traditional Moscow occasion for ice-cream: when you come to the GUM store (on the Red Square) you will always buy some ice-cream there! This tradition exists since we were children (in those old Soviet times). The ice-cream is special there! It is tastier than anywhere else – now we know it is not really, but the tradition keeps it special somehow even now. You walk along the GUM lines, hold your ice-cream and … you forget about everything! You are a child again! A little girl without any worries or things to deal with! You just enjoy your moment. It is a little moment to get your mood up.

Have a break, it is a moment for you. Everything else can wait while you are enjoying your ice-cream.

As adults we spend so much effort 'keeping it all together'. We try to keep our lives in control. We've forgotten how to let go like a child.