Meet Alexandra

Hello and welcome!

Let me introduce myself and set things straight from the very beginning. My name is Alexandra Celic. It is the pseudonym I chose for signing this blog. It has always been a thing of mine to be able to do this, and given the judgemental and sometimes aggressive mentality I bumped into throughout this past year since my diagnosis I prefer it that way for now. You might take it as a brand name if you're more comfortable that way... or a nickname... a longer one, hehe.

It is a dear name to me, as it is made out of a first name and a surname of two of my late grandparents: Alexander and Celic.

If you're still here reading, that means you aren't bothered by this thing and are here, curious for the content. If you leave or stay is entirely your choice. I give you my word that all the things you will be reading here are entirely true and you can trust me with it all.

Let's go a bit further

For as long as I can remember, I loved writing. I loved imagining stories and than translate them into words on paper. Writing is a skill I was born with. It grew with me as I read more and more books. It grew with me as I listened to more and more stories, real or not. Words were always my favourite way of communicating and expressing myself.

I think people understand things better if they are reading stories. It could be anything: a lesson, a definition, an apology letter, a CV, you name it. Our attention is easily focused this way. It’s con’s? As non-verbal elements are missing, people tend to fill up the blank spaces with their own reasoning, with their own judgement, with their own feelings. But we understand better this way. We are not biased by liking or not liking the writer, the author. First the story, then the human.

"Do not chase people. Be you and do your own thing and work hard. The right people who belong in your life will come to you. And stay."

(Will Smith)

Why am I doing this & why should you care?

They say that if you write long sentences, people get bored. That if you have long paragraphs people get lost in them. I only aim to have good stories to tell. Be them mine or somebody elses', my goal is to get them through to you, the reader. 

The purpose is getting the message through. 

Stories and blog posts are only my vehicles of conveying that message to you. That’s why this blog is going to be about fitting the pieces to form a huge puzzle. The puzzle of life with MS and of life in general. MS flipped over, turned into SM. Life flipped upside down, released from tension. Turned into SMart Choice.

The puzzle of living a SMart Healthy Lifestyle. A life where you let go of fear and aim to find your true purpose, you aim to find love for yourself first and then for others. A life that alows you to be... YOU. The best and truest version of yourself. 

Look deep inside. Beyond the fear, beyond the anger, beyond the angst. There you are! Look closer! Come join me on this quest. I'm also getting there bit by bit. Are you with me?

This blog is also a platform where I can share my passion for the visual arts, for understanding the intricate web of the human mind and spirituality, whilst writing short stories and essays on various other topics. 

It is a place where I can let you know how am I doing at yoga practice and what have I learned about neuropsychology and health.

Expect to read posts on all things healthy living, having a balanced lifestyle, yoga struggles and tips and tricks, the belief in the higher power of God, meditation, mindfulness and prayer, soothing the mind, books, stories and writers, photography, movies and music, with an occasional travel diary from wherever my life will bring me to. 

Also, be prepared for articles about human psychology, the anatomy of the nervous system, neurology, people’s social behaviour and emotions and how does that all link to living with a chronic illness like MS.

What more can I tell you about me?

Hmm, let's see! Born in 1985 as a true Capricorn, I am an INFJ (in the Myers-Briggs typologies), a Type 1 - The Reformer (in the Enneagram Test), and have a Hawk as a Spirit Animal (and yes, I like tests and finding out more about one's personality) & I could amuse myself for ages with these little tests.

I'm interested in anything that has to do with people, their stories and ways of being. I'm fascinated by all sorts of stories and I also love writing some from time to time.

In 2010 I graduated from a Masters Degree in Marketing, Advertising and Opinion Polls, after receiving my licence as a Sociologist two years earlier. I specialised in Communication, Public Opinion and Psychosociology. 

In 2011 I studied Spanish at the Cervantes Institute in Bucharest, and then I decided to get a diploma in Graphic Design and Photography. In 2012 I was a happy graduate of these courses. So here are a few other of my interests in life that turned into skills.

One year ago, in July 2014, Multiple Sclerosis decided to pay me a visit. Or so I thought! It ended up staying for good. It's one of the reasons why I started this blog. I've been learning 'till now. I'm learning as I write this lines. 

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I focus my blog mostly on writing articles for newly diagnosed, young MSers who are smart, interested in developing their life, career, self-awareness, but it's not limited to them.

I aim writing about how a healthy lifestyle based on smart choices can benefit all people that are interested on the topic.

With or without MS, you are invited to join my email list.
Hope to shine a light in your daily existence with my weekly blogs. Subscribe to receive updates on what I write about a SMart Healthy Lifestyle.

Sincerely yours,

Alexandra Celic